𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐦

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉𝐸𝑁

𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚

After the meeting had finally come to an end, everyone was getting ready to leave to go back to their packs. A few were lingering to have a word with the others while the majority just walked out the door. Aunt Vanessa, Bailey, Bradley were amomg those who didn't stick around. I was about to leave too when Beta Zane stopped to have a word with Uncle Trevor.

"I must say I was most impressed with the suggestions given by Karina, Trevor. I myself never would have thought of that, so you can imagine the astonishment I felt when I heard them coming from her," Beta Zane said admirably.

"You and me both," Uncle Trevor chuckled.
"Where is Carlton Beta Zane?" I asked looking around for him. "He's not in the meeting room, has he left already?"
"I believe he's outside. Why don't you go look for him while I have a word with your uncle," he suggested.

I nodded my head and left the meeting room and stepped into the hallway, not seeing Carlton anywhere. Not wanting to be alone, for fear of bumping into Bailey, Bradley or Matthew again, I went to search for him. Just as I was about to take the elevator to go down to the ground floor, I felt a hand grab me from behind.

I yelped out of shock and turned quickly around, only to see that the hand that grabbed me was none other than Aunt Vanessa. Her opal eyes were blazing and her body was rigid.
"There are no words to describe the way I feel about you," her cold tone was a sharp contrast to that of her demeanor — burning hot and filled with rage, anger, resentment.

"I don't understand, what did I do?" I asked, trying to pull my hand out of her vice like grip but in vain.
"Ohh, she wants to know what she did," she said mockingly.
"I'm sure a tight slap will make her remember what she did," Bailey growled menacingly.

"W..what? But I..I didn't do anything to deserve a slap, why would you—look just let me go. If I did anything to offend you I'm sorry. I am sorry. Please just let me go," I whimpered.
"Don't use that pathetic voice with me you brat! When you insulted my children you didn't hesitate to raise your voice!" Aunt Vanessa yelled as she tightened her grip on my wrist.

"Aunt Vanessa you're hurting me! Stop it, please, just stop!" I was desperately trying to make her release me, but my struggling only made her squeeze my wrist even tighter.

"For Goddess sake let me take control Karina, just let me take control for once in our life!" Keira's snarl of aggression was both loud and terrifying, promising death if I were to let her take control. I could never do it. Not after what happened last time.

If I allowed myself to surrender control to Keira I doubt I'll be able to regain control of us. It was different before, now she was older, stronger and undoubtedly more fierce and unlikely to listen to me no matter how hard I tried to reason with her.

"You need to learn your place pup. Don't ever be under the assumption that you're prettier than Bailey, smarter than Bradley, or higher in rank or hold more importance than me. Don't walk down the same road as your mother, or I can't guarantee your safety," Aunt Vanessa said condescendingly.

Before I could ask what she meant by this, I felt another hand grab me and looked behind me to see that it was Uncle Trevor. He let out a low growl and he gently pushed me behind him and advanced upon his mate, his eyes darkening with rage. "I leave her alone for two minutes and this is what I walk into Vanessa? You holding her against her will and threatening her? This is the limit. The goddamn limit!"

"You're damn right this is the limit! The limit of you putting this girl up on a pedestal and treating her like a queen! The limit of you giving her more love, respect and acknowledgment than your own children and mate!" Aunt Vanessa yelled back.