Alora'S POV.
I was bored staying indoors all day so I decided to take a walk around the castle premises. Right now, I'm in the garden and I can swear I don't know my way back to the main castle. This place is so huge and has so many buildings that look so much alike. It will take me forever to know every nook and cranny of it.
The maids Alpha Jayce assigned to me refused to leave my side even for a second, so in order for me to achieve this short moment of solitude, I had to send them in pairs on ridiculous missions and sneak out of my room and that's partly the reason why I cannot recall my way back to the main castle because I was in such a hurry getting out of it and going far away from them. This is not a big deal though, there are guards patrolling the castle. When it's time for me to go back, I'll just ask anyone to show me the way.
I smile heartily as I walk around the garden, admiring the blooming flowers that look very beautiful. This is the first time in my life I'm actually out alone free to do whatever I want and it feels great.
Back then when I used to serve Alora, the only time I had free time to do anything by myself was at night and whatever I had to do, I did it in my basement bedroom. Standing here, looking at these flowers and being able to smile heartily without the fear of being spanked is a different kind of freedom and I'm grateful to the Moon goddess for letting me experience it.
"Excuse me, who are you?" I female voice asks from behind. I quickly spin around to look and I almost tremble in fear when I see a woman dressed in an all white outfit and adorned with jewellery and make up, looking at me with something like a scorn on her face.
If I had not been lectured about the members of the Royal households by my maids, I would have thought the woman standing before me was Alpha Jayce's mother, but based on what I've been told, I can tell she is not.
Makeup too wild for her age.
Jewellery all over wrists and neck, some even clattering against each other.
White outfit from head to toe.
That is Alpha Jayce's stepmother and her name is Lara Craig.
"Good afternoon Miss Craig." I greet her respectfully. Her face grows darker when she sees my smile. I swallow dryly when she takes two steps closer to me. There is a comfortable distance between us, but I'm scared. I feel like she'll come over and smack me anytime soon
The maids explained to me how much she hates Alpha Jayce, my mate and I'm sure she's going to hate me too when she finds out I'm his mate.
"Oh… you are Jayce's mate, aren't you? The one the entire castle has been buzzing about."
"Yes, I am." My smile widens. Ste casts me a condescending look. Picking me with her eyes from head to toe.
She doesn't like me.
"I knew he'd get nothing but a lowlife like you. You've got no style and class, just like his mother did not!" She huffs and gives me a stern look. I purse my lips as I try to calm my racing heart beat. What I want to do right now is turn around and leave. This woman is giving out the most negative energy I have ever felt and I don't like being in her presence. I wish the earth would open up and swallow me right now. "What is your name?" She suddenly asks. My knees buckle. I swallow dryly and look up at her.
"Alora. My name is Alora." She scrunches her nose like the name smells and trains her eyes on me.
"Alora is no name."
"I'm sorry… Alora Ange Michaelis." I correct myself and she scoffs.
"Even your name is so basic and mundane!" She remarks and I dish I had the courage to tell her that I do not agree with her on that.
My name is neither basic nor mundane. If there's one thing powerful about me, it has to be my name. Alora means Goddess. Ange means Angel and Michaelis means a descendant from Micheal.
Michealis was my father's name.
I look at the woman long and hard, wishing I could say something to her, but my words are stitched to my tongue, so I can't spill them out.
"Alora." She calls and I look at her. I wish she would just go away and leave me the hell alone.
"Yes, Miss Craig."
"You shouldn't have come here." Her eyes are boring deep into mine and I immediately understand she's trying to threaten me. I know a threat when I hear one. I've been threatened and bullied my whole life.
She smiles. Laughs a little and takes another step closer.
"The Moon goddess did a terrible job picking you as his mate. I had thought she'd be someone powerful and I had braced myself for a tough fight, but now that I'm standing here before you, seeing how pathetic and weak you are, I can't help but laugh and feel sorry for you. This is going to be a very unfair fight. It's like a rabbit going against a lion."
"So who's the rabbit and who's the lion?" I dare to ask. She seems taken aback. That makes me smile. I don't know where that confidence came from, but it feels good.
"You really want me to spell that out? I will. I am the lion and you are the rabbit. I will crush you before you blink your eyelids and you will be sorry for yourself. I will make sure you regret ever setting foot into this castle. That is a promise." And with that, she storms away, her white garment flying all the way behind her. I let out the sigh I was holding and fanned myself with my hands. I am shaking out of nervousness.
My gut tells me I just got into a serious battle and I have to brace myself for it. I feel really bad for Alpha Jayce. Having such a vicious step mother must be draining.
I turn to look at the flowers and I've lost all interest in looking at them or being in this garden at all. The entire place reeks of Lara' negative energy and it's suffocating me. I have to get out of here before I start choking. I throw one last glance at the flowers, promising myself I'll come back some other time and make my way out of the garden.
When I step out, I look left and right and I have no idea which direction to take. A smile forms on my face when I see a young man approaching from the left. He's dressed in a pair of black trousers and a black shirt tucked into it and the belt holding the trouser in place sits perfectly on his nice waist. On his feet are a pair of black shoes that look spotless. My eyes travel up to his face and man… I'm impressed. He is quite handsome and his eyes are so green, they remind me of my mate's. As he walks closer, his features are wiped clean of any emotion and I contemplate whether to call him or not. The aura he exudes is intimidating, but I don't have a choice.
"Hello." I greet as politely as I can when he starts walking past me. He stops and turns. I'm smiling widely at him and he's looking at me like I've lost my mind. "I'm so sorry for stopping you unexpectedly." My legs go over to him against my will.
He still hasn't said a word or moved a single facial muscle.
"Alpha Jayce exaggerated. You don't look like someone who has been through any sort of hardship." He suddenly speaks and I get confused.
"Ex… excuse me?" I ask calmly. He shakes his head.
Why is he shaking his head?
"You will break before you know it." He says and starts walking away. I quickly walk past him and take a stand before him, blocking his way. He raises brow at me and I do the same.
"How do you know that?" I ask with a smirk.
"It's none of your business!" His voice is calm, but firm. I'm irritated, but I smile and choose to let it go because I need his help. He tries to walk past me but I block his way yet again.
"Not so fast." I tell him. He looks at me amused.
God! He's handsome! And I would have said he was giving me Alpha Jayce's vibe if he weren't so arrogant. I purse my lips and put my hands together, looking up at him.
"I came out for a walk…"
"You must be delusional if you think I care about that." He rudely cuts me off and finally walks past me. My eyes widen in shock as I turn around and see him walking away.
"I'm lost. I can't find my way back to the main castle." He stops walking. My hope twinkles and I almost smile with relief when he turns to look at me.
"I'm an Omega, not a map!" Then he turns around and keeps walking. I stand there dumbstruck! Unable to proceed with what I just experienced with the man.
He lacks courtesy.
He is insufferable!
"He's like that to everyone." A voice says from behind. I quickly turn to look and I see a young girl standing behind me in a maid's uniform. She immediately bows down to me. "Luna."
Puh-lease! I'm not even Luna yet.
"Hello." I greet politely and she raises her head up, beaming at me.
"My name is Tania Gavin. I'm a maid in the castle. I can show you the way back to the main castle if you wish."
"I'd be grateful if you do that."
"This way please." The girl leads the way and I follow suit, but I don't fail to look one last time at the arrogant Omega who is quite a distance away from us right now.
I wonder how Alpha Jayce works with such a crackhead.