A Queen Among Snakes: Chapter Twenty-One - Chris

My hands are balled in fists and anger is coursing through me like lightning. I’m just about to spring up and teach this superficial bitch a lesson when the scent of fruit punch hits me and a warm hand firmly clasps on my shoulder pushing me back down. I look up to see Amelia holding me in place.

“Amelia, let go of me,” I say through gritted teeth.

“No,” she says strongly.

“Do you not see what’s happening? Mei needs me. Now get your fucking hand off me,” I seethe.

“Son, watch how you speak,” my dad warns calmly, but I tune him out. I never speak to Amelia like this. Actually, I never really speak to anyone like this, but she is getting in the way of me helping my animai and it’s making me furious.

“You can’t fight all her battles for her, Chris. She has to learn to stand on her own two feet. If she can’t handle a shrill skank like Jane, what hope does Mei have of protecting herself against someone who actually wants to and can hurt her?” She says in a calm and even tone.

A part of me knows she’s right, but it doesn’t feel right to go against my instinct to protect Mei. Axel sure as hell doesn’t want to sit here, but Amelia isn’t budging. I take a deep breath and look back over to the buffet as Mei attempts to ignore Jane, but Jane won’t let her be.

“I can’t believe Chris actually marked a charity case like you. You don’t even look like you can lift that plate,” Jane spits. My body is shaking and I’m so close to shifting and ripping her apart.

“Why are you being so mean to me? I haven’t done anything to you,” Mei softly says. Her words hurt my heart. That’s how her whole life has been, people being mean to her for no reason.

“Aww, are you going to cry about it? Run off to Amelia? Probably best since you couldn’t even take me if you tried,” she scoffs.

I feel something shift in Mei, there’s a hint of confidence in her. Jane pissed Amelia off one too many times and so Jane’s dad sent her to spend a few weeks with family in another pack, so she actually has no idea what Mei is or what she’s capable of, unlike everyone else. If she did, she wouldn’t have said something so stupid… actually I’m not so sure about that.

“Are you challenging me?” Mei asks curiously.

“Fighting you would be like reading a children’s book; it would be too easy,” she retorts.

“Then you have nothing to worry about, right? What if we make a deal? If you can punch me, I’ll do your chores for a month. If you can’t, you have to leave me and everyone else alone,” Mei negotiates.

Okay, I didn’t see any of this coming. My Mei is standing up for herself and with so much grace I want to cry. I notice Setia in the doorway watching the interaction intently.

“So I punch you and I get you as a slave? Too easy,” Jane grins sickly. Jane feigns cracking her knuckles and throws a punch in Mei’s direction. I try to get up, but Amelia continues to hold me in place. Before Jane’s punch can even come close to Mei, Mei has moved behind her so fast I can barely register it. Jane’s fist cuts through the air causing her to stumble and look around in confusion. Mei gently taps Jane’s shoulder, making Jane whip around to look at her in confusion. “How the hell did you do that?”

“I guess you can’t punch me. So that means you have to leave me and everyone else alone,” Mei says matter-of-factly.

I’ve never felt so sick and nervous in my life as I just sit here and watch this happen. I’m furious with Amelia right now, but at the same time so proud of Mei.

Jane glares at Mei and attempts to punch her again, but Mei catches her fist with a frown on her face and I can feel her disappointment, sadness, and her resentment.

“I don’t understand people like you. People who hate everyone and everything for no reason, who take pleasure in hurting other people. You have a good life and so many things to be happy about and grateful for, but you’re only happiest when you’re hurting others. You don’t deserve this pack. You don’t deserve to be surrounded by such good and loving people and they certainly don’t deserve someone so mean-hearted as you,” she says emphatically as her eyes turn their reptilian gold and a surge of energy radiates from her.

It’s strong and I can feel it pulsating through our bond, but I can also feel it in the air and looking around, so can everyone else. It makes me feel strong, but it seems to be making others bow their head in submission. The entire room has gone silent, captivated by her every word, and weighed down by the energy coming off her. It’s like an Alpha Spirit only much more intense. Setia has a proud smirk on her face though.

“Our Sweet One is incredible,” Axel says in stunned awe. Can’t disagree with him there.

Jane’s knees have given out as she submits to Mei; whimpers slipping through her lips. Mei lets go of Jane’s hand and steps back, her eyes returning to normal and the surge of energy vanishing allowing everyone to relax. Amelia removes her hand from my shoulder, and I sprint over to Mei in record time.

I cup her face in my hands and look her over, “Are you okay?” I gently ask her.

She looks up at me and slowly nods, “I’m okay,” she breathes out.

I wrap her up in my arms and inhale her plum blossom scent. I’ve felt this energy come from Mei before, but never on this scale. Setia said Mei was an empress, even though some of the details didn’t match, but I’m thinking maybe Setia was right. Maybe Mei really is an empress and what she just did was akin to an Alpha exerting their dominance.

Just how powerful is my soulmate?