Miatta
Yvette was shocked first of all but as soon as the shock wore off, she headed straight for Addy, flashing her deadly claws. The entire members of Group White assembled around their leader, protecting her from the vengeful Yvette. Addy was unbothered by the threat, rising from her bedside gradually. Her locks whipped against the hollow behind her knees.
“Don't we have duties this morning? I assume you should be motivating us to get to work instead of threatening me with those ugly names.” She sounded different, more confident and cocky. I had not known Addy for long but I could tell that her relapse had changed something in her or rather, had awoken a dormant spirit in her. She was badass now. Her team regrouped and assembled behind her, tapping from her brash confidence. She nudged Yvette aside with a shoulder and passed by her silently, leading her group outside. My group leader, Elena signalled for me and I ran towards her, hiding my unadorned neck with my thick hair.
“Where is your collar?” Ryan asked immediately I stood beside her. I instinctively touched my neck, worried that if Ryan had discovered its absence, it was only a matter of time before I was dealing with Yvette herself.
“I don't know. I'm looking for it. Just do me a favour and don't let anyone else know it's missing. Keep your ears open and let me know if anyone is talking about it or has it.” I didn't want the news of my missing collar spreading so fast. I had to find it or risk being exposed. In more unfortunate news, yesterday had been our last day on garden duty and we were on kitchen duty. I must have run out of favours with the Moon Goddess and we filed out behind Elena, heading towards the royal household. She was stopped by a lycan warrior but after she told him our mission, he gave her leave of passage and we were shown to the kitchen. I grimaced at the size of the place and would have run out but for the next person trooping in behind me.
“Were wolves even supposed to have kitchens?” I murmured under my breath, seething with anger as I poked a finger into a oily bowl. It stunk of dead fish and blood.
“Nothing is cooked here, as far as I know. That's why there is so much blood in here,” Elena explained, sharing us into smaller groups of three. We were given brushes and sponges to do justice to the unhygienic environment. I had enough when Pluto, a wiry older wolf moved a spilling bowl of dark blood from a hidden spot. I ran out the door and fell to the floor, emptying my almost empty stomach. I heaved over and over again until I had nothing left to cough up. On a normal day, I was a strong person but there was only so much I could handle. A tall shadow was cast before me and I raised my head miserably, shielding my eyes from the sun’s harsh rays. It was when I saw him that I remembered the person whose name had earlier skipped my mind.
Luke/Lucas
She was messed up by her own vomit but she was still disturbingly attractive. She leaned back on her heels to look up at my face and I was awed by hers. However, I could not forget that she hated the person I really was and would have nothing to do with the Lycan Prince. I was better playing Luke.
“You!” she accused, squinting her balls of fury and standing up unorganized. She stepped back from her waste and arched her hands on her waist. “Where is it? Where is my collar?”
Firstly, I had thought of pleading false innocence but where was the fun in that? Besides, I could tell Miatta was someone who loved being challenged instead of being handled delicately. I merely dug under my garment and pulled out the black collar, smiling cleverly. Now the ball was in my court.
“How could you? Do you even know what that is?” she pointed at the collar, lowering her voice wisely. I slipped it back into its hiding place and crossing over the icky vomit, I grabbed on to her arm and pulled her along with me.
“Stop it! Leave me. I have to get back to work and you need to give me back that necklace!” she protested incessantly and dug her heels in the ground. She was beautiful but a lot stubborn too. I worked out an incentive to get her moving. I snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her back to my front, banking the fires of my desire a bit.
“You have two options, Miatta. You can either scream and everyone will come running only to find you alone without your collar or you can keep shut so that we can agree on something. She stopped struggling im response to my demands and went limp in my arms. I suddenly regretted her lack of animation but it had to be done. I took her to a hidden part of the royal household and we hid behind a column. She was not pleased with my methods but at least, she was not screaming like a tortured banshee. She hid her face from me though, detaching herself completely.
“First of all, I would like to know how you came to be with this collar,” I asked her but when she kept mute, I baited her again with the collar and I could swear that I heard her curse at me. She sighed and shut her eyes, giving room to admire her lovely countenance. Actually, I wanted to know her opinion about me which would determine my next action.
“It was th–that terrible monster called the Prince that forced that collar on me because of that proud princess. It is so unpleasant and I wish it gone but I have to show that I can behave before I can be relieved of the burdensome jewellry. Just give it back to me, Lucas or Luke, whatever you are called. I won't tell another soul what transpired here.”
I did not want her promise of secrecy; I wanted her wholly and blackmail was my only ticket to seeing her again. She silently waited on me, her eyes darting around nervously. I palmed her chin gently and she froze at once. She was within my reach and I couldn't help myself. I had to see her again and soon too.
“If you want your collar, meet me at this spot tonight as the last horn is sounded. Come alone.”
That said, I pecked her on the nose and ran away before she could object or say a word.