Iris:
Flashback:
"What are you doing in the kitchen?" Zoe barged in, making me tremble almost instantly at her voice.
Kash had left three days ago to fight monsters at the border that were trying to invade the North. Ever since he left, Zoe's behavior toward me had changed drastically.
She acted so calm and sweet in front of her brother, but once he was away, it felt like her true face came out.
"I was preparing breakfast for everyone," I uttered softly, noticing the way her jaw clenched.
"For everyone?" she questioned, hands on her waist. I began to wonder which part of what I said had upset her.
"Yes," I replied, and as soon as I did, she raised her hand to smack me but stopped midair. It was the way she threatened me with her harsh body language that made me afraid of her.
"Are you trying to seduce Marcus? Is that why you're preparing breakfast for him?" she yelled, making my eyes widen in shock.
Marcus. Her husband. Why the hell would I want to seduce him? He was a Gamma, and she wanted him appointed as a Royal Gamma.
But I didn't think he deserved that title because he barely showed interest in any work. All he did was sit and boss everyone around. Whenever he stayed at home, it became difficult for me to work. But if Kash was home, then Marcus, Zoe, and his mother wouldn't even dare say a word to me.
"I'm not," I stuttered, noticing how she began to lower her hand.
"Well, I was just saying. Anyway, can you show me what you're cooking?" her tone softening was a huge sign of red flag.
Then suddenly, she grabbed my hand and pressed it against the hot pan.
As soon as my hand touched the hot pan, I screamed in pain and stepped back, falling onto the kitchen floor and almost whimpering instantly.
"What did you do?" I yelled at her, holding my hand.
She stood tall, staring at me until her mother arrived.
"What is going on here?" her mother asked, looking at her daughter with a calm expression before her face hardened when she turned to me.
"What is all this noise you're creating?" she hissed, and then her eyes landed on my hand.
"I don't know, I guess I—oh no, oh my goddess, did I hurt you?" Zoe's tone suddenly changed. She began walking closer, and I crawled away from her in fear.
"Please don't do this. I didn't do it on purpose." She began to shake and even cry.
"What is going on? Can anybody tell me?" her mother demanded, grabbing Zoe's arm to pull her back. Zoe dared to look at her.
"I was so hungry, I accidentally burned her hand," Zoe muttered, looking down, her face full of guilt.
Her mother stared at her, then at my hand, and then slapped the back of Zoe's head.
"You need to stop being so reckless. Look at her hand, you burned her. Now she'll go and tell her husband stories about us being horrible to her," she scolded.
I slowly got up, still holding my hand. Dry tears clung to the corners of my eyes.
"No, please, Iris, don't tell brother anything. You know he gets angry with us whenever he thinks we hurt you. Please, it was just a mistake. I'm so sorry. You know what, I'll prepare breakfast today. You go rest, I'll serve you today," she used a rather gentle tone this time to deliver these words.
But the way she reacted made me wonder if she had really done it by accident. Zoe was reckless. She often acted strangely, but it was probably because she was spoiled. There were times she even fell while walking straight.
"Please, I'm really sorry," she added, touching my hand. Big tears rolled down her cheeks, but her mother kept shaking her head.
"You know what, Iris, do tell her brother. Once Kash gives her a good earful, she'll learn that her clumsiness has consequences," her mother muttered.
This time, though, she didn't seem to side with Zoe, and that made Zoe cry even harder.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't do it on purpose," she sobbed.
At that point, guilt began to rise in me.
"No, it's okay. It was a mistake. I won't tell your brother anything, don't worry," I uttered, gently touching her arm with my other hand. She wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly.
"Thank you so much, you're so nice," she cried, thanking me again and again.
"Well, I'm telling you, one of these days you'll need to tell her brother. Some people don't learn until they're punished," Lady Vivian hissed at her daughter, then took a deep breath and walked over to me. She ran her hand through my hair, but some strands got caught and pulled painfully.
"Oops, sorry, I guess your hair is tangled," she apologized quickly.
"And Zoe, you should be thankful to her. Look, you've got such a wonderful sister-in-law. Treat her nicely. And you, Iris, please don't mind her. You know she's a little crazy. Sometimes she just doesn't understand, and that side of her comes out. But I hope you'll forgive her this time," her mother said.
And like always, I just nodded. I guess I believed her every time she apologized. But then it started happening more often. She would even trip me on the stairs sometimes and then blame it on her clumsiness, or on that so-called crazy side they said she had.
End of flashback:
As their evilness flashed before my eyes, I stormed back into the living room and stood in their way. I noticed Kash giving me a judgmental, disapproving glance, but I didn't care. I no longer did.
That part of me that had wanted to please him so badly was dead now. And I had to fight for my children.
"You're not going inside," I said loud and clear, watching Zoe's eyes almost jump out of their sockets. I guessed she never thought I was capable of raising my voice.
"Why not? We're here to meet our niece and nephew," Zoe snapped.
I remembered exactly what kind of woman she was and wondered what had made me so afraid of them in the past. Sure, I didn't have a wolf or a lycan, but it wasn't like they could unleash theirs on me. I had cautious support in the past, but this time, even without it, I wasn't afraid of them.
I folded my arms and tapped my foot on the ground, making them narrow their eyes even more at me.
"I said, you're not allowed here. My kids stay here. And as far as I remember, Zoe is known to be reckless. I won't tolerate any reckless behavior around my children."
As I finished, Zoe grabbed her mother's hand, her face full of shock and disbelief.