Alpha's Servant
Автор
Danielle Jaggan
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5,3M
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Chapter 1
SKYLER
I flinched as one of the many blisters on my hands burst, the soapy water stinging as I reached into the mop bucket for my brush.
I’d been scrubbing the floors of the guest house on my hands and knees, trying to prepare for the manor’s very important and mysterious guest. Crucelli, the werewolf in charge of us human servants, had mercilessly stressed how imperative it was that the manor was in perfect condition.
I sighed. Being a human servant among werewolves was not a life I would wish upon my worst enemy. We were treated like dirt, but there was little we could do about it since a mere human wouldn’t stand a chance against even a low-level wolf.
I’d been a domestic servant under the Blood Moon Pack for as long as I could remember. It was the largest and most powerful pack among five werewolf territories thanks to our alpha.
Alpha Ares was rumored to be the deadliest and most ruthless wolf alive. People said he was blessed by the gods, making him nearly invincible. Even other alphas feared him, treating him like a ticking bomb ready to explode. The very thought of him sent chills running down my spine.
I’d overheard some of the other servants talking about him in hushed whispers, claiming he’d been cursed by a vengeful witch for his cruelty. She had doomed him to be alone for the rest of his days, more beast than man without a mate to help him control his wolf.
Being deprived of his other half had turned him into a bloodthirsty monster, an unforgiving soul that relished in the blood of his enemies, and for that, everyone feared him.
Luckily, it had been years since he’d last visited our estate on the outskirts of Blood Moon’s territory. When he’d last set foot on our lands, it had been to protect the pack from rogue wolves. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to save everyone.
“Skyler!”
I squealed, nearly spilling the bucket of dirty water as I spun around. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw who it was, drying my hands on my stained apron as I got to my feet.
“Scarlette! Don’t scare me like that!” I hissed, putting a hand to my chest. “Do you want to give me a heart attack?”
She hurried to my side, pulling me away from prying ears. “Come here. I have something important to tell you.”
Scarlette was the one person I trusted. She’d been like a mother to me, taking me under her wing when I was brought to the manor after the death of my parents.
She glanced around secretively. “You have to promise not to tell a soul what I’m about to share with you.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die,” I huffed dramatically, dropping my brush into the bucket.
Scarlette rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. No one can know.”
“Okay, I promise,” I replied. “Now, tell me what it is before Crucelli comes around and yells at us for not doing our work.”
Her eyes lit up as she leaned in closer. “I just overheard the juiciest piece of gossip while I was serving the wolves tea.”
She paused, obviously wanting me to beg for the details.
“Scarlette,” I groaned. “If you don’t get to the point, we’re both going to get punished.”
“Fine,” she whined. “But you take all the fun out of it.” She looked around to make sure the hall was empty before whispering, “Our mystery guest is Alpha Ares himself!”
I shuddered at the mention of his name. I had foolishly hoped that this day would never come. That I might spend a whole lifetime without ever having to cross paths with the wolf that couldn’t save my parents, but clearly, I’d been wrong.
“What?! The alpha is coming here?” I squeaked. “Why?”
She shrugged. “They didn’t say, but it’s got to be for something big, right?”
I trembled, hating to admit that I was afraid, but the alpha had a reputation. Tales of his temper and cruelty had spread far and wide, and his mistrust of humans was legendary. He considered us to be allies of the witches, making him dangerously suspicious of anything we did and ruthless in his judgement of any supposed crime.
“Wh-when is he arriving?” I stuttered, tucking my hair behind my ear with a shaky hand.
“Tomorrow,” Scarlette said, her words hanging in the air between us with ominous finality.
***
I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep all night. Crucelli had made us work until dawn, scrubbing and re-scrubbing every inch of the manor in preparation for the alpha’s visit. There wasn’t a speck of dirt to be found anywhere.
My eyelids drooped as I put the finishing touches on the alpha’s bedroom, lighting a welcoming fire in the fireplace. The warmth of it bathed my skin, and I yawned.
Maybe I could just close my eyes for a couple of minutes. Take a little cat nap. It’s not like Crucelli will be looking for me just yet, right?
I lay down on the plush carpet, resting my head on my arms and saying a little prayer to not get caught as I let slumber take me.
***
I woke with a start, gasping as I glanced quickly around the room. The sun beyond the windows was slowly setting, casting long, eerie shadows across the floor. I was relieved to find myself alone, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been watching me.
A shiver raced over me as I rubbed my hands over my arms. Something lurked in the back of my mind, a dark, deep voice warning me as I slept.
You shouldn’t be here.
“It was just a dream,” I whispered.
“What are you doing?!” a shrill voice demanded.
I whipped around to find Crucelli waiting by the door, a furious look on his face. I scrambled to my feet, bowing my head as he stormed forward.
“The alpha will be here any moment, you worthless human. Get up,” he hissed, grabbing my arm sharply. “We’ll discuss your punishment for slacking later. All female servants are needed downstairs now!”
He shoved me toward the door, and I hurried down the hall before he could do anything worse. Crucelli was not known for his gentle and kind manner.
***
The room beside the kitchen was already packed when I arrived, the other female servants speaking in hushed tones as I made my way toward Scarlette and my friend, Primrose.
“What do you think this is for?” Primrose asked as I took my place beside her.
I shrugged my shoulders. “No idea, but Crucelli is in a mood.”
“I bet it’s about the alpha,” Scarlette whispered, careful not to be overheard. “I heard from one of the guards that he arrived this afternoon and has been wandering around the grounds secretly checking things out.”
My heart sank, the voice from my dream coming back to me.
Could it have been the alpha? I was in his room. What if he came in while I was napping? What if he tells Crucelli? Goddess, I’ll be severely punished if he finds out.
“Shut it!” Crucelli barked as he entered.
He glared out at the sea of terrified faces, an evil smirk on his lips. It was rarely ever good news when he gathered us all together like this. If we were lucky, it just meant more work. If we weren’t…
I shook my head, not even wanting to think about it.
“Alpha Ares has arrived at our estate for a visit,” he said, waving to a young servant girl carrying a large bowl.
She stepped forward, eyes on the ground as he continued. “We want to extend him every luxury during his stay, which is why one of you will be selected each night for a very special task.”
I could feel tension building in the air around me, so thick I could choke on it.
“The lucky lady selected will spend the night with the alpha. Anything he commands, you will do, understand?” Crucelli sneered as he riffled through the contents of the bowl. “No matter how depraved.”
Concerned whispers flew across the room. Werewolves often struggled to contain their wolf in emotionally charged moments, and the alpha’s reputation for losing control of his was well known. Being chosen as his mistress for a night could very well be a death sentence for a human.
“Silence!” Crucelli yelled.
A hush fell over the room.
“I shall select one of your names from this bowl,” he drawled, plucking a folded scrap of paper from the top and holding it up. “I don’t need to remind you all that failure to please the alpha will result in consequences.”
I swallowed as he peeled open the tiny slip of paper, holding my breath as he proceeded to read out the name.
