Page 74 of Claimed By the King's Gamma

35

The following morning, I decided to take a look around.I try calling Kade a couple of times before I decide to venture out and see what was nearby; I doubted it very much.Besides the road at the end of the long driveway, I saw nothing but trees.

I had just finished eating the last of the crackers which I had for breakfast; the cereal was stale and rock hard.He told me someone stocked the place, but everything was already opened, and half gone.Even the milk went bad overnight.But hunger pains are something I know I will get used to.Hunger was the least of our problems in the orphanage, and we would have to scavenge for food, or sometimes the kids would sneak us stuff.

That didn't last long, though, not after one of them got caught and smacked.We told them not to worry about us and that we would earn our keep.So I knew I could last a while without eating, but since Kade has been ignoring me since I interrupted his meeting, I know I have to look around to see what I can find in case he doesn't return.

First, I investigate the back of the cabin, which is putting it nicely.It look more like a cubby house some kids built.I find an old barrel which I figure will come in handy to do some washing, so I spend a good chunk of the morning soaking the bed-lined and torn curtains before rewiring the clothes line as best I can.It leans to one side and has barely enough line to hang the linen and curtains on.

Once I finish that, the sun is high in the sky, and the heat make me exhausted, but still, I power through the need to lay down and rest.I make my way through the forest at the back, wanting to shift, but instead wandering around searching for berries or anything remotely edible.I find a few birds' nests but am too tired to even attempt to climb the trees to retrieve them.I also find a small dam.It is shallow; the water looks slimy and murky.With a sigh, I turn back around and head back toward the cabin.

Quickly checking the clothesline, I’m walking back to the front door when I notice the car parked along the road.I stare at it, wondering if it is Kade, yet as I stroll across the vast dead lawn along the dirt driveway, it screeches as its tires tear off down the road.

Wiping my forehead, I turn back to the cabin, thinking they must have had the wrong address.Stepping inside the cabin, the tin roof has heated inside to the point that it is hotter inside than outside.It’s like an oven, so hot that after twenty minutes, it is becoming difficult to breathe.I must have passed out because the next thing I know, I’m waking up to Kade shaking my arm.Startled, I lurch upright and glanced around.I had fallen asleep on the futon.

"Some of my patrols saw you in the forest.What were you doing?"he asked.I blinked at him.

"Pardon?"I ask, rubbing my eyes and peering at the windows.It was dark outside.Did I really sleep the rest of the day away?I shake my head, trying to regather my thoughts.

"I said my patrol saw you sneaking through the forest.Now, what were you doing out there?"he demanded.I furrow my brows in confusion.It was only a forest.

"I was just looking around.I was also trying to see if there were any berries," I tell him.Kade clicks his tongue, and I reach out for him, needing some contact to know he is really here and not just in my dazed thoughts.

"I can't have you running through the forest, Abbie.It is dangerous out there," he tells me, yet I saw nobody, not a single person or strange scent.He growls angrily.

"And to think I was going to reward you, but after such behavior, I don't know if I should!"he growls.

"I can come home with you?"I ask, excited.

"What?No!It's unsafe; I have told you this," he says, shaking his head at me.He gets up, moving toward the small kitchen.

"I see you cleaned up," he states, glancing around at the small area.Yet I scoot to the edge of the bed when I see he has some plastic bags on the small counter.My mouth waters when I catch a whiff of something hot to eat.

My stomach growls embarrassingly loudly at the smell of food.Kade smiles, digging through the bag before coming over to me.He sets a plastic container in my lap full of pasta and meatballs."I had my housekeeper cook you some dinner," he says, passing me a fork.

I look up at him, waiting for him to sit with me."You're not eating with me?"I ask.

"No, I already ate before heading over here."Instead, he watches me while I eat, which I have never ever been so self-conscious of before.His eyes mak my skin prickle with goosebumps as if he is judging the way I ate.Or maybe I’m reading too much into it.When I finish, I wash the container and turned it upside down on the counter.

"See what being good gets you?"Kade says, and I peer up at him."Good?"I ask him.

"Yes, of course.You behave, and I reward you.Today I let you off easily with you wandering around.You understand why I can't have that, right?"he asks.I swallow because I don't see an issue with what I did, yet the look on his face when I don't immediately reply tells me I have done something terrible.

"I was only looking for berries.I was hungry," I tell him.

"I told you I would bring you back food," he says, rustling the bag at me.

"How do you expect to be my Luna when you can't follow simple conditions?"

"But you never said I couldn't look around,"

"Well, now you know.Don't forget your place, Abbie!You are my Luna.I am your Alpha.What I say goes.What would happen if I presented a disobedient Luna to my pack?I would be the laughing stock.You need to think hard about your actions," he scolds.

"Now, put these away before I change my mind.I will think of something suitable for punishment for your actions," he says, sauntering off to sit on the couch.I stare after him before looking at the bag of groceries.

"That should last you a couple of days," he says, and I nod.Pulling the stuff out, I find a fresh loaf of bread, coffee, and three liters of milk.Packing half the bag away, I turn to glance at Kade, who is texting on his phone.

"Did you get sugar for the coffee?"I asked, chewing my lip.I knew that brand of coffee.It was nasty and cheap.Extremely bitter tasting, Mrs.Daley called it visitors coffee when she bought it, and it was the only coffee we were allowed.

---