Page 2

My wolf was the first to recover from this enchantment. Every trace of the wariness and resignation she felt beneath Alpha’s dominating presence suddenly disappeared, giving way to a bubbling cocktail of excitement and anticipation.

I was taken aback by her sudden reaction, but surprise was the least of what I was feeling. My heart pounded in my chest. A mixture of excitement and nervousness coursed through me, leaving me hot and breathless.

Mate. Mate. Mate. she chanted repeatedly, unable to contain herself.

Mate? I mused, pondering on the odds of meeting my mate just when I was about to become a breeder.

The stranger finally walked into the gathering, and I was hit with the mouth-watering scent of sandalwood, pine, and a hint of musk. It took everything in me not to throw myself at him.

His eyes met mine, lingering for a short moment before he returned his attention to Karl.

“Prince Griffin,” Karl stuttered. “You need not concern yourself with her. She’s a lowly Omega who disobeyed pack rules.”

Karl rambled off about my position in the pack and how I wasn’t worth a pinch of salt. But what stood out to me was his greeting—Prince Griffin.

My mate was Prince Griffin Thorne? How was that even possible?

“I’m quite capable of deciding what is worth my interest, and right now, there’s nothing I find more interesting than an entire pack ganging up against a lowly Omega without giving her a chance to defend herself.

” His tone was hard and dripping with so much venom I could feel every wolf within a five-mile radius, including myself, shiver.

My Alpha took a small step forward.

“She’s been loads of problems to the pack, and this isn’t the first time she’s pulled something like this. She’s a desperate social climbing whore, and demoting her to breeder status is exactly what she deserves.”

His words stung a lot harder than I expected.

It wasn’t the first time I was spoken of in such a manner, but this time it hurt differently.

I felt a burning heat creeping up my neck and setting my face on fire.

Tears pulled at the corner of my eyes, but I held them in, biting hard into my lower lips to distract me from the growing ache in my chest.

“Is it true?” My mate’s voice was soft and filled with something that sounded like hope.

Despite the burning sensation in my throat, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach fluttering.

This was the first time someone was asking my opinion and giving me the chance to defend myself. He didn’t believe Karl and his father.

My wolf rolled her eyes. He’s our mate. Of course, he knows we’re innocent.

“No. I did not disregard pack rules. I was merely defending myself and protecting my virtue for my mate,” I replied, keeping my eyes glued to the floor. I didn’t want him to see my wet lashes and think of me as weak. Being an Omega was already enough humiliation.

A moment passed, and I found myself dangerously close to a panic attack. What if he doesn’t believe me? I mean, who would believe the words of an Omega over that of an Alpha and his son? Then he finally spoke, and I almost snapped my neck turning to him.

“Get your things. You’re leaving.”

“Sorry?” I queried, not trusting my ears.

He cocked a brow .

“Would you prefer to remain here?”

“No.”

“Then say your goodbyes. My driver will be waiting at the entrance to take you to the palace.” He ordered in a soft but dismissing tone.

A cacophony of hushed gasps and whispers followed his declaration, and I found myself growing self-conscious under their hateful stares and comments.

“Why is the prince taking her to the palace?”

“She must be one of his whores. Why else would he want to take her?”

“She must’ve planned this to get his attention, desperate bitch.”

A cold look from the prince was all it took to quiet the hushed voices. Silence replaced sharp words, and fear slipped into hateful eyes.

He stretched out an arm to me, and I realized I was yet to move from the floor.

I grabbed hold of his hand to lift myself and let out an audible gasp when our hands touched.

Tingles erupted from my fingertips, growing into a burning heat as the sensation spread through me and settled deep between my legs.

He froze, his gaze trailing from our point of connection to my eyes and back. He felt it, too. It was evident in the way his eyes darkened and his nostrils flared.

He gently pulled away, rubbing his arms. “Go say your goodbyes. I'll join you after I’m done here.”

I nodded and headed for the little cottage I inherited from my parents.

I packed twenty years of a bleak life into a duffel bag.

Guilt ate away at my conscience with every step I took away from the pack.

I had not only failed to visit my parents’ grave on their anniversary but I was also leaving without a goodbye.

I shook off the feelings, hoping they would understand the reason for my actions.

Besides, it was said we carried our loved ones wherever we went.

So, technically, I wasn’t leaving them behind.

With one last look at my cottage, I pushed forward, taking large steps to a life that I hoped would be much better than what I was leaving behind.

*****

After almost five hours of a long, silent drive, the car slowed in front of a tall bronze gate flanked by equally high walls stretching far beyond what my eyes could see.

The driver spoke into an intercom, and the gate slid open, revealing a path that seemed to go on for an additional five minutes before ending in the most magnificent stone fountain I’ve ever seen.

The palace stood proud with its dome partly concealed by the heavy cluster of clouds in the area. Two giant marble pillars held up the front porch, and floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows decorated the sides of the building, giving it the look of a mediaeval cathedral.

“This is Mrs. Anderson, the palace head matron,” the driver said, pulling me out of my daze. “She’ll help you settle in.” He gestured towards a middle-aged woman sprouting a full head of gray hair and a warm smile.

“Come o,n child. The prince said to get you all settled in and comfortable before he arrives.” Mrs. Anderson said, heading back in the direction she came.

The prince sent instructions for me to be made comfortable before he returned .

I followed closely, biting down the smile that played at my lips and willing the fluttering in my stomach to slow down. Our first meeting was not under the best circumstances and barely gave room for a conversation, much less an opportunity for us to express our feelings for each other.

Regardless, I was certain our next meeting would be much different. We would have the rest of our lives to get to know each other and make up for the time we spent apart. I was so happy and eager. I couldn’t wait for him to get back already.

Left to me, he didn’t need to waste his time on the likes of Karl and his father, but he didn’t strike me as one to turn a blind eye to injustice. It was a notable quality, one that already had me in awe of him.

Mrs. Anderson stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway, fishing out a bundle of keys from her pocket and handing them to me.

“This will be your room. You’ll have today to unpack and settle in, and a list of your duties will be given to you after dinner. You’re expected to start work tomorrow.”

“Duties?” I asked, confusion etched on my face.

Mrs. Anderson gave me a look that probably mirrored mine. “Yes, duties. You’re to be the prince’s personal maid. He hasn’t had one since he was a kid, so I’ll advise you to take the position seriously. It’s an honorable one.”

My lips formed an ‘o,’ and I nodded slowly, taking in all she had said. My mate was yet to address them and tell them who I was, so I couldn’t blame her. No one would see an Omega with rough hands, shabby clothes, and a worn duffel bag and think them to be the prince’s mate.

“I’ll be sure to take the position with utmost seriousness,” I replied, toying with a made-up scenario of how shocked she would be when she discovered I wasn’t brought here to be a maid.

“Alright. Dinner is at six, and the kitchen is on the ground floor, first turn to your right. Don’t be late,” she finalized, walking off in the opposite direction.

I opened the room and was swept into the dreamiest room I’ve ever seen.

It was big enough to fit my cottage back in Darkmoon and a huge upgrade from the peeling walls and old creaking furniture I was used to.

The bathroom turned out to be my favorite part of the room, with a bath big enough for me to swim in.

I wasted no time in hopping in and giving myself a long overdue soak, letting my lids drop as I felt my muscles relax under the soft pressure from the water.

My little bath time turned into a nap, and when I opened my eyes, the sky was a black canvas of stars, and my skin was pruney, but I felt more rested and rejuvenated than I’d ever been.

I dried off my skin and walked into the room to find a neatly folded maid’s uniform with a note sticking out of it on the bed, and on the nightstand was a tray of food and a bottle of water.

My stomach rumbled in response, and I dug into the mouth-watering plate of spaghetti and meatballs. If this was what a normal life felt like, then I couldn’t wait to explore all the possibilities that came with it.

I woke up in great spirits, donned my uniform, and got to work, not wanting to piss Mrs. Anderson off before we got the chance to be properly acquainted.

My list of duties spanned from overseeing the preparation of the prince’s meals and making sure he was kept up to date with the happenings around the place to ensuring his clothes and room were always pristine and in the best condition.