24. To End Her
AURELIA
Dishes shattered on the floor and I gritted, jolting to my feet, hot pain burned into my skin as hot liquid trickled down my arm.
Nina who had been shocked to see me, gasped, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to." Oh, was she sorry now?
She was never sorry when she treated me like I was a piece of trash back then. She was never sorry when she disrespected me even when I was her Luna but now she was sorry? And I could sense that her apology had something to do with the fact that Alpha Tristan was towering over us both, snarling at her.
"Such unprofesssionalism!" Alpha Tristan barked ferociously, holding my burning arm.
Nina dropped a plate of hot soup right on my arm when she saw me. I'd have thought she already got a whiff of my presence in the pack but she seemed genuinely surprised to see me. The mighty Nina trembled before me and apologized repeatedly. But her apology didn't change the fact that my skin was burning and to my surprise, Larisa walked over to where Nina was standing and struck her in the face. "Have you gone blind? How could you embarrass our guests!"
Nina's knees kissed the floor instantly and she began to apologize profusely. Saying I was shocked to see her in such a weak state would be an understatement. I vividly remember wishing that I was as unbreakable as she was but now? Oh, how the mighty has fallen. Larisa was about to hit Nina again when I intervened, "That's enough! Please stop. The word isn't that serious."
I tried not to seeth at Larisa's aggressive method. There was no need for that and my burning skin was getting better thanks to my wolf's ability to heal me faster than others.
"But she ruined your dress and your arm would scar from-" Larisa's words died in her throat when she noticed that the redness on my arm was fading rapidly. "H-how is that p-posible? The soup was steaming hot." She gasped.
"Can you be less fast with healing me this time? I don't want to be the center of attention." I pleaded with Inara who scoffed but agreed that showing off her skills wasn't important right now. I muttered to Larisa, "I guess it wasn't as hot as you assume. I won't leave a scar." "But she still needs a healer." Alpha Tristan demanded.Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.
I thought this was the best time to see Dakota without raising suspicion but before I could voice my desire, Larisa chimed, "Let me help you, please."
My left eyebrow quirked in question. She offered to help. Funny.
But I didn't argue because I wasn't scared of her. If I wanted, I could break her like a twig within two seconds. I didn't question her intention as I followed her out of the dining hall. She took me to the hall's restroom but rather than help me like she offered, she stood akimbo in the middle of the restroom, glaring at me.
"Is that glare supposed to intimidate you?" Inara let out a wolfy laugh at the back of my mind. "Katie can do better than that."
I chuckled at my wolf's comment, causing Larisa's glare to deepen.
"What's funny?" She yelled at me.
"Your face." Inara voiced, amused.
I chuckled again. I just couldn't help it and I bet Larisa would have been more irritated if she could hear my wolf's response.
"Is this funny to you?" Larisa's irritation flared. "You think showing up here alive to destroy everything I had worked tirelessly for is funny. You're a leech and I-"
"Can you stop acting like a child?" I snapped but quickly corrected myself because no child would act like Larisa. Not my kids. "That's an insult to children if I'm being honest."
"What did you say to me?" Disbelief was clear in her eyes as she asked, stuttering.
"You heard me, Larisa. It's stupid to bring me here if you'd no plan to help me. You pretended out there only to act like a bitch in here? Come on." I shook my head and strolled to the hand basin in the restroom to wash the remnants of the soup off my healed arm.
My skin was still red from irritation but the cold water was soothing and I sighed in relief but Larisa yanked at my shoulder. I was forced to face her but while I rolled my eyes, she raised her hand, aiming to slap me.
I let her believe she could slap me until her hand was close enough to my face. I grabbed her wrist and twisted it backward, earning a cry from her. "Aahhh... Let go of me, bitch!"
"I'm the bitch? Have you seen yourself in the mirror?" I snarled at her, a bit angry but a lot more amused.
For emphasis, I grab Larisa's head, fisting my hand into her blond hair, and made her look into the nearest wall mirror. "Take a look at yourself, bitch. You're still as disgusting and spineless as you were six years ago." I knew my actions were confirming my identity as Aurelia but it wasn't like she didn't know that already.
"If you think you can come for me,
Larisa, think again because I won't think twice before snapping your neck," I said to her, holding her head firmly even though she was struggling to break free. I looked at her through the mirror and added, "The Aurelia you knew is dead and this girl, Lia, isn't a pushover. Don't force my hand or I'll drag you
through the deepest part of hell. Do I make myself clear?"
I didn't wait for her response before shoving her body away from me. Her red face was a good enough answer. I raised my arm again and swatted the soup stain off my pants before strolling out of the restroom without taking another look at a shocked and disheveled Larisa. "You should have snapped her neck," Inara complained even though I could feel her happiness bubbling in my bloodstream.
"I bet I'll get the chance to do that one of these days but for now, I'd like to enjoy dinner," I responded.
As I settled beside Alpha Tristan, I
made a mental note to see Dakota
the next day since she wasn't in the dining hall. She was the only family! had here Larisa returned to her seat a few minutes after I started eating. She had taken her time to fix her appearance and also acted like she hadn't been shitting herself earlier but I would be a fool to not know that the battle line between us has become more defined.
Larisa was coming for me and fuck was I fully prepared to end her.