Chapter 18
“You will volunteer at the quarry,” Conrad says.
The stone quarry sits on the outskirts of town. It’s a place of hard labor, where prisoners and others being punished chip away at the rocks. The rocks are then gathered and sold to various landscapers. It’s fruitless work, only really designed to punish.
“Fitting, but not enough,” Declan adds. “We should also keep her confined at night.”
“For how long?” I ask.
Declan holds my gaze so long I start to feel cold all over. “Until we agree to let you go.”
“But what about school?” I ask, desperation welling inside of me.
“You should have thought about what you’d lose when you decided to shame yourself,”
Conrad says.
None of them listen to me after that.
The next morning, I’m forced to wake early with the servants and help serve breakfast to the family. All of them continue to glare at me. Fortunately, Ella and her parents are there too, sitting near Diana. They, at least, don’t look at me with hate in their eyes.
I can tell just from looking at her that Ella wants to help me. But, she is powerless here in these walls with the family matriarch herself approving on my punishment.
As I make the rounds, pouring coffee in everyone’s waiting cup, I start to hear pieces of
r conversation, things I missed when I was in the kitchen.
This year will be grand,” Diana says. “My four boys all will be 21 this year, and will finally inherit the vacant Alpha position. And then, as part of your authority, you will be able to give rankings to this year’s first batch of adult pack members.”
I force myself to pour steadily, not thinking how that batch includes Ella, Sylvia, and myself.
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Chapter 18
“Do I have anything to worry about?” Sylvia asks, teasing lightly.
“Of course not,” Conrad tells her with seriousness.
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“Though we do expect you to plan the coronation ceremony,” Diana says. “As a member of this household, it should be you.”
Sylvia brightens at once. “We need to have diamonds on every surface. I want the shine to nearly blind everyone.”
Diana laughs lightly, all while shaking her head. “While we want the event to be elaborate of course, diamonds on every surface is impractical, my dear.”
Sylvia pouts a little. “But think of the shine. I’m sure I could convince you. What if we have a mock up done?”
“I’m afraid it’s just not suitable,” Diana says.
“Forgive the intrusion,” Ella interjects, “But maybe Ollie might be more suited to the task. She’s organized some events in the past, right? She has the experience.” When Sylvia turns to glare at her, Ella pointedly adds, “That way Sylvia can focus on her studies.”
“Exams are approaching,” Wes says thoughtfully.
It hurts, how he can be concerned for her exams, while I am being sent to the quarry rather
than to class.
Diana takes in their words, then turns to me. “Ollie?”
The idea of doing anything for the quadruplets makes me want to be sick, but I’m not in
any position to turn this down, especially if it helps improve my situation. Maybe they will lighten my punishment if I agree.
“I would love to,” I say.
“Good,” Diana says. “Then it’s decided. Ollie will organize the event.”
Presently, I stand beside Declan, pouring coffee into his mug.
Chapter 18
He looks up at me, his eyes twin icicles.
Once, I’d been able to thaw them with a smile. I try that now, smiling lightly.
He has no reaction.
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The coffee carafe is empty now, so I turn, ready to head back to the kitchen and refill it.
Yet, before I even finish turning, Declan grabs me by the hips and yanks me down so that I
am sitting in his lap.
Immediately, I try to jump up again, but his hands are firm, vicelike. There’s no way I can
escape.
As I’m sitting sideways across his lap, I can still see his serious expression as he says, “You dare to smile at me? After all you have done?”
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