~Daliah's POV~
"Henceforth, you'll be assigned to other duties. You'll cook, clean and work in the pantry… or in the garden. Just anywhere! I do not want to see you lurking around my man all the time!" Her loud voice rang out, keeping me in place.
For the briefest of minutes, I glanced at Alpha Zarek to see him already frowning. But he said nothing. I had even almost given up on him ever saying anything when he gently shrugged her to the side and stared down at me.
"You'll work in the kitchen, Dahlia." And then to Ms Jennifer, he added; "…and you'll work in my chamber. I acquired you specifically for that purpose."
Oh my daysss!
"But why?" Ms Jennifer cried and I almost rolled my eyes when tears streamed down her face. Even the way she cried seemed perfect… like something straight out of an animation. "Why would you do that? Aren't I enough?"
You are not.
The air grew thick with unsaid words and an uncomfortable silence settled between us. Neither of us spoke nor moved, and the more time I spent in here, the more I feared for myself. The more I also feared that she would strike. Or maybe hit me as she cannot dare hit Alpha Zarek.
However, She didn't and my heart wouldn't stop palpitating.
"Alpha, I will take my leave now. I have a few things to do in the courtyard." I said, bowing low.
Truthfully, I had nothing to do. I just wanted to be away from here.
Alpha Zarek moved then. He turned to look at me with his eyes burning into my skin. The intensity of his gaze had me squirming. Again. As it was dark yet possessive… cold yet nerve wrenching; and at the same time he seemed to have other conflicting emotions scattering across his green orbs too.
"You'll stay." He finally said, causing goosebumps to erupt on my skin. "I'm not done with you."
If my heart was beating fast before then now it was somersaulting. I trembled, mostly because he could barely contain the lust in his gaze… his desire. It felt like he was intent on riling Jennifer up.
"Zare—"
"She's my Slave, Jennifer. She works in my house. And you do not tell her what to do in my house." His voice was eerily low, extremely frightening yet turned me on in ways I couldn't explain. Thoughtlessly, I parted my lips to let out air but when I noticed that his eyes had trailed that movement, I snapped it shut and licked my suddenly dry lips quickly.
And Hades, he watched that as well.
A fierce flame spread across my cheek and without being told I knew now that I looked like a bowl of squashed tomatoes. Red and mushy. This man was eliciting the dirtiest emotions in me.
"But I am your fiancée! Your woman! I should have a say in what happens in your house!" She cried, stomping her feet on the floor like a frustrated kid, and in that moment… I felt my chest burn. My burning skin suddenly felt like it was doused with icy water and my highs dissipated.
My heart clenched. His fiancée?
"Jennifer…"
"I need to speak to you. Alone. And I am uncomfortable with your sex thing being with us in the same room while I discuss important issues with you!" She continued, interrupting him.
If I was hurt before then what I felt now was a discovery. The not-so-subtle insult coupled with the way my chest burned at the thought of my mate engaged to another woman sent me over to the edge.
I bowed again, my head almost touching the floor and whispered; "Alpha p-please."
Maybe it was my silent plea. Maybe it was the mate bond but I saw his stoic mask crack… only a little. He cocked his eyebrow at me and folded his arm across his chest.
"Madame Angelique needs me to tidy the courtyard and help in the kitchen. I'll be punished if I do not do those."
"Hmm."
I went mute. I trembled. It was his house afterwards. His pack. His words were law and there was nothing could do about it. My mind wandered to the last time Ms Jennifer hit me and now, looking at her, at the fury burning in her eyes, I instantly knew that the worst was coming. The next time, she wouldn't just slap me, she'd hurt me for real.
"Now Dahlia, you can go." He said suddenly, snapping me out of my reverie. Unintentionally, I let out an exhale and turned to leave.
And then he turned to Jennifer; "I did that to show you I rule here. We're engaged but it doesn't mean you call the shots… yet. Stop defying me."
I knew I shouldn't have heard that. I knew that it should've been between them both but I did. And I heard her next words too. She said;
"I'll kill her, I promise you, Zarek. I'll kill her and I'll kill that ugly mutt she calls her daughter!"
It didn't hear Alpha Zarek's next words. Hell, I wasn't even sure that he said anything because my heart was hammering heavily against my chest, momentarily deafening me.
Tears leaked out of my eyes as I rushed out of the chamber and away from their burning eyes altogether.
Right now, all I cared about was Amara and with my tears nearly blinding me, I made a dash for Beta Orion's manor not so far from here. I needed to see my daughter.
I had to see her.
—
"Mommy!" Amara's playful squeal sounded like music to my ears and immediately I heard it, tears slipped down my face.
I went on my knees and spread my arms just in time for her to come running into my arms and wrapping her dainty hands around my neck, engulfing me in that hug that was warm and comforting at the same time.
However, just then, the unexpected happened.
Another arm wrapped itself around my neck and I gasped as a beautiful child not above 4 leaned back to smile brightly at me. She had sandy blonde hair that was styled into two ponytails and had the bluest eyes the world has ever known. Beta Orion's daughter.
"Hi, my name is Tiffany." She said softly, her soft smile never leaving her face as her hair bounced in the wind. My heart hurt with so much warmth, I felt rooted in place.
"Mommy, she's my friend!" Amara added and I smiled, unsure of what to say. My chest felt too full, I was tongue tied.
After a moment of extreme joy, I pulled them closer, kissed them one after the other on the cheek and smiled. "How're you both?"
"I'm fine mommy!"
"I'm fine— can I call you mommy?"
I froze.
My eyes widened as a million and one sensations zapped through my skin. Warmth like never before spread across my chest. That was until I paused. Whilst steadying my trembling hands by my side, I said;
"Your mommy wouldn't like that so much, Tiffany. You can simply call me Dahlia instead—"
"My mom wouldn't bother. She's dead." She interrupted, sounding almost impatient now.
I didn't push it. I didn't correct her or indulge her. I simply hugged her. Now, when tears slipped out of my eyes, it was because I worried about Amara. I worried about what would've become of her if I wasn't in the picture.
I sobbed with the girls wrapped in my arms for a while— and I do not know how long that was— until the clearing of one's throat cut through our reverie. We raised our heads at the time to see…
"Beta Orion?" I gasped, my eyes wide. Then bowing, I added; "I didn't see you coming. Good afternoon, Beta."
"Good afternoon, Dahlia."
The gentleness with which he used to speak to me made my heart flutter in my chest and I ducked my head as a wave of warmth pooled in my belly.
"I see you were spending time with the girls." He murmured lowly and I nodded with a smile.
"Yes, I am." I muttered. "Also, thank you so much for allowing my Amara to stay with you. Thank you for giving her nice clothes and for feeding her nicely. Thank you for it all."
"You do not have to thank me, Dahlia. Tiffany is a handful and Amara helps me with her. It's only nice that I return the favor."
The way his eyes watered when he talked about Tiffany made my heart lurch in my chest. The girls however, took the cue then to strut away from us and while they played in the flower garden, I watched them. Beta Orion did too.
I wanted to ask about Tiffany's mother. The little girl had mentioned how she no longer had one and the curious part of me wanted to know what happened. It itched to know how it had happened, but I couldn't. So I sealed my lips together and instead let the cool breeze play with my hair while Ms Jennifer's threatening words echoed in my mind.
The shuffling of feet beside me made me realise that Beta Orion had turned to look at me and with my heart now racing, I kept my gaze fixated on the children. I couldn't turn to him… I shouldn't.
"Dahlia…" he called out to me, his voice gentle and slowly, I turned to him, casting my eyes to the ground.
"Beta."
"Who's Amara's father?"
Oh, Shit!
That was the last thing I had expected him to say and for that reason. My lips pressed together. My heart plummeted. I trembled.
Memories of Silvermoon pack and its Alpha had me almost hyperventilating and with shaky fingers, I brushed my hair away from my face and muttered;
"No one, Beta. He's dead."