Author's POV
Akira arrived at the pack house, a stunning mansion that exuded power and luxury. The grand structure, adorned in white and blue, rose majestically like a castle, its imposing presence demanding respect.
Although Akira had threatened to expose Blair's secrets to her father , it was just a bluff, a desperate attempt to defend herself against Blair's venomous attacks. Deep down, Akira knew that going to Alpha Arnold would be a futile effort, like trying to knock down a brick wall with a feather. She realized that her words would be no match for Blair's cunning and manipulation, and that the pack leader would likely believe his daughter's lies over Akira's truth.
Akira's mind flashed back to a painful memory, a traumatic experience that had left an indelible mark on her life. She was just 14, a vulnerable slave girl, when she had witnessed Blair's thievery. With innocent courage, she had reported the crime to Alpha Arnold, hoping for justice. But instead, Blair's mother had turned the tables, accusing Akira of deceit and treachery.
The pack leader, blinded by his love for his daughter, had believed Blair's lies and punished Akira severely. The guards had dragged her away, throwing her into the dark, damp dungeon like a piece of trash. The memory still lingered, a bitter reminder that in the eyes of the pack, a slave's word was worthless against a noble's deceit.
Akira's first experience in the dungeon was a nightmare that left her scarred. The darkness was suffocating, the air thick with the stench of mold and despair. She was beaten mercilessly, her small body battered and bruised. Days passed without food or water, leaving her weak and frail.
The trauma of that experience still lingered, a constant fear that haunted her. Yet, Akira had grown resilient, refusing to let the threat of the dungeon control her. She knew that eventually, Blair's secrets would come to light, and justice would be served. Until then, she wouldn't waste her breath trying to convince anyone of the truth.
Akira hurried to her small living space, her feet moving swiftly across the floor. She had no time to waste, knowing that her chores wouldn't do themselves. With a determined sigh, she dove into her tasks, scrubbing the floors, dusting the shelves, and tidying up the room with precision. Her hands moved with a sense of purpose, her mind focused on getting everything just right. She was a slave, but she refused to let her circumstances define her. She would complete her chores with pride, no matter how menial they seemed. Only then would she allow herself the luxury of tackling her schoolwork, her mind hungry for knowledge about the wolves world .
"Akira!, come over here," The deep, commanding voice of Alpha Arnold resonated through the air, sending a shiver down Akira's spine. The sound was like thunder on a summer day, unmistakable and authoritative.
Akira sighed and rolled her eyes, "Here we go again," she muttered under her breath, like a person resigned to a familiar but annoying routine. She wasn't shocked, knowing that Blair, with her fancy Ferrari, would beat her to the pack house, while Akira was still stuck on the bus, crawling along like a snail. She was sure that Blair had already run to her parents, spewing all sorts of lies and half-truths, like a rumor-spreading busybody trying to make her look bad.
In the fancy living room, Alpha Arnold sat comfortably in a huge, impressive chair, like a boss. His wife, Mrs. Victoria Wright, sat beside him, her eyes fixed on Akira with a strong, angry glare, her dislike and hatred clear. Blair stood next to them, looking innocent and sad, her eyes wide with a fake helplessness, like a kid trying to get pity. But her mom's anger and hostility were obvious, creating a tense atmosphere, like a big argument was about to explode.
"Hello, Alpha, hello, Mrs. Wright," Akira said, bowing her head respectfully, using a formal tone to show her respect and courtesy, like a student greeting their principal and teacher.
"Akira, did you dump a soda on Blair's face at school today?" Alpha Arnold asked, his voice stern and direct, like a father questioning his kid about a mess they made, trying to get to the bottom of the situation.
"Yes, I did it, Alpha," Akira replied, her voice firm and confident, like someone owning up to a mistake, without hesitation or apology, standing her ground and facing the consequences.
"Dad, I told you, she embarrassed me in front of everyone today!" Blair exclaimed, her voice shaking with fake tears, like a kid trying to get sympathy from their parent, playing the victim to get attention and support.
"You should have just left her in a miserable town, instead of bringing her into the pack house! Look how she's repaying our kindness of bringing her to become a member of the blue moon pack, by picking on our daughter!" Mrs. Victoria spat, her voice fiery with anger and resentment, like a parent defending their child from a perceived threat, her words dripping with venom and hostility.
"Why did you do it, Akira?" Alpha Arnold asked, his voice calm and neutral, like a judge seeking evidence, wanting to hear her side of the story before making a decision, his love for his daughter evident but not clouding his judgment, seeking fairness and truth.
"She called me a cheap tramp!" Akira said, her voice laced with hurt and anger, like someone sharing a painful insult, the words still stinging from the attack on her character, her emotions raw and vulnerable.
"That's not true, Dad! I would never say something like that! She's the one who called me a cheap tramp, not the other way around!" Blair protested, her voice rising in defense, like a kid trying to clear their name, insisting on their innocence and shifting the blame back to Akira.
Mrs. Victoria stormed over to Akira and slapped her across the face, "How dare you accuse my daughter of such a thing!" she spat, her anger and loyalty to her daughter evident, "Blair is a sweet and innocent girl, she would never say something so vile, you're just trying to tarnish her reputation!"
"Did you really call Blair a tramp?" Alpha Arnold asked, his voice stern and angry, like a father who's had enough, his patience worn thin, demanding a straight answer and ready to unleash his wrath if the answer is yes.
"Yes, I did!" Akira replied, her voice bold and defiant, like someone refusing to back down, standing by their words and actions, even if it means facing the consequences, her fierce tone showing she's not afraid of Alpha's anger.
"How dare she! Look at her, acting all bold and defiant!" Mrs. Victoria said, her voice dripping with disdain and contempt.
"Guards! Get in here now!" Alpha Arnold bellowed, his patience worn thin, ready to lash out at Akira without hearing another word. But just as the guards were about to arrive, a messenger burst in with urgent news, "Alpha Arnold, I bring grave tidings! Alpha Hunter of the White Lotus pack has fallen in battle, and a new Alphas will be taken over." The sudden news of his friend's demise seemed to stun Alpha Arnold, momentarily distracting him from his anger towards Akira.
The guards rushed In, but they hesitated, unsure of what to do. The messenger was still there, and whenever he was present, no one dared to interrupt or speak out of turn, especially the servants. They knew to wait until the messenger had finished delivering his message and Alpha Arnold had given his attention. So, they stood silently, awaiting further instructions, their eyes fixed on Alpha Arnold, waiting for his cue.
"Oh no, this is devastating news!" Mrs. Victoria exclaimed, shock and sorrow etched on her face. "What a tragedy for the White Lotus pack! But what do you mean by 'the new Alphas have taken over'?" she asked, her curiosity piqued, seeking clarity on the sudden change in leadership, her eyes fixed intently on the messenger.
"Alpha Hunter has passed away, and his sons will take his place as the new leader. Alpha Hunter has triplets, three sons born on the same day, and now all three of them will share the title of Alpha, a first in the history of the White Lotus pack!" The messenger explained, his words conveying the significance and uniqueness of this unprecedented development.
"But, Alpha Arnold, there's an even bigger problem," the messenger continued, his tone serious and concerned, hinting that the situation was more complex and dire than just a change in leadership, and that there was a more pressing matter that required Alpha Arnold's attention.
"Privacy!" Alpha Arnold commanded, and the room began to clear out, but Blair quickly spoke up, "Wait, what about Akira's punishment, Father?" she reminded him, her voice firm and insistent, ensuring that Akira's fate wasn't forgotten amidst the sudden crisis.
"Guards, take Akira away and put her to work in the servant quarters. Double her workload!" Alpha Arnold ordered sternly, his patience worn thin, sentencing Akira to hard labor as punishment, his words echoing with authority.
Blair and her mother walked out of the room with smug looks on their faces, seemingly satisfied with the outcome. But Akira didn't bat an eye, she was unfazed by the punishment, having grown accustomed to such treatment, her expression unchanged, showing a sense of resilience and acceptance.
Alpha Arnold waved his hand, indicating for the messenger to take a seat, and asked, "Now that we're alone, tell me what's really going on. What's the urgent issue that requires my attention?" His tone was direct and serious, showing he was ready to hear the truth, without any sugarcoating or distractions.
"The triplet brothers are turning 19 in just four months, and they're returning to Chicago," the messenger announced, his words dripping with significance, implying that their return would bring significant changes and potentially disrupt the status quo in the city.
Alpha Arnold let out a deep sigh, his expression thoughtful. He knew this day would eventually come. Alpha Hunter had consulted the Moon Goddess about his triplet sons fate, and she revealed that they were destined for greatness, and that their paths were intertwined with his daughter.
Since that day, Alpha Arnold has been anxious. Apart from himself and his messenger, no one else knew about his other daughter who had been missing for a long time. He's especially worried because he's unsure if his daughter Blair, or his lost daughter, is destined to be mated two the triplet alphas.
"When are they coming back?" Alpha Arnold inquired.
"Tonight," replied the messenger. "And the triplets will be starting at Wilder Academy," the messenger added.