Chapter 17 - SEVENTEEN - LIVIA

Chapter 17: Chapter SEVENTEEN - LIVIA"Pardon?" Serena asked, her brows raising. What a question. This woman was the most hostile person she had spoken to in Ironshade. "A rogue conveniently shows up here, and suddenly you have Darius running helter-skelter, ruining everyone’s hard work," she said, her brown eyes narrowing. Serena noted how she referred to the Alpha as Darius- no formalities, nothing. Whoever she was, she held more importance than the Elders. She cleared her throat, willing her tone to steady. "I don’t quite understand-" she began, her overly embellished accent straining as she tried to steady her voice. Livia laughed, shaking her head as she walked away. "Unbelievable. Truly classic," she said, dragging a hand through her dark auburn hair before exhaling sharply. When she faced Serena again, her expression was colder. "I see through you, through your schemes." A finger jabbed in Serena’s direction, though Livia kept her distance. Serena’s stomach twisted. Whatcould she possibly know? Serena wondered. Livia spoke as though she knew her from Silverstone, but the idea was absurd. The way she spoke did unsettle her. Serena exhaled and wiped her damp palms against her dress, resisting the urge to step back. "Welcome," Livia scoffed, throwing the word back at her like an insult. "And yet you know nothing about this place nor do you deserve to be here." Serena flinched at Livia’s words, biting the inside of her lip. This shorter she-wolf made her feel small. "I apologize, I- I was simply being polite, seeing as I was allowed to live here for the time being," she tried to say firmly. "Perhaps it’s dark magic," Livia mused, more to herself than to Serena. "No one really knows what you rogues dabble with these days." Serena remained silent, fixing her gaze on the taxidermied moose head above the door, pretending the weight of Livia’s scrutiny didn’t make her skin prickle. Livia muttered something under her breath before turning back to her. "Be careful with what you do from now on. I will be watching you very closely. You will not unravel the hard work that Darius- no, we have done in this pack," she warned. Livia spoke with the confidence of someone certain in their suspicions, yet the accusation was vague. The more Serena spoke the more irritated Livia seemed to get. In truth, Serena felt like her very presence had already angered Livia. For a moment, Livia lingered as if debating whether to say something more. She then turned around, striding toward the great doors, slamming them shut behind her. An odd encounter, but it had served its purpose, Serena was rattled, her shoulders slumped. Her throat felt tight and dry. She turned on her heel, making her way to the kitchen with hurried steps. The blonde hurried to the kitchen, grabbed a pitcher of water, and poured it into the nearest cup she could find, downing its contents. She was on her third cup when she heard the doors open again. Setting the cup down, she stepped out of the kitchen. To her dismay, it was Livia once more, this time carrying tools Serena had seen seamstresses in her pack use- cords, a measuring rod, various fabrics, and a pin clenched between her teeth. "You are to be measured... Darius’ orders," she drawled, her tone tinged with boredom. The two men from earlier closed the doors behind them, leaving them alone once again. Serena frowned. "Why?" Livia exhaled through her nose, dropping the fabrics onto the floor with an audible thump. "Because I am to make garments for the Ambassador. And as soon as possible. So please, I wouldn’t want to waste any more time." Serena said nothing, only nodding as she stepped forward. Livia worked in silence, her fingers quick and precise as she took Serena’s measurements. The sound of ripping fabric filled the room as she tested sample after sample, pressing different colors against Serena’s skin. She hummed softly when she found one she liked. "You really do look like the Eastern wolves, hm." Livia studied her face with scrutiny- this time, not with disdain but with muted curiosity. "Where do you even come from?" Livia muttered, almost to herself. Her expression soured, "maybe the goddess wants to punish us further." Livia muttered before recoiling as if Serena’s very skin were poisonous. "My work here is done. I do not allow room for mistakes." Without another word, she turned and left, her parting presence carrying an unspoken warning. One of the men who had accompanied her stepped forward, wordlessly placing a heavy pile of books into Serena’s arms. She faltered for a moment under the weight, nearly dropping them before steadying herself. — Read these from cover to cover. Very important. Beatrice’s thing is in a few days. please prepare. I will be with you soon. Do not leave the manor! —Darius H. "I will be with you soon," Serena murmured. The words should have reassured her. But she knew how he addressed her and what he thought of her. Whatever kindness she imagined in those words was merely her imagination. Livia had voiced what everyone in Ironshade must have thought, perhaps even Annamarie. That she was an unwelcome outsider, an intruder, someone who would unravel the ’work’ they had done. Serena’s body trembled as she reread the note, her mind replaying the encounter with Livia. A fat teardrop landed on the paper, then another. Soon, the words blurred before her eyes, and a sob tore from her throat. She wiped her face roughly, but it was useless. The tears kept falling, silent and endless, soaking into the letter until the ink began to smudge. She missed her parents. She missed her older brother terribly. Sniffing, she tilted her head up, willing herself to stop, but the weight of it all pressed down on her. Serena felt utterly alone and belittled, by the people around her and her situation, by the unshakable truth that no matter what role they forced upon her, she didn’t belong here. She sighed and shook her head, willing her tears to go away. Serena dropped the note next to the pile of books, swiping at her eyes. She picked up the first and focused on the title. ’Observed customs from Crisonclaw,’ it read. She would finish her task and do it well. Serena couldn’t afford any more slip up on her part, it was complicated now but she believed she would survive.