Martha is shocked to see my wolf's eyes or is that fear in her eyes? Do I seem like a monster to her? Is she scared of me now? I think to myself before directing my gaze toward Ethan. His eyes are narrowed in concentration like he's trying to figure out something about me.
I look away from them, closing my eyes for a few seconds to calm my wolf down and get my breathing under control. When I open them again, I see through the casserole dish that they are back to their normal amber color. I look over at Ethan again and I catch him looking at me strangely.
I can't look at Martha's face again. I'm scared of what I will see in her eyes. Fear? Hate? Will she start avoiding me from now on? I ask myself these questions but don't wish to find out what the answer will be. I just walk out of the kitchen, through the back door
I can't remember the last time I cried for anything. Maybe two years ago when Celine announced it was time I dropped out of school and work to help out with the family expenses. Oh, how I cried that day. I begged both of them not to make me drop out of school and cried so hard my eyes hurt for days... That was the last time I cried until now
I cry as I run through the woods. Indeed, I never cared about what anybody says or thinks about me. Anybody, but not Martha, the only person that genuinely loves and cares for me.
My first day as a maid was supposed to be the worst day of my life but surprisingly it wasn't because Martha made it better when she gave Celine a befitting clap back on my behalf. Martha was already waiting outside the pack house for us when Celine pulled her dilapidated car to a stop in front of her
I saw disapproval in her eyes as Celine forcefully dragged me out of the car and introduced me as the new maid who would be assisting her from then on. I remember Celine telling Martha she would need to keep a whip with her if she wanted me to obey each of her instructions.
"A Whip!?... Yes, horses are sometimes whipped to get them to move faster but I don't see no horse around here!" She replied Celine in all seriousness like she was genuinely looking for the animal to use the whip on. She then turned towards me and asked, "Or have you, child?" I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I replied "No" and watched Celine drive off in annoyance.
Martha taught me how to do my job. Told me who to avoid, who not to look straight in the eyes, and protected me the best way she could from the likes of Gamma chief. When they started calling me a freak for not getting my wolf on time, she told me...
"Don't let them make you feel bad about yourself. They want to hurt your feelings with their mean words so don't allow them! Avoid getting emotional around them and act like their name-calling and taunts don't hurt you. Be strong and always stand tall with your head held high."
Yes, Martha taught me to be strong in the face of pain and hatred. So anybody can hate me, look down on me, or say whatever they like about me... But not Martha.
"Please Moon goddess, not Martha!" I whisper to myself. She's the only family I have, please don't let her hate me. Don't let her see me as a monster..."
After I calmed down and dried my tears, I started walking back to the pack house. I still need to set the table for lunch and get the supplies Martha told me about. Most importantly, I need to talk to Martha. Minutes later, I arrive at the pack house and I'm about to enter the wrought iron gate when a female voice angrily calls from behind me...
"Hey you, stop there!"
I sigh in exasperation. My temper is frayed so I don't want what will push me to blow my top, not with this wolf that I don't know how to communicate with yet...
"I don't want another trouble looking for me right now. I'm not in the mood for trouble. Please don't let it be trouble." I mumble under my breath.
I turn to face the person the voice belongs to and see Miss Snotty Nose, Ethan's sister. And she isn't alone, she's accompanied by trouble herself in the form of cruel Miranda, the Alpha's daughter.
"Yes, may I help you?" I ask and she looks down her nose at me like she always does
"Where did you get that from?" She asks, pointing at the hoodie I am wearing
"Excuse me?... Where did I get what from? I don't understand" I lied. Of course, I know what she's driving at since I'm wearing her brother's Oxford University hoodie
"The Oxford University hoodie you're wearing, stupid! Where did you get it?..."
I saw red when I heard the word 'Stupid'. My eyes narrowed in anger at her but I willed myself to respond in a sensible manner
"Why are you asking?" I reply. Even if the hoodie belongs to her brother, what is it to her where I get it from
"Did you steal it from our laundry?" She asks bluntly
"Excuse me?" I bristle at her calling me a thief
"Yes! You heard her perfectly! Now stop pretending and strip right this moment!" Miranda commands
Rational thinking flew out of my brain then and I burst out in laughter. Did she just call me a thief and command me to strip in front of them? Like seriously!? Who the hell does she think she is!?
Of course, being the Alpha's daughter and maybe the future Luna of this pack gives her the right to ask or command me to do stuff for her but to strip!?... Hell no! I would die first! The last time she nearly broke my arm was because I was trying to lay low and didn't want trouble with the Alpha but not anymore. Now my wolf is spoiling for a fight as I move closer to them and look into their eyes
"Call me a thief again and see if I would not knock both of your teeth down your throats," I growl and wait for them to call my bluff but they remain mute or maybe shocked into silence by my boldness.
"What's going on here?" I hear Ethan ask from behind me. He walks to where we are standing too close to each other
"She stole your hoodie!" Miranda declares and I immediately lunge for her face, but before I can at least scratch her, Ethan grabs my hand and quickly stands between us. I would have done more than knock a couple of her teeth down her throat if he hadn't interrupted.
"Wow, wow... Stop it right now, Ash! He snaps at me before turning to his sister.
"Who said she stole it? I gave it to her!"
"You did what!?..." Miranda asks, looking furiously between Ethan's face and mine. She didn't bother to hide the fact that she was not happy to hear Ethan gave me something as personal as his shirt which makes me wonder if they are both in any kind of relationship or situationship.
"You heard me!" Ethan firmly replies to her before pulling me away with him. I look back and mockingly laugh at them as we walk away
"What do you think you're doing? Are you insane!? That's the Alpha's daughter or have you forgotten!? Do you have a death wish!?" He rapidly fires at me as we walk toward the kitchen's back door
"Oh, so many questions..." I say and giggle.
"What do I think I'm doing?..." I ask myself as I continually tap a finger on my cheek. "Hmmm, let's see... well I'm afraid I don't know what I'm doing anymore!"
"Am I insane?... Maybe a little."
"Do I have a death wish?... I'm afraid nope!"
"There you go, I've answered all your questions. And you don't have to look so upset, I just wanted to have a face-off with Miranda and Miss snotty nose. Oh, that's the nickname I gave your sister by the way. Hope you don't mind?" I say and laugh hysterically this time, wondering why I couldn't stop myself from laughing
"Ash, what..."
"Yes, Ethan..." I interrupt him mid-sentence. "Why are you looking at me like that? And before you ask if I'm crazy, the answer is 'No!'... I'm not crazy. I just can't get myself to stop laughing!"
He exhales
"Yes I know you're not crazy but when did you get your wolf?" He asks as we approach the kitchen
"None of your business Mommy!" I joke and laugh again
"This is not a joking matter, Ash! Can't you see something is not right with you? You clearly need help before you say or do something that might get you punished or killed!" He seriously says but I ignore him. I find everything funny doesn't mean I'm looking to get killed. He's taking this way too seriously.
We enter and Martha rushes to hug me...
"Where did you run off to? I was worried about you?"
"You were?... I didn't know." I stupidly say. I was upset over nothing.
"Martha did you know when she got her wolf," Ethan interrupts us.
"Some minutes ago inside this kitchen, I believe. You saw it too didn't you?... Why are you asking me?"
"Because her behavior has been erratic. She should be able to control her wolf but obviously, she can't! She attempted to attack the Alpha's daughter!"