Acting Like Barbarians

Rains' P.O.V.

When Odett and I got right outside the door of the kitchen, I heard the servants standing around gossiping about the attack and how I'll be a horrible Queen because instead of coming back to the castle to help take care of the women and children, thanks to my wolf hearing. Apparently, I ran and hid and even left my bastard child with the orphan mother. According to them, I was a coward. I looked down as Odett looked up at me, and I knew she heard it all too. All I could do was shake my head in response as I squeezed her hand to reassure her that everything was okay.

"How dare they assume anything! And they even have the guts to talk about our daughter? We can't let them talk about us like that!" Dosha growls in my head.

"We will let them believe what they want. They will find out the truth eventually. We do not owe them an explanation." I tell her as we walk into the room to see only two servants preparing the snacks for our guests. When they see us walk in, they fall silent and bow to us, though I know they don't respect us. They will know everything soon enough.

Odett and I walk over to the servants preparing the snacks, offering them a smile while ignoring the ones who were gossiping about us. I pick Odett up and place her on the stool at the end of the counter. Then I begin to help the two servants cut up fruit.

"My Queen, please allow us to prepare the food. There is no need for you to do anything." The older of the two says as the others look confused as to what I am doing.

"Non-sense, I'm fully capable of helping in the kitchen. It's what I did the most while at the orphanage I lived in before we left." I say, smiling at her but not offering any more details. "And I actually enjoy cooking for others, so tell me what you need me to do, and I'll get it done."

"As long as you insist, my Queen." She says, smiling at me before walking to the refrigerator and grabbing multiple containers of yogurt. "Will you grab a large bowl from the bottom cabinet on your left, please?"

"What are your names?" I ask as I grab the bowl and place it on the counter next to the massive pile of cut-up fruits.

"My name is Mia, and this is my daughter Annabella, but we call her Annie, my Queen." The older lady says, smiling at me before walking to the pantry and grabbing a large bag of granola.

"It's nice to meet you both," I say, ignoring the others that were now staring at Odett and me. "How long have you worked in the castle?"

"I've worked at the castle since I was sixteen years old. Same with Annie. It pays well, and the King makes sure we're taken care of. Though some of the staff can be very judgemental and downright hateful at times." She says as she stares down the group of ladies who were gossiping about us before we walked in.

"Since y'all are not willing to help in the kitchen, y'all can take the food to the dining hall," I say without even glancing at them. I hear a few murmurs as they all file out of the room, leaving Odett, Mia, Annie, and me alone in the kitchen. Mia and Annie share a look and begin to laugh as we continue making the snacks for our guests.

After fifteen minutes, everything is prepared, and the other servants have taken everything to the dining hall. I grab Odett off the stool and place her on the floor, taking her hand. Jess walks into the kitchen with a smile on her face. Mia and Annie notice her and bow.

"There's no need to bow, ladies," Jess says before walking to me and hugging me. "I thought I would find you here."

"Of course. I thought I would get to know some of the servants around the castle since this is now our home." I say with a smile on my face. Our home? That sounds nice to say out loud.

"Aren't there usually more servants in the kitchen?" She asks.

"The Queen sent them out," Mia says. Jess gives me a questioning look, and Mia looks at me in a panic and bows while apologizing.

"There's no need to apologize, Mia. You are free to talk openly around us. I'm no dictator. And I welcome anyone with a mind to speak for themselves." I say as I look at Mia, offering her a smile. I then turn to Jess. "I sent them out because I would rather not have them simply standing around and gossiping while others did what was asked of them."

"You heard them but said nothing to correct them, my Queen?" Annie asks me, and I nod.

"It's not my job to correct someone who believes gossip and is not willing to go directly to the source for the truth. They will see my character for themselves eventually and know how wrong their assumptions about me were." I say, and she nods in understanding. "Would you two like to join us in the dining hall?"

"Servants aren't allowed to eat with the guests, my Queen," Mia answers.

"I'm asking y'all to join us as part of our pack. The King won't have a problem with it, and neither will our guests. And if they do, they can take it up with me." I say as Odett walks over to Mia and Annie, takes their hands, and leads them to the dining hall, making me laugh. "My daughter seems to like you both."

"So, is it true that Alpha Max, Ian, and Emily have gone missing?" Jess asks me.

"Yes, they left Luna Misty behind. She was in the basement with the others. I'm not sure what their plan is, but Zion, Sam, and Alpha Mathew are interrogating the rogues they left alive from the attack as we speak." I tell her, and she nods.

"Orian has joined them as well." She says while smiling. I love the look she gets every time Orians name is brought up.

"So when do you and Orian plan to make it official?" I ask her, and she blushes.

"Actually, we already have." She says as she pulls down the collar of her shirt just far enough for me to see her mark. To say I'm overjoyed for her would be an understatement. I hug her tightly, making her giggle.

"When were you planning on telling me?" I ask her as we get to the door of the dining hall.

"When things calmed down around here. I didn't want to add to everything you have to deal with." She says.

"You are my sister, and this is a big deal. I want details." I say with a laugh. The doors to the dining hall open, and my happy mood automatically dissipates as I see the mess before me. There are council members arguing and females yelling at each other while the children cry. Food is spilled all over the tables as well as the floors. These people are acting like full-blown barbarians. After seeing enough, I move to the middle of the room, followed by Jess, Mia, Annie, and Odett. "Enough!" I yell, and everyone goes quiet.

"Stephanie, what's going on here?" Jess asks as Stephanie rushes over to us.

"My Queen, Beta Jessica, I'm so sorry. No one would listen to me. Everyone seems to think they are too good to sit with the others. One thing led to another, and everything got out of hand." She says while keeping her head bowed.

"It's okay, Stephanie. Will you take Odett and the kids to play in the banquet hall while I handle this?" I ask, and she nods and leads the children out of the room. I then turn my attention to these so-called leaders. "All of you seem to think that your species are better than the others, and some are even fighting amongst your own people. Let me ask you this. What makes your species different from any others when your own kind are coming together under The Rouge King to destroy us all?"

No one answers as they all look at each other in confusion, so I continue. "Who here hasn't been the focus of an attack recently, whether it be by rogue wolves, witches, dark fairies, vampires, or something else?" And I'm again met with silence. "We are facing a war. One like we've never seen before, and if you can do nothing but act like barbarians, then we are all fucked!"

Everyone looks around the room and begins to whisper to each other. Suddenly one of the council members clears his throat and walks to the middle of the group where I stand. "What gives you the right to address us in this manner and call us barbarians."