CHAPTER 2

It has been two weeks since I began my duties and so far I've managed to avoid trouble. To be honest, the way the north was described was far from how it was. Through there were a few that spiteful towards us but we were treated as paid slaves. Today I was to clean the library in the south wing. The alphas wing. The matron said the king was not around this morning but if he came back while I was still up there, I was to make myself invisible until he left. 

   I pulled my trolley up with me to the south wing. The place was quiet because no other person lived on this side of the palace. I unlocked the library doors and pulled the trolley inside. The library was so fucking large. Some of the shelves were so high a ladder was required to reach them. I decided to take one key out of the bunch of library keys. I could spend my free time here since it was rarely used. I began to clean and arrange the books that were lying about. After four hours I was done, I left the library to return my cleaning supplies and the key to the library. I went to the lunch hall were the other slaves had gathered for the midday meal. I had made few friends including an older maid Althea who had taken me under her wing. We shared the same bunk and I sat bedide her as the meals were distributed. Our table consisted of girls from the same room as I and Althea. A few were older girls but majority of us were the new girls.

    My duties end at lunch each day and I spend the rest of the day in my bunk hiding away from the rest of the palace. Today the hallways were quiet. The yellow sash slaves were preparing lunch for the prime alpha. 

    I opened the door of the library and slipped in. I quickly locked the door and ran to the shelve at the far end of the room that held romance books. I picked one and looked for where to sit. The only chair here was the alphas and I couldn't risk sitting there. There was an open space behind a shelf with a single couch and a table. A cabinet holding what I presumed to be liquor stood at one end and a window. I peeped through the window and saw three men discussing. As a half-breed I couldn't hear what they were saying but they looked like they were in deep discussion. One of the men looked up at the window I was standing out and I moved away immediately. I quickly ran out of the library and back to my bunk.

***************************************************

    It has been four days since the incident at the library. Nobody mentioned anything about a girl in the library and so I continued to go there everyday for the last three days and I made a mental note to avoid the window. I lay on the couch with a new book in my hands. I've lost count of the number of books I've read so far but I made sure to keep them back exactly as I had seen them. Fear gripped me at the sound of the doors opening. I stood up quickly and went to a corner to hide. From the voices I knew they were men and one seemed to be extremely pissed. 

"Don't fucking tell me that. I gave you a fucking instruction and you disobeyed" man one yelled

"I'm sorry man. I was a bit occupied with Nala. You know how this things are" man two said. A loud powerful growl was heard. 

"I'm sorry alpha" oh my fucking goddess. The alpha. I swear my blood pressure fucking skyrocketed.

"Sort your shit out as soon as possible. I don't need a distracted second in command"

"I will alpha" the sound of the door opening and closing with a loud bang almost had me sighing in relief. The faint sound of shuffling papers and a loud clang still had me rooted at my spot. Somebody was still in here. 

"Come out half breed" oh my goddess. Did he mean me? Was there someone else here? 

"NOW" my feet began to move even before I could register the command. I walked out and saw the man from four days ago. He was among the men discussing below the window. The one who looked up. 

"Eavesdropping are we?"

"No sir"

"You should really be careful. I saw you the other day you know?." My eyes widened. He had seen me. But why didn't he say a word.

"Others won't ignore you or be forgiving as I am. Especially the king. He would execute you if he found out you spent time here" he held his hand out. "The key" I placed it on his palm. He nodded towards the door. I bowed slightly and left. Once I was in the corridor I ran as fast as my legs could carry me and didn't stop until I was in the slave quarters.

 I was panting as I entered my room. A few of the girls sat talking but as soon as I entered their eyes turned to me. 

"Why are you panting like you just ran a marathon" Fiona asked. I had learnt their names but we really didn't talk much.

"Nothing. Just thought I should run a bit" they returned back to their conversation as I sat on my bed. Althea wasn't back from her duties yet. I was thankful that I wasn't punished and on the other hand, vexed that I couldn't use the library anymore. I'll have to wait until I was assigned to the library next time but I don't think that'll be happening anytime soon.

I heaved a sigh of relief and collapsed on my bed. Whoever that was, he was powerful and I didn't want to disobey. I was going to avoid punishment and preserve my life by staying away from the library.