Chapter 11: Chapter 11

DUSK.

I stood in the laundry room, surrounded by piles of dirty clothes. I had been working non-stop for the past few days, trying to keep up with the demands of Dalia and Ariadne. They had been making my life more stressful and worse than it already was. But I wasn't in too much pain caused by my mate having sex with someone else; I felt glad, but I knew it wasn't going to take long before he resumes fucking Ardiane when he gets back.

A part of me noticed subtly that Ariadne and Dalia's bullying increased after he left. Could it be that he wanted them not to hurt me anymore? Or were they using his absence as an opportunity to make me their own personal bully?

As I sorted through the mountains of laundry, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I turned to see Seline. I haven't seen her in days either. I concluded she was probably tired of sticking up for me. I didn't blame her though; the level of my pathetic and sad life was high enough to send the most endurable and patient person away. I went about ironing the clothes I just brought in, ignoring her. My eyes were placed firmly on the cloth, and I didn't make any move to acknowledge her presence.

"Hey, Dusk, what are you doing?" She asked. Though I wasn't looking at her, I could feel the frown that stretched across her face, but I wasn't going to get wooed by that. No one on this earth is capable of making me feel worth it anymore.

"I'm doing the laundry," I replied, my voice dull, trying so hard but failing to keep my voice from betraying my emotions.

Seline's face turned to one of confusion. "Again? Didn't you just do this yesterday?"

I paused, looking at her for the first time. "You were watching me?"

"Yes." She sighed. "But I ask again; we don't have dirty pigs here in the pack. Why are you washing these every day?”

"I was ordered to do it again." I replied, silently cursing myself for being unable to keep the sob that tore my throat at bay.

I watched her orbs flame with anger, and she flitted down to me.

"Ordered? Why do you keep letting them trample on you? Why do you keep doing whatever they say? You are not a servant, Dusk; you are an Alpha's mate, for goodness sake!"

"An Alpha's mate, you say? I see myself more like an Alpha's slave. An Alpha's mate doesn't get neglected and treated like a maid. I may be weak, but I surely know how dignified Luna's are." My bold stare was wavering as the tears pooled in my eyes, and I immediately turned away from her, blinking rapidly.

Of course, I know how royalties are treated. My father did those for my sisters; he pampered them and treated them like we didn't come out of the same womb. Underneath the sadness that welled in me, I could feel a little burn of anger settling at the pit of my stomach.

"Oh Dusk." Seline mattered. "I'm sorry for raising my voice against you."

A familiar high pitched voice that I had grown detested of lately called my attention back to reality. The soft click of her heels filling the room, I instinctively turned to prevent further things that would make me break down more.

"Dusk," she said, with a sinister smile on her face. "We have a ladies' party coming up, and we need the sanctuary hall, cleaned up. I hope you can handle it."

It wasn't a question, it’s as a direct order, but before I could say anything, Seline stepped forward, anger emanating from her.

"You can't be serious; the sanctuary hall hasn't been used for years. If you really need to do the ladies party, why do you get a hotel? Brothel? Or perhaps get someone else to clean the halls for you or you do it by your fucking self?"

Ariadne stepped forward. My heart raced as I started between the two. No, this can't be good. Ariadne would just make my life more miserable; Seline was causing more harm than good.

"I didn't remember uttering your name, Seline." Ariadne drawled, the anger dripping off her tone.

Before Seline could respond, I found myself toward them. I pulled Seline backward and nodded at Ariadne.

"It's fine; I'll do it." I swallowed a lump and turned back to Seline, who looked at me curiously. "I don't need anyone to protect me, Seline. I can do that on my own."

I walked away, ignoring the pang of guilt that settled in me. I knew Seline just wanted to help, but this was the only way I could protect myself.

I spotted Dalia ahead and did my best to avoid her, but she saw me almost immediately, passing me a bag of stained shirts to clean. I sighed and walked to the second washroom.

As I scrubbed at a particularly stubborn stain on a shirt, I heard Dalia's voice from outside. "Make sure you do it properly, Dusk. We don't want any mistakes."

Anger sizzled through me. Come to think of it, I am not just an Alpha's daughter; I am a powerful Alpha's mate. If I knew my life would turn out this way, I would have stuck to my sorry life at home.

I finished folding the laundry, feeling dejected and defeated. As I walked out of the laundry room, I saw Seline waiting for me.

"You don't have to put up with this, Dusk," she said gently. "You are worth more than this. I know you don't know how to, but you need to try. We are all born with different faults, but glorying in them would only be succumbing to their cruel fate.”

I wanted to believe her, but my own doubts held me back. "I don't know how to stand up for myself," I admitted.

Seline placed a hand on my shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. You don't have to go through this alone."

I sighed but nodded, making my way in to resume work.

…

LUCIUS

As I approached the grand entrance of one of my father's mansions, situated far away from the pack where he did his business, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anger welling up within me. I was still in the middle of the Alpha's meeting when he summoned me. My frustration grew, remembering that he would surely remind me of how pathetic it was to have Dusk as my mate. I hadn't put much thought into how she was doing, but my wolf did. He sensed some pain, but she was fine.

When I entered the meeting room, I saw my father at the head of the table alongside other notable Alphas and high-ranking wolves. They were all deep in conversation, and from what I could pick up, they were planning for the Alpha Ball.

I quietly took my seat at the table, waiting for my father to acknowledge me. He continued speaking with the other Alphas, seemingly unaware of my presence. I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to interrupt him and let him know how much of my time he was wasting.

Finally, he turned to me, his eyes cold and calculating. "Lucius, I’m glad you could join us," he said, his tone condescending. "We’re discussing preparations for the Ball, and I’d like your input."

"Really? Couldn't we just speak about that on the phone? What's the use of always obstructing and interfering with my life?" The frustration in my voice grew.

Now the room was silent. Everyone knew how ruthless my dad was, but they didn't know me. I was worse than that, and if he wanted to make sure I didn't have peace of mind, I might as well beat him at his own game.

"Lucius, respect yourself," he cautioned with a glare that looked funny to me. Why? It felt like he was pleading for me not to go on with my taunts, but in as much as I wanted to go on? I felt sick just being in the same room with these egoistic monsters.

"Fine."

He turned to look at Alpha Greyson. "I was speaking with Alpha Greyson earlier, and he suggested that we have more entertainment at the Ball this year. What do you think?"

I frowned; I didn't see why that was as important now. I have never been invested in the ball to know what goes in and what goes out.

"Do whatever suits you. I have never done this before."

My father ignored me after that and focused on the other Alphas.

The conversation continued for what felt like hours, with my father and the other Alphas tossing ideas back and forth. I felt myself growing more and more bored, wanting to just get this over with. I knew my father didn't just call me here for this; there had to be something he wanted to tell me. But I didn't have to wait for eternity; he dropped the bomb.

"Oh, and Lucius," he said suddenly, turning to me. "You’ll be bringing your mate to the Ball this year, won’t you?"

Anger pricked me as I shot up to my feet. This was it! Must he bring Dusk up here? Was it to make me feel irritated? If that was it, then it was working.

"I can attend alone, Father." I spat disdainfully. "But if that is a necessity, Ariadne would fill in as my mate."

“You…” he started but I cut him in.

“I have other businesses to attend to. If you may excuse me.” I said as I started walking away from them and headed towards the exit.

I saw the color drain from his face as he stared at me in horror, but I couldn’t care less.

Slipping out of the room, I slammed the door shut and walked to my Limo. I was sure he had bragged to them about me having a weak mate, but he forgot that I could get anyone I wanted with just the snap of my fingers.

But did I really want to take Ariadne along with me? Already I could feel my wolves disapproval, but who cares? Not me.