ALPHA OF DARKSTONE

CHAPTER TWO

RANCH DEL ROMANCE

Lucy’s POV

I shifted back to my human form and pulled out my emergency clothes behind a tree at the back of the del Romance villa.

“Oh, Moon Goddess! Please save me from the witches' wrath!" I mumbled while wearing a pair of undies and an old dress. It's already noon and I've been outside for half day. I knew that doom is waiting for me inside our house and I winced as those thoughts began troubling me. "They will surely kill me!”

Should I just turn back and run away?

I immediately shook my head and muttered, "I can't."

I have nowhere else to go. No friends, no other relatives for my father was originally from the other continent. He just moved to DarkStone because of my mother whom he met at the mating season ball. My mother was an orphan and said to be one of the Omegas in Reid's mansion. They met there and had a child which is me.

Now, thinking back to my current situation, I had no one else to ask for temporary shelter so I rather stay on the ranch and just bear with Selene and Katrina Clayton's wickedness.

To be honest, they are a major sluggish ass. They don't know anything when it comes to chores. All they do is slack off all day and bosses me around.

Do this, Lucy. Do that!

Wash this Lucy. Wash that!

Clean this, Lucy. Clean that!

For them, I was born to be their slave which made me more worried for I was sure they didn't make something for their breakfast and lunch.

One time Katrina gave an effort to cook and she burnt the whole kitchen down to ashes. After the incident, she never steps inside that part of the house ever again to my utter relief. She might burn the whole villa if she insists.

Heaving a deep breath, I reached for the empty basket on the ground, gathered my courage, and decided to finally walk inside the villa using the backdoor.

They might be famished and at the same time maybe cussing at me nonstop at that moment.

I somewhat felt sorry and guilty for them for I at least fed my growling intestines as I ate wild fruits in the woods when I was on my way home. I knew I should not feel that way, but they are my family as my father always told me before. No matter what happens we must stick together and love each other.

Nodding my head, I gently pushed the door leaf of the kitchen door and slowly stepped inside. I must be careful not to create any noise for I have no plan to snatch the witches' attention.

Maybe I'll just find something to cook and make it quick yet still delicious to make up to my stepmother and stepsister.

With that plan in my head, I reached for the switch to turn on the light cause the kitchen is so dark only to yelped and jumped in surprise when my aunt's voice boomed all over the house.

"Lucy! Where have you been, you slut!"

My eyes widened and my heart raced faster as I instantly spun around and found my stepmom on the kitchen's door.

She's wearing a robe, pair of slippers, and a towel was wrapped on her head. There's mud cream applied on her face but I could see how her eyes turned to slits and how her lips formed in one line.

Oh, holy mushrooms! She's furious.

"A-Aunt Selene, I-" in a stammering voice, I was about to answer her question but Katrina who appeared on her mother's side cut me.

"Care to explain where you've gone to, you b***h!" she seethed. She also had mud cream and I was not sure if I should feel scared of her or not. She's wearing a black off-shoulder dress and black slip-on. Her black long hair was hanging on both sides of her shoulders. Only a broom is missing and she could pass as a real witch. She surely has a strange taste in fashion. Katrina continued that snapped my focus back on her. "We've been waiting for you for four freaking hours! We still not eating anything since the morning! Are you trying to kill us in starvation?"

I bit my lip and gave her an apologetic look. "I was stuck in the parade, I am sorry." I chose to be honest but left the real reason why I went home late.

Aunt Selene moved forward and grunted in a low dangerous voice. "You know that you must be punished for that right, Lucy?"

I bowed my head as I felt intimidated by my stepmother. It's her wolf that was talking and Sky hid more in the shadow at the back of my head.

"Y-yes, stepmother," I replied in a small almost squeaking voice and that made Aunt Selene sniggered.

I saw in my peripheral vision that she reached for the whip that was hanging on the wall and I knew the punishment will soon begin.

"On your back now, my dear stepdaughter," she ordered and I obeyed her automatically.

Clutching my hands together, I spun around, face the wall, and closed my eyes tightly. Few more seconds and loud wacking sounds filled the whole villa. I bit my lips and the whip tore the skin on my back while Aunt Selene kept on hitting me.

'Oh, Moon Goddess. Is this my reward for saving someone's life?' I mumbled mentally but as the Alpha of DarkStone's image flashed to my mind, I smiled with sadness. "It's all worth it."

__________

REID'S MANSION

(Third POV)

ZACRIA walked straight to his private office in the mansion with Sasha behind him. As soon as the door shut closed, the Alpha instantly took his leather mask off revealing his face to his second in command.

Magnum Sasha sniggered and slumped down on the couch while Zacria sat on his chair behind his office table. The beta stared at the Alpha assessing his physical looks.

"Seriously, bro. You should stop wearing that awful mask," Sasha grumbled and rested his legs on the center table full of magazines in front of him. "What's to hide anyway? You have perfect brows like me, deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and kissable lips that all the girls could die for just like me. You're as gorgeous and hot just like me, bro. If you're not aware of that."

Zacria shook his head and smirked before he replied, "I want my peace."

Magnum Sasha cast him a look of disbelief. "Come on. We all know that our city is the most peaceful land in this realm. Also, you're not getting any younger and we need a Luna soon, bro. Show the world how striking the Alpha of DarkStone is."

The Alpha leaned back on his seat and shook his shoulder like he's not interested in the topic. "No need for that. I am contented with you and you know how much I love you right, Sasha?"

His beta rolled his eyes. "I love you too but-"

"Good." Zacria cut him and pointed at the door. "Now go and find Smithly. Provide me all the information about the gunman and the red-headed girl from the parade."

Sasha straightened his back as he remembered the incident. "Yes, about that. I want to personally interrogate the bastard." The beta quickly turned dead serious. He stood up and walked towards the door.

The Alpha who began working on important papers lifted his gaze at him and muttered, "Control your wolf, Sasha."

The beta huffed but then answered, "Roger that, Alpha."

That made Zacria heaved a relieved sigh. The mating season ball is approaching and he has so many things to handle and that doesn't include dealing with his Beta's wolf.

Zacria's eyes shifted to the leather mask on his table and he ran his fingers on it as he recalled Sasha's words. "Find a Luna?" he mumbled. "I wonder if there's a she-wolf who could see through this mask."