Alpha’s Black Furred Slave Mate
Chapter 46

The workday felt much longer than usual; it's been a few days since I told Marlon I wanted to return to my duties, I wasn't prepared for what that involved though. The other maids I worked around seemed to find me to be an even bigger threat to them than I had been when I first arrived. Beatrice has always been cold towards me, but the other maids have always tolerated me. Now, they treated me as though I was straight-up gutter trash.

They wanted nothing to do with me; whenever I came around, they would quickly stop speaking. I could tell they were talking about me. It was weird for them because I had Mateo with a mystery guy; they all assumed Mateo was Marlon's because he was allowing me to keep him at the manor. Plus, a couple of the maids had seen Marlon holding Mateo.

Rumors were going around fast; it was no wonder word was already traveling around the kingdom. It was no wonder the Duke of North-Valley was already aware of the situation and alerted the king and queen.

Mid-afternoon, I walked into the dining courters of the maid's unit, and they were gathered around the table as they are every afternoon. They were munching on fresh berries and a plate of vegetables for lunch. Lately, I've been waiting for them to finish before I got to help myself. The last one to eat cleans up. So, I've been taking one for the team and cleaning up after every meal.

As the maids cleared the room, a couple of them shoulder bumped me on purpose, which nearly made me trip over myself and fall to the ground. Most of them just ignored my presence though. I approached the table and began munching on some of the scraps they left; it wasn't much, but it would get me through the rest of the day until I was able to get back to the shack.

I was surprised that Petra remained at the table; she was staring at me, unmoved, as I ate. Her frown was deep.

Petra was one of the newer maids at the manor and she was definitely the prettiest. I couldn't help but be a little jealous of her perfect features and body. Part of me wondered if Marlon found her attractive as well.

No.

I couldn't think like that; I had to keep Marlon out of my mind. Marlon had kept something from me that was so important; he lied to me and made me feel as though I could possibly be safe here. But it was nothing but a lie. He did nothing but lie to me. I couldn't trust him. You don't know the whole story.

My wolf was louder than ever whenever I thought of Marlon in such an ill manner. I had to try and keep her voice quiet because she made me feel things I didn't want to feel.

Once I was able to process everything as a whole and have a real conversation with him, then I'll get the full story from him. But part of me knew that I wasn't going to like what it was he had to say.

"You think you're so fucking hot," Petra said, eyeing me as I continued eating and ignoring her presence. I glanced up at her, frowning. I was unsure of what she was talking about. I definitely didn't feel as though I was hot. It was almost laughable to think about. "Just because you are f*****g Marlon."

I could feel my face going redder with each word she spoke.

I knew rumors were going around about Marlon and me; but the way Petra was making it sound, she was so sure that we were involved. How could she possibly know for a fact?

"Don't think I don't know that it was you that had the other half of the drugged milk," Petra nearly spats. My eyes widened.

It was her.

She was the one that drugged Marlon's food that night. The first night I was in manor when Bob snuck me in so I could help him cheat, there was a plate of food on the kitchen counter and a glass of milk. It was half gone so I figured Marlon, or somebody most likely ate the other half. Once I ate and drank, I began feeling hot all over and lustful.

That was the first time Marlon and I had s*x and that was the night I conceived Mateo.

The top of her perfectly full lip curled up into a snarl as she continued staring at my shocked features.

"I don't know what the fuck you were doing in the manor at that time, but that wasn't meant for you," she said in a low growl.

She was trying to drug Marlon.

Was she trying to sleep with him?

I all of a sudden didn't feel so good anymore.

"I don't understand... my voice was hardly audible.

She stood up from the table and walked closer to me; I felt frozen as I stood there staring at her.

"That food wasn't meant for you," she said again, keeping her tone low and threatening.

"You were the one who drugged us?" I asked, my tone quivering as my nerves began getting the best of me.

He kept walking closer to me.

"It was meant for Marlon. It was supposed to be me with him, not you. You're nothing but a dirtball. You're a disgusting creature and you don't deserve to be in the presence of a nobleman like Marlon."

I took a step back as she neared closer; she was a small thing but there was no telling what she could do.

"Petra, I don't know what it is you think..." I tried to say, but she cut me off.

"I don't think anything. I know. I know that dirtball child is his kid. I know you've been fucking him this entire time. I can't imagine your p***y is that good. You are a dirtball. A slut. Marlon will soon see that and kill you himself," Petra threatened.

I didn't know what that meant; it sounded like a threat, but it made no sense. My breathing got caught in my throat; I tugged at my fingers nervously and kept taking small unnoticeable steps backward.

Humor danced in her eyes.

"Don't worry, slave. I'm not going to touch you right now. I'm going to wait to make my move. I wouldn't want to alarm Marlon or anything," she whispered as she brushed passed me and stalked out the dining room.

I let out a shaky breath as though I'd been holding it in the entire time. At that moment, I just wanted to curl up and cry, but I had to clean up and get back to work as though nothing had happened.

...

Nightfall finally came around and I was excited to get back to my shack and see Mateo. I knew Marlon has been taking care of him and I was expecting Marlon to be in the shack. I was planning on telling him about Petra's threats and how she was the one who drugged the milk that night.

The closer I got to the shack, the more excited my wolf grew knowing she was going to be with him once again. I had to keep calming her down because I was still unsure about what it was, I was going to do. I still needed to confront him about my parents' death but saying it out loud and speaking about it was going to be difficult.

I had to swallow that knot in my throat.

When I pushed open the doors, I wasn't expecting to see Alex sitting on my bed, feeding Mateo with a pre-made bottle.

Alex looked miserable and Mateo looked sleepy. My eyes widened and I could feel the panic set in.

"Alex?" I said in a gasp as I rushed over to them. I went to grab Mateo from his arms. He allowed me to take Mateo without fighting. He stood to his feet and handed me the bottle as well.

"Don't worry, I want me here less than you want me here," he muttered as he began to walk past me.

I turned to face him.

"Then, why are you here?" I asked; I was almost afraid to know the answer.

"Some kind of punishment," he said, waving his hand as though he was swatting a fly. He sounded annoyed with a mixture of boredom. "Father thought it would be clever to assign me to daycare duty. So now you are looking at baby dirtball's new caretaker." My eyes widened; that couldn't be possible.

Marlon would never do that.

Would he?

I felt sick again.

"He thinks it'll teach me responsibilities or whatever," he said, still sounding bored. "I could honestly care less at this point. But there's no arguing with father. He told me if any harm comes to the baby, then I could kiss my position in the estate goodbye and my life." Marlon threatened Alex's life?

"I don't understand," I said in a whisper as I held Mateo close to my chest. "How could he do something like that without speaking to me first?" Alex laughed.

"It's cute you still think you have a choice in any decision making. This isn't about you. It never was. It's about Marlon, and what Marlon says will always go."

We both stayed silent for a moment as I tried to process what was just said. He turned to walk out the doorway; as he pushed it open, he paused for a moment. "You are living in his world, slave," Alex muttered and then disappeared out the doorway.