89. The Pack of Wolf!
Arabella's POV
My little eyes wandered in huge dining hall where only my family was sitting, discussing something serious I guess. I was too young to understand anything, my eyes fell on the piece of cake on the table and I tried to grab it only to receive hard slap on my hand.
"You are a princess and there are ways to have food, don't grab it like a street begger..."
The hushed voice scolded me.
I lowered my eyes and scooted back in my chair, trying to rub away the sting on my hand and hold back my tiny tears because princess doesn't cry.
The discussion kept going on and I was feeling droopy.
"Mom, I want to go back to my room..."
After last day's scolding and her outrage, she was distant from me and I was still unaware about my mistake. Her harsh words were still there in my mind but I wanted to see that loving look on her face again.
"Shut up! If you want to go die somewhere then please do... Don't disturb me, I need to focus on the discussion..."
Her sharp glare again sliced through my heart.
I touched her arm with tears in my eyes, trying to get the look of sympathy from her but she was already engrossed in the discussion.
"This is unfair and I strongly oppose this!"
She slammed her angry fists on the table and I flinched back.
Now all eyes were on her.
"You can't do this to me just because I have a girl child... I am your wife too and I have a right to be a mother queen... You think this is a joke?..."
Her rage was uncontrollable.
"Mind your tone, Agatha..."
My grandfather growled at her.
"It's not just because you have a girl child, it's because you had her before our marriage... Arabella can't be our heir as she will always be illegitimate child, you know our family rules... If you had son then we 'might' have considered you for the honour but with the girl who has born out of marriage is not something we will accept... Marrying after giving birth to a child was not so smart of you."
My grandfather was always a straightforward and strict person.
It was obvious that he wasn't fond of my mother.
She was fuming in anger.
"If I can't be the mother queen then I'll make sure that you won't get any."
She glared at my father's first wife who was sitting with her son. The lady was unfazed by my mother's wrath, like she knew that nothing is going to happen to her.
"Agatha!"
My father growled angrily at her.
"Don't forget you belong to royal family now and not streets."
"How is this fair to me... We didn't marry because you had other responsibilities. Because you wanted me to be safe, because we loved each other and I trusted you... Now I am being cornered for the same reason and you are taking side of your 'royal' first wife... Why?"
She was in pain.
"Arabella, go out!"
Father ordered me.
I got up but mom grabbed my arm harshly and pulled me back.
"Why? Let her hear your injustice... Let her know that her whole family doesn't want her just because she is a symbol of love and not royalty."
My father slapped her and I ran out of the hall while crying.
I hid in my room until someone knocked on my room and entered. He was my father's first wife's son. Five years older than me but too mature for his age. I never talk to him as he is hardly home. Father sends him away for god knows what.
I sat up and looked at him. He pulled out handkerchief from his pants and offered me, his is young to be in suit but he carry it well.
"You have a running nose, it doesn't suit to princess."
I grabbed his handkerchief and wiped my nose.
"Why are you here? Don't you hate me like everyone else?"
"Everyone loves you."
He sat beside me.
"Not anymore! Since last few days I don't see anyone loving me. Even mom is hating me... I don't understand what is my mistake."
I sulked.
"You won't understand because people loves you, specially your mother."
He hummed.
"Your mother is hating you?"
"Yes! That's how it feels like... I think they will abandon me soon because I am not a boy..."
I huffed.
"One day I'll become more stronger than any boy in this world and then they won't underestimate me."
He held my little hand and led me towards the window, our family flag was visible from there.
Our symbol was pack of wolves.
"Do you know what pack of wolves mean?"
He asked and I shook my head.
"It means unity and togetherness... Wolves never abandon their pack members... And even if anyone does that to you then I will bring you back..."
"But mom says that you are my stepbrother and you can never care for me..."
I asked confused.
"We have same father so we are siblings, don't believe in rubbish things..."
He patted my head.
"Now go and sleep, it's late!"
"You are a legal child that's why you are member of the pack. I am not!"
I said and he raised his eyebrows at my smartness.
"I don't even have the symbol."
He removed the chain from his neck which had wolves pendant and tied it around my neck.
"Now you have it too..."
That was the last time I talked to him.
The shook from Oliver brought me back to the reality.
"What happened, sweetheart? Dad is asking you something."
I cleared my throat and looked at him.
"Sorry, I was thinking about something else."
I have experienced the situation of a child who didn't have legal rights, I don't want it for my baby. I know Knights are different but who knows the future.
"What do you think, Arabella?"
His father asked me again.
"I agree, I want to get married before the match."
I know that 'Black Wolf' is not going to like this decision but for my baby I have to go against him.