Chapter 8

• Claire’s Pov
• I slammed the door of my room behind me, locking it in one swift motion. My head was spinning with the day’s events, the words exchange I had with Sasha.
• The tension I brought into the room that was now hanging in the air was so thick that I could cut through it with a knife if I wanted to, but that wasn't my problem
• now.
• “Or should I make it one so I could be distracted for a little while from these head-burning thoughts residing in my head?” I mocked myself before leaning on the door, using it as a support to slide down to the bare floor as exhaustion set in.
• “What a day!”
• It was just my first day, and I had already encountered a boulder named Sasha. It was such a start that I least expected.
• I knew I was going to be outcasted, but I didn't think it would be this bad, I knew it would take me some time before I got accepted into their midst, but I didn't think their reception on the first day would be such a tough one for me it break through.
• At this point, I wished it was just the physical strain that bothered me, but unfortunately, it was their attitude, the smugness, and the constant reminders that I did not belong there.
• The latter hurts more because I never wanted to be here in the guest place, I was dragged against my wish, can’t they see that and sympathize with me at least?
• The way Sasha had talked down to me as if I was some sort of intruder in a world I never wanted to be in was the height of it for me. I couldn't even get it out of my mind as it kept replaying the incident, and I found myself smirking.
• My only joy amid the chaos was that I set my ground, at least I did not let her go Scott free after washing me down amid the others, I was proud of myself for that.
• But even with trying to raise my hopes with that, I couldn't Shake the feeling of being unwanted, like a guest overstaying her welcome.
• All of the other she-wolves saw me as an outsider, I didn't even have anyone on my side. Even if it was just my first day, at least seeing someone on my side wouldn't have helped in the way I feel right now.
• I would have to prove to myself that I am not just an outsider, that there is something special in me that Darien must have seen for him to keep throwing a fist to have me by his side.
• But then again, why should I care? I didn't want to be here in the first place, it was Darien who dragged me into this life so why should I be bothered if the rest of the pack doesn't want to accept me?
• I heaved a deep sigh and pushed myself off the floor, making my way to the bed. As soon as my back dropped on the bed, my thoughts went on swirling around me like a storm.
• The more I thought about it, the more irritated I became. I wasn't here to make friends, I wasn't here to fit in, but I wasn't going to allow anyone to treat me like an intruder.
• I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the day and wanting sleep to do justice to my tiredness. Suddenly, the room door creaked open, and I bolted upright.
• “Claire,” Darien's voice broke the stillness in the room as he walked in without even knocking, his demeaning presence instantly feeling the space.
• I groaned inwardly, of course not interested in his presence. With everything that had played out today, I wasn't in the mood for another power play or smug comment from him.
• “How was your first day of training?” He asked, his tone was a casual one, though I sensed something beneath, amusement perhaps.
• “Fine,” I answered curtly, not bothering to meet his gaze.
• “Just fine?”’Darien pressed, clearly fishing for more.
• “Yeah, just fine,” I snapped, not hiding the coldness from my voice, “Or were you expecting something to happen?” I asked and he just shrugged his shoulders.
• The last thing I wanted to do right now was rehash the day with him. He wouldn't understand anyway.
• Darien walked further into the room, halting at the foot of the bed. I could feel his eyes searching me, studying me like a puzzle he couldn't quite figure out.
• “Did something happen?” he asked, leaning slightly closer, his curiosity evident now. “You are more on the edge than usual.”
• I sighed, knowing he wasn't going to let it go. “Nothing, just a speech about me not belonging here that the leader of the group, Sasha served out to me.”
• I paused, my gaze shifting to him for the first time since he got into the room to see if the expression on his face was something to ease the frustration gnawing at me. But Darien’s lips curled into a grin, and before I knew it, he let out a loud, almost obnoxious laugh.
• I blinked, taken aback. “What is so funny in what I had just said?”
• “Oh Claire!” he exclaimed between chuckles, “Were you thinking they were going to roll out a mat for you? You’re the Alpha’s forced mate, someone from the outside that they aren’t used to, of course, they’re going to make it hard for you.”
• I stared at him, incredulous, “Is that what you have to say?” I asked, each word dripping with anger abs resentment.
• Darien shrugged, completely unbothered which wasn't surprising. “Well, yeah. You are getting worked up unnecessarily about something that was bound to happen, you should have expected this.”
• I clenched my fists, biting the inner skin of my mouth, trying to control the words that were ready to burst out of my mouth before I regretted it.
• This wasn't what I wanted, not after a long day, that was why I didn't want to say anything to him because I knew he would do nothing but make me feel worse, that is the only thing he is good at.
• “So that is it? You don't care?” I asked, my voice raising. “It is funny how you think it is amusing that your pack hates me.”
• “I never said I didn't care,” Darien replied, his smirk fading slightly. “But this is your reality now, and you are going to have to toughen up because they are testing you, wanting to know how easy it will be to break you.”
• I laughed bitterly, “Testing me?” I echoed, “Testing me when I didn't ask for this when I didn't ask to be here.”
• “And yet, here you are,” Darien shot back, his voice hardening now. “You might not have asked for it, but you are part of this pack, whether you like it or not. And trust me when I say this is just the beginning.”
• I glared hard at him, “I don't belong here and you know it,” I said more to myself than to him.
• He shrugged again, the infuriating smirk returning to his face. “That may be true, but you are here now and it doesn't matter anymore so do yourself the favour by gracing yourself up for the more to come so you lock yourself up in your room every day, sulking.”
• I could feel the blood rushing in my head as my anger built up from his choice of words that were far from comforting. “You know what, Darien? Go to hell.” the words slipped out before I could stop them, but I didn't care.
• I made more curses under my breath before turning away from him, wanting him to take my demeanor as a sign for him to leave me alone.
• He didn't respond to my outburst, he quietly looked on at me for a short while before turning towards the door. “You need to rest now,” he quietly said before walking out, the door clicking shut behind him.
• I let out a deep breath that I didn't realize I had been holding since, my body trembling from the mixture of anger and exhaustion which wasn't a nice combination. Wanted to scream, to throw something, anything to release the frustration that had built up inside me.
• But I didn't. Instead, I lay back down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind racing.