Just as I was about to grab the pastry, she maliciously dropped it on the floor, her smile taking on a sinister edge. "There, you can pick it up from the floor," she taunted.
Feeling frustrated, I recognized her as a hostile tribe member. "Thank you, but I didn't ask for the pastry from you," I replied with a forced smile.
I made it my goal not to cause trouble for Alpha Zion, considering his kindness towards me, so I decided to endure her behavior for his sake.
"You don't need to ask, it's what you deserve," she said coldly. I clenched my jaw and told her, "If you're done being rude, I'd like to close my door."
"Such arrogance," she hissed. "Do you think that by wearing expensive clothes and living in the Alpha's family house, you stop being an omega?"
A smile spread across my face as I gazed at her. "I never claimed that. You're the one making assumptions, and if you believe I'm superior to you, then I am."
My words seemed to provoke her, and she raised her hand to slap me, but I caught it in mid-air. Just because I could tolerate her behavior didn't mean I would allow her to physically abuse me.
"Trust me, Moon, you will end up with the healer by the time I finish dealing with you," I warned sternly, noticing her expression darken.
"You! After killing the Alpha's sister, do you want to kill me too?" She pulled her hand from my grip and slapped herself hard on the face, leaving a red mark before repeating the action on her other cheek. "Help, help!" she began yelling, her words capturing my attention.
No one outside of Apphia and Beta Madai knew the exact events of the Crimson Moon tribe. Could they have informed the pack members?
A small crowd had gathered behind her due to her yelling, their gazes filled with anger as they stood protectively behind her.
"I came to welcome this woman with pastries I made myself, but not only did she throw them on the floor, she also slapped me," Moon began to accuse me, I have long known that defending myself against such malice will do me no good so I remained quiet, waiting to see how everything will play out.
This wasn't the first time I had encountered such behavior, but compared to my previous encounters, this was minor.
"The Alpha should banish her. He has given her the best in the pack, and she dares to act against a tribe member," a warrior-like werewolf stated, with a she-wolf adding, "an eye for an eye. The slap should be returned."
They echoed in unison, "Yes, the slap should be returned." The four of them began to confront me, and while I didn't want to harm them, I also couldn't allow them to harm me. Defending myself as best as I could, they lay on the floor with shock in their eyes.
"You are attacking tribe members. It seems you don't know the rules. Let's see how you will defend yourself when the Alpha arrives," Moon said sternly. Fear crept over me, but before I could react, a sudden slap blindsided me followed by a kick to my stomach.
Through the blur in my eyes, I noticed more tribe members had joined the four assailants. Before they could strike again, I pushed them away with all my strength, feeling a sharp pain in my stomach.
"What have I done to deserve this?" I shouted, gritting my teeth against the pain, as I held onto the door frame to support my wobbly legs.
Moon raised her head with a wicked smile. "You don't belong here, and you certainly don't deserve the Alpha's protection."
"Someone fetch a whip. We must show her what happens to murderers. You think you can kill the Alpha's sister and deceive him to save yourself? We will end you before he returns," a male voice declared, his face obscured by the agony in my stomach becoming unbearable.
However, I saw the whip from the corner of my eye, and before it could touch me, I grabbed and pulled it away. The force of the action sent me to the floor, causing dizziness and multiple voices to echo in my ears.
"She dies today. Alpha Zach will be pleased," one of them remarked, leaving me puzzled about how they were privy to the details of the events at the Crimson Moon tribe. The only person I had confided in about the whole story was Alpha Zion.
"Yes, she must die. We can stone her," another voice suggested, and I noticed hands holding stones raised in the air before a familiar face appeared. Rushing to my side, he shielded me with his body and thundered, "You will all face consequences."
His comforting earthy scent, mixed with sweat, filled my senses as I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. "Alpha Zion, you've returned."
He smiled at me, but it seemed forced. Yet, his presence sent adrenaline coursing through my body, eliciting a smile in return. "I'm sorry you have to go through this again," he said with genuine care before helping me to my feet and turning to face them.
"How dare you do this? She's a tribe member, and you dare to treat her like this? Did you forget the rules?" The tribe members, especially Moon, were adamant. "Alpha, she's evil. She killed your sister, Iris."
"Then you should have proof," Alpha Zion demanded, their gaze shifting. "Alpha, it was Moon. We heard her screaming. This woman slapped her and threw the pastries she brought to the floor," a warrior among them said. Alpha Zion stared at me and asked, "Did you do it?"
"No, she brought the pastries and offered them to me. When I was about to take it, she dropped it on the floor and slapped herself," I explained, but those gathered around retaliated.
"Alpha, it's not true. How can Moon hit herself?" Indeed, how could she hit herself? I saw it happen just as Iris made herself fall from the story building.
"I'm also interested in knowing the truth of the matter," Alpha Zion said, his gaze focused on something above us at the entrance.
Following his gaze, I saw a black rounded object hanging up there. He pointed at it. "Do you know what that is?"
Unease spread among those around us as Alpha Zion smiled. "The camera will provide us with all the evidence we need."
Hope briefly surged within me before fading as I recalled how the cameras at the Crimson Moon tribe had shown something different. What if the same thing happens here? Will Alpha Zion send me away?
"Alpha, it's not my fault. It's Ivy," Moon said. Alpha Zion froze in shock, and so did I. Wasn't Ivy declared missing? How did she get involved in all of this?