Chapter 14: Indifference

Aurora

I’d been working at the pack’s house, as Alpha Wolfgang’s personal maid, for the past week.

To say I was happy about it would be a lie.

When I’d first got here, deep down I’d yearned that the alpha had summoned me because he actually wanted me as his mate.

That maybe it would all be a test for me to prove my worth to him.

But it wasn’t like that. This was all to humiliate me. To prove his power over me, a worthless, omega she-wolf.

Over the week, I’d tried my best to comply with my duties, but somehow he always found fault in my work.

The other day, when I’d brought his coffee up, he had said it was tasteless, even though I’m sure I’d done it the exact same way as always.

Yesterday, he became angry with me for leaving his laundered clothes on the bed, not placing them in his closet.

“So, how’s the new life at the big house?”

I was currently video-chatting with Emma as I did some sketches. Since the alpha left every evening for patrol, I had the time off to do as I pleased.

As long as I didn’t leave the premises.

“It’s okay,” I answered casually, not really wanting to go into detail.

“Just okay? I heard you were assigned to be the alpha’s personal maid. What’s it like to work for Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome?” She waggled her eyebrows, and I giggled.

“There’s not much to say. I get his coffee and meals, arrange his bed in the mornings, get his clothes to and from the laundry,” I said as I rolled over on my bed.

“Come on! That can’t be all! You’re at least flirting with him, aren’t you?” She threw her hands in the air.

“Why would I do that?” I asked her, unable to hold back my laughter.

“Um hello? Because he is HOT!” she answered.

“He is my boss, Em. It would be inappropriate.”

“Inappropriate, my ass. If it were me, I’d be all over that man like he was candy.”

I giggled again.

Even though Emma was a few months older than me, she was much more straightforward.

I wondered how she would handle the situation, if she was Wolfgang’s mate.

I got depressed just thinking about it. Of course, he would have taken her right away.

She was much prettier than me, and taller, too.

She had been captain of the cheerleading squad at school, and the best in every class.

While I had been…well, I was nothing.

Back in high school, I’d been really shy, with hardly any friends. No friends at all, really.

I was always the lonesome girl, the one nobody wanted in their project group, the one always chosen last in P.E.

I had always been picked on and bullied by the other kids in school. Or at least, until Emma had transferred to our school, after moving to Alaska with her dad from Wisconsin.

Her family’s pack had been attacked, and they’d been forced to move. Alpha Wolfgang had given them refuge in our village. We’d both been in our junior year.

Needless to say, Emma had automatically been accepted into the ‘cool kids’ club. Her vibrant personality captivated everyone around her.

Everybody had wanted to get to know her, to become friends with the new girl. Even I did, but I didn’t dare try it.

I decided to keep away.

Until one day, while we were outside for break.

I’d been sitting in my favorite spot in the schoolyard, drawing, when a couple of girls from the upper class started harassing me.

As I was on the verge of tears, Emma came to my rescue. She stood up to the older girls, and dared them to touch me.

They had cowered away and left me alone. I’d quickly thanked her and picked my things up, then fled as fast as I could.

But over the following days, she’d started following me around, talking to me. At first, I’d thought it was some type of prank, but she was very insistent.

We’d ended up becoming really good friends, and had been ever since.

“Hey Rory. You okay?” Emma asked, snapping me out of my train of thought.

“Huh? Yeah, sure. Why do you ask?” I said, giving her a smile.

“You seem off lately. And you have huge bags under your eyes. Are you sure everything is okay?”

Quizzical and observative as always.

“Really, I’m fine. Just tired. Remember, I have to be up at five a.m. every day except Sunday.”

Tomorrow would be my first day off, and I’d get to go visit Montana.

“If you say so. I wonder if they’d hire me as a maid? That way we could spend time together!” She clapped her hands, bouncing up and down in her chair.

“What about college? You managed to get into your dream school, and you’re just gonna throw it aside to work with me at the pack’s house?” I asked her, raising an eyebrow.

Emma had been accepted into an Ivy League university, and was due to leave in a couple of weeks.

I was supposed to be starting a gap year, some time to roam around the country before starting college.

But that was before all this ‘mate’ madness had started.

Now here I was, locked in a mansion thanks to my so-called mate.

“Yeah. I should be packing.” She rolled her eyes. “Are you sure you’re gonna be okay? Tell me if you’re being pushed around.”

She gave me a knowing look.

“I will, Em. I promise.” I crossed my heart with one hand.

“Emma, could you take this to your father, please? Oh! Hi, Rory. How are you?”

Mrs. Johnson, Emma’s mom, came into view on the screen. “Sorry for interrupting your chat, but I need Emma to take this to her dad.”

“Hi, Mrs. Johnson. It’s okay. I have to get going as well.” I waved at the older lady.

“See ya tomorrow?” Emma asked when she came back into view.

“Yeah sure. I’ll be done around nine. Love you.”

“Love you more, boo.” She blew a kiss before the call cut off, leaving me with my lonely thoughts.

I thought back to the night I’d met Wolfgang at the lake, remembering his cold blue eyes holding mine as he forbade me from ever leaving the pack.

I got up from the bed and headed out to the balcony to get some fresh air. I needed to take a breather from all the depressing thoughts that were whirling in my mind.

As I stood on the balcony, admiring the beautiful rose garden, I happened to see no one other than Wolfgang.

He was tending to the flowers, a ghost of a smile painted on his beautiful face.

~“He is so handsome!”~ Rhea cooed in my mind.

He was, but he was also cold and mean.

I stood there, gazing at him as he finished pulling some weeds from around the roses and watering them.

Today was one of those rare days where the sun was shining. I could see beads of sweat running down his perfect face.

“There you are!”

Someone’s voice caught both of our attention as Tallulah came into view.

Even though Alpha Wilhelm and his crew had left the village after their meeting, she had stayed.

Aspen came to my room every night, ranting about how incredibly obnoxious Tallulah was. Privately, I had to agree.

Tallulah took it as her obligation to make sure I was attending her ‘wolfie-poo’ correctly.

This meant she was monitoring my every move, as if she were the boss.

On my first day as Wolfgang’s personal maid, I’d been on my way to deliver his eleven a.m. coffee, and she had happened to be in his office at the time.

She’d glared at me the whole time.

I watched her chat happily to Wolfgang as he continued tending the roses. He didn’t seem to be paying much attention.

Still, I was here envious of how beautiful and secure she was, when I couldn’t even look my own mate in the eye.

Suddenly she looked up, and caught me looking at them.

I saw her smirk as she ran her fingers up and down Wolfgang’s chest seductively, then threw her arms around his neck to whisper in his ear.

I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but I could guess.

“~I can’t take this! Let’s bite that bitch’s head off and show her who’s boss here!~” Rhea growled in my mind, ready to attack.

I had to fight with her for her not to take over and shift.

I kept looking at the scene unfolding before me.

This was what Wolfgang had condemned me to. To watch him move on to another woman, with whoever he wanted.

I really didn’t like that woman.

I couldn’t help the tears that slid down my face, so I turned back into my room to cry my soul out once more.