Chapter 7: FEAR AND DECISION

MONICA'S POV

Walking down the stairs, I was in a good mood, still thinking about my beauty and my changed self.

"You need to reveal a smile always." A voice said in my head and I frowned. What was that?

A smile? I knew it was my memory... Something I've heard before but I couldn't remember where, when, and why.

"Is something wrong?" One of the maids walking beside me asked and I raised a brow before shaking my head.

"It's nothing," I replied and continued walking.

"Oops! It seems his lordship wants to see us! He's calling for all the maids!" One of the maids said as she looked at the rest.

I stopped and turned to them. "You mean, Alpha Brimstone wants to see you guys?" I asked them.

"Yes. We don't know why but I don't think that should include us because some of us still need to attend to you and his Lordship will be angry if he sees you walking down the steps alone." One of the maids replied to me.

I cocked my head to the side and frowned. "It's not like I'm a kid though," I mumbled inwardly. "Will that be alright? Won't that put you in trouble?" I asked them, looking a bit worried for them even though I honestly didn't care.

They shook their heads. "We will be fine." They replied.

They kept smiling at me and acting nice but underneath their fake smile, I could see hidden hatred toward me that terrified me each time I looked into their faces. I knew they were yet to see me as their Luna and their choice of words toward me indicated that. They never used any respectful name to call me but did not call me my name either.

I sucked in a deep breath, held my gown, and turned to leave. "Let's continue going then," I said as we all started climbing down the stairs again.

I only took two more steps down when a memory popped up in my brain and I paused. "Mum?" I called.

[As a Luna, you must have a smile on your face every time. You need to walk with charisma, like a Queen, and act like a Queen. Be generous and in no situation should you let your emotions show on your face, especially when you're with the Pack members and not your Mate.]

Everything came back to my brain. My mum had always brought me up to be a Luna because she never thought she and her husband would die that early. Maybe it was just her premonition then, but it came to pass now and today, I was going to be announced as the Luna of the most powerful Pack ever.

Taking my mother's advice, I plastered a fake but radiant smile on my face and continued following after the maids.

A few minutes later, I was already downstairs and I could see Alpha Brimstone standing with his back turned at me while many ladies were standing in front of him, trembling in fear.

"So, it's true that this man is scary? See how his workers are so scared of him?" I mumbled inwardly but I made sure the smile on my face didn't falter.

Alpha Brimstone turned to face me and I could see the surprise in his eyes. "Hmmph! Didn't you call me ugly, dirty, and immature just now? Why are you so surprised now, Mr. Alpha?" I wanted to say to him but I swallowed my words and continued walking toward him while he kept staring at me without saying a word.

I got to him and bowed my head. "Here, I am," I said and raised my head.

He stared at me and his eyes that always looked stern turned warm. "What's he thinking?" I asked myself but I had no idea.

"Where..." I was about to ask for the location of the meeting when I heard a loud growl behind him and I was startled.

I immediately stretched my neck to see what it was that growled with so much pain and I was stupefied when I saw it was a young lady, whimpering in pain. The pain was so much that I could feel it in me, I felt her pain and I was suffocated.

"It's time for you to die." I heard Alpha Brimstone said and I furrowed my brows.

After so much pain, what had she done to deserve such cruel treatment from the man she sees as her Alpha?

I thought about going on my knees but I knew that would be inappropriate and it might make Alpha Brimstone kill me too. So... "Please don't kill her, please." I pleaded on her behalf and Alpha Brimstone who was about to kill the maid frowned as he turned his head to look at me.

"What are you doing?" He asked but I put my hands together and lowered my head.

"Spare her just this once, please." Although I knew I meant nothing to him and I was just one of his lambs that would soon be slaughtered after two years, I still desperately hoped that he would listen to me and for my sake, he would leave the maid.

But it was all in my head again as I watched the maid die right in front of me and I also received the worst warning of my life.

My legs grew weaker and my heart sank. I didn't know what I was expecting but this was truly not it at all. This pain... The pain in my heart was killing me as I continued staring at the dead maid who was covered in sweat.

"We need to continue walking." One of the maids said to me and I raised my head to see the indifferent looks on their faces which irked me.

I wanted to shut her up but I knew I had no power yet. So, I sucked in a deep breath. "I... I want to rest for a while..." I managed to say.

"You need to meet with the Alpha right now." Another maid said as if she was threatening me and my blood boiled.

"What do you think..." I was about to scold her when I felt a sharp breeze pass by and before I knew it, the maid had been thrown to the wall!

"How dare you talk to your Alpha's Mate like that?!" Alpha Zac's thunderous voice sounded menacingly all through the room and I couldn't help but shiver involuntarily.

He turned to the guards around and pointed to the maid. "Take her away." He ordered and the guard immediately did as told.

I watched the guards drag away the maid who had already lost consciousness and I turned to face Alpha Zac. "Thank you," I mumbled.

His eyes twitched and he smiled. "I thought you would want to plead for her again. Why ain't you doing that?" He asked me, looking amused.

"Because I don't care," I replied simply without giving it much thought but I didn't expect my answer to surprise him so much.

He stared at me for seconds before he finally found his tongue. "You don't care? Why? Why do you not care for her when you cared for that one then?" He asked me and I smiled.

"It's simple. That was because I couldn't bear to see her pains then. I wasn't begging for her but for my peace of mind as I wouldn't stop thinking about her face, her expression when she breathed her last but that one that's being taken away, She won't be punished in front of me, So, I don't give a damn about her." I replied, lying through my teeth.

If they wanted me to be strong, wicked, and confident, I was going to do that. Just, so that I could survive this hellish place.

Alpha Zac seemed to be impressed with my reply as he smiled and nodded his head. "This is good. I hope you will continue to keep this front whenever you are with Alpha Brimstone." He said and pointed to the way. "Can we leave now or do you need my first aid?" He asked me and I chuckled.

"First aid? What does that mean?" I asked him.

He did his shirt well and stood right. "Well... Maybe you don't know this but I have a medical license and I'm more competent than most doctors in this world."

"And?" I asked, still not getting his point but I was amused with his sudden change of tone.

"I saw you looking panicked earlier. How about we take care of that before you go and meet Alpha Brimstone?" He asked me and I lowered my head as I giggled.

"Well... Maybe later but right now, I'm okay." I replied and he nodded his head.

He pointed to the way again "Shall we go now, My Lady?" He asked.

I looked at him, this new side of his made me comfortable and for the first time in years, I covered my mouth and laughed happily. "Maybe this house won't be so worst after all."