The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 160: Chapter 160

Josie POV
I woke up feeling dismal, the spot beside me on the bed empty, and there was no sign of Rohan. I sighed and climbed out. I had no more tears left to shed after last night and I moved to the bathroom robotically, going through the motions and getting dressed, before hesitantly making my way downstairs, my dress swishing around my ankles as I made my way to the kitchen and dining area, sitting down and quietly accepting a plate from an omega with a word of thanks.
There was a woman standing there, staring at me with ice-cold eyes, raking her gaze up and down, a derogatory expression on her face. She was not one that I remembered seeing before. Was she new? A visitor? Why hadn’t I been informed? She looked at me with disgust in her eyes as I looked at her, surprised to see such hatred emanating from a pack member I didn’t even know. What had I done to offend her so much?
“So this is your new Luna” the woman drawled, her eyes full of scorn as I stiffened “this fat pig? What a joke” she sneered.
I stood up, my wolf trying to claw her way to the surface as I wrestled with her to remain in control “I don’t know who you are or what business you have with the pack, but I must ask that you refrain from insulting me” I said coldly “else I cannot be held responsible for what happens as a result of not listening.”
She widened her eyes and shook her head at me “big words coming from such a sorry-looking Luna. A girl like you obviously has trapped Rohan with her pregnancy to remain in power. I see no mark on you, so clearly he still has reservations about making you his permanent mate” she scoffed.
Who the f**k did this woman think she was? A low growl issued from my throat. My wolf was ready to strangle her. “Sandra, you should not offend our luna like that” another woman chided, casting me a concerned look “Rohan loves Josie. He will not be pleased to hear how you have treated her this morning.”
The woman appeared to be unfazed. She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder, her eyes flashing as she glared at the woman who dared to interrupt her “since when have I ever cared about Rohan and offending him?” she scoffed “besides I’m only looking out for him like a family member should” she purred “I would hate for my brother, the Alpha to be taken advantage by this trash heap” she added and I stiffened, clenching my hands into fists, my own eyes beginning to darken as my wolf continued to try and take over.
“Enough” roared Rohan and everybody turned as he walked confidently into the room.
He glared at the woman. “Sandra, apologize,” he said darkly, nodding towards me “Josie is the mother of my pup and deserves to be treated with respect.”
I couldn’t help but note that he had not called me his mate or Luna and it stung. Did this mean he was determined not to mark me and claim me as his mate as he had threatened? Tears swam in my eyes. Sandra looked incensed. “I will not apologize to this bimbo,” she said folding her arms and glowering.
“You might be my sister but by god, I am not averse to throwing you in the dungeon” Rohan growled in response.
“You would throw your own flesh and blood in the dungeon, for this,,, this mutt” spluttered Sandra, looking indignantly at me.
I’d had it. First Sandra, then Rohan who was doing his best to ignore me. Maybe Rohan wasn’t the man I thought he was. My wolf took over and I let her. We stalked over to Sandra who was gloating, believing that we were timid and meek. I slapped her, hard and then spoke, or rather my wolf Amber did. “Know your place you little b***h. I am Luna of this pack and you are nothing more than the dirt on my shoe. Offend me again and blood relative or not of my mate, I will scar you so that no man wants to look your way. How would you like that?”
It was not an empty threat. My wolf was itching to disfigure the b***h. Sandra blinked, a hand on her burning cheek. There were tears in the corners of her eyes as she sniffed, looking at Rohan pitifully.
“Rohan” she whimpered “are you going to let her talk to me like that?” she demanded.
Rohan gave a bitter laugh “you asked for it Sandra. I told you to stop offending her. Josie is anything but weak and you took her appearance for granted. Be grateful that she didn’t disfigure you or throw you in the dungeon” he snarled.
She stomped her foot like a child. “I’ll get you for this” she hissed, raising her eyes to me as I gave a nonchalant shrug “just you wait.”
I watched her rush out of the room, her long hair flowing behind her and then calmly walked back to my seat and sat. Rohan moved and sat next to me. I gave him a sidelong glance. I was not impressed with him and I let it show on my face as he grew quiet, a contemplative expression on his face.
“Well,” I said finally, unable to hold back my sarcasm “your sister is just lovely, but seeing as you’ve turned out to be a complete asshole, I guess her personality isn’t a complete surprise.”
He blanched. “Josie,” he said quietly, looking remorseful while I glowered at him, angry by yesterday’s discussion and his subsequent running away “about yesterday” he began.
I let out a sardonic laugh “which part? The one where you told me that you wanted nothing to do with me anymore or that you wouldn’t mark me? That you don’t want our pup?”
He looked ashamed of himself. “Will you let me explain?” he said hoarsely, the rest of the pack members slowly standing up and leaving.
I raised an eyebrow at him, still peeved, and folded my arms across my chest.
“What you did yesterday was disgusting and reprehensible,” I told him evenly.
“I know,” he said agreeably, “and my reaction was not forgivable” he added with an exhale “but when we found out you were pregnant my first reaction was fear. Gut wrenching fear” he admitted looking stricken.
“I don’t understand” I said slowly, looking up at my mate who looked as though he was in a mind of his own “I’m afraid too, but I would never have reacted the way you did. Do you know how hurtful it felt to be told that you weren’t going to remark me? I mean, what was going through your head? Your mark from me is gone as well. If you’re planning on rejecting me…” I said trailing off and he quickly shook his head, his jaw tightening.
“No, I don’t want that,” he said quickly, too quickly “I should never have told you I wouldn’t mark you again. I want us to be mates, I don’t want you to leave,” he said sheepishly.
“Then why say it at all” I exploded, my frustration boiling over.
I deserved an explanation damn it. Rohan hung his head. “For starters, your sister? What’s her deal? Why does she show such animosity towards me when she has never even met me before?” I said ominously.
There was something off about Sandra. The way she looked at Rohan, was not typically like a sister looked at her brother, but maybe I was reading too much into it. Maybe it was because I disliked her on sight and was looking for a reason for it.
Rohan sighed. “Sandra has never liked anyone that showed an interest in me. She tends to be a bit possessive of me. I was glad when she decided to go on a tour of all the packs to discover if she had a mate out there.”
Clearly, it hadn’t been successful I thought grumpily, as she had been alone in the kitchen when she made those remarks. Either that or her mate hadn’t liked her and rejected her.
He looked at me “I didn’t know she was coming, she turned up late last night and since this is sort of her home” he finished guiltily.
Of course. No matter how long she had been gone, it wouldn’t have been right to refuse her. I understood that. But it rankled to have somebody with such open hostility in the pack.
I rubbed the nape of my neck and Rohan’s eyes watched my every move. He swallowed hard. I fought to remain calm. I needed to give him the benefit of the doubt. My other hand went to my stomach, rubbing it absent-mindedly.
“I deserve an explanation Rohan,” I said finally, looking down at my stomach and picturing it swelling with our unborn pup “I want to know the reason that you got afraid yesterday and took it out on me and our pup. It better be a good one as well”
I warned him, not feeling particularly charitable towards him “because if it’s not, then it’s going to take a hell of a lot on your side to repair this relationship and that’s providing I want to repair it when I’ve heard everything.”
He drummed his fingers on the top of the table, his expression grave, his eyes dull and blankly staring off into the distance. I could sense his anguish and devastation as he opened his mouth to speak and I knew instinctively that the story he had to tell, was not a happy one. Whatever it was, it had changed Rohan and while I believed that he would make an excellent father to our child, I could tell by the look on his face and the tone of his voice that Rohan thought the opposite, that he didn’t deserve to be one. I leaned forward and fixed my gaze on him, about to discover the reason why he felt that way.
…