The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman

05 A Plot (Book 2)

~Leo~

Amelia surprised me. Other than the delicious sandwich, her attitude towards Leah was funny.

I knew it was wrong because Leah was my guest, but I did not want to scold her in the presence of Leah. She was a Delta that had fallen on hard times. There was no point in rubbing it in, especially when Leah was a Delta like her.

Deltas are very feisty. I knew that because I had the experience first-hand while married to Tamia. They always felt they needed to prove themselves because even though they were at the top, they were not among the first three and could be easily skipped.

Although I said I would share the sandwich with Leah, I regretted it when I tasted it. It was delicious, just like all the meals Amelia had prepared for me. I wondered what her life must have been like where she came from.

Amelia was a mystery to me. Usually, Delta's were high-borns. Even if she were kicked off her land, her family should have some money in the bank she could use to settle comfortably elsewhere like all the high-borns from affected areas did.

I doubted she was a criminal in her pack because criminals were executed along with their treacherous alphas.

How she ended up on the street as a petty thief was a mystery.

Her eyes were also a mystery.

Leah was just being mean when she asked if she was blind.

Amelia's eyes were gorgeous and alluring. Even though she was thin and almost gaunt looking. She could easily compete with all the beautiful women I know if she had proper care.

I did not know why and how she ended up on the street, but I wouldn't stick my nose in her business.

I had done my best for her, hoping she would pick up from there and move on.

Getting involved in her business would give her hope; I meant it when I rejected her. Whether she accepted it or not was her business. At least I was free of the bond.

I planned on scolding Amelia about my guest when I got home. She had no reason to act as she did; it would have given the impression that I was involved with her, which wasn't true. I wasn't ashamed of her, but I wasn't involved with her.

Leah enjoyed the meal, too, and she waited with me in the office.

I was expecting her to leave for her hotel, but she didn't and when I asked her why she told me she couldn't get a room.

I knew she was lying. Since I became the council head, Joan Clayman has always made it a duty to send her daughter to me.

Sylvester, Marcel and Theodore had warned me about it now I understood why.

It was as if Pamela and Joan wanted to get their daughters as close to the top as possible. I also learned they were that way with Maurice Volkov before and after he settled down with Stephanie.

Vino was even meaner than me. He did not spare Pemela's daughter a look.

He had been about his daughters since they came into this world, and I commended him for his dedication.

"So, where will you stay?" I asked Leah, and she smiled and shrugged.

"I was hoping to spend the week with you," she said, trying to sound seductive, but her voice rolled off me as if it were nothing. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

I did not argue. I just took her home.

The look on Amelia's face when she saw Leah with me was priceless. Although she hid it immediately, I caught the look.

I hoped she would get the message to accept the rejection and move on. I have done my best for her, giving her food, clothes, shelter and a job.

I believe she was off on a good start in the east as long as she stopped being possessive of me because I belonged to no one.

" The room is ready," Amelia told me, returning to the living room after I gave her the order to fix the small room for Leah. There were four rooms in my house altogether. I had converted one room to storage while sleeping in one. I deliberately gave Leah the small room so she would get the message and never try the stunt she tried with me again.

"Take her things to the room," I told Amelia because I knew she wouldn't do it if Leah asked her. I could swear I heard Amelia's wolf growl, but I ignored it.

She took the bag to the room, and it seemed she dumped it there because she was back too soon.

"I have made dinner. Would you like to eat now so I can clean up after and leave?" She asked me politely, and I looked at her.

"Did you make for two?" I asked her, and she did not answer because she had done the same thing she did in the morning.

"You know I have a guest, and you did not make it for two," I said, sounding slightly angry.

"I was beginning to wonder who was the boss," Leah said jokingly, and I was pissed.

"Do not speak of matters that do not concern you. How I relate with my staff is none of your business, Leah. You were not supposed to be in my house. So be grateful I brought you home," I told her, and she was in shock. I knew she was shocked I would speak to her that way in front of Amelia.

"Go and make something for my guest and set the table for me," I told Amelia sternly. She didn't say anything and just walked away.

I would have to speak to her when I am less irritated.

"Your food is ready, Alpha; your guest can join you," She said, and I was amazed that she could whip something up in five minutes.

Amelia had set the table for two, and I wondered where the extra came from. That was when I realised she must have served Leah her portion.

"Did you serve Leah your portion?" I asked her, and she nodded.

"It would have taken extra time to make something, and it is almost closing hours. I do not want to linger," she confessed, and I felt terrible that I might have been a bit hard on her. She had done her job. Leah was an unexpected guest.

"Sit down and join me," I said, and she looked at me amazed.

If I shared my sandwich with Leah, I could share my meal with Amelia. It would be wrong to send her to bed on an empty stomach.

"This is wrong, Leo. She can't respect you like this. No one eats with their help. Delta or not, she is your servant," Leah said, and I laughed.

"And this is my home, so mind your business," I told her, and she was silent.

"Alpha, I have eaten in the kitchen," Amelia said, reluctant to eat with me at the table.

"I know," I said, knowing she was lying and trying to avoid the awkward situation.

"I still want you to join me. So I know you did not poison the food," I teased her with a straight face, and she picked up a spoon with a smile, and we ate together. She was slow and a bit uncomfortable.

We ate silently, and when we were done, Amelia cleared the table, cleaned up and said good night.

I could see a tinge of worry in her eyes.

I hoped she would move on, really. There was no love for her where I was concerned.

I went to my room and locked the door with the key so Leah won't get some ideas. I stayed there until morning.

I waited until eight, when I knew Amelia would be in the house before leaving the room, but to my surprise, Amelia had not resumed her work. Leah was the one cooking in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Leo," Leah said, frying bacon on the stove.

"Where is Amelia?" I asked, and she shrugged.

"You spoil her rotten. I doubt she thinks she needs to be punctual," Leah said.

It was wrong for Amelia to be sloppy on her third day. Had my kindness made her feel she could do whatever she liked? Knowing that Macy would not be in the quarters, I decided to head there and wake Amelia up from sleep myself.

I also planned on deducting some money for her tardiness.

I got to the hall, and there was a lot of noise. It was as if they were fighting.

I did not want them to pretend, so I did not link anyone and stealthily entered. The servants were gathered. They stood yelling and condemning someone in the middle. Macy was busy trying to calm them down.

"Let us take the matter to Alpha. This is wrong, Jeana! Alpha Leo will be mad!" Macy was saying, and she sounded like she was crying.

"What? Are you scared of the freak or something? There is just so much a freak Delta can do to us!" A voice said, responding to Macy.

"She is a thief. We should deal with her and report after. You know how intolerant Alpha is to criminals. Why would he even let her work in his house, knowing she is a street rat and a thief? She had already tried to steal from him," I heard someone say, and knew I could not let it continue.

"Halt!" I yelled with my command, and the entire place was silent.

They looked at me and immediately bowed their heads.

I approached them, and they parted to create a path for me to see what was happening in the centre.

What I saw was alarming.

Amelia was in her underwear, with the silver bracelet on her wrist, and they had scratched and beaten her.

That wasn't all; her eyes were wolfish blue, also an unusual eye colour for a wolf, but that wasn't what surprised me. I wondered how she could still hold on to her wolf while bound with silver.

"Freak!" I heard someone call her, and I tried to look at who the person was.

I slapped her hard across the cheek, and the rest of them knew to be silent.

"What happened here?" I asked, and Amelia's wolf receded. It was as if she was holding on for me to come.

Macy walked up to me with Tamia's pearls in her hand.

"Jeana found this in Amelia's drawer. I walked in on the chaos. They had clamped the silver on her wrist and began to beat her before I arrived. They claimed she stole it from your house, and I know it belongs to Queen Tamia," Macy said, and I collected the pearls from her.

"I know you had warned us that she steals, but I wasn't expecting this from her. I did not want to believe it, Alpha, but they found it in her drawer," Macy added.

I held the pearl in my fist and looked at Amelia.

"Why did you take it? I thought you said all you needed was a job?" I asked, but she was speechless. She finally let her tears fall as if she knew there was no winning for her.

I wondered how often she might have been in a situation like this to make her feel there was no need to defend herself.

I looked at her for a while and knew she did not do it.

Someone was trying to set her up.

Amelia wasn't the type to cry when caught red-handed. She had a smart mouth and was defiant. She had been wronged. What was I thinking, putting a delta amid omegas? They wanted to lynch her.

"Who found it?" I asked, and they pointed at a red-haired called Jeana.

I asked her to step out.

"What were you looking for in her dresser? Is that how you snoop about, searching through people's belongings?" I asked her, and she shook her head, looking scared.

"She was acting funny when she arrived last night, Alpha. I watched her look around before placing something in the drawer. I had to check because of what Macy told us you said," She defended herself.

"Who clamped the silver on her wrist?" I asked Macy, and she pointed at Mirabel, the maid that used to cook my food. She was horrible at it too.

"And who incited the mob to join hands and beat Amelia?" I asked, and Macy pointed at the two other girls I did not know.

"There will be no wages for all of you this month for daring to beat my chef. You have no right to dish out punishments. She is above you all!!" I declared and looked at Macy and shook my head.

"It seems they are beyond your control now," I said, and she bowed.

I walked to the women that incited the mob and slapped them hard.

"Next time you try this shit, I will relieve you two of your duties," I said.

Then moved to Mirabel and Jeana and slapped them too.

"How dare you try to frame someone just because you don't like them?" I asked them, and they were crying. They were too afraid to deny what they did. It was just as I had thought.

"You two are no longer needed here. Pack your things and leave," I said to them.

Then looked at the women and looked at Amelia on the floor.

I was wrong to tell them she steals and they should keep an eye on her. That was why they did what they did. I was also wrong to send her to live with the Omegas.

"Pack her things and move them to my house. She has no business being here." I ordered Macy, took the sheets off a bed, wrapped them around Amelia, and then carried her out of the place.

"Don't get used to this treatment, Moonlight. I just love your food," I teased her, but she remained silent, still shocked at what had happened.

It was going to be temporary. Until I could find her proper accommodation close by because there was no way I was letting go of good food.