ALPHA OF DARKSTONE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Later that day at Ranch del Romance...

(Lucy’s POV)

I automatically curtailed when I finally reached the front door of the villa.

Oh, heck!

I'm so late.

Aunt Selene only gave me an hour to do my task at the market and yet it took me one and a half chatting with the Alpha.

I took a long shaky deep breath and filled my lung with air before I slowly released it. Yes, I'm freaking nervous and in my head, I tried to recollect the excuses I've been memorizing while I was on my way home.

'Aw! Don't waste your time explaining to those witches, girl. You'll get beaten again anyway so just tell them you are late because you had a wonderful date with Alpha Zac,' Sky muttered in the dark corner of my mind.

My shoulders fell and I sighed feeling defeated.

Yeah, she's right.

Whatever reasons I might have, my stepmom and Katrina won't listen so the last option is just to tell them the truth that the Alpha and his men ambushed me for a cup of coffee downtown.

Again, they won't believe me about that and maybe think I'm having hallucinations yet, I'll just accept their harsh words and punishment with open arms.

Another deep inhale and exhale and I pressed my palm on the door to push it but someone beat me to it as the door's leaf cracked open. "Why are you so late again!" Katrina wearing a black classic long dress greeted me that I almost jump in fear as her dark make-up scared me.

"What the hell, Katrina!" I put the basket down the ground and grabbed my chest before I glared at her. "Are you going to attend a horror party? You looked possessed!"

My stepsister's eyes squinted as my words offended her. "Are you indirectly calling me ugly, you b***h!" She paced forward with her hands in the air ready to attack me but I quickly stepped backward and calmed her.

"Relax! You just surprised me!" I exclaimed although I mean it.

I mean, she has a mirror in her room right? She could see it herself that her looks are hella creepy. Is she joining a cult or something?

Day by day, her fashion is getting weirder, and weirder it freaks me out.

Katrina on the other hand stopped approaching and snickered. "You're just out of fashion, Lucy for you cannot afford this style. This is the new trend nowadays, duh!"

I winced, shook my head, and murmured under my breath, "Even if I can afford it, I won't join the cult."

I'm doing good just by wearing an old dress and worn-out shoes.

"What?" Katrina snapped as she heard it.

I grinned at her and hide my hands behind me crossing my fingers. "I said, you're right. It suits you, dear sister. You look extravagant."

Katrina huffed, rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms above her bosoms. "Whatever. Just go inside for mother and the visitor has been waiting for you for an hour already. Hurry up!"

That promptly made me frowned. "Visitor?"

However, Katrina quickly turned around and went back in leaving me confused.

'Who's the visitor is she talking about?'

Puzzled, I reached for the basket full of things I bought in the market from the floor and walk inside the house.

I have no idea why but I suddenly felt agitated while Sky began to pace back and forth at the back of my head.

That added to the weight in my chest and never did I expect that my day will flip one hundred eighty degrees in just a matter of minutes.

_______

I ENTERED the receiving room where Aunt Selene and the said visitor were.

“Oh, here she is!” my stepmother chirped as she saw me. She stood up from the grand sofa and welcomed me with a soft peck on my cheek that made me flinched.

What the heck?

Is she sick or something?

She never did that thing to me ever!

"Lucy, my stepdaughter, we have an important guest," with a wide fake smile on her lips, she grabbed my free arm and pulled me towards the said guest.

On the long Victorian couch was an old man wearing white suits and shining black shoes. His hair were greys sign that he's already a full-grown wolf, while a golden cane was resting beside him. He's wearing golden bracelets too and a gold necklace giving the vibes of his wealthy lifestyle.

“Mr. Hugo, I want you to meet my beautiful stepdaughter, Lucy del Romance,” Aunt Selen said and slightly pushed me towards him.

Again, I was wrapped with turmoil but I stayed quiet.

The man called Mr. Hugo grabbed his cane, used it to support his weight, and stood up. "It's a pleasant day to meet a lovely maiden like you, Miss del Romance. I'm Hugo Vertillo, a long-time friend of your stepmother," with a crook smile on his slightly wrinkled face, he introduced himself and was about to reach for my hand but I quickly pulled the basket off my arm and gave it to him.

"It is nice to meet you too, Mr. Vertillo." I grinned at him and then snatched the basket back for there's no way I'll let him touch me. Even if it's the first time we've met, he's already giving me negative feelings that I couldn't pinpoint. "Is there anything I can help you, sir?" I continued and asked him directly.

I still have so many tasks to do all day and I don't have that much time to waste.

Mr. Hugo gave Aunt Selene a quick meaningful glimpse before his eyes settled back at me. "I and Selene are discussing our marriage before you arrived, dear. I thought she already told you about it."

I blinked and mumbled, "Marriage?"

What marriage is he talking about?

I turned to my stepmother to ask what the old man was saying but she pinched my side which made me winced and instantly shut my mouth.

'Ouch!'

What the hell!

"We can talk about the marriage now that Lucy is finally here, Mr. Hugo," Aunty Selene encouraged the visitor and then whispered in my ear, "Do not humiliate me, Lucy, or I'll lock you in your room for a week!"

With that, I bit my lips and decided not to interfere whatever their conversation is going to be even if I have dreadful feelings about it.

I've been locked in my room once and it's the heaviest punishment I've ever had. No food, no water. I've been dehydrated and extremely weak from hunger when Aunt decided to free me.

I don't want to experience that ever again but as we sat on the sofa and Aunt Selene and Mr.Hugo chattered about the wedding plan, I slowly understand everything.

I thought being locked is the most terrible thing my stepmother could do to me but I was wrong. I underestimated her wickedness.

She's an evil Queen.

I clutched the side of the basket on my lap and tried to remain calm though I wanted to run and escape from the ranch at that point.

Earlier was the best day of my life having a moment with the Alpha of DarkStone. I thought I was the luckiest she-wolf in the werewolf realm not until I went home and realize that my stepmother is already dispatching me. That she is sending me off to marriage to an old geezer who I noticed giving me malicious gazes whenever he thought I'm not looking.

I mentally shook my head and my jaw clenched.

No! I'd rather die than marry a pervert slime-like Mr.Hugo Vertillo!