Chapter 3
Alpha Lake had seen how his guard had treated Audrey, and what he was planning to do to her, he had been standing by the door for some time, watching how Audrey tried to fight her way out with the guards as she struggled with them.
Normally, he did not let anyone maltreat his servants, it was not allowed, unless, it was himself, or he ordered it. But he had kept mute because, it was Audrey after all, the person he hated the most, but then, why did he get angry when he heard what his guard had suggested? It was probably because he was not the one who gave the order, he was an Alpha, the strongest one alive, and he did not like it when people acted without his command.
“Yes, Alpha.” The guards replied and left the dungeon. It was just Audrey and the furious Alpha that was left in the cold dungeon.
“I didn’t do it.” Audrey managed to whisper. She was surprised at how her day ended, how was she unaware that she had stolen twenty bunches of grapes? And now, she had successfully landed herself a night in the dungeon because of a crime she probably committed while sleepwalking or something like that. Her life in the Grey Blood Pack was full of surprise eggs; each day hatched into a new torturous adventure for her.
“You've got gut, little bitch." Alpha Lake walked dangerously slow around her like a predator circling his prey. Her heart was beating erratically, fearing what next he could do to her.
He came to stop in front of her, the bright light illuminating her tear-stained face and blushed cheeks. He harshly held her jaw between his thumb and index finger, forcing her face up to look at him.
She squinted her eyes from the bright light above, her hands had become numb from the pain of being chained for a long time, and her body shook from pain and discomfort.
“Listen to me carefully,” His voice was formidable. “Your life belongs to me, you are my prisoner. I will do with you, wherever I want.” He watched as hurtful emotions flashed across her face. He scoffed, he swore to give her more hurtful experiences until she felt the same way he did years ago. experiences until she felt the same way he did years ago.
“Yes, Alpha.” Audrey knew why he hated her, but, she wondered if her mother's sin was so grave that caused this intense hatred he had for her. She was not her mother but she had learned a long time ago, never to question the Alpha, even though she hated him deep in her bones, she could not go against him. She was his prisoner.
“Ahh!” She screamed agonizingly as she felt the chain roughly pull her farther away from the floor.
“I. Am. Not. Your. Alpha!” He growled, enunciating each word out dangerously. He pressed the control button on the remote he held, pulling the chain higher until Audrey was now hanging between the ceiling and the floor.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! You’re not my Alpha. Argh! I’m sorry, please!” Audrey was in so much pain, that she felt like her hands and legs had been pulled to the maximum limit by opposite forces, any other force apples would pull her limbs apart.
Alpha Lake stormed out angrily, he knew he would do something he wouldn’t regret if he continued staying in there.
“Do not get any food in there for three days!” Alpha Lake barked out the order to Bill and Bull who were standing guard beside the door.
“Yes, Alpha.” They bowed their heads as he stormed past them.
“She’s going to stay there for three days? Poor child, she didn’t even get to eat breakfast this morning.” Ms. Bridget sighed loudly as she dished out rice porridge into Alpha Lake's plate while he sat there, brooding.
“You know I’m too busy in the Pack's kitchen, how about I call Cara to take care of your home until you release your maid?”
“Enough! Bridget. You can go.” He controlled himself from using his Alpha command on her. He respected her as a second mother, she was the one that took care of him when his parents died but she had her limits too.
He knew she was taunting him for locking Audrey up, out of everyone in the Pack, she was the only one who could boldly show her displeasure about how he treated Audrey. But she would never understand how he felt, no one did.
“I'll come over in the morning with breakfast.” With that, she bowed her head and left.
He knew it; this was her way of taunting him so he would release Audrey. She had promised to 'come' with breakfast and not to come and 'make' it. He did not like what they made from the Pack's kitchen, he needed to eat something made from his menu, and nothing else.
He did not like what he was about to eat; he had his private menu that was used for preparing his meals, but he had no choice, he had to eat what Ms. Bridget prepared from the Pack's kitchen. After all, he had locked away his cook in a cold, dark dungeon.
He chose to live in the penthouse above the Packhouse, because he liked his alone time and he did not like to associate with other members of the Pack. That is why he decided to have Audrey as his maid, she did everything for him. He wanted her to work in attunement for her mother's sins.
“Oh, poor boy, I'm sorry, is the food not to your liking? You know? I had no idea ill be replacing your maid tonight, I wasn't pre-informed that your maid was going to get locked up in the dungeon.” She placed a glass of water beside his dish.
He knew it; this was her way of taunting him so he would release Audrey. She had promised to 'come' with breakfast and not to come and 'make' it. He did not like what they made from the Pack's kitchen, he needed to eat something made from his menu, and nothing else.
Cara? She knew he disliked her personality, and that was why she purposely mentioned her to him.
“Fucking bitch!”
He angrily stood up, the chair falling back from the sudden collision with the back of his leg. He hated her, he wanted her gone from his sight, his life. Even locked up, she was still causing trouble for him.
He suddenly thought of what his beta had said earlier.
*‘Why not send her away from the pack since she causes you so much trouble, Alpha.’ *
Maybe it was time he did it. He knew keeping her close and making her do all sorts of work and punishments were never going to bring back his dead mother, it was time he sent her away from his pack. She did not
deserve to be here. She was wolf-less and useless, he did not care what happened to her after she left his pack, he did not care if she died or lived.
“Alpha, Alpha Sebastian of the White Moon pack is here,” Andrew informed, standing in front of Alpha Lake's desk.
“Let him in.” He replied without looking up from the report he was reading.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Andrew bowed his head and left. A few seconds later, the door was opened, and a handsome man in a white t-shirt and army-green combat trousers walked into the office, his long hair packed in a neat low bun. He lowered himself to the seat opposite Alpha Lake's table.
“Did I ask you to sit, Sebastian?” He asked, raising his head from the report.
“Oh? I missed you too, my dearest friend.” Alpha Sebastian flashed him a wide smile. Alpha Lake scoffed, he expected that from him. They have known each other since childhood, they were like brothers but Alpha Sebastian was more like the senseless and annoying sibling. He was not in the mood for his shenanigans.
“What do you want?” He asked coldly, folding his hands on his chest and relaxing back in his chair.
“Oh, dear Moon goddess!” Alpha Sebastian facepalmed, shaking his head in dissatisfaction.
“You've been mate-less for so long, you no longer care about the upcoming full moon.” Alpha Sebastian sighed. He knew his friend could be nonchalantly cold about things, but how could he forget? The full moon had always been held in his Pack!
“Well, that’s why I have you, right? Like an annoying reminder, now speak. I don't have all day.
Alpha Sebastian chuckled. His friend never failed to surprise him.
“I know you’re the strongest Alpha alive, my dear friend, but could you show a little respect here? I’m an Alpha too. Not some servant of yours.” Alpha Sebastian whined like a kid. But He knew that was the way Alpha
Lake talked to people he cared about, he just loved to pull his legs, anything to get a reaction out of that stoic face.
Alpha Lake sighed, picked up the Pack report, and resumed reading it. He was not going to indulge this madman in front of him.
“Hey, hey, hey. Don’t ignore me. Fine, I’ll tell you. Spoilsport!” Alpha Sebastian muttered the last part to himself.
“I heard that.”
“I’ll be worried if you don't. Alpha.” Alpha Sebastian sat up in the chair, his expression turning serious as well. “The full moon is in two months. You have the largest pack.” He paused, waiting to see if Alpha Lake caught what he was trying to say.
“So?” Alpha Lake asked impatiently. Alpha Sebastian sighed, guess he had to spell it word for word.
“An email was sent to you yesterday. Your Pack has been chosen to hold the full moon ceremony for this year...again.” He crossed his legs, drumming his fingers on his lap.
Alpha Lake frowned a bit. Yesterday, he had been too angry to check his emails. That foolish girl always managed to destabilize his day. He forced the thought of her out of his head, he did not want to remember something as worthless and as stupid as that wolf-less female.
“Okay.” Came his short reply. He picked up his phone from the table and started typing into it. He knew this was coming but he just needed to hear him say it. He already had pending plans, all he needed was to give a go-ahead order and everything would be ready.
“Umm, what are you doing?” Alpha Sebastian was confused, he had just informed him that the full moon was to be held in his Pack, and all could say was 'Okay?’ and he even went ahead to scroll through his phone like he wasn't there. He thought he would at least talk more about it or ask about the preparations.
“Making arrangements for the upcoming full moon.” Alpha Lake answered and continued typing. “Done.” He took out his phone and smirked at Alpha Sebastian.
Alpha Sebastian scoffed, he should have known. “Always one step ahead, right?”
“Yes. That is what being Alpha is all about. Always one step ahead. Learn from me kiddo, it’ll do you some good.”
“You!” Alpha Sebastian stood from his seat and held Alpha Lake on his shirt. He was about to punch his face when the office door suddenly opened.
“Still fighting like kids,” Ms. Bridget stood in front of the door, her hands placed together on her midsection with a doting motherly smile on her face. Alpha Sebastian immediately stood straight, putting his clothes right, he turned to Ms. Bridget, pouting like a kid.
“It was him, Nana. He bullied me…again.” He walked over to her with slouched shoulders and threw himself into her arms. She hugged him to herself, patting and rubbing his back like she would do to a child. Alpha Lake just sat there, a smirk on his face. He knew Ms. Bridget did not believe him, everyone knew he was the mischievous one. He stood from his chair and went to them, tearing Alpha Sebastian away from her. “Grow up, you’re an Alpha now.” He said coldly and walked past them.
“Let’s go, Alpha. The launch is ready.”
“Yay!” He held her hands and followed her excitedly.Alpha Lake went into his home and paused. Something was not right. He looked over at his window and saw the wilted lavender flowers. No wonder, the scent was no longer as strong as it used to be, and no wonder he didn’t feel relaxed as he entered his living room. He had become accustomed to the relaxing scent of the lavender flower, it helped reduce his stress by fifty percent.
“That wretched girl.” He muttered as he went over to his dining and sat down. He never asked her to start placing flowers in his house, now that he thought of it, who had permitted her to bring flowers into his house? His anger toward Audrey just kept multiplying. He was also angry for allowing himself to get accustomed to the damn flower scent. He never wanted to like anything that came from her. She was his arch-nemesis. He made up his mind, he was going to send her away, just like his beta had suggested. He had to do it before the full moon, if he was going to find his mate this season, then he would not want her around. He wanted a fresh start without someone or something reminding him of his painful past.
“Oh great! I smell fried steak. My favorite!” Alpha Lake gritted his teeth, irritation evident on his face.
“Why did you bring him here?” He asked Ms. Bridget who was dragging out a seat opposite him for Alpha Sebastian to sit.
“He was hungry.” She said simply.
“I don’t care, leave.” He looked at Alpha Sebastian, to make sure he understood the he was referring to him. “Nana! He’s doing it again.” He looked up at Ms. Bridget, pretending to be sad. Alpha Lake sighed, giving up on any salvation he thought his friend could get. He was a lost course as it is.
“Let him be, child.” She placed steak and vegetables in front of them, pouring grape wine into their glasses. She was never a fan of alcoholic wines.
Alpha Lake felt like a visitor in his home, just because a full-ass grown Alpha decided to act like an imbecile baby in front of his cook. “Whatever.” He ignored him and ate his food.
“Aha!"Alpha Sebastian exclaimed after a few seconds of peaceful eating.
“What now?” Alpha Lake’s nerves were already irritated enough for the day by this madman. He wondered what he could want now.
“Something was not right when I came in. Now I know!” Alpha Sebastian took a sip from his wine, narrowing his eyes at his friend over the glass of wine.
“What?” irritation clear in Alpha Lake’s voice.
“Audrey. Where is Audrey?” He looked suspiciously at Alpha Lake, he knew how deep his hatred ran for her. He never supported him in the way he treated her like she was some murderer atoning for her sins with hard labor and punishments. He feared he might have killed her.
Alpha Lake clenched his fist in anger. He has to send her away fast. He hated to think that his friend was not the only one who thought the same way, no matter how much he denied it, the truth settled deep in his stomach and it was that Audrey had forced herself on his home. She had left her stupid charisma behind, he hated her for that. He wanted to see her sad and crying all the time, but she was always full of energy and smiles.
He hated her smiles, it unsettled him. He would send her away tomorrow. He did not care if she survived or not. He can’t allow her to leave an impact on people around him and…him.