Rosalind's POV
"Your paycheck huh?" Ronny said to my breasts. I fought the urge to slap him across the face.
I didn't hate people. I might have been raised on the streets but I always kept an optimistic perspective. It was one thing they couldn't take from me.
But I hated Ronny. His sour breath, wandering fingers and most of all the derogatory way he treated all the women who worked for him like they were nothing but slabs of meat to be pawed at and treated as he pleased.
And that was before what happened.
"Yes, the paycheck that was due a week ago."
Ronny's eyes finally left my breasts to look me in the eye.
"No need to sound so stuck up, Rossy. Come into my shop let me find something for you."
He smacked his lips vulgarly and entered his shop.
That 'something' had better be my full paycheck or so help me Goddess, I would not be responsible for my actions.
Think of Bast. Think of Bast.
I followed him into the shop and let the door slam behind me even though it was the last thing I wanted. Bast needed this paycheck. I needed it.
Everyone knew Ronny here in the Northern District. Although infamous for his unscrupulous acts, he paid well especially if you were young and female. He was the harmless pervert that leered and talked dirty but didn't actually do anything.
Or so I thought.
"I hear the kid is coming down with something. That's why you've been taking on more jobs, eh?" Ronny's voice came from deep within the shop.
I paused.
"Yes."
"Found it."
Ronny came out to the foyer of his cavernous store, his big belly jiggling with every step. He held a pouch that sounded like it held far more bronze than I was owed.
"I was thinking we could come to some sort of agreement." He licked his sweaty upper lip.
I suddenly became conscious of the fact that I was alone in the shop of a wolf that was leagues stronger than the omega I was.
"What sort of agreement?" I took a cautious imperceptible step backwards.
He adjusted his crotch. Literally reached down and adjusted his crotch. I felt sick.
"One of a personal nature. You are a pretty stunning thing. A little bit on the skinny side but nothing I can't manage. You rub my back and I'll give you the money for the kid's treatment."
He was moving closer now, faster than I was able to back away. Caging me in.
"If you keep me happy, then you won't even need all those small jobs. I take care of my own."
"I… Thank you for the offer, Ronny. Let me think about it. I'll collect my pay now."
His black beady eyes narrowed.
"You think I'm stupid? This is not up for discussion. Did you think I have been giving you jobs all this time from the goodness of my heart? You had no problem collecting my money, did you think you would tease me forever?"
I was shocked by his words.
"What do you mean? I have worked hard every pay. Tease you? I have never–"
"Enough of all this talk."
He backhanded me across my face. I stumbled and he took advantage of my loss of balance. He yanked at the top of my dress, ripping it open so that my breasts were exposed to his hungry gaze.
I screamed trying to push him away. He barely budged pushing me onto his work table scattering some bales of expensive silk.
Despite my struggles and pleas, I felt him reach for my skirts, hiking them up.
He was going to rape me for a few bronzes. I wouldn't let my dignity be compromised like this and not to someone as despicable as Ronny.
I caught sight of gleaming silver in the bed of that silk. A scissors. A silver scissor. I relaxed my body like I had given up on fighting him back.
"Good girl. Just like that. Let Ronny take care of you."
I heard him work in the zippers of his pants, his belly pressing against me from behind.
I grasped the scissors and in one movement sliced open his cheek with the blade as I turned. He screamed cupping his bloody cheek.
"You bitch!"
I moved to grab the pouch of bronze to take my pay. It was my hard-earned money. Money earned doing menial jobs most people would balk at doing just to pay for Bast's drugs and our food.
Struggling day and night just for Ronny to pull this stunt.
His hand caught mine and he squeezed so hard that I heard my bones grind together and bit back a scream of pain.
"Let me go!" I demanded.
"You think you are too good for me right? A worthless omega like you?" Ronnie looked somehow even more menacing with the weeping line of red on his face. He grabbed my low ponytail tight. "After I'm done humiliating you, you will beg me to take you as a lover."
Omegas are the weakest of the weakest wolves. That's why I couldn't even fight back as he dragged me out of his shop. I clutched at my torn dress trying to keep myself decent.
He dragged me to the centre of the district's bazaar drawing a crowd of curious people. They murmured and looked between us as though trying to discern what was going on. Too late, I realized what he was planning on doing. Oh no.
He tossed me to the ground and I landed on my side.
"This whore stole from me! What is this world turning to now that a mere omega can rob her betters in the guise of trading sexual favors?!" Ronny shouted, his countenance dark.
If he made it known that I traded sexual favors and stole, no one in the Northern District bazaar would ever contract me for a job fearing that I had sticky fingers. Those that did would expect me to have sex with them first.
I would be out of jobs and a house to stay in.
The people were already pointing fingers and murmuring.
"Whore."
"I always knew she looked sketchy."
"I wonder how much she charges for a round."
"Nothing good can come of allowing omegas to mix with normal wolves."
"He lies!" I sat up quickly ignoring the pains in my body. "I didn't–"
My voice was cut off by Ronny who choked me, his thick fingers wrapped around my neck.
"Shut up! Tell me where my bronze is or I shall strip you naked and turn you over to the officials." His eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction.
He would do it anyway as payback for my fighting against his advances. He would kill me here with this crowd watching on dispassionately. I slapped against his arms, struggling against his grip as my vision swam.
Then suddenly he was gone and I could breathe again. I saw an outstretched hand, I took it and he pulled me up.
I looked up at my saviour. My heart stopped in my chest and the world slowed down and fell away leaving only both of us.
My saviour had dark hair that fell over his eyes and hazel eyes that looked like molten gold. His jawline was so chiselled and beautiful with the rest of his features that his looks defied logic. His aura was effortlessly dominant so much so that it was difficult to look him in the eye.
Yet I couldn't look away. I was unable to. He had bewitched me with a touch and a glance. He still held my hand but his other hand drifted to cup my cheek and the jolt from that touch went straight to my core.
"Are you alright?" His voice was soothing. It felt like coming home.
I nodded senselessly. He was here. Of course, I was alright. I was great. He took off his jacket. The colour and the insignia on the jacket practically screamed at me. There was something I was forgetting. Something important.
But I looked at his broad shoulders and the half-buttoned shirt beneath the jacket and promptly forgot again.
He draped the jacket over my shoulders covering my torn dress before tucking me beside himself, his arm around me as if to protect me from what? The world returned.
I realized the entire bazaar was quiet. So quiet you could have heard a pin drop. It was unnatural. Who was he to command this...fear and respect?
Ronny threw himself to my saviour's feet.
"My prince, how may I be of service?"
I froze in his grasp.
Prince?
Rosalind's POVOur kingdom, the Southern Gate Pack, was divided into two. The North and the South. Each ruled by a different prince. Things like that don't matter when you are on the street struggling for yours and your sibling's life. Until you met said prince and he saved your life. He looked at Ronny like he was filth and I wondered at how I had been unable to recognize it at first. That arrogant tilt to the chin, that gaze. The look of a prince who had the works at his feet."I doubt a man like you can be of service to me. You seem to only be good at abusing women."His words were cold and clipped a sharp contrast to the way he had spoken to me and I watched Ronny shiver. His fear had a sharp acrid scent. "My prince, I promise it is not what you think. This woman is a slut and a thief unworthy of your supremacy's time. An omega who is unworthy of your presence."Ouch. That was uncalled for but I was an omega so this was normal behaviour.The prince growled. He actually sounded
Cillian's POVDid she… Did she just ask me to take my hands off her?I removed my hand immediately astounded. She was like a breath of fresh air that I didn't know I needed. No one had ever treated me like that.I had gone into the Northern district today with the intention of seeing how Killian, my twin brother, ruled his side. I could never have predicted how the day turned out. The way that excuse of a wolf Ronny had tried to maliciously accuse her and how she had kept an air of elegance around her even in the toughest situation.She was stunning. The most beautiful woman I had ever seen and my wolf agreed wholeheartedly. From her beautiful brown hair that was in a simple ponytail to her clear blue eyes that reminded me of a wintery sky. She might have been an omega with that timid frail air about her but she had a steel backbone that just… There was just something about her that had made me stop the car in the middle of nowhere to intervene in her situation."Not everything is
Rosalind's POV"Rosa, is that you?""Yes, Bast."The lock slid open and Bast launched himself at me. I laughed and embraced him. He felt thin and light in my arms. Despite my best efforts, he seemed to have lost weight again. I kept the smile on my face as I crouched to his height and ruffled his hair. "Did you miss me, my little pirate?"Bast wriggled out of my grasp but his smile lit up the atmosphere. "Why were you so late? I got so worried. I almost went out looking for you."I thought of everything that had occurred today. I didn't want to tell Bast about Ronny yet. He would blame himself for being too sick to contribute. The kid was too smart sometimes."Work went well. I even got some treats for you." I dangled the freshly baked raisin bread in front of him. Bastien squealed and leapt, grabbing it out of my hand. "You are the best, Rosa."I stepped into the house and bolted the door shut. I felt good now that I was back in my own space. It might not look like much but
Rosalind's POV"The prince personally invited me here."The journey had been more stressful and expensive than I had anticipated and I was more than a little glad that I had denied Bast's incessant requests to come along. The guard was disbelieving then incredulous before his face tightened in displeasure. "We aren't giving handouts. Leave now."What was with me and meeting people who treated me like shit?"Handouts? I don't need your handouts." I straightened my shoulders. "I am here to apply for a job opening."His frown only broadened if that was even possible at this point. "We don't have any openings.""Hey, what's going on here?" An older guard came around at the sound of his raised voice."Just the usual. Beggars looking for a free handout." He said dismissively."Beggars?" This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come. I thought of all the bronze I had wasted to make this trip. I shouldn't have dared dream of a better life. I should have saved up the bronze such that we would h
Rosalind's POVThis was the last time I would accept the invitation of a prince because of how handsome he looked. Not that princes were lining up to invite me anywhere. "My prince, please have mercy." I bowed so that my forehead was flat on the ground. "I would never… I would never… I only came here because of your invitation. I came here for a honest job and I–" I squealed as the prince pulled me up by my arm so that I was on my feet and our gazes locked.His beautiful hazel eyes, so warm a day ago, looked so dark and wicked now. Almost like he had become a different person since then. I bowed my head immediately. How could I stare into the eyes of a prince so brazenly? Especially when he was so angry at me. He pulled me closer to himself, making a gasp escape my throat. "What happened? Why are you acting so innocent? It is what you were sent here for right? To seduce me for information. Or to seduce me in order to get a possible successor to use to threaten my claim to the th
CILLIAN'S POVI couldn't believe Rosalind was here in my quarters. She sat at the edge of my couch looking like she felt out of place. "I apologise for my brother. He can be a handful sometimes."But personally, I felt she belonged here. And if I would have it, I would keep her here with me safe and sound. She averted her gaze from mine. "It was nothing, Prince Cillian. I am a mere omega to his royal lineage. He can treat me however he pleases."The words sparked even more anger within me. It wasn't like she had said anything wrong. It was the law. We were the higher authorities in this kingdom but the thought that Killian could treat Rosalind however he felt sat ill with me. For a mere mistake, he had wanted to kill her. A world without Rosalind wasn't possible."No, he can not." "Prince Cillian?" Rosalind seemed puzzled. "I will not allow anyone to treat you less than you are worth, Melody." My words became a growl and once more that day, my wolf fought to rise to the surface.
Rosalind's POVI couldn't believe that I was now working in the palace. Prince Cillian has ordered his driver to bring Bast in from the districts and though I had to speak with him using Prince Cillian's phone, to get him to come out, he had. Prince Cillian had then taken both of us to the specialist and I was in awe of the place. Bastien had just watched everything with wide eyes and when we were alone he looked at me with wide eyes. "What do you think about all this?" It was such a sudden change and he would be admitted here for the treatment. I didn't want him to be in an unfamiliar place that made him anxious."All of this looks so cool," He hesitated. "Can we afford this?"Bastien was so sensible for a child. I smiled and took his hand. "The prince can and he wants to help us."Bastien looked thoughtful."The prince seems nice, does he like you?"I was appalled. What if Prince Cillian heard?"Bast!""It's just… he is doing a lot for us. What is he getting out of it?"It was
Rosalind's POVHe looked almost as surprised as I was to see him. Almost. Why was it raining princes today? At this time?Did they have nothing to do apart from wondering about looking hot to fluster unprepared girls like myself?"You work here now?" Prince Killian's voice was gravelly and slightly deeper than Prince Cillian's. I scrambled to my feet feeling surprisingly prone in my sprawled position. "Yes, Prince Killian."I felt his gaze rake down my body unashamedly and I was surprised to feel my body trembling ever so slightly in reaction to this. What was going on with me? Was I…was I attracted to Prince Killian?His next words broke whatever spell his sudden appearance had cast on me. "You must be exceptional in bed for you to have gotten the attention of a prince so easily and quickly."Right, he was an asshole. How had I forgotten? It was probably something about seeing him in riding gear that had almost all of his chest bare. He stepped so close to me that I perceived hi