The sad reality...

Astrid's POV

“Astrid! Come here.” I bolted out of my nap when I heard Alpha Jonathan shout for me. His tone indicated an angry mood, likely one without cause, as was common. I wiped the sweat off my face and hated the memory so much but it always came crashing at me every night as a nightmare.

I grabbed my face mask before running out into the long, dark corridor. I could forget to eat or shower, but existing without my face covered was a sin and crime which could earn me a hundred whips by the princess. My back still hurt from the last lesson she taught me for not cleaning her closet properly, and the pain of the bruises taunted me daily.

Being a timid omega, the weakest in the pack, I was lucky the royal members still kept me around as their personal slave. Since birth, I was a worthless servant who couldn’t even fulfill duties without creating a mess.

The Alpha’s chamber gave off eerie vibes and Malessia, the wolf inside me, was on edge too, though she rarely intervened in my life. It was futile, as I didn’t have the strength or determination to fight the royals.

I felt a heavy weight in my chest, a tightness in the throat, or a kind of lump in the stomach. Tears came unexpectedly, and I felt a strong urge to cry but be unable to. I felt hopelessness, despair, and loneliness. I also felt anxiety and agitation, a racing heart, and a sense of panic. The Sadness due to fear was overwhelming and paralysing. It made me feel isolated, lost, and alone.

Being a slave was a destiny passed down to me by my parents, who had been loyal servants to the Alpha and his family. Even on his deathbed, my father didn’t accept that it was his working conditions, and the Alpha’s lack of caution about them, were causing his death. As the Alpha’s personal butler, he was never safe from physical violence, just as I wasn’t now.

I walked with my head low and my eyes fixed on the floor. A tattered gown hugged my thin frame, and a few strands of hair covered the side of my face. The hair gave me a slight sense of comfort as I stood before the angry Alpha, with his bloodshot eyes and boozy breath.

I tried to get a glimpse of him from under my thick eyelashes. His eyes landed on me, his expression filled with disgust. He shook the glass of wine he held and, with heavy steps, made his way toward me.

“You asked for me, Alpha?” My voice came out as a weak whisper, knowing and hating that he could smell my fear. His eyes sparkled from the pleasure of watching me shake under his gaze.

He raised his fist, and my face was thrown sideways a second later. The hot, sharp pain engulfed my cheek like a hundred bees had stung me. Instinctively, I covered it with my palm.

He threw his wineglass, shattering it. I retreated, cowering, but he grabbed my arm angrily. “Astrid, you stupid slave! Why weren’t the guests served twice?” he shouted, the muscles in his jaw clenching.

I knew he would ask about the previous night’s party. They had tasked me with taking care of the arrangements and serving the guests. But Princess Amaira had verbally abused me for being there and had told me to sleep in the basement.

Terror caught my jaw in a frozen state.

“Why is your mouth sealed? Do you know how insulting that was?” His grip on my arm tightened.

“Alpha, I beg your forgiveness,” I said. “The princess instructed me not to remain there.”

He shook his head and let out a growl. “Slaves like you are a liability to the pack. I should end your pathetic life right now!”

I didn’t flinch at his words. Instead of scaring me, the thought of Alpha Jonathan ending my life gave me a sense of calm.

“Get away from him, Astrid. Fight for your life,” Mellasia spoke to me in my mind after nearly ten days of silence. I could feel her discomfort in witnessing the violent meeting.

Alpha Jonathan looked into my eyes, waiting for any rebellion. He wasn’t aware that, with my father dead and my mother as his personal maid, I had no reason to fight off the royal.

“Alpha,” Beta Carlos called, not giving me a single glance, “the members of the board are waiting for you.”

Both men stared at me for a few seconds before Alpha decided that attending the meeting was more important than punishing me. “You got lucky today. Get out of my face now!”

That was enough for me to run back the same way I had come.

It was already time for me to do the laundry and dishes, two of my many chores.

Others included making breakfast and dinner for hundreds of pack members, cleaning after them, restocking the pantries of the ranked members’ apartments on the third and fourth floors, and sweeping without leaving a single trace of dust. With so many daily tasks, I had no time for myself. Even talking to Mom seemed a luxury we both couldn’t afford.

I hummed a rhyme while sweeping the kitchen floor. My mom came rushing in with a tray of food, looking paler and weaker than the previous night. Her smile wavered as she caught sight of me in the corner. She narrowed her wrinkled eyes to have a closer look at the bruise on my cheek. We gazed at one another and exchanged a mutual sense of remorse.

I hated it when she was overworked by the cruel royal members. But we couldn’t do anything about it.

“Be more careful, Astrid. Don’t provoke anyone,” she said before refilling the tray with food.

I aimlessly continued my work, imagining a place where I had a better life. Though it seemed a distant dream, I believed Goddess Luna must have something useful planned for me.

The dreadful day finally ended, and a small yawn escaped my lips.

"Time to go to our sweet home," Mellasia said sarcastically in her irritated voice. I understood her frustration. The place was a living hell. After my father died, the royal members kicked us out of the small chamber we were given. Most pack members didn’t even know about the small cabin with no windows, but the bleak place was a reality my mom and I had to face daily.

I hoped they wouldn’t ask her to work overnight. I wanted to hug someone, to show love.

"That will be our mate,” Mellasia said.

I shook my head at her fantasies. Nobody in the pack even gave me a second look. I was invisible to the men. Mate bond? For me? Impossible. Slaves like me only had masters, not life partners.

I landed on the torn mattress with a thud, and sharp pain from my bruises and aching bones shot across my body. A tear ran down my face. I wiped it away quickly.

I closed my eyes to get some sleep but the sound of footsteps made me clutch the covers tightly. Although the door was locked but I was never safe from him. What if he had had enough of being patient with me and he rapes me tonight?

"Astrid... Baby girl... " Gamma Patrick said in a husky voice as if he was almost ready to break the door.

I decided to keep my mouth shut and prayed to Moon goddess that he goes away but he never left me alone especially at nights.

"Baby... Open the door. I just want to see you. I promise I won't do anything to you." Gamma Patrick pleaded me. His desperation scared me further. I trembled like a leaf as he banged on the door.

"Once I get all the rights on you, I will make sure you never close a door on me. " Gamma Patrick said with a loud bang on the door and left me alone for tonight.

I cried out loudly and covered my mouth to not make any noise. I just wanted this pathetic life to end. No one would be able to save me from Gamma Patrick if he gets all right on me.

"Don’t worry Astrid. He will come. We are his and only his," Mel whispered in my head before sleep took over out of exhaustion.