Chapter 117: Chapter 117

Two weeks later.

Camilla's POV

Settling into Silverline has been quite the adventure, the place is growing on me. I love it, I've already found my favorite spots, I'm sure everyone has.

Mirabelle likes to stay up on her balcony, watching the stars as if something they promised her will drop from the sky. I however keep to my bedroom most of the time, if not my office or the kitchen, licking on ice cubes to pass the time. I haven't been able to sleep soundly since we arrived here, the first night I stayed wide awake and earned myself a migraine that required me to get some rest.

If I'm not on sleeping pills, sleep escapes me. I've tried to contact Tiana from my new phone with little and sometimes no success. Tee tells me she's on a trip, she'll be back soon and she swears she's not hunting down people or piling up bodies.

Something about her not piling up bodies in some underground shaft screams hazard in my head. It's who we are, what we do to feel something, something different to the agony we are accustomed to so when she says that she's fine and not acting like her, I am bond to worry I've tried to check in on her several times, to which she can't respond or sends an I love you or talk when I'm back text.

Tee is just one of the worries stressing me, I need to know how and where she truly is but I also have a pack to run, and need I mention I started Law School last week. It's been a hectic week, I am yet to physically go so I've started with online classes for now.

Mirabelle starts her online nursing school classes next week, she us more than excited about the matter, making me excited too. I love this, I love seeing her cheerful all the time, a smile beaming from ear to ear.

Nearly an hour ago, I was looking at some mail with Emily, and Jenna, a new girl. You'd be surprised at how many desperate people are begging me to sign peace treaty agreements however, they don't comprehend that Peace is there as long as they stay out of my way.

My pack has grown so much in the last two weeks, not only have I been busy but I have personally recruited surplus to two hundred members of all ages and somehow, they were all shocked to see the Alpha is Female. I don't reckon why considering I'm not the first female Alpha to rule a pack singlehandedly.

Emily and Jenna are still sorting the burn pile while I anxiously tap the armrest of my chair. I have some other work to do and I'm itching to get started on it, it's exciting for me. Emily is asking me something about what to do with the other items from the treaties I haven't signed.

“Return the petty gifts from those that I didn't sign,” I tell her. Raising from my seat with the help of the table.

My feet feel wobbly, possibly because I've been sitting unmoving for the last two to three hours.

“Is that all Alpha?” Jenna inquiries, cuddling the burn pile to her chest.

“Yes, and oh,” I pause. A wide grin spreading on my lips. “Please do send my regards to the four Alpha's that sent their negotiators.”

“I don't understand Alpha.”

“When you're done, send their heads wrapped in a box with a nice gift card from me.” I inform her, utterly serious about my request. If I want so busy, I would have done it myself, those men came in here, making outrageous demands and insulting my capability to run and take this pack to greater heights.

Jenna and Emily gaze at each other, their eyes widening. ‘I'm sorry, what?” Jenna asks, visibly gulping hard.

“Did I stutter Sweetie?” I calmly ask, narrowing my gaze to her.

“No, Alpha I'm very sorry.” she retorts instantly.

“Good,” I nod. Walking away from my desk, with their gaze following me. Just when I grip the doorknob, I pause, turning to neet them. “So do as I say and as for the ones I've endorsed, send them a black rose from the garden or one of our special tokens.”

Jenna nods, I nod too. “Excellent sweetie, I'm sure there's some ribbons somewhere in the stationary boxes.” I inform her, my hand pointing to where the boxes are.

“Alpha, if I may.” Emily begins, her neverending chitchat already annoying the shit out of me. I flash her a glare of warning, hoping whatever she has to say is of some sense.

“I don't understand too, must we behead the negotiators?”

“Hmm, since when do I repeat myself?” I counter, “Em sweetie, you know I hate stupid questions so don't, don't piss me off.” I tell her, flash her a smile as my hand pulls the office door open.

“Alpha, sorry I asked.” she murmurs, making me halt. “I apologize deeply, and sincerely.” she says, the time a lot louder.

“Don't apologize so much,” I groan. “Just get to work, and send word out of my new rule. If one feels they're fit to join the pack, they're to fight a member of my pack, me included if need be.”

“Done,” Jenna retorts, a pen already writing it down into her notepad. I feel Emily is less equipped than Jenna but they both get the job done, without much protest.

I walk out, my feet hurting and eager to rest. I feel my pockets to check my phone, it's there. I tend to forget it half the time but I'm learning not to, my phone is essential to so many things in my life right now.

When I exit the elevator, right next to the stairs, I meet Memory. Memory is one of the people I rescued from Takishini, she's a nice girl and she helps out anyone whenever she can. Memory halts upon seeing me, she does this everytime despite me telling her and everyone not to stop their activities on my account.

“Good evening Alpha,” she greets.

“Evening Memory, why did you stop?” I ask, my gaze surveying her. Memory doesn't respond to my question, even she doesn't know why she's disobeying me. “I've told everyone to move freely, this is my playground but you get to play in it and do so without fear. I don't want anyone or you to stop when you see me, simply carry with whatever unless I order it.” I tell her, to which she nods in response.

I dismiss her, walking past her to my room to get myself busy with something else. As I walk past Karla's room, I see her and Kingston gazing at the wall, I walk past it, unable to contemplate how he saw himself unfit to raise her when she's so happy with him.

“Alpha Camilla,” Kingston calls out, his tone mocking the Alpha phrase as usual.

I roll my eyes and turn back around, walking back to the room. Karla and Kingston have been working on it for a while, customizing it. Some things Karla wanted Kingston said no to which I gave her anyway because sadness isn't a good look on the little girl.

“Your highness, you called?” I ask, leaning on the door frame.

Kingston turns, a laugh escaping him. After nearly three weeks with him, I can tell you he lives to annoy me. I don't know why but he gets a kick out of my retaliations.

“I just wanted to say hi,” he grins.

Hi, he called me here to say hi to me?

My face furrows, “Hey?” I snort, my hand deserting the door.

“Hi Alpha,” Karla greets, standing beside her father with a stick in hand.

I smile at her, I like Karla, not only is she polite and sweet, unlike most of the children here she's not afraid of me. Well, she's not too afraid of me. “Hey sweetie, isn't it past your bedtime, all the other children are probably in bed or getting ready for bed.” I tell her.

In response, she instantly points at Kingston.

“Ugh the betrayal.” Kingston snorts, “She wanted to finish her room so we came to paint the last piece of the puzzle.” he says, his gaze shifting to the wall he and her were staring at when I walked past them.

“You will get her sick from all the paint smell.” I tell him, all pride about his job on the wall disappearing when he faces me.

“I wanna go to bed daddy,” Daddy says, tagging at his jeans.

Kingston nods, swooping her into his arms.“Let's get you ready for bed.” he says stroking her hair. Karla leans into his ear and whispers something to him.

“Ask her,” Kingston replies.

“What's wrong?” I ask, saddened that despite the time we've spent together she still fears me.

“Karla wants to know if you like her room.”

“Oh,” I grin. “Her room is very nice, I'm sure it'll look even better when the furniture gets here.”

“Yea, let's go honey and tomorrow you can check it out all day.”

All day?

Only now does it hit me that Kingston's daughter is the only kid her age I see around the pack house and packgrounds while her peers go to school.

“Why haven't you enrolled her to into a school? Or perhaps you plan on homeschooling because you're so smart.” I tease.

“No, I just haven't found a good school yet.” he counters.

“Ask Jenna about the good schools nearby and start taking her there tomorrow.”

“Desde que usted está tan inteligente por qué no la enseña?” *since you're so smart why don't you teach her?*

I roll my eyes at him, “Don't act smart with me Kingston. Goodnight KK,” I grin, my gaze shifting to Karla.

“Goodnight.” she grins, her little hand waving in my direction.

“Buena noche hermoso,” Kingston replies. *goodnight beautiful*

They walk out and close the door, and walk past me this tease chose a room which is hardly a few feet away from mine. Belle on the other hand has a room in the other direction, I wanted to stay there with her but she insisted I take up the master bedroom, jokingly adding how she'll leave me for her mate oneday.

Once in my room, I head straight for the bathroom, stripping my clothes recklessly on the floor as I step into the shower. I like long showers, half the time I'm in there I try to cry, I try so hard to cry but the tears never fall. I've also found the showers can be helpful to my heat, I haven't gone into full heat yet and that's because I made sure of it. I had someone from Dark Moon bring me the medicines my mother would administer to me without letting anyone see him, to which he succeeded.

Once my hair is dried, I step up to the bathroom, leaving the hairdryer next to the sink mirror where it was plugged. I slip into my t-shirt and panties, not forgetting to take two sleeping pils beforehand. My phone is vibrating on my bedside table, I peek down at it, my hands fiddling to get my hair into a neat bun. It's an alarm clock, reminding to continue with my university assignment. I ended up choosing Harvard law school to continue the button legacy of attending either Harvard University or one the current top three universities.

I grab the phone and plug it into it's charger while I wait out the effect of my sleeping pills with a laptop in my hand. The second I open the document to proceed typing, the door of my bedroom creaks open, the smell of fruit scented body Wash filling the room. I don't need to look to know it's Mirabelle but I do.

“Hey,” she murmurs, waving with the phone in her hand.

“I thought you'd be asleep by now.” I tell her, watching her slide her fingers across the wall she requested be painted a nice color contrary to the black I chose.

“I was asleep but–”

“Still not used to the room?” I laugh.

Mirabelle frowns, bouncing on the ned next time. “You probably have a hard time sleeping too, don't think I haven't noticed you wandering at night.”

I simply shrug, I adore this bed and how comfortable it is but periodically, even with the aid of sleeping pills, I can't sleep.

“What are you doing?” she asks, slipping under the covers.

“School work.” I retort, diverting my attention to the laptop.

“Don't we have like seven lawyers, ask one of the them to do it, aren't you tired?”

“I am,” I admit. “But if I don't do the work have I honestly earned the applause?”

Mirabelle groans, falling back into the mattress, the soft pillow underneath her supporting her head. “I hate Alpha Camilla, she's stubborn, I want my best friend back.”

“Don't worry, two pages down, eight more to go and you can have your best friend back.” I tell her.

“When is it due and what can I do to help this move faster?”

I grin, grabbing her phone on her face. “ Two weeks from now,and you can help me research.” I say, handing her phone to her.I don't need her to do this for me, I know what I'm writing about but I also don't want her feeling uneeded. She rarely comes to my room and when she does, I like to keep her around longer than she intends on staying.

I read my question out to her, letting her research it as I continue to type from where I left off last time. It takes her a minute before she gives up on helping me, not even google is of assistance to her assisting me.

“So, Emily told me what Alpha asked her to do.”

“And I suppose you did it for them?” I ask, my gaze still fixed on my computer.

“Fuck no, I can't slaughter heads.” she argues, shaking against her pillow. “But, don't you think that's a little too extreme?”

I halt, dhifting my gaze to her. “No, Belle it's necessary, all of it. They offended us and degraded us to nothing, I was simply going to sit back and mind my business but now I'm going after the crown.”

Mirabelle's eyes widen, “You don't mean what I think you mean, right?” I response I nod, I'm not going to sit back and let entitled packs walk over me.

“If we're not the best, then we're losers.”

“Exactly, third place, fourth, or even second place isn't good enough. It's first loser, those positions are for the lazy folk, let them accept it. ” I tell her, “As for us, we go hard or die.”

“You mean go home, right?”

I look away from the laptop, fixing my gaze on her once again. “No, I mean die, as in d.i.e.” I tell her, spelling it out with my finger in plain air. Mirabelle nods, most color leaving her face. I shake my head, my attention going back to my laptop, I've got seven more pages to go and if those sleeping pills don't kick in any minute now, I'm going to finish this task in a few hours.

“So, Kingston and Karla painted her room today.” Mirabelle says, a warmth filling her voice.

“I met them on my way here, I told him to get that girl enrolled in school instead of keeping her home to play dolls with whoever babysits her while he's away.” I tell her, my gaze not leaving my laptop.

“This is random but, can we have a pool party?”

I pause, a pool party? It's very cold this time of the year and at generally this region, it seems to be colder than most areas.

“If you want to then yes but a pool party with these climate conditions?”

“I want to see some of these guys shirtless,” Mirabelle frowns.

I shake my head, I've noticed she has some favorites among the men, especially the new recruits. Most of them are very good looking. But somehow, to me nobody compares to the bastard that ruined my life, and awakened the demons inside me.

“You can make them do whatever you want, that too without question. Beta or not, you're an eye candy magnet.” I wink, a laugh escaping me.

“Speaking of eye candy, you seem to have the undivided attention of the most flavorful eye candy.”

“No.” I instantly blurt out, shaking my head. Of course she would consider him the most flavorful eye candy, I heard the girls voted on it which I think is stupid. Kingston is attractive, I won't lie but I'm not looking for anything other than the top spot in my Law School Class and Silverline supremacy. I also concede the pull he has on me, it's why I avoid him the times we are alone, I don't trust myself with man. One minute we're at each other's throats and the next, we're eye fucking each other to the point our throats run dry. The stare down gets broken by another point of conversation which is practically an argument starter.

“The way you guys argue is so cute.” Mirabelle laughs, hand tapping the mattress.

Argue, yes. Arguing is where our awkward encounters will always end, we won't go past that line, neither one of us is willing to cross that line.

“He simply won't let me be right without an argument.” I shrug, my attention on my laptop once again.

Mirabelle begins to toy with her phone, scrolling aimlessly on her now private Instagram page that can't be tracked or viewed by Adrian or whoever he may implore to do the job for him because our servers and systems are protected by the best. Mirabelle and I both unfollowed every member of Midnight Saints, we had to pull an all nighter but it was worth it, our Instagram has nobody connected to her brother on it.

A few minutes later, Mirabells nudges my leg

“Hey, have you heard the tale of the devil” she asks, slanting her phone to the side when I gaze at her with my face creased. “You are the devil in this tale,” she laughs. “ Most parents use you to scare kids into doing as they are told, they tell them a tals log the giant Alpha that swallows you alive and eats you flesh to bone and bone to flesh.” she says, her voice deepening for dramatic effect.

I let out a snorted laugh, “That's fucked up, also explains why the kids drop in fear but it's the worst farfetched legend.”

“There are a few nice ones though, my favorite is the one where you saved everyone.” She mumbles, a yawn masking her words.

“Not sleepy huh?” I ask, surveying her face. She's worked all day and it shows, her gaze is tired but she's fighting to stay up, just a little bit longer than she can. Almost like out waiting herself in a competition against herself.

Mirabelle shakes her head against the pillow, another yawn escaping her. “Nope, not yet.” she retorts, her attention moving back to her phone.

I too go back to my laptop, typing the fourth page to the ten needed. Not long after, the sound of Mirabelle's heavy breathing catches my attention. I peek back at her, a grin stretching over my lips. She's asleep, my hand reaches for the phone in her hand, pulling it slowly and carefully so she doesn't wake up. I place the phone on the table next to mine, and carry on with my work, the sleeping pills I took earlier beginning to express their effect.