Miranda's eyes fluttered with uncertainty as she stared at me, probably expecting me to respond to her previous question.
I mean, what was I supposed to say? Admit that I had an affair with Beta Negan and that I hate my new life as Luna of the pack and Kaene's mate?
Nah, I think I'll pass on that...
"I appreciate your concern, Miranda, but I'm fine." I stood up from the bed, plastering a smile on my face. "I guess I just miss home."
She blinked at me for a few seconds but eventually bought it, nodding her head.
"Don't worry, ma'am. I'm sure you'll get used to life here in no time." She smiled, almost making me believe she was out for my good interest.
I ended up nodding in agreement, though my mind was absent as I stepped into the bathroom to have a hot bath.
.
.
After Miranda had helped me with getting dressed, I headed downstairs, taking in a deep breath.
I wore a simple lavender day dress and had my hair cascading behind my back.
It seemed Alpha Kaene had assigned Miranda as my maid since she followed me to the dinner table where I spotted the Alpha and his mother eating breakfast.
The breakfast was scrumptious, the table filled with several assortments of food that I was certain these two stingy folks wouldn't even be able to finish.
Just then, as I approached the table, Kaene raised his head, his gaze scanning my body possessively.
I almost faltered in my footsteps, trying my best to remain composed as I fixed my gaze on the table.
Gosh, could the bastard stop staring at me like I was a piece of meat?
Suddenly, former Luna Catherine, who'd been talking to Kaene with a smile on her face, also turned her gaze to me, her smile instantly turning into a frown when she saw me.
"Took you long enough." She sneered, eyeing me with disdain.
But I tried my best to ignore that, bowing slightly before her. I'd already greeted her earlier, so I decided against that.
Instead, I took a seat that was a fair distance away from Kaene, who sat at the end of the rectangular table, and also away from his mother, who sat to his left.
However, before I could even settle down, Kaene's voice bellowed. "Come sit here, Phoebe."
I gulped, raising my head only to spot him pointing at the chair to his right.
But as expected, his mother wasn't happy about his decision. "Why does she have to sit close to you? She's made her decision, let her be." She gave me a menacing glance at the end.
But once again, I drew in a deep breath, trying my best to keep my anger in check.
Meanwhile, Kaene insisted. "Not now, mother." He muttered in a tone that was audible to me.
After that, he turned to me. "I believe I told you to do something, Phoebe. Do not waste my time."
Wow! Why had I expected that he'd be different after everything that happened last night?
After the kisses and promises of...
You know what?... Fuck this!
"You know, you could attempt to be nicer when talking to me, Alpha." I made sure to refer to him by his title, though my tone oozed sarcasm. "I am your mate so the least I deserve from you is a little respect."
The dining room became silent as soon as those words left my mouth.
The few guards who stood at two different spots close to the dining table even fixed their gazes on me briefly, blinking with surprise before they continued their unmoving facade.
As for Kaene, he also gawked at me with the same stunned expression but eventually grinned slightly.
I sighed, getting up and heading to the seat beside him like he'd said.
However, his mother raised her hand, stopping me from moving further.
"Don't even take another step!" She snapped, standing up from her seat while glaring at me. "How dare you? How dare you, a simple maid from the slums, defy your Alpha? I should have you locked up for treason! I'll have the guards publicly strip you as an example."
My body quivered with fear and adrenaline, but I stood my ground, fixing my gaze on the hollering former Luna.
But to my greatest surprise, Kaene spoke up seemingly in my defense. "Mother, that's enough."
The look on his mother's face was priceless as she stared at him, her mouth agape.
However, a scowl soon appeared on her face as she yelled. "Have you gone mad, Kaene? Really, what sorcery has this girl used on you to make you so blinded by her continuous nonchalance?"
Gosh, this was getting out of hand. Didn't this woman have a life outside meddling in her son's life?
I turned my gaze to Miranda who still stood far behind me, her arms placed in front of her as she watched the ensuing drama intently.
I guess she'll have some new gossip to tell the other maids, especially Brittany.
"Oh, trust me, Mother, Phoebe is no witch." Kaene suddenly blurted, waving his hand dismissively. "Don't you think you're blowing this whole thing out of proportion?"
Oh wow...
What the heck was this sudden change in tone toward me? One minute, he was an arrogant brute who thought he could command me to do anything, and the next, he was... Chill?
At this point, his mother had had enough. She groaned dramatically, storming away from the dining table.
"If you wish to eat breakfast with this disrespectful scum, then go ahead." She remarked to her son as she walked in my direction.
But before she walked past me, she whispered into my ears. "You're going to regret this."
She ended up brushing past my shoulder, almost causing me to stumble in the process.
Well... That was a cinema-worthy performance.
"Are you going to stand there like a mannequin or are you going to come join me?" Kaene queried, his tone teasing.
I turned my gaze to him, staring at the stupid smirk on his face.
His arrogance would never cease to amaze me.