Once A Princess, Now A Slave

16- An Introduction To Her New Life

Kelsie's POV

The last time I felt this way is when my mother died. I was at rock bottom and the only one who was there for me was my father. And now, they are already together.

'Mom... Father, I hope you two are happy now.'

I close my eyes as I let the cold blow of the afternoon wind hit my face. I still remember the last time I saw my father.

That day, I was supposed to meet my father. However, when I visit him in the salutary quarters where he stayed for his medication, he was still asleep. Throughout that day, I took an exam, pulled a prank on that girl who gossiped behind my back and stayed in my room afterward because everyone in this pack pisses me off. The next morning, I spent the rest of the day pampering myself, putting make up and a dress to meet a boy instead of taking care of him. I never thought the last time I saw him sleeping is also the last time I'll witness him breathing.

In the middle of my thoughts, I sensed someone's presence from behind. Before it approaches me, I turn my head and face it.

"We've been searching for you in the whole house. What are you doing here? Tsk!" Kristine crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head at me.

I raise a brow. It's been only a week since our father died, yet her true colors are already exposed.

"Why do you care?" I asked with my left brow arching upward.

"I don't. Mother is looking for you."

I roll my eyes and darted my eyes back in front. "Go away. I'm busy," I answered.

"Tss..." she hisses. "Don't blame me. I did inform you mom is looking for you," she added.

I ignored her and focused my eyes in front of me instead. I do not care about her or her mother. If I know, they do not really care about my father's death. I heard her footsteps fading, an indication that she is exiting the place. I look down at where I was standing.

'Audig Tamaska'

The gray plate where my father's name was engraved is placed in the far corner of the pack's forest. It's been only a week yet my evil stepmother already wants my father to be six feet under the ground. She did not even let me grieve. The funeral lasts only for three days. She wanted to cremate my father's body, yet I disagreed. I still remember how I scratches her face when I heard her decision. Good thing Mr. Boris stepped in and told Denette that it is better for Audig to have a proper burial. Just like me, he did not like the idea of my father's wake lasting only for a week.

I bite my lower lip as the scene flashes on my mind.

"But Kristine's birthday is just around the corner. If we will make my husband's wake longer, it would make my daughter's party gloomy. I do not want that for Kristine's 18th birthday."

My bloodshot eyes narrowed at her. I've been crying day and night, nonstop after the death of my father. It's only seven in the morning and this is what I'll hear in the middle of breakfast.

"You've got to be kidding me," I murmured. My fingers gripped the fork that I am holding.

Mr. Boris cleared his throat. He is sitting a chair away from me while his son is beside me. I am not surprised why they are always here in the Alpha's house. Even without a formal coronation, all the pack members know that their family will be the next Alpha.

"Denette, I think Kelsie is right. It is not proper for the wake to only last a week. Besides, Audis was our Alpha. The least thing that the pack can do is to give him a proper burial," Mr. Boris stated.

I look at him with pure gratefulness. He sensed that I am looking so he looked back. He flashed a small smile genuine smile at me.

I am very thankful that even my father had poor taste in girls, at least he got a good eye for a Beta. Mr. Boris can duel my father when he was weak to steal his position, however, he chose to respect him.

"Boris, as far as I remember, I am still the Luna. I still have the last say on this." My stepmother coldly answered.

I glared at her. She is formally sitting on my father's chair in the front center of the table while on her right is her daughter, while I am sitting on her left.

My grip on the fork once again tightens. With her back straight, I watch her gracefully eat her food.

Who can eat at this moment? If my husband died just a couple of days ago, I might be wailing in our master's bedroom while hugging his clothes.

My eyes dropped to her left hand resting casually on the table. I can feel the itchiness of my hand while holding the fork. The thought of stabbing her crosses my mind.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. My heart beats faster than its normal rate. I can already sense the adrenaline rushing through my system. I shut my eyes tightly and lowered my head. I won't be surprised if the fork that I am holding will break due to the way I gripped it.

I already made up my mind to stab her when suddenly, I felt a warm hand on top of my left thigh.

I lift my head and looked at Connor. His eyes are all on the table. I can see no emotion on his face. I do not understand how his cold shoulders can make my insides calm and warm. It's confusing how his small movement can make a big difference to me. The way he held me screams comfort in the middle of this chaotic conversation.

"I also do not like the idea of cremation. It's not appropriate for the pack to not have a grave for their former Alpha," he said.

My heart sank. I do not understand what I am feeling right now. My sight becomes blurry due to the hot tears pooling on my lower lids. I felt Connor's hand gently squeezing my thigh without removing his eyes from the people at the table.

I gulp and clear my tears by blinking them away.

"Uhmm..."

My attention shifted to my sister who is sitting across from me and raising her hand. She immediately caught the attention of her mother. Denette flashes a smile at her.

"Yes, my dear daughter?"

"I agree with what Connor has said. We should give father a grave, mom," my stepsister added.

Out of all the fake words that come out of her mouth, I guess this is the only thing I like.

Denette sighed. I gave her my attention. I never thought I would ever be this attentive to whatever she will say.

I do not want to admit it, but at this moment, I have no power to decide on this. I am indeed the daughter of the former Alpha, but I am not yet a Luna.

I looked at Connor. His hand is still on my thigh, occasionally rubbing it up and down in the hopes of giving me comfort.

"Fine. Since it was my daughter who requested it, I'll agree to it. We'll have his grave in the forest where the other respected late members were buried," she said.

My stepsister proudly looks at Connor with a small smile trying to have a place on her lips. When she realized Connor isn't looking back at her, she darted her gaze at me and raised a brow-- as if she was saying that she now have the power.

If this is a normal day, I might be arching my brow now. However, I just have no energy and I am drained by all of this toxicity.

I took a deep sigh with my lips closed. I look at Connor. His eyes darted swiftly at me and went back to the table.

His father will be soon proclaimed an Alpha. It means he will soon be an Alpha. I once wanted an Alpha mate. And in this pack, for me to have power, I need to get back to having a direct connection to the Alpha, like how I was a daughter to the former.

I stare at him.

The regret crosses my mind, but I immediately shove it away.

I already rejected him. My desperation for power is not enough to break my rules. I may be sometimes pretentious, but I have principles. I know how to stand firm on my decision.

My thoughts on the last scene that I had with my family were halted when I felt a hard thing being thrown in my direction A small rock rolled onto my feet. I am still processing what was happening when another rock was thrown at me. This time, it hit the side of my head. I sensed another one flying at me. I immediately duck to avoid it. I turn my head to where the stone is coming from and saw two she-wolves younger than me.

They both crosses their arms over their chest and glared at me.

My brows furrowed. Since when did these people have the courage to treat me like this?

I mimic what they were doing. I also cross my arms and arch my brows. We all stare at each other for good five seconds before they decided to leave. They even roll their eyes before turning their backs on me.

"Tss. Nothing's new. Still a bunch of cowards," I said to myself as I watch them walk away.

My hand instinctively caress my stomach when I heard it growl. I looked back at my father's grave and sighed. I'll come back tomorrow. It's early in the morning and I still haven't eaten my breakfast yet.

I walked back inside the Alpha's house. The forest that serves as the graveyard of our pack members isn't that far from the Alpha's house so I managed to get back in just a couple of minutes.

I am already in the doorway when I saw my stepsister. She raised a brow at me.

"I warned you," she said.

My brows furrow. Before I can react, my face flew in the other direction as a palm hit my cheeks.

What the...

My hand caress my left cheek. I lift my head and looked at my stepmother's glaring eyes.

"Didn't I call you?!" she raised her voice.

-----

Unedited. English is not my first language. My apologies for the grammar, sentence construction, and wrong spelling.

-----

Once A Princess, Now A Slave

By: Joanne Cristel

©2023