Rosalind's POV
Our 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 pissed on my behalf. I was ashamed to admit I have never been more turned on by a sound. This was crazy.
Ronny backed away a few steps as though scared for his life, it was almost funny. Almost.
The prince seemed to get a hold of his temper.
"I will decide who is worthy of my time. A thief you said? What did she steal?"
Ronny looked around shiftily, his movements all but announcing his lie.
"Some bronze, my prince."
"Bronze?" The prince seemed amused now. "And where were you when she was stealing this?"
Ronny seemed more on the defensive side now. "Right there in the shop."
"Watching her steal from you?"
I stifled a grin at the panic on Ronnie's face. Oh, he hadn't thought that answer through. The crowd began to murmur obviously seeing the holes in his story now.
Not that it had mattered to them a few seconds ago when they seemed intent on me being a slut and a whore.
"No, she distracted me with her feminine wiles." Ronny sounded panicked now raising his voice to be heard over the murmurs.
The prince arched an eyebrow and somehow even that looked even perfect. What was wrong with me? My wolf stirred in my chest and I could barely hear his next words over my heartbeat.
"Was this before or after she slashed your face open and you tore her dress?"
Ronny seemed to realize his gig was up and fell to the ground in supplication.
"My prince have mercy!"
The prince glared at him like he wanted to kill him and I saw his hands become claws.
Impulsively, I took his hand. He looked at me with those hazel eyes and I was lost. We stared at each other for a few more seconds and his claws retracted.
"It is not me you should ask but her. You will not only apologise to her in front of everyone but you will give her this bronze you claim she stole."
Ronny obviously wanted to do nothing of that sorry but seeing the prince's countenance, he stood up and moved close to me.
"I'm sorry." He muttered under his breath.
This didn't satisfy the prince.
"On your knees." The prince instructed.
"But… but she is an omega?!" He seemed confused.
I was as well. Omegas were treated as dirt. We were the lowest on the trophic chain where strength meant everything. Asking Ronny to kneel for me was unthinkable.
The murmurs from the crowd rose. The prince could have cared less.
"She is a citizen of this kingdom who you have accused unjustly. If you disagree with this, I can always have you executed."
Ronny fell flat on his face grasping at my feet immediately. The fear of death would do that to a man. The crowd went silent. This was history being made.
"Forgive me, I beg of you."
"Tell me. Should I spare his life?" The prince asked me like my opinion actually mattered.
I thought of how Ronny had backhanded me, almost raped me and somehow still found a way to pin the blame on me. Of how he would have ruined my reputation and made me a pleasure worker to feed his ego.
I thought of the numerous women he must have done this to. But this was the districts where justice was a mirage and no one was an innocent here for long.
If I did as I pleased, Bastien and I would be targeted. The prince would be in his castle soon enough leaving me to bear the consequences.
"Please spare him, my prince."
******
I was in a limousine. A black limousine. I had never seen anything like it in these parts. It felt soft and expensive. I felt out of place.
"My prince, if you would permit me to leave, I do not wish to inconvenience you."
I lowered my gaze as I spoke. There was a lesser chance of me swooning at his looks and the reaction of my body to him if I did so.
"You can call me by my name though." He sounded amused.
I looked up surprised again. He was nothing like the ruthless prince I had imagined from people's tales. The Northern prince was as frosty as ice, they said. I had never met anyone from the South but I imagined he would be the same as his brother.
His hazel eyes twinkled with humour and his smile was simply breathtaking. I lowered my gaze again hastily.
"That wouldn't be proper, my prince."
Besides I didn't know his name. It wasn't exactly common knowledge. His smile faded slightly.
"I suppose not." He looked at my hand that clutched his jacket to my bruised nape. He produced an ointment from one of the car compartments.
"May I?"
He wanted to apply ointment on me? A prince treating an omega? I must have hurt my head badly when Ronny backhanded me.
I nodded and stayed still as he pushed down the jacket to see the full extent of my bruises. I heard his sharp intake of breath at the sight.
"I should have killed him."
"My prince."
What else could I say to such a declaration that made me feel warm all over?
"You are a good person for forgiving him so swiftly." He said softly, his voice as soothing as a lullaby with the most striking chord.
I could listen to his voice all day. No, I couldn't. He was a prince, I wasn't even fit to wipe the dirt off his shoes.
I tried to change the topic.
"Thank you for everything."
"I only did my duty." He dabbed the ointment on the bruises on my neck.
I sucked in a breath sharply. His touch was doing things to me. If he didn't stop touching me, the scent of my arousal would soon be evident.
"I can do this myself–"
"I insist." He kept applying it as he spoke. "From what I can gather, that Ronny fellow is the worst of wolves. Why did you work for him?"
What a question. It made the disparity in our classes obvious. Someone from the districts would not need to ask such needless questions.
"Here in the districts, an orphan girl like me has two options. Menial work or the pleasure houses. Ronny is the best-paying among the contractors for menial work. So what if he abuses one or two women here and there?"
He looked shocked. "That is illegal. There are many job opportunities created yearly for the districts and we also give out aids–"
I laughed. "Job opportunities? Aids? My prince, those things never reach down here in the trenches."
"Impossible. The council approved a budget weeks ago for this same purpose."
This wasn't new. So the council siphoned some money meant for the low-class people. It was the way of the elite. I was only surprised the prince was unaware of this.
"Those things are for the cities, the metropolis. The districts are the places the council forgets. And here anything goes."
He still looked disturbed but it was getting late and Bastien would be worried sick.
"I really appreciate your help but I must leave, my prince. I need to get home. If you would grant me your permission."
The prince seemed… reluctant to let me go.
"But… what will you do now? I wouldn't recommend you go back to working for Ronny."
I smiled faintly. "I will find other work."
"But you said you had to take care of your sibling and that Ronnie paid the best. How will you cope without his patronage?"
"I will survive like I always have. Thank you for your concern."
I reached for the door. The prince held my hand.
"I could help you out."
"Help me out?"
"Tell me how much you need to be comfortable and I will have my men…"
"Take your hand off me."
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
Rosalind's POV.The next day was unique as no one in the kitchen apart from Somei met my gaze. Umi and Gladheart were no longer in their corner. In fact, I couldn't see them at all.Somei took me to the section that dealt with deliveries at the edge of the kitchen. "You will work under Mia and Theresa from now on."I think those were the only words Somei said to me that entire day. Come to think of it, the entire kitchen was more silent than usual. Was it because of what Prince Cillian had done the day before?I smiled brightly at the new workers."Good day, I'm supposed to work under you."They ignored me then suddenly a tray was shoved in my hand. "Guard quarters, room twelve.""What?"It turns out it was a location. My new job was easy. Mia and Theresa would get trays together and once they were done with that, I was called to make the delivery. That was how the day went. I delivered so much food that my legs hurt. My partners didn't speak to me as I did all this. I also had to