Chapter 3

Otsana

I was about to leave the meeting room when I suddenly heard shouts. The Alpha had collapsed. Everything about him was unusual, especially the way he stared at me. Could we have met before? I was sure I had never seen him in my life, yet he seemed strangely familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

I couldn’t deny that he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. His eyes seemed perfectly designed for his face, his height was godlike, and his voice was commanding. Everything about him was perfect, except he was a ruthless and notorious Alpha. The finest ones always have faults.

"Prepare the guest room for him and call the physician immediately!" Alpha Grayson commanded. The entire pack was in chaos, with everyone running around frantically. "What could have happened to the Alpha?" I thought to myself as I ran back to the meeting room to see if I could lend a helping hand.

When I arrived, Alpha Ralph was lying helplessly on the floor, surrounded by his guards who were shielding him from any potential attack. I didn't know what to do, but something drew me closer to him, as if he were calling out to me. As I bent down and reached out to touch him, one of his guards, who seemed to be his Beta, stopped me immediately.

"Don't!" he said, making me stop in my tracks. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked, his eyes wide open.

"I...I'm sorry," I stammered, before running off as if I were being pursued.

I accidentally bumped into my stepfather, who was rushing with the physician to tend to Alpha Ralph. "Watch it, you fool!" he yelled as I staggered, trying to keep from falling. Our eyes locked as he studied me.

"Why are you in such a hurry? What mischief have you been up to this time?" he demanded. I didn't know whether to reply or remain silent, knowing either option could lead to punishment. Before I could answer, he cut me off.

"Just get lost. Seeing you irritates me," he said, then hurried off with the physician following behind.

I stood there, tears of agony welling up in my eyes. "Maybe Alpha Ralph will be my saving grace from this endless torment," I thought as tears streamed down my face.

The following morning, I woke up abruptly from a vivid dream about Alpha Ralph. In the dream, I was holding his heart in my hands while he pleaded for its return. It felt as though I held the keys to his life. I woke up panting, sweat covering my body and face.

"Alpha Ralph still hadn't regained consciousness. What could have happened to him?' I heard voices outside my window. After yawning and stretching, I walked to the window to find out more.

Looking down, I saw the pack was busy with everyone attending to their duties—except me. I suddenly remembered that my stepfather had assigned me to work in the kitchen as one of the maids, before I leave with Alpha Ralph when he's well. "Oh no! Alpha Grayson will end my life," I thought in a panic.

I quickly dressed, brushed my teeth, and rushed downstairs. The zipper of my gown was stubborn, but I didn't have time to worry about it. All I could think about was getting to the kitchen as fast as possible.

As I entered the kitchen, I was suddenly drenched by a heavy splash of water. Shocked, I quickly wiped my face with my right hand, trying to discern who had done this to me so early in the morning. When I looked up, I saw my stepfather standing there. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them back.

"Princess Otsana," he said mockingly, prompting the other maids to laugh at me. "Do you think just because Alpha Ralph has taken a liking to you, you're exempt from your chores and duties in this pack? You must be foolish to think that."

"I'm sorry, Father," I managed to say between sobs. "It wasn't my intention to oversleep."

"The princess overslept!" he exclaimed to the other maids, provoking more laughter. It was heartbreaking, but I had no choice. My only hope lay with Alpha Ralph.

"Now get to work, you lazy peasant," he commanded as I hurried into the kitchen to tackle the mountain of dishes that awaited me.

"I need to be strong for you, Mom. I'm not going to cry," I whispered to myself, determined, as I tackled the mountain of dishes. "I'll be fine," I assured myself, though tears streamed down my face.

"Why is our princess crying?" one of the maids mocked, triggering laughter from the others. "Oh, poor Freddie! Who knows what he's up to in the woods now? Probably gone rogue," another maid sneered, glaring at me.

Freddie is my only friend in this pack. He's been imprisoned by my stepfather as punishment for standing up for me when I was brutally flogged for leaving the pack without permission.

"No, no! What did you say?" I approached her, desperate for clarification. "Go ask your stepfather. He's better suited to explain," they taunted, laughter echoing around me.

I stood there, stunned. Could it really be true? Had Father banished Freddie? The thought shattered my heart. Unable to hold back the tears any longer, I fled the kitchen, racing to confront my stepfather for answers. All I could think about was Freddie, my best friend, becoming a rogue. He didn't deserve this. I cried bitterly, wishing I had the power to change things. It felt agonizing to know there was nothing I could do.

As I walked through the hallway, a voice beckoned from one of the rooms, calling me to open the door and step inside. "No, not now. I need to find out where Freddie is," I muttered to myself, attempting to leave. But then, I heard my name being called softly, "Otsana... Otsana..."

The voice was faint and weak. I was puzzled—who could be calling me? In a pack where everyone seemed to despise me, this was unexpected.

Slowly, I approached the door. I hesitated, then cautiously pressed my ear against it, hoping to hear the voice again, thinking I might have imagined it the first time. "Please, save me," the voice pleaded once more.

Without hesitation, I pushed open the door, and what I saw inside startled me.