Evelyn
My heart raced at the scene before me.
"What have you done and why would I run?" I cried, facing Blair, that knowing smile curled on her lips despite the blood on her arms.
"Two many questions silly bitch." She looked down at the shreds before her. " I broke the damn cup, of course. And if I were you, I would be on the run this minute." she hissed, taking a step closer while I sniffed and stepped back.
I was damn afraid of the beast she had become. This wasn't Blair, the same one I had grown up knowing.
"You see that stunt you pulled out there in the room? Never. Ever. try that again in your miserable life." She closed the space between us, snapping my ears.
"What…I…did nothing," I stuttered under her grip, trying to break free.
She laughed, rolling her eyes from my head to my toes.
"How silly of you to think for a second that your tears would make my alpha, Rufus, look at you. You think that by pretending to do your stupid job, he would have second thoughts?" She scoffed, teeth gritted in sheared anger.
"I'm the older one, and I guess you need no reminder of what I can do," she blurted, letting go of my ears just as fast as the door cracked open.
Standing in the doorway was none other than Alpha Rufus, his face stone cold as his eyes landed on the broken shreds of the mug littered on the floor.
"Baby, she hurts me. She's evil. See what she did to me when I brought back the tray?" She stretched her bloody arms.
"I'm only holding back because of the love and respect I have for you and this pack. If not…" she scowled and a lone tear slid down her cheek.
"How could you?" Rufus thundered, causing the floor to tremble, and whatever I wanted to say slipped away beneath the intensity of his roar.
He strode faster toward me and I stepped backward just as my back slammed against the white-painted wall.
He held my neck, gripping firmly. "How dare you smash the teacup gifted to me by my late dad? What gave you those guts?" His eyes glinted red, threatening to burn the life out of me. My eyes watered. My body shook.
Not because of the hate or irritation in his eyes, nor the intensity of his grip that stole the air from my lungs, but because Blair was busy laughing silently and sticking her tongue out behind Rufus's back knowingly.
"I told you to run, didn't I?" She muttered silently for only my hearing.
"I..I..m.." Rufus let go of me and I stumbled to the floor like common, valueless trash.
He moved over to Blair, who turned furious and bruised again, and carried her bridal style.
"Beta Louis, get the doctor now." He sounded urgent as he carried her out of the kitchen.
I remained on the floor in tears. He not only rejected me but hated me this much? That realization burned deeper than whatever Blair had done to me.
I don't know how long I stayed wallowing in misery, but I held a towel, cleaning the kitchen pavilion, when two maids stormed in with grins.
They walked toward the ranks to retrieve a tray and left without a word.
I knew this was another way of punishing me further, having only me in the kitchen when there were clearly three maids assigned alongside me.
My eyes drifted to the ranks, and that was when I realized everything looked clean and it was already noon.
Letting out a shaken breath, I continued cleaning when two guards walked up to me. Before I could speak, they held my wrist and led me out of the kitchen without a word.
Whatever it was, I was already panicking and fidgeting under their intense grip.
Soon we arrived at the hall where activities were going on. For a moment I looked stunned and frightened.
How could an event be going on in the palace and I be unaware of it? Like I was usually the errant scapegoat in every event held in this palace.
The red and blue light bulbs hugged the chandeliers, giving the hall a breathtaking view, alongside the loud music, the beautiful decors, and the vase podium at the center where the golden chair was situated for Alpha Rufus.
Scattered around were people of high profile, by the way they were dressed in costly apparel, and a handful of maids were busy carrying trays and serving distinguished guests.
That explained why I was alone in the kitchen.
Those thoughts reminded me of an invisible ache in my head when I perceived his familiar camellia mixed with freshly cut wood scent.
The guards made me spin and there Alpha Rufus stood at the entrance with an unfamiliar alpha who looked handsome, ruthless, and cold, by the way his muscles flexed, his lack of interest, and the sudden irritation in his gaze when Alpha Rufus pointed at me.
I don't know what they were discussing, but whatever it was…
I swallowed hard the lump in my throat as the two approached; my heart drummed in my ears, so loud against the blaring music.
The unknown alpha moved past without looking in my direction and I heaved a sigh, releasing my breath, but that was too soon to grant when his figure loomed over me.
"Let her be," Alpha Rufus instructed, and the two guards left my arms and I almost crashed to the floor.
"I don't need to explain anything to you because it isn't necessary, but you must try to stay alive up to three months until the treaty is signed," he said, turned to leave but then stopped.
"If you die before that time frame, I will not only throw your body into the evil forest, but will also make sure you never find peace even in the afterlife."
My body froze at his words, and fear gripped me whole. Tears dropped down my cheeks.
"Well, well." Blair's voice rang in my ears, too hard to resist.
"Finally." She laughed. "I won't have to wake up every day to your sticking presence. Such a relief," she huffed, tapping my shoulder. "I never knew it would be this easy," she scoffed and I turned to her, tears blurring my vision.
"What have I ever done to you to deserve this level of hatred? I have only ever loved you…"
"Oh, spare me that pathetic bullshit," she sneered, leaning closer so her breath fanned my ear lobe.
She pointed in the direction and I followed her gaze. "You see that alpha over there? He's a walking disaster who never takes no or yes for an answer, and you know what?" She let go, brushing her arms like she had touched the dirtiest trash.
"You are doomed."
Just before her words fell, two maids walked in with my tattered black leather bag.
But as I reached for it, something metallic clattered to the floor. A small, blood-stained dagger had slipped out from inside.
Everyone froze. Even my heart went on a stand still.
Blair's smirk widened as her eyes darted toward Alpha Rufus across the hall.
"Looks like our little maid has finally shown her true colors," she whispered.
And then Rufus and the unknown Alpha's gaze snapped to me, blazing with fury.