Chapter 2 Lavinia

Ophelia

Last night, Gideon left me alone, but I could still hear his footsteps twice as he paced to the door and turned the knob before letting go of me. I had trouble sleeping because of his nighttime wanderings and my own dreams. I feel enough recovered to be able to move without experiencing pain. I style my hair and wear elegant clothes that blend in to cover the bump on my head from hitting the ground. My makeup is used to cover up my fair skin and the dark bags under my eyes caused by stress and lack of sleep.When I leave the bedroom, the guards nearly sneer at me. I almost send myself hurtling back to my cozy cocoon of blankets, but I make myself step out of the bedroom. I'm famished. I must feed myself, at the very least.It's lunchtime, and the packhouse is almost deserted. A fancy supper is being planned as the 'official' celebration of Gideon's birthday, and the majority of the wolves who reside here are either at work or school. Though I'm not sure who is coming, I'm assuming that additional packs are joining us.There is only one omega in the kitchen. When I walk in, even she gives me an evil look. I still smile at her, but all I receive in return is a blank stare.I start to assemble my sandwich by grabbing a loaf of bread, peanut butter, and jelly.The omega says, "Luna, can I help?" Her demeanor has evolved, becoming uncertain. When I look down, I see that my hands are shaking, as if using a butter knife to spread peanut butter on a piece of bread requires as much strength as two hundred bench presses."No, thank you," I whisper. I quickly finish and begin to store the jar, but she gets there first, giving me a troubled look. My wrist has just the tiniest hint of a bruise. The fingers of Gideon. Most of the time, my bulky bracelets conceal it, but they are visible."Luna, just sit and eat. Are you up for a drink?" Do her eyes seem to be crying?"Please, milk," I reply, lowering myself onto the bar stool. Making even something as simple as a sandwich is exhausting, and my head is throbbing.She hands me the glass and says, "Just put your glass and dish in the sink, and I will take care of it." She lets me dine in silence. I load my plate and filthy glass into the dishwasher after I'm done. Standing up makes me dizzy, but it goes away shortly.I head down to my office, thinking I have nothing better to do, only to stop dead in the doorway.Lavinia is at my desk, spinning a pen while perched in my chair. Even worse, Gideon is sitting at my desk, smiling down at her, laughing heartily, and clearly enjoying himself. Most likely glancing down her blouse, which she kindly unbuttoned all the way down to her bra so he could stare in awe.I'm filled with a burning rage. My wolf stands up; she's always curled up in her den.I'm in pain. I am hardly able to walk at a regular speed. I feel as though someone took a hammer to my spine and bent it forever. I have constant headaches. Stress and sleep deprivation have made me queasy. Gideon could give a fuck, and I'm about to fall apart.I watch as Lavinia places her immaculate hand on his thigh and smiles flirtatiously while saying something. My wolf steps menacingly toward the she-wolf, ruffling her fur and wearing a quiet scowl on her face.I got banged up for just joke-sharing with a man.Gideon remains cheerful, allowing her to caress his thigh and knee in a personal manner. I can feel his indiscretion burning in my stomach.My veins are filled with ice. This is amusing. The irony is only entertaining. It hurts, but nothing compares to the anguish I'm feeling from him right now-not even close to getting belted by a Trueborn Alpha. I had puzzled and fretted about myself for a year and a half. How inadequate my strength and abilities are. My life's motto has turned into a masochistic version of never enough.I detest Lavinia. I detest Gideon's arrogant, conceited pals as well as her cohorts. I detest this pack. I despise him. I detest my partner. I despise myself, too.The word "cozy" sticks out of my freezing lips like a blade.A moment after I say this, Gideon is standing a few steps away from the desk, looking at me startled. Not guilty. No. This is nothing to be ashamed of.That arrogant bitch, Lavinia, is grinning at me."Get out of my office." I give her a chilly look.Her eyes enlarge upon the obvious disregard. Gideon is gazing at me, examining me methodically from head to toe, as though I'm a mirage.His frown says, "Ophelia, what are you wearing?"I want to give him a slap. Underneath my flowy peasant top is a comfortable sports bra. My elastic-waisted capri pants are made of soft cotton with a camel color. My entire wardrobe is made to minimize pressure points on my injuries. Naturally, Lavinia is resplendently attired in an ultra-skinny skirt and blouse. She just seems put-together and professional in a way that I can't accomplish when I have bloody cuts. I would like to add that she looks slutty."Nevermind," murmurs Gideon. He touches his hair with his hands. "How are you feeling?""Better," I respond to him.His gaze strayed from me once more. He is scowling with annoyance."So you finally decided to grace us with your presence?" Lavinia makes an awkward comment."Leave my office now. Go rape my friend in his office like the whore you are." I see the fury on her face. Alright."Ophelia!" Gideon lashes out and comes charging at me. "Goddess, that was fucking unnecessary!"I hardened my back. I'm not going to cower. In any case, I might as well be a bitch because pleading won't save me. "Is this still my office, Alpha?" I give him a fierce look. "Isn't this the Lunas' office? And the Luna is me? Or are you going to let me go?"In a moment, his face turns dark. "Go?" he whispers. "Go where, little mate?"His eyes are getting really gold.B*tch.I give Lavinia a lethal gaze that I doubt I will ever be able to pull off. "Get out!" I growl.She smiles at me as she strolls out. She says to him, "I'll be in our-your office, Gideon."That harlot is hardly the biggest problem I have. The beast with golden eyes approaches. There was not a trace of that collected, sensible brown anywhere. "Where are you going, little mate?" Gideon gives me a coot.I suppress my own anger. "Gideon, nowhere. The fact that Lavinia was touching you infuriated me."He thrusts me into the wall. I whimper, a tear of pain running down my cheek as my body protests. With her ears down and her tail tucked, my wolf skitters inside her burrow.Whispering, "Shh," he uses his lips to savor the tear. "Dear little companion, bad girl. You can't scream at your partner or make threats to break up. The foul language. You are a very, very mischievous little friend." He bites me in the throat, his fangs digging into my neck until they bleed red welts. I wince when he places his lips there. When your partner rubs his mark, it should be enjoyable, but it seems oppressive and almost painful."I'm sorry, Alpha."He snarls. He senses my hesitation. Fingers graze my sides and tug on my garments, undoing the effort I've put into trying to look semi-presentable. I say as little as I can. Unlike his office or the Alpha Suite, my office is not soundproof."Mine, my friend. Ophelia, you'll always be by my side. Never."I wept in silence as his hands spread their aroma throughout me. "Please, Gideon, not here." I stagger when he finally pulls me away from the wall, and if he hadn't been there to support me, I would have fallen."Careful, little mate."My courteous reply, "Thank you, Gideon," nearly chokes me.Expectantly, he is staring at me. I look back at him as his expression grows serious. "I love you!" I tell him what I think he wants to hear. He lets go and gives me a smile. Under the pretense of adjusting my clothes, I move away from his golden gaze and force a grin back.He gives the order, "Go back to our room and rest, little mate." He kisses the top of my forehead. I detest how his lips touch my flesh. Even more, I detest how much I love it.I nod, breathing an inward sigh of resignation. I really should have stayed in our suite today.I wonder when Gideon will be able to tame his wolf as I take a shower upstairs. I'm hoping that happens soon. My back is burning from having my wounds from when he smashed me into the wall reopened, and I can feel my ribs hurting again. It was a great day's respite from the beast with golden eyes. Then I had to snap, and I brought him back immediately.I'm so frustrated and hopeless that I want to shout. Nobody will accept the possibility that my Trueborn Alpha mate, who represents the Goddess's favor, is a mate abuser. It was quite uncommon. Really funny.I had discovered the hard way that my suffering is meaningless. Not even that it is plausible. Gideon's pack loves him. I have no one to save me from my gilded cage; I am alone.I try going to sleep, but no matter what I do, I can't shake the picture of Lavinia's hand on my partner.