Chapter 2
Two more push–ups and her afternoon routine would be done. Sienna felt beads of swest dating her forehead as she went about her secret workout in the small hovel in the basement she called home. The concrete floor bit into her hands, and the smell of mildew and dampness indiltrated her lungs, but at least she didn’t have to worry about anyone else coming down here. Jenna wouldn’t dare try to traverse the stairs with
smmall pot sat against one wall, and a dresser with three moked drawers sat next to the other. All of her clothes easily fit in those three compartments sitace her entire wardrobe consisted of land–me–downs. It was mostly joggers with ripped knees, T–shirts, and mismarched socks. Sienna always looked like she’d pulled her clothes out of the lost and found at the world’s dirtiest Laundromat. “At least I never have to worry about
Above her head, she heard the squeak of fonalsands new someone was home. “Just in time,” she whispered to herself as she finished her final push–up and wiped the sweat off of her forehead with the back of her hand. Her long, dark luir was pulled back in a ponytail. She removed the holder as she ran up the stairs, knowing she’d be ridiculed for how she looked regardless of how hard she tried to be presentable.
Completing her chores had taken about the same time as it usually did–four hours. Every day, she cleaned the entire two–story, five–bedroom. house from toge to bottom. She cleaned all of the floors, dusted, washed the windows, and straightened up. She did all of the laundry and put that away, as well as cleaning the four bathrooms. It was all risitine now, and she could do it without thinking. It didn’t matter how good of a job she did. Chue of the family members would always find something she hadn’t done perfectly, even if they had to mess it up themselves, and shout at her
casing her to redo it. So, she needed in he upstairs when they got home.
At least she didn’t have to cook, dinner. Another pack member, an older woman named Ruth, came to fix dinner for the Alpha and his family every night because Sienna simply wasn’t skilled in the kitchen. She could make the basics. Despite Jenna’s complaints, there was nothing wrong with her eges. Ruth liked cooking for the most important family in the pack, and they enjoyed the fancy meals she prepared. Sienna sometimes was given the scraps, but most of the tune, she was left to eat whatever Ruth set aside for her, such as bread crusts, meat that was about to go bad, fruit with spots on il ric i was no wonder she was so thin despite her best attempts to build muscle and increase her strength.
“There you are.” Veronica said as Sienna crested the stairs. “Are you down in your room hiding?
“No, Ma’am, Luna Veronica, Sienna said with her head down. She didn’t offer an explanation for why she wasn’t upstairs because she knew it didn’t matter what she had to say
Veronica gave her a sharp look and tossed a sopping wet bathing suit and towel in her direction “Wash these for Jeanna. Now”
“Yes, Ma’am, Luna Veronica. Sienna rushed off to the laundry room, glad to be excused.
She took her time getting her fourth load of Laundry started for the day. It was only the bathing suit and towel and a few kitchen towels that Ruth must’ve dinied preparing dinner. At least she’d have nothing to clean
With the washer started, Sienna headed to the dining room where the family was already eating. She was made to stand in the corner while they are in caur Jenna, or anyone for that matter, needed anything. Most of the time, Jenna was so busy talking about her day that she forgot Sienna was
even there.
Something was different tonight though
When Sienna walked into die room, Jenna was Laughing with glee. “Daddy! I can hardly believe it!” she exclaimed. “Light Sky Pack is the most powerful pack in the arrat To have a chance to meet Alpha Kaden Stone, let alone dance with him at the Goddess Moon Ball, is a dream come true!”
Sienna tried not to let her face change. There was going to be a Goddess Moon Ball! At Light Sky Pack! Her initial reaction was to cringe. Though the couldn’t let them see, her stomach began to contract with nerves. Not only did she hate leaving the pack, but knowing she’d have to go with Jenna to an event like this, where she’d be at her branties, had Sienna desperately wishing she would’ve already carried out her plan to run away. Jennu might see this as a dream come true, but for Sienna, it was a nightmare in the making
“Yes, yes. I received the invitation in the mail this afternoon,” Alpha Keni said with a pleaseid smile on his face. Sienna never looked directly at the family members if she could heljrit, that she was familiar enough with his facial expressions to be able to picture the exact smirk he had on his face. Kent was a good looking fellow for his age, she supposed. At least, that’s what all of the other women said. He wasn’t quite as tall and broad- shouldered as most of the other Alplus who had visited their pack, such as Thundering Moon, but he was handsome and strong. His strawberry- blond hair and light green eyes gave him the appearance of being kind and approachalde. It was all a facade. Like his daughter and wife, Kent was coldbarated anterurl. It was his vengeaner that had put her in this positiaran made her father leave the pack forever. Sienna hated him, but
ere was nothing she could do in get even with him. At best, she could dream of griting away from him.
“Whing do we drave?“ Veronica asked. The wine glass in her hand was pearly empty, and it likely wasn’t her first. She always had three or four glasses with dinner. Even though alcohol didn’t affect shifters the same way as it did humans, she still ended up tipsy at best, possibly drunk by the coil of
“Two days from it
new, tan Wedursday,” Kent explained. “There will be some festivities before the ball. Of course, I’ve requested we be given the best
accommodations availalde”
“tals, well, it’s Light Sky. I’m sine all
dl of darle guest rooms are divine,” Jenna said,
- soupling
soldier than ever.
“Tim sure youče ngla, lan dhary have a cabin that overlooks the river, atal I’ve asked Kaden to be sure to give us that one,” Kent explained as he cut
1/2
Sienna couldn’t see it from where she was standing, but it smelled like braised chicken.
Chapter 2
“He better give us that cabin then.” Jenna said with her bottom lip protruding in a pout. “If I hear one of those b*tches from another pack gets a better room than me. Ill be pissed.”
“Don’t worry, dear. We’ll get in a little early and make sure we get the best room.” Veronica patted Jenna on the shoulder. Sienna sorted through what all of this would mean for her.
As if her thoughts had been broadcast across the room, Jenna shouted, “Sienna” You’d better start packing for me tomorrow! I’m going to have to make sure I have plenty of outfits to pick from?”
“Yes, Miss Jenna,” Sienna said, keeping her blue eyes cast to
o the wooden floor.
“We’ll need to go shopping tomorrow to get you a new ball gown too, Veronica reminded her stepdaughter.
“Definitely.” Jenna said as if that was a given. “Daddy, I’m going to need your credit card with the highest limit.”
“Yes, dear,” Kent replied. “Whatever you want. If Alpha Kaden is looking for his fated match, we’ve got to make sure that he finds her.” He chuckled and added, “I have a feeling she’s in this room
Jenna giggled gleefully again. Her blonde hair bounced “I can’t wait!”
Sienna swallowed the lump in her throat, wondering how her nightmare life just kept getting worse. Part of her felt sorry for this Alpha Kaden, a person she’d never met but had gathered was quite a catch based on Jenna’s squeals of delight. If he was young and attractive, as Jenna had alluded to, she would stop at nothing to sink her claws into the man. If Jenna was going to throw everything she had at winning him over, he was about to get hit by a typhoon. He probably had no idea what he was getting himself into,
But if he liked stuck–up, spoiled brats, then Sienna’s nightmare would be Kaden’s dream come true. If his future wife really was in that room, Kaden Stone had better be ready for the whirlwind of emotional wreckage coming his way
