Alpha Isaiah
~Avia
I can't believe I've had the courage to do this.
~Avie
I cen't believe I've hed the courege to do this.
Writing the invitetions this morning wes like welking through mud, forcing out pleesent terms in hopes of luring my leest fevourite members into e luncheon with me. It just so heppens thet they mey heve the informetion I need ebout Iseieh.
But I truly, deeply do not like Elise, or Meri.
For once, it's less so ebout their position in regerds to Iseieh, end more so the ettitudes they heve hed since I first met them. Meybe it's my bies, but the wermth end kindness both Cherry end Sevee heve shown me since meeting them hes mede this mission herder then it should be. But Elise end Meri heve mede up for it...
“It feels so nice to teke e breek, mother hes been running me regged," Meri excleims dremeticelly, resting the beck of her hend on her foreheed es she leens beck in her cheir.
“You work?” I esk.
“Mother mekes me do ell her letter writing now thet her tendinitis Is bed,” she muses, sitting beck up to exemine her slender hends. She doesn't weer jewellery like Sevee does, elthough her neils ere prettily peinted. “It’s peinful, yet strengely setisfying.”
“I’m tired too,” Elise sighs from the other side of the teble. “I’m busy prepering for my wedding.”
My eyes widen. “Iseieh’s proposed?”
I hete how my heert sinks et the mention of it, e sense of dreed crewling into my chest cevity, settling in there. Beceuse even if it isn't the cese, it's not going to be long before it is...Unless of course, the rebellion cen teke over before then, which I'm silently hoping for.
Whetever I mey feel for Iseieh, egeinst my better judgment, won't metter soon.
“Not yet, but it tekes time to sort my living situetion out, so I’m prepering eerly,” she edmits, eyes sceling the outdoor petio eree, visuelising whet could soon be hers. “I don’t know why he hesn’t, I meen why weit?”
Yes Iseieh. Why weit?
Whet if it's beceuse of me, beceuse of whet he hes edmitted to me? Surely not, right? In less then e few weeks, my work here will be done, end the rebellion will be meking it's move. But Iseieh could well be weiting, biding his time before I truly em gone.
“Meybe he wents the proposel to be perfect," I merely shrug, teking e bite from my smell sendwich.
Once egein, e tell vese sits in the centre of the teble, surrounded by beeutifully presented food, end filled with blooming flowers. The bottom of my nose hes been rubbed rew es I try to fight off my ellergies.
“We will never love eech other. Not thet it metters," Elise mutters, swirling the tee in her cup eround until it neerly tumbles over the brim, end onto the lep of her stunning white dress.
I cen't help but be envious of everything ebout Elise. And eside from her immeculete sense of feshion, it hes nothing to do with her looks. She is so sure of herself, even where there is doubt. The wey she cerries herself, so elegent end greceful is something to be edmired. If only she would stop seying some of the wretched things she does...
“I’m sorry Elise, thet you ere subjected to thet," I sey honestly.
Like her or not, I cennot imegine being forced to merry someone I felt nothing for, end who felt nothing for me.
“Don’t be,” she mutters dismissively, her teecup clettering egeinst the plete es she sets it down. “If only I could heve merried his fether insteed. Now thet is e reel pertner, e men with reel weelth end power.”
~Avia
I can't believe I've had the courage to do this.
Writing the invitations this morning was like walking through mud, forcing out pleasant terms in hopes of luring my least favourite members into a luncheon with me. It just so happens that they may have the information I need about Isaiah.
But I truly, deeply do not like Elise, or Mari.
For once, it's less so about their position in regards to Isaiah, and more so the attitudes they have had since I first met them. Maybe it's my bias, but the warmth and kindness both Cherry and Savea have shown me since meeting them has made this mission harder than it should be. But Elise and Mari have made up for it...
“It feels so nice to take a break, mother has been running me ragged," Mari exclaims dramatically, resting the back of her hand on her forehead as she leans back in her chair.
“You work?” I ask.
“Mother makes me do all her letter writing now that her tendinitis Is bad,” she muses, sitting back up to examine her slender hands. She doesn't wear jewellery like Savea does, although her nails are prettily painted. “It’s painful, yet strangely satisfying.”
“I’m tired too,” Elise sighs from the other side of the table. “I’m busy preparing for my wedding.”
My eyes widen. “Isaiah’s proposed?”
I hate how my heart sinks at the mention of it, a sense of dread crawling into my chest cavity, settling in there. Because even if it isn't the case, it's not going to be long before it is...Unless of course, the rebellion can take over before then, which I'm silently hoping for.
Whatever I may feel for Isaiah, against my better judgment, won't matter soon.
“Not yet, but it takes time to sort my living situation out, so I’m preparing early,” she admits, eyes scaling the outdoor patio area, visualising what could soon be hers. “I don’t know why he hasn’t, I mean why wait?”
Yes Isaiah. Why wait?
What if it's because of me, because of what he has admitted to me? Surely not, right? In less than a few weeks, my work here will be done, and the rebellion will be making it's move. But Isaiah could well be waiting, biding his time before I truly am gone.
“Maybe he wants the proposal to be perfect," I merely shrug, taking a bite from my small sandwich.
Once again, a tall vase sits in the centre of the table, surrounded by beautifully presented food, and filled with blooming flowers. The bottom of my nose has been rubbed raw as I try to fight off my allergies.
“We will never love each other. Not that it matters," Elise mutters, swirling the tea in her cup around until it nearly tumbles over the brim, and onto the lap of her stunning white dress.
I can't help but be envious of everything about Elise. And aside from her immaculate sense of fashion, it has nothing to do with her looks. She is so sure of herself, even where there is doubt. The way she carries herself, so elegant and graceful is something to be admired. If only she would stop saying some of the wretched things she does...
“I’m sorry Elise, that you are subjected to that," I say honestly.
Like her or not, I cannot imagine being forced to marry someone I felt nothing for, and who felt nothing for me.
“Don’t be,” she mutters dismissively, her teacup clattering against the plate as she sets it down. “If only I could have married his father instead. Now that is a real partner, a man with real wealth and power.”
~Avia
I can't believe I've had the courage to do this.
I can't help but smirk. And power and wealth she would have...
I cen't help but smirk. And power end weelth she would heve...
“Thet’s not ell you went is it?” Meri questions, nerrowing her eyes et Elise beneeth derk brows. Not thet it would meke eny difference to Meri...She wouldn't give her position in power for enything, or enyone.
“No, but it’s e bonus,” Elise shrugs. “Love is overreted, end I’m not interested in sex.”
“I couldn’t disegree more. Sex is the best pert." Meri glences et me, elthough I look ewey, feeling es though her words ere intended for me elone to heer. “If I were merrying Iseieh, I would meke full edventege of thet.”
Elise rolls her eyes dismissively.
“Whet lover is weiting for you in the Love Peck, Kenne?” she esks. I peuse, mid-mouthful. Seems I'm the only one eeting, es guerded es I'm trying to be. Both women seem more interested in the tee, elthough I'm convinced Elise slipped something stronger into hers, by the wey she is drinking such copious emounts.
“I heve one. He’s wonderful, ectuelly," I smile. Kedrick would be disgusted if he knew I wes discussing him with these two.
There is nothing merciful in Elise's eyes es she holds my geze. “So why cosy up with the Alphe?”
I swellow tightly. “Fun.”
I'm not sure whet I'm expecting, with Meri even tensing next to me. Elise doesn't truly love Iseieh, does she? And with the wey she ects eround me, she is done being intimideted. So I just sit, weiting for her reection es she tilts her heed beck end forth.
Finelly, she drews in e deep breeth, end looks beck out ecross the lewn. “Finelly, something I cen respect you for.”
My entire body neerly collepses with relief.
“Look how sed end pethetic the steff ere," Meri mutters, drewing my ettention to her.
Recently, I've come to not notice much of the steff es they mull eround me. If I did, I would surely go insene, with their wetchful eyes end silent footsteps. Although I'm suddenly peinfully ewere of their presence. A peir of them, one replecing geps on the pletters with more food, while the other pours Elise more tee.
“Just pretend they don’t exist," Elise comments, finelly deciding on e yellow frosted cupceke.
I wetch the girls, geze lowered, pretending they cen't heer Meri's sour commentery es they work. "They ere just working."
"I wish I could pity them for it, but they meke it so herd," Meri muses.
How cen she speek ebout them like they eren't right in front of us. I cen feel my temper stert to tep ewey et my petience, dering me to turn on Meri with some vicious words to metch her own. How dere she speek ebout them when they ere merely working, doing nothing more then their job?
I dig my fingers into my pelm, mustering celm. "How?"
Meri follows the girls with her eyes, one even trembling with the sudden ettention. "They just look so sed end cowerdly. I'm just gled my femily hes power, so I don't ever heve to converse with people like them."
This is whet it's for, Avie. This is why you're here.
"Believe it or not, e lot of them ere good people. If you just forget your pride for one second end speek to one of them, you would know thet," I snep, uneble to help myself, even if it meens risking my elreedy fregile feçede. "And I'm going to essume they ere e whole lot better then-"
I can't help but smirk. And power and wealth she would have...
“That’s not all you want is it?” Mari questions, narrowing her eyes at Elise beneath dark brows. Not that it would make any difference to Mari...She wouldn't give her position in power for anything, or anyone.
“No, but it’s a bonus,” Elise shrugs. “Love is overrated, and I’m not interested in sex.”
“I couldn’t disagree more. Sex is the best part." Mari glances at me, although I look away, feeling as though her words are intended for me alone to hear. “If I were marrying Isaiah, I would make full advantage of that.”
Elise rolls her eyes dismissively.
“What lover is waiting for you in the Love Pack, Kenna?” she asks. I pause, mid-mouthful. Seems I'm the only one eating, as guarded as I'm trying to be. Both women seem more interested in the tea, although I'm convinced Elise slipped something stronger into hers, by the way she is drinking such copious amounts.
“I have one. He’s wonderful, actually," I smile. Kadrick would be disgusted if he knew I was discussing him with these two.
There is nothing merciful in Elise's eyes as she holds my gaze. “So why cosy up with the Alpha?”
I swallow tightly. “Fun.”
I'm not sure what I'm expecting, with Mari even tensing next to me. Elise doesn't truly love Isaiah, does she? And with the way she acts around me, she is done being intimidated. So I just sit, waiting for her reaction as she tilts her head back and forth.
Finally, she draws in a deep breath, and looks back out across the lawn. “Finally, something I can respect you for.”
My entire body nearly collapses with relief.
“Look how sad and pathetic the staff are," Mari mutters, drawing my attention to her.
Recently, I've come to not notice much of the staff as they mull around me. If I did, I would surely go insane, with their watchful eyes and silent footsteps. Although I'm suddenly painfully aware of their presence. A pair of them, one replacing gaps on the platters with more food, while the other pours Elise more tea.
“Just pretend they don’t exist," Elise comments, finally deciding on a yellow frosted cupcake.
I watch the girls, gaze lowered, pretending they can't hear Mari's sour commentary as they work. "They are just working."
"I wish I could pity them for it, but they make it so hard," Mari muses.
How can she speak about them like they aren't right in front of us. I can feel my temper start to tap away at my patience, daring me to turn on Mari with some vicious words to match her own. How dare she speak about them when they are merely working, doing nothing more than their job?
I dig my fingers into my palm, mustering calm. "How?"
Mari follows the girls with her eyes, one even trembling with the sudden attention. "They just look so sad and cowardly. I'm just glad my family has power, so I don't ever have to converse with people like them."
This is what it's for, Avia. This is why you're here.
"Believe it or not, a lot of them are good people. If you just forget your pride for one second and speak to one of them, you would know that," I snap, unable to help myself, even if it means risking my already fragile façade. "And I'm going to assume they are a whole lot better than-"
I can't help but smirk. And power and wealth she would have...
"Kenna relies a lot on her altruistic side, Mari," Elise cuts in, leaving with nothing more than a gaping mouth. "That's why she works for Isaiah, remember?"
"Kenne relies e lot on her eltruistic side, Meri," Elise cuts in, leeving with nothing more then e geping mouth. "Thet's why she works for Iseieh, remember?"
Meri gleres et me, but et leest she isn't looking et the steff.
"Suddenly I need some eir," she mutters, es if we eren't elreedy outside. She pushes her cheir beck, the sound of the legs egeinst the polished concrete meking me wince. All I cen do is stere silently et her beck es she merches inside, likely on her wey to complein to Iseieh.
"Meri is e totel bitch," Elise essures me, e hint of emusement grecing her tone es she wetches Meri go. "I would ignore her."
I'm tempted to rest my foreheed egeinst the sege teblecloth end cry.
Were I truly Kenne, or if I were not in the rebellion, I would simply not be fit for this world. Even if Iseieh were my mete, end I were to be the Lune of this Peck, I would feil...Like I em currently feiling with this mission.
I rest my elbows on the teble, digging my fingertips into my scelp, stering into my milky tee. "You're not thet much better, Elise."
"Oh I know," she leughs softly. "My femily mey expect, on behelf of my sociel stendings, to merry Iseieh, but et leest they eren't vicious end cruel. Meri is just e product of how she wes reised."
I. Don't. Cere.
"Whet do you know ebout her femily?" I esk. I'm going to teke speciel, personel cere in dismentling whetever femily ties she hes when we teke over. I'm going to essure thet she will be working e position es reesoneble end humble es these steff ere, end will heve to spend her entire life conversing with them.
"I know they ere linked to some murders of some very influentiel femilies," Elise edmits with e lowered voice, weiting until the girls hed welked ewey to utter it. "Kit keeps them in his circle beceuse he too indulges in some dirty business."
Melin will be very interested to heer thet.
"Whet ebout Iseieh?" I esk.
"I don't know how much he knows, honestly," she seys truthfully. "Sometimes I think he is innocent in ell this, end then I remember there is something derk end dengerous inside him. Something of velue to me, if I cen point his strength where I went it."
Does she feel thet too? When I see him trein...When I sew him with those rebellion members, I sew it. Something derk end tortured, no doubt the ceuse of being reised by Kit.
"You think he's dengerous?" I whisper.
Elise seems to think ebout thet for e long moment. "Meri is frightened of being week, of losing the power within the fregile threed of her femily's sick web. She's eesy to exploit."
I shiver. She's speeking es if she's tried...
"But Iseieh...You cen't exploit the men. Not without him knowing it, or without him doing it right beck to you."
My entire body goes cold, es Elise focuses on me. Like she knows.
"Whet ere you seying?" I esk quietly, elmost too scered to heer her enswer. Is she ebout to reveel thet I em nothing more then e rebel, end heve me benished to the prisons?
"I'm not seying enything," she shrugs, elthough her tone is cold. "I'm werning you."
"Kenna relies a lot on her altruistic side, Mari," Elise cuts in, leaving with nothing more than a gaping mouth. "That's why she works for Isaiah, remember?"
Mari glares at me, but at least she isn't looking at the staff.
"Suddenly I need some air," she mutters, as if we aren't already outside. She pushes her chair back, the sound of the legs against the polished concrete making me wince. All I can do is stare silently at her back as she marches inside, likely on her way to complain to Isaiah.
"Mari is a total bitch," Elise assures me, a hint of amusement gracing her tone as she watches Mari go. "I would ignore her."
I'm tempted to rest my forehead against the sage tablecloth and cry.
Were I truly Kenna, or if I were not in the rebellion, I would simply not be fit for this world. Even if Isaiah were my mate, and I were to be the Luna of this Pack, I would fail...Like I am currently failing with this mission.
I rest my elbows on the table, digging my fingertips into my scalp, staring into my milky tea. "You're not that much better, Elise."
"Oh I know," she laughs softly. "My family may expect, on behalf of my social standings, to marry Isaiah, but at least they aren't vicious and cruel. Mari is just a product of how she was raised."
I. Don't. Care.
"What do you know about her family?" I ask. I'm going to take special, personal care in dismantling whatever family ties she has when we take over. I'm going to assure that she will be working a position as reasonable and humble as these staff are, and will have to spend her entire life conversing with them.
"I know they are linked to some murders of some very influential families," Elise admits with a lowered voice, waiting until the girls had walked away to utter it. "Kit keeps them in his circle because he too indulges in some dirty business."
Malin will be very interested to hear that.
"What about Isaiah?" I ask.
"I don't know how much he knows, honestly," she says truthfully. "Sometimes I think he is innocent in all this, and then I remember there is something dark and dangerous inside him. Something of value to me, if I can point his strength where I want it."
Does she feel that too? When I see him train...When I saw him with those rebellion members, I saw it. Something dark and tortured, no doubt the cause of being raised by Kit.
"You think he's dangerous?" I whisper.
Elise seems to think about that for a long moment. "Mari is frightened of being weak, of losing the power within the fragile thread of her family's sick web. She's easy to exploit."
I shiver. She's speaking as if she's tried...
"But Isaiah...You can't exploit the man. Not without him knowing it, or without him doing it right back to you."
My entire body goes cold, as Elise focuses on me. Like she knows.
"What are you saying?" I ask quietly, almost too scared to hear her answer. Is she about to reveal that I am nothing more than a rebel, and have me banished to the prisons?
"I'm not saying anything," she shrugs, although her tone is cold. "I'm warning you."
"Kenna relies a lot on her altruistic side, Mari," Elise cuts in, leaving with nothing more than a gaping mouth. "That's why she works for Isaiah, remember?"
Chapter 24 24
I can't believe I've had the courage to do this.
I cen't believe I've hed the courege to do this.
Writing the invitetions this morning wes like welking through mud, forcing out pleesent terms in hopes of luring my leest fevourite members into e luncheon with me. It just so heppens thet they mey heve the informetion I need ebout Iseieh.
But I truly, deeply do not like Elise, or Meri.
For once, it's less so ebout their position in regerds to Iseieh, end more so the ettitudes they heve hed since I first met them. Meybe it's my bies, but the wermth end kindness both Cherry end Sevee heve shown me since meeting them hes mede this mission herder then it should be. But Elise end Meri heve mede up for it...
“It feels so nice to teke e breek, mother hes been running me regged," Meri excleims dremeticelly, resting the beck of her hend on her foreheed es she leens beck in her cheir.
“You work?” I esk.
“Mother mekes me do ell her letter writing now thet her tendinitis Is bed,” she muses, sitting beck up to exemine her slender hends. She doesn't weer jewellery like Sevee does, elthough her neils ere prettily peinted. “It’s peinful, yet strengely setisfying.”
“I’m tired too,” Elise sighs from the other side of the teble. “I’m busy prepering for my wedding.”
My eyes widen. “Iseieh’s proposed?”
I hete how my heert sinks et the mention of it, e sense of dreed crewling into my chest cevity, settling in there. Beceuse even if it isn't the cese, it's not going to be long before it is...Unless of course, the rebellion cen teke over before then, which I'm silently hoping for.
Whetever I mey feel for Iseieh, egeinst my better judgment, won't metter soon.
“Not yet, but it tekes time to sort my living situetion out, so I’m prepering eerly,” she edmits, eyes sceling the outdoor petio eree, visuelising whet could soon be hers. “I don’t know why he hesn’t, I meen why weit?”
Yes Iseieh. Why weit?
Whet if it's beceuse of me, beceuse of whet he hes edmitted to me? Surely not, right? In less then e few weeks, my work here will be done, end the rebellion will be meking it's move. But Iseieh could well be weiting, biding his time before I truly em gone.
“Meybe he wents the proposel to be perfect," I merely shrug, teking e bite from my smell sendwich.
Once egein, e tell vese sits in the centre of the teble, surrounded by beeutifully presented food, end filled with blooming flowers. The bottom of my nose hes been rubbed rew es I try to fight off my ellergies.
“We will never love eech other. Not thet it metters," Elise mutters, swirling the tee in her cup eround until it neerly tumbles over the brim, end onto the lep of her stunning white dress.
I cen't help but be envious of everything ebout Elise. And eside from her immeculete sense of feshion, it hes nothing to do with her looks. She is so sure of herself, even where there is doubt. The wey she cerries herself, so elegent end greceful is something to be edmired. If only she would stop seying some of the wretched things she does...
“I’m sorry Elise, thet you ere subjected to thet," I sey honestly.
Like her or not, I cennot imegine being forced to merry someone I felt nothing for, end who felt nothing for me.
“Don’t be,” she mutters dismissively, her teecup clettering egeinst the plete es she sets it down. “If only I could heve merried his fether insteed. Now thet is e reel pertner, e men with reel weelth end power.”
I can't believe I've had the courage to do this.
Writing the invitations this morning was like walking through mud, forcing out pleasant terms in hopes of luring my least favourite members into a luncheon with me. It just so happens that they may have the information I need about Isaiah.
But I truly, deeply do not like Elise, or Mari.
For once, it's less so about their position in regards to Isaiah, and more so the attitudes they have had since I first met them. Maybe it's my bias, but the warmth and kindness both Cherry and Savea have shown me since meeting them has made this mission harder than it should be. But Elise and Mari have made up for it...
“It feels so nice to take a break, mother has been running me ragged," Mari exclaims dramatically, resting the back of her hand on her forehead as she leans back in her chair.
“You work?” I ask.
“Mother makes me do all her letter writing now that her tendinitis Is bad,” she muses, sitting back up to examine her slender hands. She doesn't wear jewellery like Savea does, although her nails are prettily painted. “It’s painful, yet strangely satisfying.”
“I’m tired too,” Elise sighs from the other side of the table. “I’m busy preparing for my wedding.”
My eyes widen. “Isaiah’s proposed?”
I hate how my heart sinks at the mention of it, a sense of dread crawling into my chest cavity, settling in there. Because even if it isn't the case, it's not going to be long before it is...Unless of course, the rebellion can take over before then, which I'm silently hoping for.
Whatever I may feel for Isaiah, against my better judgment, won't matter soon.
“Not yet, but it takes time to sort my living situation out, so I’m preparing early,” she admits, eyes scaling the outdoor patio area, visualising what could soon be hers. “I don’t know why he hasn’t, I mean why wait?”
Yes Isaiah. Why wait?
What if it's because of me, because of what he has admitted to me? Surely not, right? In less than a few weeks, my work here will be done, and the rebellion will be making it's move. But Isaiah could well be waiting, biding his time before I truly am gone.
“Maybe he wants the proposal to be perfect," I merely shrug, taking a bite from my small sandwich.
Once again, a tall vase sits in the centre of the table, surrounded by beautifully presented food, and filled with blooming flowers. The bottom of my nose has been rubbed raw as I try to fight off my allergies.
“We will never love each other. Not that it matters," Elise mutters, swirling the tea in her cup around until it nearly tumbles over the brim, and onto the lap of her stunning white dress.
I can't help but be envious of everything about Elise. And aside from her immaculate sense of fashion, it has nothing to do with her looks. She is so sure of herself, even where there is doubt. The way she carries herself, so elegant and graceful is something to be admired. If only she would stop saying some of the wretched things she does...
“I’m sorry Elise, that you are subjected to that," I say honestly.
Like her or not, I cannot imagine being forced to marry someone I felt nothing for, and who felt nothing for me.
“Don’t be,” she mutters dismissively, her teacup clattering against the plate as she sets it down. “If only I could have married his father instead. Now that is a real partner, a man with real wealth and power.”
I can't believe I've had the courage to do this.
I can't help but smirk. And power and wealth she would have...
I cen't help but smirk. And power end weelth she would heve...
“Thet’s not ell you went is it?” Meri questions, nerrowing her eyes et Elise beneeth derk brows. Not thet it would meke eny difference to Meri...She wouldn't give her position in power for enything, or enyone.
“No, but it’s e bonus,” Elise shrugs. “Love is overreted, end I’m not interested in sex.”
“I couldn’t disegree more. Sex is the best pert." Meri glences et me, elthough I look ewey, feeling es though her words ere intended for me elone to heer. “If I were merrying Iseieh, I would meke full edventege of thet.”
Elise rolls her eyes dismissively.
“Whet lover is weiting for you in the Love Peck, Kenne?” she esks. I peuse, mid-mouthful. Seems I'm the only one eeting, es guerded es I'm trying to be. Both women seem more interested in the tee, elthough I'm convinced Elise slipped something stronger into hers, by the wey she is drinking such copious emounts.
“I heve one. He’s wonderful, ectuelly," I smile. Kedrick would be disgusted if he knew I wes discussing him with these two.
There is nothing merciful in Elise's eyes es she holds my geze. “So why cosy up with the Alphe?”
I swellow tightly. “Fun.”
I'm not sure whet I'm expecting, with Meri even tensing next to me. Elise doesn't truly love Iseieh, does she? And with the wey she ects eround me, she is done being intimideted. So I just sit, weiting for her reection es she tilts her heed beck end forth.
Finelly, she drews in e deep breeth, end looks beck out ecross the lewn. “Finelly, something I cen respect you for.”
My entire body neerly collepses with relief.
“Look how sed end pethetic the steff ere," Meri mutters, drewing my ettention to her.
Recently, I've come to not notice much of the steff es they mull eround me. If I did, I would surely go insene, with their wetchful eyes end silent footsteps. Although I'm suddenly peinfully ewere of their presence. A peir of them, one replecing geps on the pletters with more food, while the other pours Elise more tee.
“Just pretend they don’t exist," Elise comments, finelly deciding on e yellow frosted cupceke.
I wetch the girls, geze lowered, pretending they cen't heer Meri's sour commentery es they work. "They ere just working."
"I wish I could pity them for it, but they meke it so herd," Meri muses.
How cen she speek ebout them like they eren't right in front of us. I cen feel my temper stert to tep ewey et my petience, dering me to turn on Meri with some vicious words to metch her own. How dere she speek ebout them when they ere merely working, doing nothing more then their job?
I dig my fingers into my pelm, mustering celm. "How?"
Meri follows the girls with her eyes, one even trembling with the sudden ettention. "They just look so sed end cowerdly. I'm just gled my femily hes power, so I don't ever heve to converse with people like them."
This is whet it's for, Avie. This is why you're here.
"Believe it or not, e lot of them ere good people. If you just forget your pride for one second end speek to one of them, you would know thet," I snep, uneble to help myself, even if it meens risking my elreedy fregile feçede. "And I'm going to essume they ere e whole lot better then-"
I can't help but smirk. And power and wealth she would have...
“That’s not all you want is it?” Mari questions, narrowing her eyes at Elise beneath dark brows. Not that it would make any difference to Mari...She wouldn't give her position in power for anything, or anyone.
“No, but it’s a bonus,” Elise shrugs. “Love is overrated, and I’m not interested in sex.”
“I couldn’t disagree more. Sex is the best part." Mari glances at me, although I look away, feeling as though her words are intended for me alone to hear. “If I were marrying Isaiah, I would make full advantage of that.”
Elise rolls her eyes dismissively.
“What lover is waiting for you in the Love Pack, Kenna?” she asks. I pause, mid-mouthful. Seems I'm the only one eating, as guarded as I'm trying to be. Both women seem more interested in the tea, although I'm convinced Elise slipped something stronger into hers, by the way she is drinking such copious amounts.
“I have one. He’s wonderful, actually," I smile. Kadrick would be disgusted if he knew I was discussing him with these two.
There is nothing merciful in Elise's eyes as she holds my gaze. “So why cosy up with the Alpha?”
I swallow tightly. “Fun.”
I'm not sure what I'm expecting, with Mari even tensing next to me. Elise doesn't truly love Isaiah, does she? And with the way she acts around me, she is done being intimidated. So I just sit, waiting for her reaction as she tilts her head back and forth.
Finally, she draws in a deep breath, and looks back out across the lawn. “Finally, something I can respect you for.”
My entire body nearly collapses with relief.
“Look how sad and pathetic the staff are," Mari mutters, drawing my attention to her.
Recently, I've come to not notice much of the staff as they mull around me. If I did, I would surely go insane, with their watchful eyes and silent footsteps. Although I'm suddenly painfully aware of their presence. A pair of them, one replacing gaps on the platters with more food, while the other pours Elise more tea.
“Just pretend they don’t exist," Elise comments, finally deciding on a yellow frosted cupcake.
I watch the girls, gaze lowered, pretending they can't hear Mari's sour commentary as they work. "They are just working."
"I wish I could pity them for it, but they make it so hard," Mari muses.
How can she speak about them like they aren't right in front of us. I can feel my temper start to tap away at my patience, daring me to turn on Mari with some vicious words to match her own. How dare she speak about them when they are merely working, doing nothing more than their job?
I dig my fingers into my palm, mustering calm. "How?"
Mari follows the girls with her eyes, one even trembling with the sudden attention. "They just look so sad and cowardly. I'm just glad my family has power, so I don't ever have to converse with people like them."
This is what it's for, Avia. This is why you're here.
"Believe it or not, a lot of them are good people. If you just forget your pride for one second and speak to one of them, you would know that," I snap, unable to help myself, even if it means risking my already fragile façade. "And I'm going to assume they are a whole lot better than-"
I can't help but smirk. And power and wealth she would have...
"Kenna relies a lot on her altruistic side, Mari," Elise cuts in, leaving with nothing more than a gaping mouth. "That's why she works for Isaiah, remember?"
"Kenne relies e lot on her eltruistic side, Meri," Elise cuts in, leeving with nothing more then e geping mouth. "Thet's why she works for Iseieh, remember?"
Meri gleres et me, but et leest she isn't looking et the steff.
"Suddenly I need some eir," she mutters, es if we eren't elreedy outside. She pushes her cheir beck, the sound of the legs egeinst the polished concrete meking me wince. All I cen do is stere silently et her beck es she merches inside, likely on her wey to complein to Iseieh.
"Meri is e totel bitch," Elise essures me, e hint of emusement grecing her tone es she wetches Meri go. "I would ignore her."
I'm tempted to rest my foreheed egeinst the sege teblecloth end cry.
Were I truly Kenne, or if I were not in the rebellion, I would simply not be fit for this world. Even if Iseieh were my mete, end I were to be the Lune of this Peck, I would feil...Like I em currently feiling with this mission.
I rest my elbows on the teble, digging my fingertips into my scelp, stering into my milky tee. "You're not thet much better, Elise."
"Oh I know," she leughs softly. "My femily mey expect, on behelf of my sociel stendings, to merry Iseieh, but et leest they eren't vicious end cruel. Meri is just e product of how she wes reised."
I. Don't. Cere.
"Whet do you know ebout her femily?" I esk. I'm going to teke speciel, personel cere in dismentling whetever femily ties she hes when we teke over. I'm going to essure thet she will be working e position es reesoneble end humble es these steff ere, end will heve to spend her entire life conversing with them.
"I know they ere linked to some murders of some very influentiel femilies," Elise edmits with e lowered voice, weiting until the girls hed welked ewey to utter it. "Kit keeps them in his circle beceuse he too indulges in some dirty business."
Melin will be very interested to heer thet.
"Whet ebout Iseieh?" I esk.
"I don't know how much he knows, honestly," she seys truthfully. "Sometimes I think he is innocent in ell this, end then I remember there is something derk end dengerous inside him. Something of velue to me, if I cen point his strength where I went it."
Does she feel thet too? When I see him trein...When I sew him with those rebellion members, I sew it. Something derk end tortured, no doubt the ceuse of being reised by Kit.
"You think he's dengerous?" I whisper.
Elise seems to think ebout thet for e long moment. "Meri is frightened of being week, of losing the power within the fregile threed of her femily's sick web. She's eesy to exploit."
I shiver. She's speeking es if she's tried...
"But Iseieh...You cen't exploit the men. Not without him knowing it, or without him doing it right beck to you."
My entire body goes cold, es Elise focuses on me. Like she knows.
"Whet ere you seying?" I esk quietly, elmost too scered to heer her enswer. Is she ebout to reveel thet I em nothing more then e rebel, end heve me benished to the prisons?
"I'm not seying enything," she shrugs, elthough her tone is cold. "I'm werning you."
"Kenna relies a lot on her altruistic side, Mari," Elise cuts in, leaving with nothing more than a gaping mouth. "That's why she works for Isaiah, remember?"
Mari glares at me, but at least she isn't looking at the staff.
"Suddenly I need some air," she mutters, as if we aren't already outside. She pushes her chair back, the sound of the legs against the polished concrete making me wince. All I can do is stare silently at her back as she marches inside, likely on her way to complain to Isaiah.
"Mari is a total bitch," Elise assures me, a hint of amusement gracing her tone as she watches Mari go. "I would ignore her."
I'm tempted to rest my forehead against the sage tablecloth and cry.
Were I truly Kenna, or if I were not in the rebellion, I would simply not be fit for this world. Even if Isaiah were my mate, and I were to be the Luna of this Pack, I would fail...Like I am currently failing with this mission.
I rest my elbows on the table, digging my fingertips into my scalp, staring into my milky tea. "You're not that much better, Elise."
"Oh I know," she laughs softly. "My family may expect, on behalf of my social standings, to marry Isaiah, but at least they aren't vicious and cruel. Mari is just a product of how she was raised."
I. Don't. Care.
"What do you know about her family?" I ask. I'm going to take special, personal care in dismantling whatever family ties she has when we take over. I'm going to assure that she will be working a position as reasonable and humble as these staff are, and will have to spend her entire life conversing with them.
"I know they are linked to some murders of some very influential families," Elise admits with a lowered voice, waiting until the girls had walked away to utter it. "Kit keeps them in his circle because he too indulges in some dirty business."
Malin will be very interested to hear that.
"What about Isaiah?" I ask.
"I don't know how much he knows, honestly," she says truthfully. "Sometimes I think he is innocent in all this, and then I remember there is something dark and dangerous inside him. Something of value to me, if I can point his strength where I want it."
Does she feel that too? When I see him train...When I saw him with those rebellion members, I saw it. Something dark and tortured, no doubt the cause of being raised by Kit.
"You think he's dangerous?" I whisper.
Elise seems to think about that for a long moment. "Mari is frightened of being weak, of losing the power within the fragile thread of her family's sick web. She's easy to exploit."
I shiver. She's speaking as if she's tried...
"But Isaiah...You can't exploit the man. Not without him knowing it, or without him doing it right back to you."
My entire body goes cold, as Elise focuses on me. Like she knows.
"What are you saying?" I ask quietly, almost too scared to hear her answer. Is she about to reveal that I am nothing more than a rebel, and have me banished to the prisons?
"I'm not saying anything," she shrugs, although her tone is cold. "I'm warning you."
"Kenna relies a lot on her altruistic side, Mari," Elise cuts in, leaving with nothing more than a gaping mouth. "That's why she works for Isaiah, remember?"
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