𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐦

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑁𝐼𝑁𝐸

𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚

Twenty minutes into my episode of tears, despair and self questioning, I was ready to go back inside. It was well after four thirty and the meeting must've already started. Sniffling slightly I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, quite forgetting I had on mascara and eyeliner that wasn't liquid proof.

"Well that's just great," I muttered.

Not being able to do anything about my ruined makeup, I walked up the path that led to Gemstone Hall and went inside, the cold air conditioner hitting me square in my face. The receptionist at the front desk was busily typing on her computer and didn't bat an eye when I went to the water dispenser and filled a paper cup.

With my cup in hand I took the elevator to the meeting room, taking slow sips of water while the car took its sweet time in getting to the fifteenth floor. The minute the doors opened I stomped through, instantly colliding with a solid chest.

This better not be Bradley or Matthew or so help me Goddess...

"Karina where have you been?"

Looking up with teary eyes I saw my uncle looking down at me, alarm written all over his face. "Sweetheart what happened to you? Did you have an accident?"
Dropping my book on the floor, I tightly hugged Uncle Trevor, not having the strength to hold in the fresh wave of tears I was hit with. "I..I don't want to b..be here anymore Uncle Trevor, I wanna go home...I wanna go home! I wanna go home!"

It took Uncle Trevor seconds to realize what was wrong. A growl erupted from his chest and his grip tightened on my shoulders.
"What did they say to you?"
"Not what they said, what they did too!" I sobbed. "I was drawing in the garden and Bailey, Bradley and Matthew came and started harassing me. They took my book, teased me and refused to give it back, even when I begged them to. When Nora came and called them inside, Bradley threw my book in the trash!"

At the end of my tearful explanation, I could hear my uncle's breathing increase dramatically, a sign of both his and Tabarik's intense emotions. I had to admire his self control too. Any other Alpha would've long since stormed into that room, grabbed the ones responsible for my condition and beat them to a pulp.

"The meeting has started, let's go in, get it over with and later, the three of them will pay for treating you like this," he promised harshly. "And this time, Vanessa can't say shit to defend them."
Despite the lividity behind his words, I wasn't in the slightest bit afraid. I knew none of it was for me.

"My makeup is ruined. I can't be seen like this, I'll only prove to be an embarrassment for everyone," I said miserably.
"That's not true you're beautiful, every part of you," he said softly as he took out his handkerchief, using some of my water to clean my face of the smudged mascara and eyeliner.

"I wish that were the truth in their eyes," I thought silently.

𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐧

"I've told Dan not to let his mate wear such clothes to places like this. Now look, she's being ogled by every wolf in this room!"

"Be thankful she's not a lying, cheating, gold-digging skank like Mrs Jedd's daughter-in-law."

"Father tell Gibby not to touch my iPad!"

"You're looking so gorgeous my beautiful mate, when this meeting is over, you meet me in the men's restroom."

"Oh Charles, you're so naughty."

"If our mate isn't here Drake, I'll have your head for making me sit through such purgatory," I growled.

"Me? It's your mother that told you to attend this meeting! I was simply offering my suggestion!" he snorted.