Chapter 11 Birthday Surprises
Birthday Surprises
JESSICA
Seven Years Ago
Everyone left after the little birthday/graduation celebration.
Emily went to her roller derby tournament, promising to finish my birthday with a movie marathon and all-we-can-eat popcorn.
Emily invited me to go with her and watch, but I didn’t want to divert her focus from the tournament.
She has been increasingly overprotective since the night of the guard ball, and while I love her and her company, I am filled with guilt that she feels she can’t leave my side for a minute.
I hate being a burden, and I want her to enjoy herself when we go out, not act as my babysitter. But a part of me also feels guilty I didn’t attend her tournament. Experiencing life with her, versus simply waiting for her to return and tell me all about it, would be a welcome change.
With that in mind, I decide to surprise her. The twins should be home soon, and Sixes texted me that she’s at the rink waiting for the tournament to start.
I bound down the stairs when the doorbell rings.
Then, it rings again. It rings a total of five more times before I reach the foyer.
No one else is around so I answer the door.
To my surprise and hers, Elaine Powers stands there, hand raised, ready to knock.
She composes herself quickly and raises her chin.
“Well, I guess the royal family finally came to their senses and placed you on the staff.”
I roll my eyes. “What can I do for you, Elaine?”
“What you can do is get the hell out of my way and let me in!” she shrieks.
I raise my brows. “If you’re here to see Luke, he’s not home.”
She crosses her arms. “Then I’ll wait for him.”
I plaster on a fake smile and shake my head. “He won’t be home for a while.”
Her face reddens, and she narrows her eyes, taking a threatening step forward. “Did you forget that I own you? So, whatever game you think you’re playing, don’t.”
“No games. Just telling you he isn’t home.” I move to close the door, but she slams a hand against it.
“You little bitch! Do I need to remind you of the little conversation we had before your lesbo friend assaulted me and my friend?”
I squeeze the door handle and briefly close my eyes. She insulted Emily. Anger rises within me, but the electrical sparks that usually accompany my extreme emotions don’t come. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, before I punch her in the face.
She shoves her foot between the door and the frame. “I don’t think you understand who you’re messing with, Jessica,” she taunts, forcing the door open and stepping into the entryway. “I warn you—disrespect me again, and I will end you!”
“Did I just hear you threaten the Princess?” a low baritone voice bellows behind Elaine. When I look behind her, it’s Shadow. A hand on my shoulder pulls me back.
Joe places himself between Elaine and myself. “That’s what it sounded like to me,” he answers for Elaine.
Elaine lifts her chin in defiance. “Princess? She’s not a real Princess. She doesn’t have a drop of royal blood in that ugly, mutated body of hers. She’s nothing more than a mutt. Not even her actual parents wanted her.”
I wince at her declaration.
Joe pushes me behind him. “Careful,” he growls. She ignores Joe.
“I would do everyone a favor if I got rid of her!”
“Is that another threat?” Shadow snarls.
Without batting a fake eyelash, she squares her shoulders. “Do you know who I am?”
Shadow stares at her, stoic and emotionless.
“I’m Elaine Powers, Daughter of Alpha Powers of the third territory, Luke's future mate, the future Luna Queen. I don’t threaten. I make good on my promises.”
Shadow raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms over his chest. “Is that so?” He slowly steps forward. “Do you know your history, Elaine Powers?”
“Who the hell cares about history!” she spits. “People in positions of power don’t care about history!”
Shadow’s lip quirks. “I see. You believe your bloodline is superior to the Princess’s?”
She sneers, “Of course I’m better than her. I am an Alpha’s daughter. She is nothing but an adopted child, probably born of a whore.” Shadow and Joe both laugh.
I’m not sure what they find funny. For all I know, it could be true.
“I think I should educate you, for future purposes.” Shadow steps closer to Elaine, looming over her now.
“The Powers Pack is not an original pack of the LS. The Powers Pack was a group of about twenty shifters brought in as laborers from the European territory to work in the Ruby Falls vineyard. When a female of the Powers group mated with the Alpha’s Beta, the Alpha granted the hardworking laborers a sliver of land, giving them an opportunity to make a living of their own.
“A man named Bartholomew Powers elected himself leader of the group. He felt entitled to it because his daughter mated the Beta, and later, he gave himself the title of Alpha. When the territories were numbered for political purposes, the Ruby Falls Alpha gave the Powers Pack the official title to the land now known as Territory Three.”
Elaine’s posture stiffens. “How dare you talk down to me!”
“I will talk down to you because you do not have a single drop of original Alpha blood in your miserable, wretched, self-entitled being. I take threats in regard to the Princess’s life very seriously.”
Joe moves closer to Elaine as well.
“I will have you know that one day, I will be the Luna Queen, and I will have you on your knees, begging me to spare your life!”
“Is that so!?” My mother’s sharp tone echoes throughout the foyer.
Elaine whips around to face my mother and instantly bows her head. “Your Majesty,” she squeaks.
“Elaine Powers, you were banned from entering the Emerald Pack’s territory. Why are you here threatening my guards!?”
“Your Majesty, this is all a misunderstanding!” she blurts, avoiding eye contact with the Luna Queen.
“A misunderstanding?” my mother questions.
“Yes! Luke and I made amends. I came here because he asked to spend time with me.” She glances at me sideways. “But your daughter refuses to let me into the mansion!”
“Did he now?” My mother arches an eyebrow and places a hand on her hip.
“He did, but your horrible daughter tried to slam the door in my face. She’s jealous, and... and she’s trying to keep us apart!”
“Elaine!” my mother snaps.
Elaine jumps, and her head snaps up. “Your Majesty, please, just ask him. He will vouch for me! He invited me over, and we made plans for Cassie to join us later with Liam.”
“Elaine! Luke has not been home for several months. You and your friends were banned from ever entering our territory. It was not a request but an order of the Alpha King!”
“Your Majesty!” she screeches, wilting under the scrutiny of my mother’s enraged glare.
“If I may, Your Highness,” Shadow interjects. My mother shifts her glare to Shadow. “Elaine threatened to end the Princess. She is under the age of eighteen so she cannot be tried for terroristic threatening. However, we can trial her father on her behalf.”
Elaine’s eyes widen, and tears spring to her lashes. “Please, I meant no harm. I—I... She made me angry when she refused to let me into the house. I know she’s jealous of me and what I have with Luke. I’m sure if you—”
“Enough!” my mother shouts. “Get her out of here! When you return, Shadow, I want Alpha Powers charged for terroristic threatening.”
A wicked grin spreads across Shadow’s face. “Of course, Your Highness. I do hope Elaine understands the penalty for terroristic threatening is death by execution.”
Elaine crumbles to her knees and wails.
“I’m sure if you were given the title of Luna Queen, Elaine, you would show no remorse for moving forward with such a charge. Wouldn’t you?” my mother prompts.
“Please!” she cries. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just trying to put her in her place. She doesn’t know her place!”
My mother crouches down in front of Elaine. “No, you don’t know your place. Look at her!” My mother points to me.
Joe steps aside, no longer hiding me from view. But she refuses to look.
“Look at her!”
Elaine peers at me through her fake eyelashes. Black streaks trail down her face from crying. Pure hatred shines in her eyes.
“She is the Princess, not one of your friends or your classmates who you can bully. She is your Princess!”
Elaine faces my mother and nods, hiccupping between her sobs.
“Now, look at me, long and hard. I am the Luna Queen. My blood runs deep, and the bones of my ancestors rest in the soil of the entire LS territory. You better learn your place, Elaine Powers, because you don’t want to make an enemy out of me.
Consider this a warning.” My mother stands from her position and turns away.
Elaine falls to the ground in a fetal position, whimpering.
The Luna Queen motions to Joe and Shadow. “Get her out of my territory!” They grab Elaine by the arms and drag her away, screaming and crying.
I try to peer into her mind, to gauge the potential fallout after today. My mind link isn’t consistent, and I’m only able to grasp bits and pieces of her thoughts. One thought I hear loud and clear is that this is far from over.