Chapter 11: How Dare She!

E M B E R

I wake up to the sun shining in my eyes, almost smiling as I yawn and rub my eyes when I sense a presence near me.

His presence.

What the hell! I frown slightly. Did I fall asleep? Here of all places? Ugh! With him beside me? And he is really close. I look back and study him as if it were a math textbook. Complicated yet interesting. What? Math used to be my favourite subject— that's when a groan escapes his sweet lips as his eyes flutter open and lock with mine.

Um. What is this? This feeling? My heart is thumping in my chest, and I feel my face blushing. I feel speechless when startled, I jolt up and press my hand against my chest.

My heart is indeed beating so much faster than it ever has.

I stand up immediately. Sebastian straightens up with a curious gaze burning the side of my head because I can't find in myself to look at his face. I clear my throat, "Uh, I believe it's time for me to go and do the chorus. I apologize for intruding—" fumbling with the words because I feel too self-conscious.

I begin to walk away when his deep voice makes me halt on my track, "Emmy!?" I try to turn and look over my shoulder at him, but I still can't seem to look him in the eyes. What is it with me? "Sorry, gotta go," I mumble and embarrassed, I turn back and sprint out of the room. Not turning back at him once.

I close the door behind me, lean against it and let out a sigh of relief before I absentmindedly walk away, still thinking of him and complaining about how I let myself be in the same room as him when I collide with someone.

Mortified, I bow and apologize as I continue my steps, not knowing who I even collided with. I need to get away from here for now, at least.

Working for two hours straight doesn't help me take my mind off my mate. Sebastian... perhaps I have been seeing him too often to realize he's actually kinda cute.

Kinda? Oh, please! Rayne grins.

I groan and then sigh. He is rude and doesn't talk much. Then out of nowhere, a hand grabs my wrist and roughly turns me so that I face this person. The grip gets tighter, and I groan when this person lets go.

In the blink of an eye, I hear a loud smack.

With a slap, the impact leaves me shaken. I feel temporarily deaf, and my vision is blurred, filled with bright little dots, making me dizzy. I hear gasps from all corners, and it all feels very slo-mo. My skin feels stingy, and my palm feels itchy. It aches, and I bring my hand to my cheek. I blink my tears away, trying to register what just happened.

"Slapped." I mumble incoherently when someone leans in and whispers, "Yeah, I slapped you. So stay away from him, you bitch! Stay away if you value your life."

Excuse me, what? The person turns around and walks away with heels clanging against the floor. I crouch down and press my hands to my ears to stop the buzzing noise and groan. Somebody else crouches down and holds me, and another calls out, "Emmy—" I sigh and lean onto them as they bring me back on my feet. I sense walking along with them with my eyes slightly shutting close as I continue to wonder what just happened, though.

***

"Oh, my! This has left a bruise." Ivory exclaims in horror. I tilt my head and grin when she comes close to place a bag of frozen peas against my cheek. "It'll feel better," she says reassuringly. I look at her and sigh as we lean against the kitchen counter.

I press the bag against my cheek and ask, "So, did Jenna slap me for real?"

Ivory furrows her eyebrows and grunts, "Yeah." I'm going to kill that bitch. I narrow my eyes and clench my hands. I grit. She coughs up and continues, "Our pack is known for its brutality, but we don't tolerate violence among the members. And we definitely don't tolerate abuse of power."

"Do you know why she did that? All of a sudden?" I ask angrily.

"Well, Jenna is a fickle-minded crazy jealous bitch who does things which annoy everyone," Ivory answers.

"Then why is she even here?"

Ivory sighs and replies, "Because Sebastian and Jenna's fathers were best friends. In fact, everyone even thought that those two would be each other's mates."

"Are they?" My insides turn green with an ugly emotion, but a bit curious too.

"Hell no. Thank God for that." Ivory laughs.

I almost sigh in relief along with Ivory as she continues, "I don't want someone like her as my Luna. She doesn't deserve the position and to be by my cousin's side, even if that's all she tries to do. She is completely obsessed with Sebastian."

"Oh."

What about Sebastian? Does he like her too? Did he get ever get intimate with her? I did remember him taking her into his room the other day. The thoughts and that image make my heart sinks. But, as if Ivory can hear my thoughts, she clicks her tongue, "Initially, Sebastian was into her because he was a hormonal teenager before he eventually realized what a bat-shit crazy psycho she can be and is."

She grins at me.

I grin back, and for some reason, that makes me a little happy.

Rayne too.

Ivory surprises me when she touches my face. "Oh my... it's still quite red. Are you okay?" her eyes look watery and filled with so much concern that it warms my chest. I tilt my head and shrug. "I feel better than before."

She frowns and runs a hand through her hair as she groans. "Jenna is really stupid." she looks back at me and says, "Don't worry. I'm pretty sure Clayton will do something about that."

I raise my eyebrow. "Really? I'm just working as a maid while she seems an important member."

She leans back and states, "Sebastian will deliver you justice." I narrow my eyes and look away as I grunt. No offence, but I don't think he will mind that I got slapped. Also, I prefer to get justice on my own. Give me a moment with that witch, and I'll make sure she begs on her knees for mercy. But I will kill her instead of forgiving her because—how dare she!

How dare she slap me?

My jaw tightens.

So does my grip on the bag of peas.

I feel rage bubbling inside me as the scene from earlier plays into my mind repeatedly. If she knew who I truly was, she wouldn't have dared to do anything. I could easily rip her heart out and kill her. I grit when I notice Ivory walking away.

I blurt out, "Where are you going?"

She looks over at me and says, "Don't worry. He cares too much than he can express. I'll be back soon." her fists are clenched in utter determination as if going to war. My lips protrude, and I watch her disappear in silence, leaving me alone, but not before she states, "Oh if the pack got warm, don't mind and change the pack of frozen peas, okay?"

I take a breather and lean against the kitchen slab as I look up at the ceiling, and I let out a sigh.

"Hey, you okay?"

Startled by the voice, I glance toward my side to find Clayton with a comfortable smile. I straighten up as I smile and nod but slightly groan at the sudden pang shooting up. He leans over and raises his eyebrows, placing a hand over mine. "You sure?"

Rayne whimpers in disapproval, but I ignore her as I tilt my head and grin. "It's a lot better than earlier. It doesn't sting anymore."

Lie, obviously.

It still stings.

I still hear a light buzzing.

The impact felt stronger, and the effect seemed to last longer. He doesn't look convinced but lets it go, not wanting to pressure me as he sighs and then leans against the slab beside me.

"Here." I notice him holding two chilled beer cans, one toward me.

Clayton shrugs. "It helps."

I amusedly raise my eyebrows.

"Alcohol does?" I joke.

He leans closer and whispers, "According to Google. Alcohol does indeed reduce pain in humans. Moreover, research suggests that many people experiencing pain turn to alcohol to alleviate their suffering."

It sounds ridiculous.

I don't believe it.

Even the way he said it and the way he looks so playful right now... I don't know if he is serious or kidding.

Maybe I needed somebody to make me laugh, or else there would be a bloodbath here because that's what I did the next second.

I throw my head back and laugh, and Clayton joins me.

S E B A S T I A N

The moment Ivory barges into my room and rants about a certain someone getting slapped, it feels like my heart has stopped. Duke growls in anger. I see red, but before my cousin can explain it further, I jump off my seat and sprint toward the door.

No one knows that I finally got a mate, and it's that girl, so when I rush out of the room walking past Ivory, I notice a weird expression on her face questioning what the heck is going on with me.

As if she is confused because she has never seen me act frantic like my life is on the line and I need air to breathe.

But right now, I only want to find her.

That girl... Emmy, my mate.

That girl... who mysteriously enters into my life, and no matter how much I try to hate her, I find myself attracted to her.

So does she. Or that's the vibe I get from her. Like she hates me, yet, she finds me attractive.

I don't know why haven't I accepted her yet. If I had, she wouldn't be in this situation. The fact that someone hit her — I grit and clench my fist as I sprint past and startle the workers. I swear that whoever slapped her, I will make them pay.

But first, I need to check on her.

A melodic voice reaches my ears just then, and I stop in my tracks. My heart starts beating faster as to whose it is. I clear my throat and peer through the wall I stopped by, only to see Clayton by her side.

I remembered the moment I kissed her forehead last night, watched her fall asleep by my side on the same desk, and smiled. I remembered the morning we woke up and locked eyes before she got flustered and rushed out. I remembered smiling back then, too, because she was just cute.

So what the fuck is she doing?

What is Clayton doing there? With her?

I clench my fists tighter.

My jaw tenses.

My chest feels constricting, and I wonder what he's telling her to make her laugh like that, clutching her stomach...and I wonder what it's like to make her laugh and smile because she is always frowning and scowling when with me. I take her appearance in. She has an amazing figure and looks good in those jeans showing off her curves.

Duke and I swoon over our mate when my eyes move to her face as she smiles and holds her cheek. However, that's when I see a bruise on her face.

I growl.

My anger shifts from Clayton being by her side to the assailant who harmed the one I am destined with.

How dare they hurt her?

I fume in silent rage as I watch her with my best friend, with unfamiliar emotions swishing inside my chest.

J E N N A

I narrow my eyes and glare at the woman getting too much attention from the most important people in the pack—that woman who is not even pretty.

"Oh, I think I know why you did that?" a voice startles me, and I gasp, "Graham!" I turn my head and find him. He smirks. I pause before I raise my eyebrow and scoff, "What? What do you mean?"

Graham stands beside me and looks through the arch doorway. "Slapping a maid out of context. If I didn't know you, you are acting jealous and taking your anger out on her."

I cross my arms and snort. "Good thing you know Jenna well, then." I straighten up and groan. "God, I hate her. I hate that girl. She gives me the creeps."

"Creeps? How is someone like you affected by someone like her? I wonder." Graham muses.

I snap my gaze at him and snarl, "Don't be smug. There is something about her, and the way she dares to go around, waltzing around as if she owns the house, the pack and us, it's appalling."

"Well, I do understand that. Both Alpha and Beta seem to be enamoured by her." Graham states.

"More like getting trapped and lured by that bitch. That fucking human bitch. What the heck does she think of herself? Huh?" I exclaim, getting annoyed every second I talk about her as I see her shamelessly laughing and drinking beer with the Beta in the kitchen. That's when his voice brings me back as he says with a head tilt, "Most likely, not a human."

"What do you mean?" I frown as he looks up at me and shrugs, "Well, I don't think she is just a human." he looks over at them when I ask, "Why? Do you think she is pretending to be a weak human?"

He looks back at me and grins. "You never know. She has a very distinct scent, and I don't know how the Alpha didn't catch on. But she doesn't feel entirely human to me."

"So, she can be like us?" I curiously stare as he holds my gaze and scoffs, "Oh, please, not like us. A rogue, perhaps?"

"But we hate rogues, and Alpha loathes them the most," I state when Graham smirks, "Exactly. Only if we make Alpha see what she truly is..." I blurt out, "And what if she isn't? What if she is actually a human?" I wonder whether I am actually mulling over this.

He shrugs at me. "Who cares. We want to get rid of her, don't we?"

"So we would even lie to Alpha?" I ask.

"Don't you want Alpha back in your clutches?" Graham answers me with a question, and I mutter the response with a nod, "Jenna does."

"So, let's get rid of that bitch." Graham determinedly smirks as silence takes over in the air between us. Something doesn't settle well inside me. I feel a gaze and turn my head to find Graham still looking at me. I raise my eyebrows at him, only for his smirk to widen.

I can't help blurting out the next second, "Wait, what do you get out of this?"

Graham takes his sweet time to answer, making me want to punch a hole in his face when he does, "Well, I get the focus back on the business because ladies, no offence, are a distraction." He is such a male chauvinist. I glare at him until I look back at that smiling face of the bitch, and then I look at my Alpha... looking at them so forlornly.

Getting rid of her should be easy. I grit. I want her out of my sight. I like the Alpha to be mine. I turn my head and hold Graham's gaze when he exclaims, "What say? Do we have a deal?"

I straighten back up and clear my throat, "Deal. Let's do it. Let's teach that bitch a lesson she never forgets."

Graham smirks widely as we shake hands and then stares out the window.