Jessica's POV
I was woken by the sound of the doors being opened and the loud laughter and chatter from the other girls as they walked out of their rooms and into their minds. I hated the position of my room. it was right where the other girls would pass through when you were going out. I couldn't help but feel as if they had picked and given me this room on purpose.
Last night I had fallen asleep in a pit of tears. I cried myself to bed and woke up with a slight headache. When I stepped down from the bed I noticed that the other girls were already staring at me as they came to sit at the edge of my bed without saying anything. the water thing about something.
" But seriously, the Master is going to take care of it. he's going to deal with all the attacks like he usually does. he is the king remember?''
Any mention of the attacks left me paralysed with fear. what had happened back at the hospital or something that had stuck to me over the last few days. no one ever brought it up. not even the rest of the girls. it was a safe the king had given them a direct order to avoid that topic at all costs. Rachel on the other hand had locked herself in her room and barely got out unless it was absolutely necessary or under the King's orders.
" I also heard that the master has closed in on any biddings. so there might be New Slaves coming in next month if the situation doesn't change.''
I pulled myself out of my bed but remained quiet as I listened to them. I wasn't sure what to do. and I didn't want to be a meddling person.
" I can only pray that the master gets his heart's desire." Emily said with a big smile on her face and the rest of the girls nodded. A short moment of silence was observed as they seemed to be lost in their thoughts. all of this seems so weird and confusing.
" We are going to pray to the moon goddess tonight. and maybe one of us will get pregnant. It would be the greatest honor.'' Riley said and the other girls agreed with her as they turned to discuss amongst themselves slightly. The conversations puppeteering All revolved around one person. Him. Him who was in my dreams. In my head. the one who they called Master. the one who I monster.
" Jessica, aren't you going to get ready?'' Cecilia suddenly asked us to return to me. all the girls remained quiet as they looked back at me. They were acting strange and weird.
" What for?''
" Master didn't tell you?'' she asked with a raised eyebrow. "If he didn't then what were you two talking about last night? Did the master punish you?''
I can't help but look at her with confusion. understanding nothing she was saying.
" Why would he punish me?'' I pushed, even though I hated her she addressed him as master.
" Because you refused to run. The master doesn't like disobedience. We work on a schedule. and the master only calls for us when he needs us. He summoned you because you were disobedient and you did not follow the rules."
" But I didn't know what the rules were.'' I argued feeling panicked.
" Rachel didn't know. but she still followed them. there isn't anything special about you.''
Suddenly I can't read but get the feeling that she was talking lately like Emily since last night. she was the only one who was standing up for me. What has happened now?
" I tried. I wanted to be but I just…''
" You just what?'' She asked, being cut with me.
"I..I.." I could barely let out a word. I didn't know what to say or how to defend myself. it all felt as if All of them had already made their judgement. and I was only going to damn myself with whatever I said. I was afraid. would they gang up against me? right now I felt alone. and I could only hope that things will get better.
"Jessica. I think you're just overwhelmed and confused. and I realize that no one has told you the rules yet. We got a chance to brief Rachel on them while we were on the Run yesterday but you don't know anything. and it's not fair that we judge you yet your clueless about things.''
I noticed that Emily had been quiet. Even though she had been on my case since yesterday, she was suddenly quiet when Cecilia was talking. The behavior from all the other girls seemed submissive whenever she started talking. and I just couldn't understand why they would put her on a pedestal so much.
" We have rules here. and these rules help us. master is wonderful and he's a great owner but he's short-tempered and he has no patience for disobedience and any ugly behavior.'' she explains and the rest of the girls nod. I couldn't help but feel their disappointment at how they were referring to him. Or how whenever his name came up all of them seemed excited.
" for one, whenever the master calls for you you are to go. you are to drop everything you're doing and run to him. but that is only if you are not required to present yourself with that guard they are. That only happens to those of us who the master is found off and trusts the most. and I'm afraid you're not going to make the top of that list any time soon.'' She explained that she Shrugged her shoulders and got up on the bed before working to my side.
" second, while master is always displeased with us he gives us chances to prove ourselves and to earn his good graces. and we must please him and make him like us more..''
"What?'' My voice was raised as I looked at her, I put my hand on my mouth, not even realizing I had spoken up. but this was just ridiculous. " but why?''
and my question certainly wasn't met with the understanding nature I hoped it would receive.
" We don't question what time I must want. and it is our job as his slaves…''
" Why should we be proud to be his slaves? Why should we even call ourselves that?'' I let out, feeling weak and frustrated. The rest of the girls gospel. they all stared at me with such disbelief that I couldn't help but feel as if what I had done was an abomination.
" There isn't a single person in this planet who wouldn't be proud to be owned by The Master.''
" That's impossible. Is that what he has told you? That isn't right. this man who you call the master is nothing but a horrible coward who goes around buying women as if…''
Thwart! The sharp stinging pain in my face shut me down before I had the chance to finish that sentence. I grabbed my cheek looking back at Cecilia and just slapped me hard across the face with no hesitation. none of the other girls were shocked, instead they seemed happy.
" You will not talk about the master like that. Now I understand why you're going to be trouble for us. but I am willing to be lenient with you Jessica Miller because you know nothing about the traditions of werewolves. you are not one of us. you are a reject. A rogue brought up amongst humans."
Her words cut inside me like a sword. I stared at her, my eyes growing wide as I clasped my cheek.
"No.." I let out, in between tears. "My mother only brought me about Mum's the humans because she decided that is what was best for us. It doesn't mean that we were weak or rejected. there is a thousand reasons why…''
" get out of your bubble, Jessica.'' Cecilia says. " the only reason why wolves would live among humans as if they were banished. sent away to live in different clans. the very secret that your mother has been hiding from you is that the both of you are Rejects.''
Her words cut through me, shattering my heart.
"You're unwanted, Jessica. The sooner you get that through your head, the better it will be for everyone.''
she said as she motioned for the other girls with her hands and they all got up and followed her outside. they were behaving like a puppet around her. like she was the one with the final say and they wouldn't dare do anything other than what happened was. It was all weird. it was almost as if there wasn't a difference between her and the King. talking was all-powerful. is authority radiated from within him. but this. with Cecilia. it felt forced. It felt prideful. I couldn't help but wonder if this was going to remain so forever. Was it true? Why were we banished from our previous Pack? Is that why my mother hated our species so much?
I had so many questions and no one to give me answers. I was alone.