Chapter One

Lydia

"Lydia Evans," my mentor's familiar voice called out my name. I nervously looked up at her, hoping I wasn't about to get sent home like the three girls before me.

"Yes, ma'am," I responded, avoiding eye contact, just in case she had a disappointed look on her face.

"Come with me," she instructed, turning and walking back into the kitchen without explanation. Confused and nervous, I hurriedly followed behind her.

"What's the first rule of being a chef here?" she asked as soon as we were inside.

"Uhm... I'm not sure," I answered tentatively.

She gave me a sharp look. "You should know this. Think about it."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "Is it about preparing the best meal that suits the Alpha's taste?"

"That's one aspect of it, but there's something more important," she said.

I thought for a moment. "Is it discretion?" I asked. 

She threw me a displeased glare. "There are a thousand things you could have said, but you chose to answer that discretion is the most important thing about being a chef here. Why is that?" she asked.

"It was the first thing that came to mind," I admitted. "And from what I've heard, being discreet is key to surviving and keeping your job here," I added. 

"You're right about that," she said, nodding. "But it's not the most important thing. The most important thing is loyalty, Lydia. Your loyalty to the Alpha and your loyalty to the pack. Everything else comes second to this," she mentioned sternly. 

 "Betrayal is not an option, so I'd advise that no matter what, make sure you remain loyal to the Alpha. Is that understood?" she asked.

I nodded, taking in her words. "I understand, ma'am,"

She cleared her throat. "Oh well, your response wasn't satisfying, but regardless, congratulations. You've been chosen to replace me as the Alpha's new personal chef, which means you'll be in charge of deciding and preparing what the Alpha eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You need to know...,"

My heart skipped a beat at her words, and I struggled to process the rest of whatever she was saying cause I was still too stunned to speak.

"Lydia? Lydia!" she snapped, jolting me back to reality.

"Yes, ma'am?" I answered, feeling embarrassed for being so lost in thought.

"Were you even listening to anything I just said to you?" she asked.

"I apologize, ma'am," I said, feeling ashamed. "I was caught off guard by the news and I'm still trying to take it in," I replied, mentally screaming at the fact that I'd gotten my dream job. 

"You need to learn to pay attention, no matter how excited you are," she scolded and I quickly apologized. 

"Preparing the Alpha's meal is a delicate job, and if you make a mistake, you'll be replaced in an instant without a second chance," she warned.

 "I would advise you to get familiar with the rules and make sure not to break any because the consequences are quite dire, and you wouldn't want to test the Alpha's patience,"

I nodded, determined to do my best. "I understand."

"As for the Alpha, it's possible that you never get the chance to see him yourself or maybe it could happen sometime in the future. The only thing I can tell you is that he has a temper and doesn't like to be interrupted by outsiders," she continued.

 "So be very careful and make sure to do your job well."

"I will, ma'am," I promised, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety. 

I had no idea how strict the alpha was, but I have heard from quite a few people that he wasn't a friendly person. I'm going to assume he's very strict seeing as I'm not even allowed to meet him face-to-face when I deliver his meal.

"I assure you that I won't break any rules, and I'll do my very best to stay out of trouble," I said, hoping I could keep my word.

"You've probably been told before where and where not to go, but if you don't remember, feel free to ask any of the senior staff for directions. If you make the mistake of trespassing, the Alpha will punish you severely," she added, and I couldn't help but wonder what I was even allowed to do at this point. 

I came here because being a chef has always been my dream, and being the Alpha's personal chef was the best job I could get as a chef. However, the rules were very complicated and tiring, and I was starting to wonder if I could do anything other than cooking.

"I understand everything you just said perfectly, and I'll make sure to follow your warnings," I reassured Martha, hoping she would let me go so I could explore the place.

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do, but I'll have one of the staff show you to your room. Let me know if you need anything," she said, and without saying anything else, she left the kitchen, leaving me alone.

As soon as she was out of sight, I let out the excited scream I'd been holding back for the last five minutes.

Being chosen as the best chef among so many applicants made me feel proud, and I couldn't wait to prepare the best meals for the Alpha and become well-known.

I'm not looking for fame, but I enjoy being recognized for my hard work, and wanting a little bit of praise and recognition doesn't seem too greedy to me.

As I stood waiting for the servant to arrive and lead me to my room, I couldn't help but feel restless. The minutes ticked by, and yet there was still no sign of the servant or anyone at all that I could ask for directions. As my impatience grew, I made the impulsive decision to take matters into my own hands and explore the place myself. 

There was no harm in taking a stroll, right? I thought to myself, trying to assure myself that I wasn't going to get into any trouble. 

Recalling the places we were warned not to venture into, I carefully navigated my way around the corridors, trying my best to avoid the Alpha's personal area as best as I could, even though I couldn't be sure where was his area and where wasn't. A voice in the back of my head warned me that this was a bad idea, but I brushed it off. After all, what could go wrong on my first day here?

My mind was racing with excitement as I walked down the hallway, taking in the beauty of my new surroundings. I couldn't help but wonder what the other rooms in the house looked like, and I felt a sudden urge to explore further.

Despite my better judgment, I continued walking, my mind lost in a world of its own. I didn't realize just how far I had gone until I had already passed several doors. It was then that I realized I might be trespassing in an area I wasn't supposed to be in. I hesitated for a moment, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I kept walking, almost as if I had been possessed by some rebellious spirit.

As I wandered deeper into the forbidden territory, I couldn't help but reflect on my tendency to overdo things and get myself into trouble. It had always been a part of who I was, and I didn't plan on changing anytime soon, even though I knew it could end up being my Achilles heel.

Suddenly, my phone beeped, jolting me out of my thoughts. I quickly fished it out of my back pocket and saw that it was a text from my best friend, Zia. She was asking how the selection process had gone.

I was so absorbed in typing out a message to my best friend that I failed to notice the approaching figure until I collided head-on with a solid, rock-like body. The sudden impact jolted me back to reality, and as my eyes met with the steely gaze of the person standing in front of me, I felt a jolt of recognition that I couldn't quite place.

"Mate," I exclaimed involuntarily, my heart racing with excitement. But the man's expression quickly soured, and the warm feeling in my chest began to cool. It was clear that he didn't share my enthusiasm.

We stood there, staring at each other in silence. The tension between us was palpable, and I could see the anger and frustration simmering just beneath the surface of his expression. I had the sudden urge to turn and run, but something inside me held me in place and I mentally cursed whatever it was cause the man in front of me looked like he was going to strangle me.

As he took a step closer to me, I took a step back, remembering the warning about avoiding the Alpha at all costs. But my own clumsiness got the best of me, and before I knew it, I stumbled and fell backward onto the hard floor. In the split second, before I hit the ground, I felt his strong grip on my arm, stopping my fall. But just as quickly, he released me, causing me to fall ungracefully onto my backside.

I was about to protest, to demand an explanation for his rude behavior, but the sight of the amused smirk on his lips left me speechless and I just sat there, stunned, while trying to make sense of the conflicting emotions swirling inside me.