Page 42 of Cruel Alpha: Season Two

“I can appreciate your sentiment, Aunt Pen, but you’ll have to forgive me for seeing your solution as a bit shortsighted and a bit… selfish.”

She flinches at that word.

“And you’ll have to forgive me for pointing out that you’re a callous miser who can’t see beyond his own bullshit.” She doesn’t seem angry, so the words somehow don’t feel malicious.

I watch as she stands and starts toward the door before glancing back over her shoulder.

“Say what you will about the way I’ve lived my life, but when I rest my head at night, I’m comforted knowing that I have indeed lived. For myself, Nephew. No one else. Can you live with never being able to say the same?”

23

Tea for Who

Annalise

A wise womanrecently advised me that, when those who think they own you push you around… push back.

So, today, that’s exactly what I’ve set out to do.

Our footsteps echo throughout the corridor, and it’s a refreshingly thunderous sound. Before today, I hadn’t realized that I’d been tiptoeing through my own home. While it isn’t the home that I chose, it is mine nonetheless.

“Are you sure we won’t get in any trouble?” Tabatha’s whispered question draws a smile from me.

“Actually, I’m almostcertainit will, but that’s kind of the point, Tab. To make waves, to disrupt the status quo.”

My answer has her visibly tense as she walks beside me, she and Guinivere both wearing the jeans and tank tops I’ve loaned them. Today’s work can’t be done in dresses, hoop slips, and fancy shoes. By the time we’re done with what I have planned, our nail polish will be ruined, there will be dirt on every inch of exposed skin, our hair will likely be drenched in sweat, and… I can’t fucking wait.

We turn the corner and the French doors leading out to the courtyard are just ahead. I can already smell the fresh air, and it excites me. I step out onto the patio with the girls in tow, and already from here, I spot the wheelbarrows and bags of soil I requested. The sight of which has me picking of my pace.

“Your tea with the Laurel Guild seemed important, Annalise. Aren’t you worried that?—”

“I’m not worried aboutanything,” I interject, seeing the shock that widens Guinivere’s eyes at my words. “Those were plans Lady Radcliffe made without my input, so I’ve simply decided not to attend. If she’s upset about it, perhaps this will be a lesson for her.”

“A lesson?” Tabatha asks.

“Yes,” I nod. “It may teach her to seek my consent before filling my social calendar.”

The girls share a look, and I don’t miss their shocked expressions.

Our steps halt once we’ve reached our destination—a sizable stretch of land on the outskirts of the courtyard that had previously been unused. I spotted it during one of my walks, first noticing that it was slightly overgrown with weeds, but the second thing I took note of was that its position on the grounds provided excellent sunlight. An idea hit me right away, but with no real plans to follow through at the time. But when I awokethis morning, it was like something within me had changed. The words Aunt Pen spoke were—andare—stuck inside my head, and I could kiss her for waking me up.

I’m not weak. Never have been. Now, it’s time I let the staff here at the High Chamber know it, too.

“What are we supposed to do with all this?” The question leaves Tabatha’s mouth as she shades her eyes from the sun with her hand. She scowls at the supplies laid out at my request—gloves, shovels, a rake, a lawnmower, soil, seeds, a gardening hose.

I smile, wondering if the girl has ever gotten her hands dirty a day in her life.

“Well, back at my aunt and uncle’s house, I kept a small garden in the back lawn. I was the only one who maintained it, and it became somewhat of a sanctuary for me. I enjoyed seeing things come into existence by my hand. It was just sort of, I don’t know… therapeutic.”

Tabatha continues to stare at the items like they’re medeival torture devices.

“You don’t have to do this,” I assure her. “If you’d prefer to go back inside?—”

“No, it’s fine,” she says. “I’ll do it.”

I study her a moment, wanting her to know my offer was sincere. What good is it for me to assertmyselfif she and Guinivere are made to feel like they’re forced to be at my beck and call?

“You’re sure?”

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