“Open it, now!” the voice commanded, but I wasn’t disturbed. I hadn’t done anything wrong, and it was still early.
I was so engrossed in my sleep that I didn’t realize when my door flung open.
I was jolted awake by a splash of water.
A bucket of water had been emptied on me.
Why was that? What had I done this time?
I was still processing everything when a familiar aura hit me. My face deepened into a frown as realization dawned.
That bitch, Nathalia!
I should have known it was her screaming. My head ached from the poor sleep and her annoying voice.
What did she want this time?
“How dare you steal my jewelry!” Nathalia’s voice rang in my ears, making me cringe. The sleep in my eyes and my blurry vision vanished the moment I heard her words.
Did she just say “steal”?
I followed the direction of her gaze to make sure she was talking about me, and her eyes locked onto mine.
Surely, this was some kind of mistake.
“Are you deaf? Where is my jewelry?” she demanded, stretching her hand toward me.
My brows furrowed in confusion as my mind tried to process my last encounter with her.
She had instructed me to finish the chores of ten people. I completed them without complaining, and still ended up in the dungeon.
Why was she accusing me of stealing her jewelry? I was at a loss for words as I stared at her, my face more confused than ever, half-expecting her to burst into laughter and tell me it was all a joke. But her face remained as hard as stone.
Before I could open my mouth, my cheeks stung from a heavy slap. Tears welled in my eyes as I gently touched my face. I was sure it was red by now.
Did she just slap me?
Anger surged within me, but I struggled to contain it. She was the Alpha’s daughter. Going against her would only invite more punishment.
“But I didn’t steal your jewelry,” I cried, more tears streaming down my face as I swallowed hard.
“Are you raising your voice at me?” she sneered, laughing hysterically. “Are you trying to play dumb? You cheap slut. You’re a whore, just like your mother!” she lashed out.
Her words didn’t usually affect me, but in that moment, they cut through me like a hot knife, searing my heart with pain.
“Shut up!” I screamed, ignoring the pounding headache that throbbed in my skull.
How dare she accuse me so wrongly?
I wouldn’t let her toss me around. I was the Alpha’s daughter too!
“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me!” she shouted.
Her hand was about to find its way to my face again, but I caught it mid-air, stopping her from slapping me.
Satisfaction coursed through me as I saw the surprise in her eyes.
She didn’t expect that I could stand up for myself.
She shoved me against the wall.
“Get your filthy hands off me, bitch!” she yelled, pushing me away as if I were covered in garbage.
“Leave me the hell alone,” I shot back, my anger boiling. “You made me work from dawn until dusk. I didn’t even eat or take a break. You are the reason I spent the night in this hell, and now you Accusing me of stealing your jewelry?!” I fired back, anger rising in my chest as I glared at her irritating face.
I was one step away from lunging at her and breaking her nose.
“The reason you stayed up late was because you wanted to steal something. You know the Alpha King will be here any moment. That’s why you wanted to look beautiful with my necklace, right?”
I scoffed, her words only serving to irritate me further.
Me? Steal?
“Clearly, you’re out of your mind,” I hissed, turning to walk away from her. But she grabbed a handful of my hair and flung me against the wall.
I bit my lip to suppress a scream as I felt a sharp pain. I could feel a bone crack in the process. My legs gave out, and I crashed to the floor, clutching my side where the pain was most intense.
Good thing werewolves heal quickly.
“You stole it!” she accused, her voice full of venom. “The mistress found my jewelry in your room while she was waiting for you. It was also reported that you left the chores once. I can tell that was the time you hid it in your room, thinking nobody was watching.”
Her lips curled into an evil smile as she stared at me, and my heart sank when my mother walked in, confirming everything Nathalia had said.
“I swear, mother, it’s not true. I only left to pee once. She’s lying!”
“Silence!” my mother ordered sharply before slapping me hard across the face. “How did it get into your room then? Did it grow wings and fly?” she mocked, laughing hysterically.
I let the tears fall freely from my eyes, my lips trembling with the weight of the injustice.
I couldn’t believe my mother had slapped me because of Nathalia.
She didn’t even care to know the truth!
What kind of mother was she?
“I thought putting you in timeout would teach you some sense. But I was wrong. You ungrateful child! All you do is embarrass me. I hate you!”
Her words struck me like daggers before they softened slightly as she turned to Nathalia. “She should be punished.”
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as her words sank in, tearing me apart even more. I couldn’t believe my mother valued a stranger over me.
The dream made sense now.
“Make it quick, darling,” she urged Nathalia. “She embarrassed me, and now she should be embarrassed!” Her eyes locked onto mine as she hissed.
“Please, believe me. I never stole anything, I swear. Someone must have put it in my room. I haven’t even entered my room all day,” I pleaded desperately, hoping to reach her.
“I didn’t raise a thief!” she muttered, looking away.
I noticed the fake smile Nathalia flashed at my mother. Not because she liked her, but because hating me was the only bond they shared. That was their only common ground.
With a heavy heart, I looked at my mother, who couldn’t wait for Nathalia’s punishment. I could see the excitement in her eyes.
“She will attend the meeting with the Alpha King, but instead of joining as part of the Alpha’s family, as we agreed earlier, she will serve us, carrying dishes as a maid,” Nathalia smiled at my mother, finishing her statement before glancing at me.
“So be it,” my mother confirmed before walking away, leaving me with Nathalia and a guard.
My heart skipped two beats at Nathalia’s pronouncement, and I staggered backward in disbelief.
I couldn’t believe my ears.
I was supposed to sit there while the maid served us. Why would Nathalia make me the maid? Didn’t she consider the shame this would bring me?
“I didn’t steal anything!” I cried in frustration, hoping my tears would reach my mother’s heart, but her ears were deaf to my pleas.
She would never believe me, no matter what I said or did.
It was a waste of time trying to convince her.
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