Chapter 1

FREYA.

 

The cold splash of liquid on my skin jolted me up from sleep, pushing me to wake up immediately. My eyes were met with the head maiden's furious glare. Tightening her fists to the empty bucket, she yelled at me. “What the hell are you doing lazing around? Get the hell up, you lowly maid!”

 

Immediately, I stood up; my wet body shivered coldly. Forcing myself, I got up, hugging my body with my hands. Sometimes, I wondered why I had not become immune to the maltreatment by now. It was a regular thing for me, just because I was an orphan. Years ago, the Alpha had been kind enough to take me in since my parents had died. However, them taking me in didn’t mean I got to be treated special; in fact, I was treated way worse than the maids here. I was a slave.

 

I grudgingly stood up with my wet clothes as I got out of bed to look for a dried cloth, but all were the ripped dried ones. My clothes were torn. No matter how hard I worked in the park house, I wasn’t given an allowance to take care of myself. The clothes I had were given to me by past maids who felt pity for me. The only thing I never lacked was a roof over my head if one wanted to consider it a roof. It was a small shelter with a leaking roof that was attached to the pack house. On rainy days, it was hell, but thankfully, it wasn’t time for that.

 

I forced my feet to walk as I tried to make myself hurry with the chores I had to do. The earlier I was done with them, the better. It wasn’t the chores I hated the most; it was the two pompous Alpha twin brothers. I despised them with everything in me, as they only added to my misery. Ever since we were kids, the Twins had made it a point of duty to frustrate me. They would break dishes and make me sweep them, dirty the park house with mud, and I’d have to clean the whole house again from scratch. They were demons and 

I couldn’t wait to turn 18 and get my wolf. Surely, I would be able to defend myself or, better still, run away.

 

“Oh Moon goddess. What is this? You stink like a rat!”. A loud whiny voice came as I walked to clean the dining room before it would be breakfast time.

 

I rolled my eyes inwardly as I knew that voice too well. It was Lydia’s. One of the twins' fiancé and next to her stood her best friend, who was also engaged to the other twin. 

 

“People like you shouldn’t be allowed to work here. You shouldn’t even exist!”. Her best friend sneered at me.

 

“Funny how you think you could ever get Nicklaus and Nicholas's attention, you whore. Do you think they’d ever go as low as looking your way?”. Lydia asked, stepping closer to me.

 

I wasn’t scared of her and her minion, but the past had taught me never to challenge someone who had more status than me. Lydia was going to be married to one of the twins, and the last thing I needed was to get into a fight with her.

 

“I swear I haven’t done anything. I would never think of seducing Alpha Nicklaus or Nicholas." I said, bowing my head to her as I felt a smack across my cheek.

 

“How dare you call me a liar?!” Lydia screamed out, slapping me across the cheek again, and this time she had purposely used her claws, which bruised my face.

 

I held my face with my hands as the blood dripped on my hands.

 

“I’m really sorry, my lady." I managed to say with my head bowed as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

 

“Now what in the universe is happening here?”. Alpha Nicholas said from atop the staircase as his brother joined him.

 

“Oh, baby. It’s just this slave. Why do we have to keep her here? She should be in the gutters or, better still, with the rogues." Lydia said, flinging herself on Nicholas.

 

“Trust me, Lydia, there’s nothing more I’d want to do for my brother’s wife than to have her head served on a platter for you. But a queen like you deserves something more. I doubt even the rogues would accept her. Can’t you see how dirty and wet she is like a rat?” Nicklaus said, laughing at me as they all joined in mocking me.

 

Suddenly, I felt really small and low as the tears flowed freely. I still couldn’t understand why they all hated me so much when all I did was mind my business.

 

“Get lost now, and when you’re done, report to us!”. Nicklaus' voice boomed in order as Nicholas pushed me to the ground.

 

“Yes, Alpha”. I said sniffing as I got up to leave but tripped on my wet clothes, which made all of them laugh at me.

 

Somehow today was worse than I actually thought, as I did even chores I normally wouldn’t do, like going to the barn to wash the horses and also feeding the animals. I was sent to also clean up the basements, and by the time I returned, the pack house had been turned upside down, which meant another round of cleaning. I had barely eaten by the time it was almost 11 pm. I dragged my feet to the kitchen to clear the dishes for the seventh time that day and thankfully met a slice of cake. I hurriedly put it in my mouth and drank water.

 

After washing, I was beyond exhausted and decided to retire to my shelter. By midnight I would turn 18 and get my wolf. I prayed to the moon goddess that I would find my mate, and he would take me away from here as I let sleep take me. A loud bang jolted me up from my sleep as I sprang up to be met with two angry Alphas. Oh shit! I had totally forgotten about reporting to them.

 

“You were ordered to report to us that you are having a nice nap. Hmm?”. Alpha Nicholas said angrily, glaring at me.

 

“You’ll wish you were never born by the time we’re both done with you. You defied our orders. Your Alpha orders!”. Nicklaus screamed out, which made me flinch as I held my dirty clothes close to my body.

 

“Be rest assured, I’ll make sure your punishment is creative, and it will serve as a lesson to others who refuse to obey their Alphas." He continued smiling dangerously at me, but his smile was wiped off his face as he began to sniff everywhere.

 

“Brother, do you smell that?”. Alpha Nicklaus asked his brother to join him as their gazes both landed on me.

 

“Mate”. The both Alpha’s said in unison as they stared at me in shock.