CHAPTER 3

They arrived at the Lycanfrost pack at midnight. Elena was half asleep and was roused awake by the car screeching to a stop. 

"We have arrived." One of the men announced.

They stepped out of the car, one of them holding the door open. Elena stared at the pack house out of the car window. It was huge. It looked like a medieval castle back draped against the starry night. The half moon gave light and made the castle look haunting. Some of the windows had light, further adding to the haunted look.

She stepped out of the car and followed them quietly like a lamb to the slaughter. They walked up the front doors and into the house. They walked through the halls, it was mostly quiet. They got to a door and paused. One of the three men opened the door to reveal a sort of servants quarters. 

"You'll sleep here for the time being." One f the men said. "You will wake up by four am every morning and assemble. From there on you'll be told what to do."

Elena nodded. "Thank you."

She walked in and the door closed behind her. The room was dark but she could make her way across to an empty bed. The room was chilly but not enough to make her severely uncomfortable. She dropped her backpack on the foot of the bed, somewhere in the room she heard someone turn and sigh. She laid on the bed staring at the dark ceiling. 

She could hear her heart beating loudly in her ears. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't calm down. It was too calm, too calm for he liking. She could hear her internal clock ticking and ticking. She guessed the reason she'd been unable to fall asleep was because of the sleep she got on the ride. She didn't know how long she slept for, but it felt like hours to her.

She turned over in the bed and sighed. Truth be told, it was softer than her bed in the attic back home. And it smelled better. Back at the attic everything was damn and dark. And then there were the bugs. She silently prayed this place didn't have bugs too.

Slowly, she began to feel sleepy. She cuddled her pillow and allowed the sleep to come.

***

She woke up to the sound of clamoring and people shouting. Elena quickly jumped out of bed, confused as to what was happening.

"What is going on?" She asked the nearest person. 

The girl she'd asked paused and looked at her. "You're new right?"

Elena nodded. 

"Alpha Marcus is visiting the servants quarters in ten minutes! Hurry and make yourself presentable!"

Elena gasped. "What?!"

The girl grabbed her hand and literally dragged her to the small bathroom attached to the room and threw water hastily on her face.

"Hurry!" She said, fear seeping into her voice. 

Elena frantically washed her face and tried to smoothen her hair into a neat ponytail. The girl grabbed her hand and they rushed back into the room and joined the already formed line barely seconds before the door swung open and a man walked in.

Elena felt her breath escape her. She thought Elijah was intimidating and huge, but apparently there were men more intimidating than him.

Marcus was first off, very tall. He stood easily two heads taller than everyone in the room. His hair was long, tied into a ponytail that brushed the waist band of his pants. He had broad shoulders and a strong chin. His eyes were darker than ink more about feeling than their color, framed by long thick lashes. He was dressed in a white button up shirt that he'd rolled up to reveal powerful arms decorated with tattoos. Elena felt a pinch on her side and turned. She realized that everyone had their heads bowed. 

"Good morning alpha Marcus" They greeted in unison. She bit her lip.

There was silence, broken by the occasional sharp intake of breath as the sound of Marcus' footsteps tracked back and forth the line.

"You," He spoke, his voice was deep and perfectly matched his looks. Dark and full of authority.

"Y-yes, Alpha,"

"You're fired. Get out of my sight."

The girl who'd just been fired started to cry. Elena heard shuffling and things falling. But she didn't dare raise her head up. Her breaths stopped in her chest when she heard Marcus' footsteps pause right in front of her. 

"You're the new girl."

"Yes, I am."

"Wrong answer." 

She gasped as suddenly she was lifted up her feet by her ponytail. Her hand flew up and she grabbed Marcus' hand, trying to pull him off her. She was brought face to face with him

"Next time, if I do not give you permission to speak, keep your little mouth shut, okay?" He said as calm as stagnant water. 

Elena nodded. She saw him smile, those dark eyes light up with sadistic intent.

"Good girl. You learn fast." He dropped her like she weighed nothing. Elena didn't like how his praise settled in her belly. She quickly composed herself and got back in line. Her scalp burned and she was sure she'd lost some of her hair.

She was beginning to doubt that this would actually be freedom.

The inspection took four more minutes and then Marcus turned to leave. 

"New girl, you're coming with me." He said. "Be outside in not more than two minutes."

Elena nodded, not saying anything. As soon as he left the room, there was a collective exhale. 

"Oh my gosh, you have tough luck." Elena heard someone say. She turned to see the girl that had helped her get ready. The girl was holding her backpack.

"Thank you," Elena said as she collected her backpack. "What do you mean by I have tough luck?"

The girl sighed. "Alpha Marcus has chosen you to be his personal servant. The previous girl he chose lasted a week and killed herself."

Elena blinked. "What?"

"My name is Nina. I wish you luck."

"I'm Elena. Thank you Nina."

She turned and left. Outside Marcus was waiting. He didn't even glance at her as he said

"Follow me."

Elena obeyed and did as she was told. She couldn't get Nina's words out of her head. What kind of work would make someone commit suicide after one week? If the story did turn out to be true them she was done. Elijah wasn't even that bad, at least she hadn't once contemplated suicide.

"You'll be attending to my every need." Marcus spoke suddenly. "Your room will be next to mine, whenever I call for you you just answer within thirty seconds. Failure to do so will result in severe punishment."

Elena opened her mouth to speak then remembered he hasn't given her permission.

"What is your favorite feature about yourself?" He asked. "You may speak."

"My lips."

"If you push me, you'd find yourself lipless for the rest of your life."

Elena glared at his broad back. 

He paused in front of a door. "This is my room." He turned to the door across. "And this is your room."

Elena glanced at the two doors and nodded.

He opened the door to his room and pushed her in. It was messy, but nothing she hadn't seen. "You're to make this place as neat as it should be. I believe I don't need to tell you what happens if you fail?"

Elena wanted to run. Marcus trained his eyes on her, cold, unblinking eyes. She nodded meekly. 

"Mealtime for servants are 12pm and 6pm, if I so desire it, I may invite you to eat with me. If you finish your duties on time you may retire early for the night."

Elena nodded. Maybe this place wasn't so bad after all.

Ha! The irony.