Enemy Queen [2]

d a u g h t e r

Troy's eyes flared with rage. He wasted no time in confronting my aggressor.

He grabbed the guy by the front of his suit and threw him across the floor ten feet away. I was completely bewildered—not because he had done that but because he had done that on my behalf.

"Don't speak to my mate like that." I knew his wolf was speaking now because Troy the man would never say that.

Murmurs erupted in the dance hall. Most were sympathetic. Only a few were skeptical. I stood still for what felt like an eternity.

"I can't believe he did that in such a public setting. . ."

"I wonder what Alpha is going to do to him now."

"Did he say Trueblood?"

Sahara interjected before any blood was spilled and I was grateful a civil third party like his mother stepped in.

"Apologize. Now." Sahara demanded but that only made the man angrier.

"Are you blind? She's a fucking Trueblood slut who has no place in this pack." He was practically spitting in Troy's face.

"Excuse us," Cairo separated him from us but not before bowing and addressing the small crowd that had formed to watch. "Carry on!"

He dragged the man outside and that was that.

"You two, come with me." Sahara told us quietly and we followed her out of the big dance hall. She escorted us into a private office and closed the door. Anger was still radiating off of Troy as he paced back and forth.

Sahara was harder to read.

"We weren't aware that you had ties to the Trueblood pack." She began, "You're the daughter of the late Alpha Carlisle and late Luna Autumn, aren't you?"

There was no point in hiding it.

"Yes, I am."

She nodded once.

Would they still like me despite knowing where I came from? Or would they torture me like all the other Trueblood wolves?

I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Claire, I know what you must think of us and what you must think of our son. But the truth is that we don't care that you're a Trueblood—you cannot choose your pack so you should not be ostracized for it. The past is the past and we would like for it to stay that way."

Of course she would like to bury the past. It was easy for her and her family to pretend that they didn't traumatize me and Ares.

"Your son murdered my parents and took them away from me. That's not something I can just forget. It's because of him that I'm in hiding. It's because of him that I have no family."

I glared at Troy and for a split second his demeanor changed. But then he went back to his angry brooding.

"I understand." Sahara said gently. "I didn't mean to suggest that you forget everything that happened, but perhaps only to keep an open mind." Then she dropped the subject. "I would also like to apologize on behalf of Oslo's behavior. He was always one to keep grudges, especially towards your pack, which I am very sorry for." She did sound genuine in her apology but it didn't sound right coming from her. "Please enjoy the rest of the party. Troy, I would like to have a word in private."

I left the room but didn't join the other wolves in the dance hall. I wasn't in the mood for anymore fake smiles tonight.

But guess who I ran into on the way up the stairs? Dallas was coming towards me with a scowl on his face like always. He looked like he was in a rush.

"Why did you tell your parents about me?" I asked as I passed Dallas.

He continued down the hallway without even acknowledging me. I turned around with my hands in fists. What was his problem?

"Hey! I'm talking to you."

He stopped walking but didn't face me.

"The only reason I'm being civil towards you is because of Iris."

"Yeah, I get that." I rolled my eyes.

"And Troy." He admitted.

"Why would that matter? Troy hates me." Just like you and the rest of the Jackson pack hated me. Troy could change all he wanted but I knew in my heart that he didn't give a shit about me.

Dallas finally turned around. "Ever since our Beta died, Troy hasn't been the same. He's acting more distant and his behavior has been reckless, even for him."

"So what? You want me to fix him?" The balls of him to expect me to do that. "He's a grown man. He can fix himself."

"No, not fix."

"Then what?"

He changed the subject. "To answer your question, I told our parents because I wanted them to hear the news from either me or Troy. And he doesn't hate you, he's just good at hiding how he really feels."

Dallas turned around and hurried back to where he was going.

The interaction left me downright confused of all things.

.•*•.

Once I got back to Troy's room, I locked myself in the bathroom and ran the tub with boiling hot water. I couldn't describe how nice it was to submerge myself and wash away every single thing that had clung to my skin. It was a deep cleanse that I desperately needed, especially after tonight.

I was expecting someone to come and watch me but nobody did. The peace and quiet felt strange in this place.

Troy was back when I got out.

He wasted no time in taking his gold watch and accessories off and leaving them in a pile on his vanity.

"Take the bed."

I was too tired to argue. I put on the nightgown that was laid out for me and crept under the covers.

"What? No objections this time?" He commented.

"I'm not stupid. Arguing with you is pointless."

"Could've fooled me." He muttered with his back to me.

I watched as he hung up my dress and placed the red heels I'd worn into its box. He did some housekeeping with the jewelry I'd worn but he didn't change into his sleeping clothes. Guessed he was going to stay up for a bit.

I closed my eyes and started drifting off. I didn't want to admit it but it was much better than sleeping on the floor.

"I'm sorry about Oslo. He's been unhinged ever since he became third-in-line for the crown." He was saying but I wasn't listening.

"Whatever."

"He'll pay for threatening you. I'm the only one who can do that."

"I honestly don't care." I was trying to go to sleep here.

"Cairo is speaking with him still so when he's done, I'll have a talk with him myself. It's about time I put him in his place again. My parents will want to do something tomorrow before they go back to their partying and now that there's going to be a new addition to the family, they'll want to spend more time together."

My eyes shot wide open.

"What?" I demanded and sat up to meet his eyes. He looked otherwise unfazed at what he'd just said.

"I just found out an hour ago. Dallas's mate is pregnant."