I turned my head as a flickering red light caught my attention on the nearly invisible intercom device mounted on the wall. Reluctantly, I pulled the remote closer to me and pressed the green button, preparing myself to speak with whoever was trying to contact me.
"Mrs. Boss," Jose's voice boomed through the intercom. I sniffled and my anticipation grew as I waited for him to continue.
"Your mom called again. She is running out of patience," Jose announced.
"I'll be there in a minute," I whimpered with a sense of reluctance in my voice. I reluctantly began to dress, my heart heavy with the pain that Jenna's words had brought me.
As I stepped out of the bedroom, three bodyguards followed closely behind me, causing me to come to a sudden stop.
"I want to go alone with Jose," I said, the pain in my heart evident in my voice.
"Mrs. Boss," Gerald, who was stationed at the end of the stairs, called out with a forced smile on his face.
"The boss insists that you must have three bodyguards accompany you," Gerald explained with his head slightly bowed. I looked at Gerald's head and guessed he didn't know I was nothing but a lowly slave.
"No," I firmly stated, continuing my descent down the stairs at a deliberately slow pace.
I reasoned to myself that since Kayla Damien didn't know I was married to Jordan Greens, it would be best to keep it that way. I wasn't ready for any conflict just yet. Especially considering that Kayla had the support of everyone, including their powerful mother, the Moon Goddess and I had no one.
Outside the castle, Jose's old car was already waiting in the driveway for me, its engine humming softly.
As I climbed into the car, Jose positioned himself behind the steering wheel, his eyes fixated on me.
"Let's go," I murmured softly.
"I thought that now you're with Jordan, you would be happy," Jose commented, slowly shifting the gear into drive and finally, his gaze drifted away from me. "Jordan loves you more than you can possibly fathom."
"I know, but he needs Kayla more than he needs me. Whenever I think about it, I can't help but feel useless," I whimpered, my voice filled with sadness.
"Kayla Damien is more of a means to an end for Jordan. He is marrying her out of duty. Being Alpha Alex's only son, it is his responsibility to eventually inherit his father's position and become the Alpha of Alphas, leading his kind. He requires Kayla for that purpose."
"Do you believe his love for me will be enough for him to let go of all this?" I asked, fully aware of the impossibility of it.
"Yes, but Jordan is unable to defy the Moon Goddess, his creator."
"Does this mean that Kayla will move in here after the wedding?" I murmured, my voice barely audible. Suddenly, Jose's phone rang, interrupting our conversation.
"It's your mom. Fasten your seat belt and hold on," Jose signaled to me, urging me to comply. Reluctantly, I secured my seat belt, and as we drove down Queen's Road, my eyes remained fixed on the passing scenery. A single tear welled up in my eye as I pictured Jordan clasping Kayla's hand while the Goddess bestowed her blessings on them on the 3rd of February. A second tear emerged and both found their way down my cheeks and landed on my chest.
"Thalia, it's okay," Jose reassured me. "Jordan built this pack just for the two of you. I'm not sure if Kayla Damien would move in with you guys. Your marriage to Jordan would be recognized among humans, and with a good fight, it would also be recognized among the werewolf community," Jose continued to say.
Lost in my own thoughts, I murmured to myself, "Could it be that Jordan married me because he promised me he would when he was young and unaware of the challenges that awaited him?" My words unintentionally reached Jose's ears, and he looked at me before refocusing on the road.
"He married you because he loves you," Jose stated after a few minutes of silence.
As we arrived at White Fangs, I slowly wiped my tears away and took a deep breath. Opening the car door and placing one leg outside, Jose suddenly grabbed my hand, causing me to stop and look at him.
"Do not let anyone bully you or make you feel inferior again. You are married to Jordan Greens, one of the wealthiest men in Stockholm," Jose said with a sympathetic expression. I nodded, feeling his words resonate within me, and stepped out of the car.
Just as my entire body emerged, someone grabbed my arm. I looked up and saw Jenna.
"Thalia, I told you not to come," Jenna whispered urgently, her voice filled with concern.
Laughter erupted as Jose stepped out of his car. Intrigued, I turned my gaze towards the source of the merriment - the garden of the pack. Colorful banners hung between the trees, casting a joyous glow over an array of tables adorned with vibrant flowers. Surrounding the tables were sophisticated ladies, their laughter mirroring their amused glances in my direction.
I couldn't help but wonder why Rachel always found herself among them. Taking a deep breath, I started making my way towards the castle's entrance. Jenna walked slowly behind me, while Jose patiently waited beside his car.
"He really takes such good care of you. But you're still planning to leave him, right?" Jenna inquired, awaiting my response. I remained silent, continuing my stride towards the castle.
"Thalia, please talk to me," Jenna pleaded as we climbed the stairs. Finally reaching my previous room, I closed the door behind us and securely locked it.
"I'm not actually married to Jose Martins," I murmured in a hushed voice, not wanting anyone nearby to overhear.
"What?" Jenna's eyebrows furrowed. "You've already divorced him?"
"No," I replied, shaking my head.
"What happened then? Were the papers you signed fake?" Jenna questioned, her lips curling into a small smile.
A loud bang echoed through the door, causing us to immediately cease our conversation. As the noise came again the second time, I glanced around the room only to realize that every item, including my collection of novels, had been inexplicably removed.
Jenna bravely stepped forward and swung open the door, revealing the unexpected presence of Kayla, Rita, and Alpha Benjamin. They stood motionless in the entrance, their eyes piercingly fixed on me.
Kayla, with deliberate steps, approached me and delivered a harsh slap across my face, sending my vision momentarily into a whirlwind of stars. My anger surged in response, but the mere presence of Alpha Benjamin quelled any thoughts of retaliation that had begun to form within me.
"How dare you!" Kayla's voice thundered, reverberating through the room like a menacing growl. I remained silent, bowing my head slightly in deference to Alpha Benjamin's authority.
"How dare you attempt to outsmart us?" she continued, her voice dripping with venom. With a dismissive flick of her wrist, Kayla tossed an envelope onto the floor at my feet. I peered down at the envelope, then slowly raised my gaze once more.
"Pick it up and read it!" Alpha Benjamin bellowed, each word rumbling off his tongue in a primal and intimidating manner. I felt a chill run down my spine as his eyes darkened, and faint silver streaks seemed to illuminate his gaze. Shivering with trepidation, I mustered the courage to reach down and retrieve the all-too-familiar envelope.