Elana.
I have been working on my dress for the first-ever joint pack festival, between Crystal Moon Pack and Silver Moon Pack.
I learned how to sew from my mum before she passed away two years ago.
I hummed one of her songs as I detailed the embroidery of the dress. Her favorite color was red, and so I will be wearing a red flay dress to honor her.
The festival commences the day after tomorrow, but the main event where I'll be wearing the dress is a week away.
I finished the first half of the dress and decided to take a break. I looked out the window to see if the stalker man was there. But he wasn't.
I noticed he hadn't been showing up since I received the letter. I've been subconsciously looking out the window occasionally to make sure I wasn't just in denial.
But he actually wasn't there. And not that I'm not happy about that, I am. It's just, it felt nice to have someone who is that interested in me.
If only Alex would put aside our age gap and the talk of the packs and just make me his. Because he wants to, I can tell.
"Elana!!" I heard my name. I got up from where I sat thinking and went to answer my father.
Only he would summon me with such aggression. He was sitting in the parlor with Efanell.
"Yes. Father?" I answered. He just glared at me like I had been the wolf that killed his wife.
If he had no reason to summon me, then why did he do so? I'm sick of this man.
"Elana, you and I will be going to the market to get stuff for the house, and father's expecting guest," Efanell informed me.
I looked at my father in irritation. Is that what he couldn't have just told me?
I even wonder why we have to be the ones running errands. Father was given the opportunity to hire workers to make things easier for us.
But he sacked them all when Mum died. Leaving it all to Efanell and me.
"Okay. I'll go get ready now," I said, turning to leave.
"If Efanell has to wait for you even up to a minute, you'll sleep on the grass today," Father threatened. Empty threat.
He used a minute to vomit those words from his filthy mouth.
I ignored his threat and proceeded to my room. I put on a pair of cargo shorts and a tank top. Putting my hair in a bun and slipping on my sandals.
I took a couple of shopping bags from the kitchen and went to meet Efanell in the parlor.
"And where are you heading to in those skimpy shorts you prostitute?" The man who is supposedly my father asked.
"Father, just let her be. We will be back soon, and I will be by her side all through," Efanell said to calm him down.
"Shameless. Your mother would've despised you," he began to say. But honestly, I wasn't in the mood to hear his nonsense.
Without thinking, I walked out of the house and slammed the door. Stomping to the market.
At a reasonable distance, I began to hear heavy footsteps behind me. I was scared it was my father, but then I remembered he wasn't fit enough to come this far.
Efanell stopped me by pulling me back from my shoulders. I looked up at him with tears flowing down my face.
He just stared at me in sympathy and engulfed me in a warm hug. Which made it worse because then I felt like I needed to be more sorry for myself.
I started sobbing, and soon it turned to voices crying. Efanell rubbed my back and kissed my forehead. "What did I ever do to him Efanell? Huh?? Why does he have so much hatred for his daughter?"
"Why does he always talk about how Mum would be disappointed in me? Is it my fault I fell in love with the wrong people? Is it my fault I'm not his dream daughter? Is it my fault Mum died?" I asked him. Hiccuping from how much I was crying.
"Would mum really be disappointed in me, Efanell?" I asked, snorting as my nose began to leak.
"No, no, Elana, don't you ever in your life ask yourself these questions again," he said.
"It's really sad that father is this way. And I'm sorry for how I treated you in the past. In fact, I'll forever regret not treating you better," he said. It sounded like he was about to cry too.
Right now we were in the middle of the pathway. Anyone could walk past and see my big brother shed tears. I wouldn't want that.
"Efanell should I go away?" I asked him. Maybe staying with Alex as a sex slave wasn't such a bad idea.
"No Lana, you shouldn't go away. I promise from now on I'll protect you from that man. Even if I have to physically harm him," he reassured me. He tightened his grip around me and I nodded on his chest.
"Okay. Thank you," I said, wiping the tears off my face.
"Now let's go get the things for Dad's special girlfriend," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
I laughed at his attempt. "He was so excited about the arrival though. I wonder who it may be," I said.
Alex
I got out of the car and dismissed my driver and the entourage.
I would've asked a guard or two to stay and escort me everywhere I went. But I figured I wouldn't need that.
Besides, if I needed a guard. My best friend will provide one for me.
A smile spread on my face as a chubby-average-height man walked out of the two-story fancy house.
"Alexander my man!" He greeted me and engulfed me in a comradely hug. I chuckled and hugged him back.
"Edward. It's been ages since I last saw you. How have you been?" I asked.
"Oh come on. We saw just months ago on a business trip. How's the wife?" He asked jokingly.
I rolled my eyes at the man. "You know very well there is no woman in that position," I said. My mind drifted off to Elana.
"The kids, how are they? It's been long since I saw them last," I lied.
"Haha! The kids," he said, emphasizing 'kids', "are not kids anymore. My son Efanell is freshly 20. And the other one is following suit," he laughed.
My smile dropped as I noticed how he referred to Elana as the other one and didn't even mention her age. He mustn't even know.
He looked at my luggage when I didn't respond and offered to take it in. I waved off his offer with a smile and rolled my luggage in by myself.
As I entered the not-so-big but fancy house, I was greeted with a fresh scent of strawberry freshener and a clean atmosphere.
Their maids must be doing a good job because this place is spotless.
He showed me to the guest room and I set my luggage down and changed into a pair of joggers and a stay-at-home shirt.
I went into the parlor and sat with him. He was reading a newspaper when I came in.
"So where are they?" I asked, only curious to see Elana and the look on her face when she saw me.
"Oh. They went to the market earlier. They should be back any moment from now," he said.
They went to the market? "No errand workers?" I asked.
"No, no, I sacked all of them when…she died two years ago," he said. I regret asking.
Wait. But if they have no workers, then who cleans this place? I thought about it, then remembered Elana used to clean my room before she got promoted.
I laughed at the thought.
A few minutes after our conversation, I heard the entrance door open and close and heard chatter and laughter which stopped suddenly.
I looked up excited to see Elana, but she hadn't acknowledged my presence yet.
"Father. We're back from the market," the boy, who I assume is Efanell, said.
"Yes, yes, welcome. This is Alpha Alexander of Silver Moon pack. Also known as my best friend," he said.
I smirked in satisfaction as Elana jerked her head in my direction. The shock was written on her face.
Surprise, surprise darling Elana.