CHAPTER 5

(RHEA'S POV)

"Alpha, did you request a cleanup?" I asked, trying to sound as professional as ever after knocking on the door.

There was a moment of silence, tension mounting as I awaited a response. Finally, the permission came.

"Come in."

Oh, thank the Goddess!

I almost backed out the moment scent of thick recent intimacy blowing my face the moment I opened Atlas' room. I braced myself against its potency, steeling my resolve to remain composed.

Entering Atlas' room, I kept my gaze low, hiding the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm me. I wheeled in the cleaning cart I had "borrowed" from a fellow servant. As I ran away from the swimming pool area, I switched jobs with him with a promise of a dessert from the banquet in return.

Was I allowed to keep any leftovers from the banquet? Well, not really. But that would be a problem for another time!

"Clean everything," Atlas's commanded, snapping me out of my dazed state.

With calculated movement, I began taking a trash-bag and collected small empty boxes, ripped plastic sachet, and used condoms scattered across the room.

Atlas slipped on his shirt with practiced ease. From my periphery, I could see Atlas tenderly took the woman's hand.

My heart twisted at the sight.

"Atlas, who is she?" Her voice, dripping with displeasure. I could feel her gaze flickering in my direction.

Caught in the crossfire of their exchange, I stood frozen, trash bag clenched tightly in my grasp. It was rare for someone of her status to acknowledge me—a mere omega maid.

I had bigger concerns than her disdainful gaze, though. As exhaustion clawed at my bones and hunger gnawed at my stomach, I couldn't afford to dwell on the intricacies of Atlas's relationships. Not when my own survival hung in the balance.

But, still, there's a part of me that was significantly bothered by that woman. Did Atlas allow all his sex partner to address him so casually?

The question lingered like a persistent itch, but I forcefully pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. I couldn't risk getting caught up in the complexities of Atlas's affairs—not now especially.

 After escaping Lucien's grasp, the last thing I needed was to invite new troubles this soon.

In that moment, Atlas pulled Hera into a side embrace, casually introducing me as if I were nothing more than a passing shadow. "Ah, she's just a lowly Omega maid. Are you jealous, Hera? Didn't realize you're the territorial type," he teased.

Hera responded with a playful retort, her voice tinged with amusement. "Aw, shush, Atlas," she replied, brushing off his comment with a flick of her wrist.

But as I stole a quick glance at Hera, I couldn't help but notice the faint flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks—oh, well, I hadn't expected that.

"Shall we go to the cellar? I'll show you my wine collection I mentioned earlier," Atlas suggested, his voice brimming with amusement as he gently guided Hera out of the room, leaving me behind with a sharp command. "Make this place spotless, Omega," he instructed sternly.

With a respectful bow towards their retreating figures, I found myself moving almost mechanically as I carefully gripping on the cart, just enough to support me in my momentary break.

Releasing a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, conflicting thoughts swirled in my mind like a tempest. I cursed myself for impulsively taking on the duties of another servant just to remain close to Atlas. And yet, Now that he was gone, the room seemed to hold a faint sense of security, cocooned in Atlas's lingering scent.

Perhaps, I could use his scent and protect myself from potential trouble from outside the main manor! That was better than nothing!

And so, with determination, I resolved to reinforce the masking of my own scent by meticulously cleaning every corner of the room.

--

Glancing at the desk clock on Atlas' work table, I noted with satisfaction that I had finished my cleaning in just 15 minutes. Despite the evidence of recent sexual activities strewn throughout the room earlier, it wasn't the worst mess I'd seen after one of Atlas's escapades. Surprisingly, I'd managed to restore order in record time, given the tense circumstances.

I got out, pushing the cleaning cart along. I leaned against the closed door, now noticing the discomfort that lingered in my lower body, in between my legs. I got acutely aware of my own arousal.

‘Hey, Starlight…’ I asked my wolf out of confusion, ‘why do I feel... moist down there whenever I think about him during cleaning?’

‘You're literally moving around in his scent for a while. It's unsurprising,’ Starlight replied matter-of-factly. ‘You do remember that the awakening of the wolf often starts around the age of sixteen, don’t you?’

I nodded, though my understanding felt a bit uncertain. 'Yeah, apparently I got it a bit late...' I reflected on my delayed initiation into the complexities of my wolf nature.

Inside my mind, Starlight shook her head in response. 'Not precisely, I specified it's around sixteen. Your awakening occurred at eighteen. It's nearing the juncture where wolves of our kind manifest symptoms of their first heat.'

"I see..." I muttered, absorbing the information. Despite all my time living in a vulnerable situation, I had been preparing myself for the eventual onset of my first heat.

Wait...

A wave of devastation filled my chest. "Are you saying I’m about to get my first heat?" I asked, dread creeping into my voice. The next moment, I closed my own mouth. Me and my big mouth, I hope nobody heard that!

I could see Starlight raising an eyebrow in my mind. ‘Indeed, I did mention that. But it's unnecessary to broadcast such matters to the world, Child. Your surroundings are far from safe,’ she cautioned, her voice carrying a blend of gravity and care.

Feeling overwhelmed, I let out a small whine, pushing aside the care my overly serious wolf companion had shown me.

‘Starlight, I still have to prepare the meals for tomorrow's banquet! I can’t... I can’t work feeling all feverish and... and clammy like this!’ My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I admitted to my own arousal.

Starlight's tone softened, her eyes reflecting genuine concern as she offered a potential solution. 'There exists a remedy within this era. However, it's at a considerable cost, I’m not sure we can afford. Are suppressant pills not excessively priced?' she suggested.

Another whine escaped me as I felt the weight of the financial burden settle heavily on my shoulders. “It's almost half of my monthly salary…” I lamented.

As Starlight fell silent, I resigned myself to the discomfort of working while feeling sticky, knowing I would have to endure it as I walked back and forth in the kitchen later.

Then, a glimmer of hope emerged as Starlight spoke again. ‘There exists an alternative, Child,’ she offered, prompting me to perk up with anticipation. But my excitement quickly turned to horror as Starlight elaborated, 'Engaging in intercourse with your mate would mitigate the excessive stimulation in your nether regions.'

I froze in my tracks, my jaw dropping slightly in shock.

"I have to do what?!"