^ELENA^
I covered my mouth with my palms, and my legs became jelly. My vision became blurry because I couldn't get myself to believe what I just heard.
I hurriedly finish the work left for me to do in the house with a heavy heart. Monica's words kept ringing in my ears. Immediately I finished the chores, I ran out from the back of the house straight to the woods.
It was already getting very dark. My wolf, Boris was trying to console me because it knows that I'm not feeling okay.
As I walked on the dry leaves, I could hear the footsteps of squirrels running deeper into the woods. Leaves ruffles, and thorns pierced my barefoot, but none of that mattered to me. I didn't even feel any pain from the thorns that cut my foot probably because the pains I felt in my heart was deeper.
I ran closer to the pack border, and sat on the big rock beside the little river in the woods. Furthermore, I could feel the gentle breeze caress my skin. Likewise, I guess the breeze seems to be the only thing nice to me.
After a short while, I was able to get a hold of myself, and to make myself understand that I was nothing but a slave after all. There is nothing special the future holds for me. I think she's right, all I need to do is to get married to the notorious Alpha, and face my death.
I held my aching head in pains. The migraine I was feeling was very severe. Not like there's anyone who cares what happens to me. I might be their relative, but I'm not considered one.
I sobbed for few more minutes, before my wolf Boris managed to calm me down. Then a though strike my mind immediately.
I'm yet to prepare dinner for the Alpha and his family. If I fail to do that, they'll definitely end my life by themselves.
I crawled back to the house praying that everything that happened today was just a dream that will never come to pass. There would be no marriage, so there won't be any need for me to become a substitute Luna to Monica.
I hope I could still continue being happy with my best friend Monica. I wish everything was just an illusion that is very far from the truth.
^MONICA^
I woke up bright and prettier than I was yesterday. You won't blame me, I'm not just the Alpha's daughter, I'm a princess.
I was still putting on my pink lace nightgown when I headed downstairs straight to the kitchen because I was feeling very famished. I met Elena in the kitchen. As usual, she had already washed up, and is in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
I watched her put the bread into the toaster, and frying sunburn eggs for breakfast. The aroma from the eggs got me yawning hungrily. My stomach was already grumbling.
Then, she turned to me. I could see a faint hint of sadness in her eyes though it disappeared the moment she blinked her eyes.
"Hey Elena. Good morning" I smiled broadly at her, and she smiled back at me faintly.
"You're awake Monica. You're awake really early, did something happen?" She asked still facing the other side of the kitchen, and I shook my head as though she could see me from behind.
"Actually, there's something I'd like you to have" I started, and she turned her gaze at me sharply with narrowed eyes.
"Something you'd like me to have? What's that? Don't tell me you want to give me your designer clothes again, the ones you have me I'm yet to wear all of them" She snapped, and I shook my head in disagreement.
I raised my brows, and took out a box from my pocket. She stared at me with furrowed eyebrows still trying to understand what I was doing.
I opened the box revealing the silver sparkling bracelet inside the box. It was really beautiful.
"When I went shopping with my friends yesterday, I got this for you from the mall" I chuckled, and she stared at me with surprise written all over her face. She should be, I don't think she has ever owned something this precious.
I took out the bracelet from the box, and reached out for her wrist so that I could help her put it on, but she waved at me gesturing her that it was too expensive for her to accept.
"Come on, why would you receive a gift that I bought with a clean heart? You're my best friend, right? Then why won't you accept a gift from your best friend?" I feigned anger at her.
She took a deep breath, and nodded her head in agreement. Smiles escaped my lips the moment she nodded her head. I helped her put it on before leaving.
"Thank you" She muffled, and I patted her hair touching the caved rose on the silver bracelet before leaving.
^ELENA^
I touched the silver sparkling bracelet with tears circulated in my eyes. Monica has never given anything so expensive as this.
I was supposed to feel better that my best friend gave me such a beautiful gift, but no. It was different despite how hard I tried to tell myself that she couldn't have said such cruel words about me. I mean her innocent eyes, and pure heart won't let her. I felt like she was only buying me over with the silver bracelet. A part of me felt like she was rubbing it on my face that I'm only a slave.
***
I placed everyone's breakfast on the table, and poured out juice into their glasses. I was about to leave the dinning when Luna Diana called me back.
"Take a seat here Elena" Her cold voice struck me hard. I paused, and stared at her with wrinkled eyebrows.
"Are you deaf? Can't you hear me? I said you should get seated, and eat here" She barked at me, and I quickly rushed to the vacant seat, and sat down immediately because I wouldn't want her to scold me more.
Alpha Blake hardly speaks while eating, but today he called my name which was so unlike him. Of course, I know what he was going to say to me.
"Elena, you're 21, right?" He cleared his throat before speaking, and I shook my head in disagreement with what he said.
"No. I'm 20" I muffled, and bowed my head immediately. I dare not look at him in the eye of I don't have a death wish.
Alpha Blake shrugged it off. He was obviously not concerned how old I was. He continued, "You're not getting younger. You're old enough to start up your own family"
My heart raced faster the moment I heard him say that. Of course, I know where he was heading to.
"You know the blue moon pack's Alpha, right?" Blake said with his eyebrows raised. He was obviously waiting for a response, but he got none, because if I had tried to speak, I might end up breaking down.
He continued even though I didn't respond. Furthermore, he took a bite of the chips then said, "You're a lady now. The chips you make are so delicious, and I think this is a good sign that you're up to marriage"
I gulped hard, and turned to Monica to see how she would be reacting to what her father was insinuating. Her gaze was on the plate in front of her. There was no express of shock in her face, which means what I heard earlier was true.
However, Diana broke the silence the moment she saw that I was staring at her daughter Monica.
"Hey! What are you looking at Monica for? Are you trying to suggest that Monica should get married to the Alpha of the blue moon pack instead? There's no way that's happening. She's too young for that, and she's going to become the Alpha in the future" Diana yelled at me, and I flinched in fear.
I waved my hands gesturing that I didn't mean to say that. Not like I even said anything to any of them.
Diana glared at me. "Don't forget that you're nothing but a piece of junk. You're just a slave. For you to marry Alpha Xander as our daughter is a thing of honor, and you should be grateful for that. You ill-lucked child!"
I would have been grateful to them if I didn't know how deadly Alpha Xander can be. And if I didn't know that I was just a substitute to her daughter because they didn't want her to suffer in the hands of the Alpha of the blue moon pack.
"Sorry..." I muffled with my head bowed, and she rolled her eyes at me like I was a dog. I had no reason to refuse what they ask of me, if I do, I'll definitely be dragged on the rocky ground by Diana.....
TBC....