Dahlia's POV
I heard the gasps and murmurs of sympathy from some of the pack members. It was a small comfort, but I appreciated their empathy, unlike my own pack members who had always treated me with hatred and disgust.
I took a deep breath and moved forward, surveying the vast pack house. The task ahead seemed daunting, and I sighed inwardly at my predicament.
Nyx's gentle voice echoed in my mind, "Hey, are you all right?" Her tone was laced with sympathy and rage.
I nodded silently, lacking the strength to respond. Nyx, too, was weak, and since I hadn't shifted, my wounds couldn't heal quickly. We both knew we had to conserve our energy.
I steeled myself and began the arduous task, starting from the entrance of the pack house. Every step, every movement, sent waves of pain through my battered body. I pushed on, driven by determination and the knowledge that I had no other choice.
Asher's POV
I stormed into my office, seething with rage. Despite the brutal punishment I'd inflicted on Dahlia, Kai remained silent. Not a growl, not a whisper. Nothing.
I slammed the documents on my desk to the floor, sending papers scattering everywhere. Stella entered, her eyes widening in shock at the mess.
"Darling," she said, taking a cautious step forward.
"Get out!" I bellowed, my anger boiling over.
Stella's eyes flashed with surprise, but she didn't move. "Now!" I commanded, my voice dripping with menace. She scurried out of the room.
"Kai," I snarled aloud, "I promise to make life miserable for Dahlia." Still, Kai refused to respond.
My anger simmered, making it impossible for me to settle into my chair. I couldn't recall the last time I'd been this furious. Kai had pushed me to this point.
Darwin entered the office, his eyes widening in surprise at the chaotic scene before him. "I'll get someone to clean it up," he offered, turning to leave.
"Don't bother," I said, my voice laced with disgust. "That ugly thing will take care of it."
Darwin paused, curiosity etched on his face. "But why did you order Dahlia to clean the pack house, especially after...?" He trailed off, his gaze locked on mine.
My anger flared anew as memories of my failed attempt to provoke Kai flooded back. "It's none of your business," I snapped, my tone icy.
Undeterred, Darwin pressed on. "The Crescent Pack is at it again."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "What is it this time?"
"They're spreading rumors about you and our pack," Darwin said.
I scoffed, my curiosity piqued. "What exactly did they say?"
Darwin's expression turned serious. "The Alpha claimed you're a beast and that our pack is at their mercy."
I burst out laughing, amused by the old Alpha's desperation. "Those pathetic wannabes," I mocked.
My demeanor turned cold, calculating. "What gift do we give the old man who thinks we're at his mercy?" I mused aloud.
My gaze locked onto Darwin. "Get me the Alpha's most precious child," I commanded, a wicked grin spreading across my face.
"We'll set up a little surprise for him," I said, my voice dripping with malice.
Darwin nodded swiftly and exited the room, leaving me to my thoughts as he set out to carry out my sinister command.
Ella's POV
I stood stunned, my eyes wide with shock. "What? No way!" I exclaimed, reeling from Gina's revelation.
Alpha Asher's cruelty knew no bounds. "I can't believe Alpha Asher would do that," I added, shaking my head in disgust.
Determined to find Dahlia, I embarked on a search through the vast pack house. The enormous structure seemed to stretch on forever, but I persevered, navigating past distractions and finally continuing my search for my new friend.
I felt like I was on the brink of collapse, my body screaming in agony with every slight movement. The pack house seemed to stretch on forever, and I'd barely made a dent in the cleaning.
Just a few hours ago, Jessica had appeared, her smile twisted and wicked. "Hello," she'd said, but I'd ignored her greeting.
"I noticed everyone's been giving you sympathetic looks," she'd continued, "and some have even tried to console you." Still, I'd remained silent, refusing to engage with her.
Her expression had darkened, and she'd grasped my face maliciously. "Look, bitch," she'd spat, "I don't know what you did to piss Asher off, but you'd better pray he's in a better mood tomorrow. If not, you'll regret ever crossing me."
I'd conserved my energy, refusing to waste what little strength I had on her. Jessica had eventually stormed off, but not before she and her minions had brutally beaten me, leaving me battered and broken.
To make matters worse, they'd trashed the kitchen, undoing all the progress I'd made. I'd felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but even crying seemed too exhausting.
I'd finally finished cleaning the kitchen, entrance, and living room. But my task was far from over. I still had to tackle every single one of the remaining 50 rooms. The thought was daunting, but I was grateful that my punishment didn't extend to the other houses outside the pack house.
Just as I was summoning the strength to continue, I heard my name being called. "Dahlia!" someone screamed.
With great effort, I turned around to face the speaker.
As I turned, my gaze landed on Ella, and a mix of emotions swirled inside me. I was thrilled to see her, but ashamed of my battered state. Ella's eyes widened in horror as she took in my appearance.
Without hesitation, she rushed towards me and enveloped me in a warm hug. We shared a very long hug