"Stop doing that... " Ares grumbled to his growling tummy as he lay on his bed, hugging a pillow tightly to his stomach to subdue the impending gnawing hunger that made him uncomfortable.
He was hungry. Starving was an understatement compared to how he felt now, but his anger and pride would not let him dare walk down that stairs and beg for his food back, because he was sure after the scene he had caused, he wouldn't be getting dinner nor breakfast the next day.
When Aisha had heard about what usually went on in cases like this, she had taken it upon herself to sneak him food whenever she had the chance, but on days like this when doing the same thing was risky and would probably get her caught and punished, he had to suffer the whole night like this.
There was a sudden tap on the door which made him freeze from twisting around the bed in agony. Her stayed still, still holding the pillow against his stomach while listening to ensure he had heard well. The tap came again, and he got to the door instantly. His heart beat hard and fast as she threw the door open, expecting it to be Aisha.
The disappointment on his face was visibly daunting as he lowered his eyes to see Ruby standing in front of him holding a big flask.
His eyes went to the flask and lingered there for a while as he suspected what might be inside, but his pride only fueled his arrogance as his gaze moved to the little girl, not making a move to take the flask from her despite It was visibly heavy for her.
"What do you want?"
"I came to bring you your food. You didn't eat any of my Mommy's pasta." She invited herself in, leaving the boy still standing at the door stunned. He turned to see her set the flask down on the table with a grunt.
"I didn't want to eat." He gave her a serious stern look, implying he was serious, but at that moment, the scent of the pasta sauce hit his sharp nostrils and he licked his lips, feeling his mouth instinctively water.
"You would have had a little teensy bite. My Mommy's food are the best! And It would be rude If you don't try some."
Ares felt so envious seeing the gleam in her eyes grow brighter as she mentioned her mother's cooking with so much pride and joy. He on the other hand didn't even know how his mother's cooking tastes like. He didn't even know If his mother could cook.
She made excuses of her duties taking up her time in the past, but his classmate, Eric who was also an Alpha's son brought lunch to school almost everyday which was homemade by his mother.
Ares just came to realize It was either his mother didn't know a single thing about cooking as she barely did anything around the house, or she didn't care about him at all, and at this point, It could be both.
Ares firmly folded his arms as he tilted his jaw to the door. "Take It and leave. If you love her cooking so much, you can have mine. I'm not hungry."
Nature instantly seemed to want to betray him at that exact moment because his stomach let out a loud growl immediately after his words, causing the boy to be flustered and embarrassed.
"Sure... you're not." Ruby said before pursing her lips which held in fits of giggles that she feared may further embarrass him If let out.
"Fine. I'll eat the stupid food. But only because you won't leave." Saying that, he moved her aside before he got on the chair facing the table and opened the flask. He removed the first inner compartment of the flask containing the fruits to expose the pasta. He secretly enjoyed the scent and the steam of the still warm food as It hit him in the face.
"My Mommy said you can keep the empty flask under the bed and she'll just take It for washing tomorrow herself. I have to go now." Ruby explained before she suddenly turned to go, seeing as he had taken his first bite.
Ares planned on Ignoring her till she left, but just as she reached the door, he turned to her retreating back and asked, "How come you were able to sneak up here without my parents noticing you?"
The girl turned to him and there was a strange twinkle in her eyes as she placed her small index finger to her smiling lips, brows raised. "It's a secret."
With that, she walked out and shut the door after her with both hands. Once It clicked shut, she looked to both sides, ensuring the area was safe for her before she vanished into thin air and materialized in the kitchen where Arisa sat on one of the stools, looking a bit worried.
However, on seeing Ruby materialize in the middle of the kitchen, she approached her and hugged her, getting onto one knee as she did so before she held her back at arm's length with a beaming smile on her face.
"Mission accomplished!" Rube yelled like a lieutenant- like the ones she watched in movies before giving her 'Commander' Mom a curt but enthusiastic salute, her eyes twinkling.
"That's great!" Arisa chuckled helplessly at her cuteness before she turned serious. "Did you tell him to leave the flask under his bed."
"Mm."
"Good. Now we can go sleep and get some rest for tomorrow." Saying that, she picked her child up, into her arms, and walked out of the kitchen, shutting the door behind her and locking it.
As she headed towards the servant's quarters, she noticed several pack guards walking around. It was the usual patrol night, but the guards were too many scattered all over the place. Had It always been like this?
She had to be stopped several times for questioning, and by the time she got to the quarters, she was already tired and frustrated, and Ruby was a bit annoyed from having to hear repeated questions and answers all over again.
As she walked in, she saw Olivia already heading to the door with a lantern and a key. Once she walked in, Olivia's eyes gleamed blood red instinctively to the unfamiliar scent which seemed as danger to her, but once she she saw the mother daughter pair, she calmed down.
"There are certain rules I have to run over with you while you plan to work here, one of them being you can't just walk in here whenever you want. We have a curfew and It's strictly by 11:pm."
"Noted, Miss Olivia... "
Olivia frowned at the name, but she said nothing, not wanting to bother herself with correcting her anymore.
"There are a lot of Pack Guards on patrol tonight. Is that how It always is?" Arisa curiously inquired as she stepped away to let Olivia bolt the door shut and lock it while patting Ruby softly on the back. She had fallen asleep.
"No. Not until last week since The Witches tried breaking through the Golden gates. They're getting bolder and stronger day by day, and I fear we might not be able to protect ourselves from them for much longer If this continues."
Miss Olivia's voice sounded very grave.
Arisa said nothing, but her expression looked a bit unsettling. After bidding Miss Olivia goodnight, she went upstairs to her room where she lay Ruby down before taking off her shoes.
Her mind was filled with the thoughts of the witches suddenly gaining too much power that they subdue them and take over the werewolf clan while they have to lurk in the shadows like they had.
But the witches were never this powerful. They had gained a new power? So? How come It had been effective on a werewolf so well It seemed as a potential threat that we even fear them? This would only have been possible because someone amongst the werewolves was siding with the witches.
There was a traitor amongst them.