Chapter 9 What did you do?
Rue and Aurora exchanged glances, shocked at Katherine's sudden entrance.
When none of them made a move, Katherine grew furious and stepped further into the room.
"Are you deaf?" She snapped. "Get out!"
Not one to tolerate such a show of rudeness, Rue's temper flared. She slowly got up and faced Katherine.
"You don't get to talk to her that way."
Aurora gasped and flew to her feet, her eyes wide with panic. She touched Rue's hand and shook her head, telling her without words not to mess with Katherine.
"It's okay. I'll leave." She turned to go, and as she walked past, Katherine yanked her by the hair and pulled her closer.
"Remember your place, you little slut. I don't have to remind you what would happen if I tell the Alpha of your disrespect."
"I'm sorry, Katherine." Aurora whispered.
Katherine shoved her away, watching as she rushed out of the room and shut the door. Then she turned her attention to Rue.
"So it's true." She began, slowly crossing her arms and moving forward. "Alpha Thane brought a stray dog into Eryndor."
It was on the tip of Rue's tongue to snap back, but she remembered Yolanda's warning and the fearful look Aurora gave her before leaving. So she remained quiet.
Katherine slowly circled her, her eyes burning with envy as she assessed Rue's curvy body. Faced with such young beauty, she felt self-conscious and out of place, and this fueled her anger.
"Are you deaf as well as dumb?" She snapped. "Knowing you were a worthless omega back at whatever filthy hole Alpha Thane pulled you from, I wouldn't be surprised if you turned up stupid too."
Rue had had enough. She turned and pinned Katherine under her icy glare. Both girls were about the same height.
"What do you want, Katherine?" She muttered quietly. "You are clearly intrigued by my presence. If you have nothing better to say, get out of my room."
"Oh you can't talk to me like that." Katherine laughed, her emerald eyes glittering brightly. "You wouldn't want me to..."
"What?" Rue cut in sharply. "Run off to the Alpha like a lapdog and tell him I hurt your feelings?"
Katherine's smile dropped suddenly. She lifted her hand, intent on hitting Rue.
But Rue already anticipated this. She stopped Katherine's hand mid-air, and for a few seconds, both girls glared at each other.
"Don't you dare." Rue's voice turned hard. "I don't care what position you hold here, and I certainly don't give a fuck if you're the Alpha's favourite fuck mate! I might be an omega, but don't you fucking mess with me."
She pushed Katherine away, and the latter stood there, completely shocked to the core. None of the other concubines had ever stood up to her, not like this. Even the ones who were older respected her.
Yet this new girl had boldly stood up to her. This infuriated her.
"You will regret this." She hissed. "Just wait until I tell the Alpha about what you've done. You'll be dead before sunrise."
"I can assure you, Katherine. Your threats mean nothing to me."
Completely humiliated, Katherine turned and stormed out of the room. Her cheeks turned bright red with embarrassment, and tears stung her eyes.
She was used to being in control, used to having everyone cower away in her presence.
But that blonde bitch had snatched that control with a single move. She couldn't take it.
She barged into the lycan temple where Thane was in a deep discussion with the council members and the Elite Warriors, discussing matters concerning the kingdom.
Thane looked up in annoyance, and even when he noticed it was Katherine, he didn't smile in his usual way.
The leader of the Elite Warriors, Henry, shot to his feet and blocked her path.
"Get out of my way!" Katherine snapped.
"Have you gone mad?" Henry's face twisted in rage as he glared at her. He never liked her.
"I'm here to see my Alpha. Step aside."
Henry grabbed her arm suddenly and shoved her backwards, but Thane calmly called out his name.
"Henry, let her through."
That simple command put an end to their scuffle. Henry stepped aside, and watched with restrained anger as Katherine pushed past him, hurried to Thane's side and knelt down.
"This better be important, Katherine." Thane said. "I've warned you never to disturb me in the middle of an important meeting."
"It's not my fault." Katherine murmured, deliberately making her voice shake as she held back tears. "I have been insulted."
Thane's expression turned serious as he glanced at her. "Who dared to insult you?"
"The worthless slave you brought in." Katherine sobbed, playing her part well. "She called me your sex slave, and when I tried to leave, she hit me. I won't accept such disrespect. You must do something about it."
When Thane heard it was about Rue, his eyes flickered from red to gold, just for a split second.
Then he straightened and turned to Henry. "Bring her here."
Henry instantly understood who he meant. He nodded, and in the next instant, his eyes fogged as he mind linked the lycan guards guarding the harem.
Beside Thane, Katherine smiled in satisfaction. She already felt threatened with Rue's presence, so her death would be the perfect way to get rid of her.
...
After Katherine stormed off, Aurora returned to Rue's room.
"Why did you talk to Katherine that way?" She asked worriedly. "You don't want to get on her bad side. Alpha Thane favours her more than the rest of us."
"I don't care. I won't let her treat me or anyone else like trash. After all, we're all the same. We're all concubines to the Alpha."
"It doesn't matter. Katherine has too much power. She once told the Alpha that a guard tried to assault her. It was a lie. The guard only disrespected her, but Alpha Thane believed her. He had the guard executed."
She lowered to the bed beside Rue and sighed. "She hasn't stepped foot in the harem for a long time. She has her own bedroom in the castle. She clearly came here because she's scared you'll take her place as Alpha Thane's favourite."
Rue didn't care about that. She didn't want to be anyone's favorite, or anyone's sex slave.
"Why do you let her treat you that way?" She asked instead. "You're older than her. You should put her in her place."
"I tried once." Aurora shrugged. "She lied to Alpha Thane that I hit her. I would have been killed, but Alpha Thane still had a little fondness for me. He had me locked in the dungeon and starved for a week. I never tried to stand up to her after that."
Her words only infuriated Rue. She, an Alpha princess, submitting for a spoiled brat just because she was the favourite? It would be a cold day in hell.
The door to the room opened suddenly and Yolanda stepped in, her gaze zeroing in on Rue. She looked livid.
"The Alpha has called for you. What the hell did you do?"