005 ~ Rival

"Mistress? Who's she calling a mistress? Who's she?" Clara asked in a demanding tone, although the questions seemed to be directed at Sydney who was now speechless and was watching the alpha's stern gaze. Slowly, he brought down Clara's hand from his shoulder. This pissed her off but she knew better than to get the alpha angry.

"Clara, this is blue eyes. She will be staying in the pack house from now. And you will act as her guide and make sure she's comfortable." The alpha commanded but Clara found it hard to believe. She shifted from him to take a good look at Sydney.

"With all due respect alpha, I cannot do that. This lousy thing just insulted me by calling me a mistress and you're not saying anything about it." She pursed her lips into a thin line and folded her hands.

"Careful what you address my blue bird, Clara." She flinched when she heard the alpha's voice in her head. He sounded pissed. Immediately, she dropped her hands and bowed her head. Without any more word, he wakes away from the scene, leaving the two ladies who stared at each other.

"I'm not going to be nice to you," Clara informed and began walking away.

"Great. I don't plan on being nice to you either." Sydney responded with the same energy.

As commanded by the alpha, Clara showed Sydney around the pack house but didn't show her where she was going to be sleeping.

"Aren't you forgetting something important?"

"With you, nothing is important."

Sydney wasn't buying her rude attitude and even thought of reporting her to the alpha. She was supposed to be the angry one because another lady tried to kiss her husband right in front of her.

"I've been meaning to ask. Did my alpha get you from the slave market? You know, slaves are known for their aggressive behavior. I'm just curious." She said with a sweet smile which just pissed Sydney off.

"You wouldn't even be alive if I were to exhibit my aggressive behavior. You're too weak to even pinch. Were you gotten from the whore house? Because whores usually have a sassy attitude? Just curious though. No harm done."

Clara's smile turned into a frown and she walked murderously toward Sydney.

"I would advise you to watch your tongue, slave."

"Watch your attitude, whore." She fired back fearlessly.

The two were ready to pounce on each other when Zane's voice interrupted them.

"Do you have a death wish?" He asked, looking between the two of them. Their eyes didn't go off each other until Clara smirked and folded her hands.

"Tell that to the slave who thinks she's the boss around here." Clara eyed her maliciously.

"I'm talking to you, Clara. And slave? Have you gone nuts? She's the alpha ----"

Sydney raised her hand to shush him.

"Save it for people who are worth telling, not this lousy thing."

Clara's last straw of patience cut and she raised her hand to hit Sydney but Zane caught her hand midway.

"That's the alpha's wife, you fool. Do you want to die?" Zane yelled at her.

"What sort of joke is that? This ugly slave cannot be my alpha's luna." Her voice broke as she snatched her hand from Zane's.

"Your alpha? It's how you claim him as though you own him. He belongs to everybody for goodness sake." Sydney rolled her eyes at the girl's dramatic behavior.

"Respect her as you would the alpha. You don't need to be told twice."

Clara stormed off immediately, up to the alpha's room.

"I wonder what Miss Dramatic is up to." Sydney giggled, seeing how red her face was.

"You shouldn't go about causing trouble." He was already tired of trying to keep her from doing stupid things.

"You know me, I don't cause trouble if there's no reason to. I'm a calm and collected person." She said sweetly, hoping to get on his good side.

"Uh huh..." He gave her a knowing look.

"Come on, I will show you to your bedroom. And please, just don't say anything henceforth."

"Aye, aye, captain." She obliged.

*******

"Is it true? Did you get married while you were away?" Clara asked painfully. She had always loved the alpha and did everything he had always asked of her. She hoped that she would become his luna one day and rule by his side but he betrayed her and got married to someone else.

"Why are you questioning my actions, Clara? Do you not know where you stand?"

"Forget where I stand. You betrayed me, alpha Ryder."

'Ryder? Is that his name?' Sydney asked herself as she stood at the door with Zan behind her.

Alpha Ryder's right hand was already on the table, flipping a pen.

"Hello, blue bird." He smirked.

'Damn it! He's not looking at me.' Clara swallowed her pain and walked out, nudging Zane against his shoulder.

'She's going to pay for taking him away from me.' She wiped her tears.

"She must be really pissed right now," Zane said, looking at how fiercely Clara had stormed out.

"Oh... She had it coming. Told her not to catch feelings and here she is, feeling betrayed. I did nothing wrong." He shrugged and stood up, tossing the pen aside.

"You shouldn't follow in her footsteps, blue bird. You don't have the same privilege as her to talk to me that way." He warned with a smile, picking up his jacket from the bed.

"Don't worry. I'll try to avoid you as much as possible." She replied with a sly smirk.

"Beta Zane, take me to my room. I need to rest from the ruckus." She demanded but Zane tilted his head.

"But you're in your room." He replied to her and looked at Ryder, not knowing what to say. She turned abruptly to him with a forced smile.

"I know you're joking, beta. Take me to my room." She grabbed his hand, trying to pull him along but he resisted.

"This is your room, luna." He spoke again. Ryder narrowed his hands at their intertwined hands and when Zane felt his gaze, he disconnected them immediately.

"We have training on Fridays and Saturdays. And pack patrol every day at six. Be sure to be available." He bowed to Alpha Ryder and scurried off.

"Comfy with another man, I see." He headed to the door.

"You're one to talk. You should know how that feels. But wait alpha, am I really staying here with you? How am I supposed to avoid you?"

"Get ready for tonight." He said and disappeared through the door.

Her mind started racing to unknown forbidden places.

"Tonight? What's happening tonight?"