Chapter 5

• I must have fallen asleep, but I didn’t know when. I had a fitful night of sleep, I kept waking up nervous, my heart pumping, and then found it hard to latch back onto slumber.
• I wanted to know what was going on. I wanted it to be morning already so that I could find out for myself.
• I replayed the night, again and again, noting what I could have done better for next time and retracing my steps. I was convinced that I left no evidence, but that did little to quell my nerves, or maybe it was lingering adrenaline coursing through me.
• Finally, dull light filtered through the windows, and even though my body felt tired and protested my dragging it out of bed, my mind was fully awake.
• I forced myself to take time getting showered and to make sure there was no lingering trace of blood on me. I also didn’t want to show up to breakfast too early, everything had to be as it was yesterday, well, without the visiting Alpha’s son there.
• That thought curled my lips upwards, and I might have been worried that I was turning into a sadist, but anyone that was willing to take something from another that was offered deserved it, in my opinion.
• I finished getting ready in the bathroom and came out, finding Alice standing by my bed waiting for me. She gave me a timid smile, and I reluctantly sat down and let her brush my hair, even though I already combed it.
• I often felt bad for her, she was just doing her job, and I didn’t want to get in her way, no matter how much it irked me to have an almost constant companion mornings and evenings.
• She didn’t speak this morning, actually, she rarely did. Once she was satisfied that my hair was brushed. Again. She towel-dried it. Again, and went to my closet to choose something for me to wear.
• I seriously felt like I was a lady in wait in the middle ages or something, if I focused on it, it would make me angry. I just wanted to be left alone, and this felt, this felt stifling like she was sent to watch me, and honestly, she probably was.
• “How about a nice blue dress today.”
• “Fine.” I cut her off before she could finish talking, and then I gave her a smile feeling bad.
• She rushed back towards me and started braiding my hair while it was still wet, I internally groaned, knowing what it would look like later, but I guess it didn’t matter, it really didn’t matter.
• “Did you hear?” She whispered but shook her head, her brows creasing, seeming to think better of it.
• “Did you say something, Alice?” I asked innocently.
• “No, sorry.” She mumbled, finishing my braid and helping me into the long thick dark blue dress. This packhouse was always cold and even during summer, I found myself wearing long sleeves while inside.
• “They’re gathering for breakfast.” She opened the door, and I followed her out, not even bothering to look at my reflection. I nodded, and we went our separate ways.
• When I got to the hall outside the dining room, I had to take a few deep breaths to steady myself against my nerves. This was the first time that I ended someone's life where people knew immediately. I had no idea how this would go.
• There were hushed voices, and I picked out the triplets and the Alpha and Luna but didn’t hear anyone outside of the family.
• I walked into the dining room where we were all seated for dinner, but everything felt different today. I was different today.
• I kept my eyes on the floor before taking the same seat I did last night, away from where I usually sat. No one even seemed to notice me. I reached for my water glass and sniffed it discreetly as I always did before taking a sip. You could never be too certain even surrounded by these idiots.
• “Simone,” Luna Addison looked at me, and I widened my eyes innocently and focused on her.
• “Yes, Luna?” I asked when she didn’t go on.
• The doors banged open, and the visiting Alpha Ben marched in, followed further behind by his Luna whose eyes were red and puffy.
• I almost felt bad, almost. But then I remembered the filth that they produced and raised and his unchecked arrogance to take what didn’t belong to him.
• “Who is responsible?” He demanded, and Alpha Raymond and Addison got to their feet. Everyone did, besides me, and Hunter who was toying with his food. I curled back into my chair eyes wide following the visiting Alpha’s movements.
• “There haven’t been any new developments since a few hours ago.” Alpha Raymond explained calmly even though I could see his fists start to shake at his sides, “We will notify you when-”
• “When? If there is nothing yet, then I doubt you will discover something in the future when the trail is cold.” He countered.
• Their Alpha auras expanded and filled the room, and I shuddered back into my seat further; even though I didn’t feel the need to. I gripped the arms of the chair and made my lip tremble in fear.
• “You let this happen at your pack. Someone is responsible. Someone got in here or maybe,” Alpha Ben’s voice turned colder, almost taunting, “Someone in your pack is responsible.”
• “Enough!” Alpha Raymond slammed his fists on the table, and I jumped, “Do not blame me for this, your son I’m sure had many enemies. I don’t think it's a coincidence, someone must have been after him.”
• “And followed us here?” Alpha Ben asked incredulously.
• “Do not question the control of my pack,” Alpha Raymond spat, his face turning a shade of red, “This isn’t a coincidence, someone was after him.” He said again seeming to try to convince himself more than anyone else.
• “You are full of shit I hope you know that.” Alpha Ben’s gaze was hard, “I hope someone comes after them,” He pointed to the triples, Hunter didn’t look up from his eggs, “All of them.” He almost laughed, he seemed to get to the point of anger and loss where he wasn’t even there anymore.
• All he could see was thick red rage, I knew it well.
• He turned on his heel dragging his Luna with him. Alpha Raymond sat down, but his face was still red. He grabbed his fork poking at whatever was on his plate and missing.
• He threw the fork across the dining room and slumped back his head in his hands. I averted my eyes to my empty plate and sat there waiting for whatever was to come next. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn’t know what so I snapped it shut.
• Hunter didn’t miss my movement though, seeming to sense my question. “The Alpha’s son was killed here. Murdered. They found him last night lying in his own blood.” He said it as if it amused him.
• I opened my mouth again and let it hang before clamping it shut, grabbing fistfuls of my dress I let my shoulders curl inward.
• “So if you need someone to protect you, you’re always welcome in my bed.” He went on. I shot my gaze to him, he was more fucked than I thought.
• “Hunter,” His mom chided, shaking her bleach blonde head at him.
• “W-when?” I managed to speak if only to change the subject from Hunter's disgusting offer.
• “Late last night.” Alpha Raymond responded, pushing back his chair he stormed out. Luna Addison reached for him but thought better of it letting her hand drop into her lap.
• “Don’t worry, my dad thinks it was a threat just against the son.” Nolan looked at me, his gaze almost seemed sincere, and I offered him a nod.
• The rest of the meal was in complete silence, just the scraping of forks and knives across plates. I forced some food into my mouth eating slowly, I knew I needed the energy, and I was actually ravenously hungry, but they didn’t need to know that.
• When everyone got up to leave, I motioned to stand, “Is it, is it?” I trailed off sitting back down and looking at my hands.
• “Spit it out,” Dominick said looking bored.
• “Is it safe to go outside? I wanted to get some fresh air.” I didn’t meet anyone's eyes.
• “Sure.” Luna Addison sighed exasperatedly as if she was annoyed by the question. I waited for them to filter out before I stood up.
• I wanted to shove the rest of the food in my mouth, but even though no one appeared to be in the room, I knew better than to let my carefully composed mask slip.
• I rarely let it down, even when I was alone. It was a constant part of me so much so that sometimes I thought I was this person that I was portraying. I had to remind myself to drop it and remember who I actually was during those times when the person I played felt less like a second skin and more like who I truly was
• I am an Alpha’s daughter, Alpha blood runs through me, I chanted to myself again and again. I am an Alpha’s daughter from an unbroken line. I am an Alpha’s daughter, Alpha blood runs through me.