Page 62 of Escaping Wildfire
“Care to tell me what exactly that little performance was all about?”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest, “She went into my room, got one of my dresses, and tore it in half.”
“I thought the two of you were friends, did something happen between the two of you?”
“We’ve never been friends, we were just two ranked daughters forced to spend time with each other. She’s always hated me.”
“And, let me guess, you’ve always hated her back?”
“Something like that.” My usual submissive demeanor around Alpha Marek was gone today as I felt all of the anger I had pent up over my time here boil out.
Alpha Marek looked around his office, seemingly contemplating his next move.
“You’ve been adjusting well these last few weeks. Beta Griffin says the pups have improved since you took over their training. I have no issues with you. Your friend…or not friend, on the other hand, has been a disappointment. She’s weak for an alpha’s daughter…” He rubbed his chin. “Without Nora here, you’ll need a new maid to help you. How about we make her your new maid?”
I scoffed, “Are you serious? I can barely stand to look at her right now, and you want to have her with me every day? She can’t even do hair and makeup like Nora could.” I folded my arms over my chest again. “I’d be better off if you just made her a rogue,” I mumbled that last part under my breath, but he still heard.
“A rogue?” He narrowed his eyes contemplating my words. “I can make her a rogue, but I would need something in return from you.”
“My eyes widened at him. “What would you need?” I could feel my heart beating quickly in my chest, and I was certain he could hear it.
“Move up your mating ceremony…or wedding, whatever you want to call it.” He waved his hand, “Move it up to next month and both you and Larkin must mark each other.”
I looked away as if thinking about my decision, “What if Larkin doesn’t agree?”
“Leave that to me.”
“Make them rogues, Jasmine, her sister, and the twins. I want them all gone, and you have yourself a deal.”
“You are more ruthless than I gave you credit for. All of them? None of them have wolves, are you sure?”
“I’m certain, it’s the only way I can move on from my last pack and start new here.” I nodded firmly to punctuate my point, not moving my eyes away from Alpha Marek’s.
“We have a deal then. They’ll be gone by nightfall.”
“I’d like to be there when you inform them.”
“Perfect, meet me at the training grounds after dinner. We’ll let them have one last good meal before cutting them loose.”
“Thank you, Alpha.” I stood back up, trying not to smile too broadly as I walked out of the room. As soon as I was out of earshot, I rushed to my room. Larkin and Rory were in the bedroom, finishing their lunch, and I filled them in on what had just transpired with their father. Larkin’s heart rate spiked a bit when I told him we’d have to move up the wedding, but he quickly recovered and both he and Rory sat in as I called my brother. Cristian told me about his past two days at Brown Claw and agreed to help with the next step in my plan to escape. He was two hours ahead of me right now, but he said he’d text me sometime tonight.
Dinner time came, and I ate in my room with Rory as I felt nervous and didn’t want to risk seeing Jasmine again before we met with Alpha Marek. When the time came, Rory still wasn’t up for leaving the room but said she would be okay on her own for a while. Larkin and I went down together, and I saw Alpha Marek and Beta Griffin were already on the field with Jasmine, Jade, and the boys.
“What’s this all about?” Jasmine spoke up as she saw me arrive, staring daggers my way. “Am I being punished for what happened earlier when she’s the one who started it?” Jasmine pointed at me.
“My sister’s right, Gema came at her, not the other way around,” Jade spoke up, bravely defending her sister.
“Gema will be our next Luna, so it doesn’t matter who did or said what first. She’s been loyal to Wildfire, unlike you.” He glared at Jasmine. “Don’t think I don’t know about how you talk back to the trainers and hole up in your room. I wanted to make you an omega, but Gema here felt you’d fare better as rogues…and I don’t disagree. You have one hour to get off my pack lands. From here on out, I sever all ties with the four of you and declare you packless.”
As none of them had wolves the breaking of the pack ties didn’t hurt yet. “What!? No, you can’t do that. We don’t even have our wolves yet. We’ll die out there.” Jasmine spoke up, but Jade and the twins stayed quiet, shocked at what the Alpha had directed.
“Keep talking, and I’ll make it 30 minutes. Now go, pack your things and Beta Griffin can guide you off the territory.”
Jasmine and Jade both started crying, but Jasmine gave me one last hateful look before turning away. I just gave her a slight nod, hoping no one noticed. I felt like crying too as I didn’t know when I would next see them, but I reigned in my emotions and focused on my anger instead.
“Thank you, Alpha.” I stormed off and headed back to my room. I watched from my window, waiting for Jasmine and the others to head off territory. Beta Griffin and one of the warriors walked them into the forest and both returned by themselves a few minutes later.
I went into the closet and pulled out my phone to text my brother. Now, all I could do was wait. Rory had moved to the couch now and was attempting to distract me by putting on a movie. She had snacks brought up to us, but I had a tough time focusing on the screen.