CHAPTER 1

My body didn't feel like my own. I just wanted to lie down for a moment and rest my head. Even if it was just for a little movement. My body needed rest. That much was evident in my sluggish movement and tired face.

Anyone could tell but yet nobody would say a word because they didn't care about me. Born as the daughter of a mistress, my life had never been easy. Occasionally I wished I died along with my mother or that she had never crossed my father's path but it wouldn't change anything. I can't undo the mistake that brought me into this cruel world.

Every day was hell for me and I longed for an escape but I was too much of a coward to try. I stopped the large bag of grains that I carried on my back. The dropping made a loud thud and I winced. That sound will definitely attract some unwanted attention.

It was still very early in the morning and the time for them to wake up was still far. If I awoke Lady Bianca before the appropriate time, I would receive a whopping. I opened the back door and stepped into the kitchen. There was no sound in the house. I moved quietly, grabbing pans to make breakfast for the morning.

An hour later I heard the creaking noise of the stairs. I cleaned faster even though I knew I wouldn't make it out of the kitchen before they arrived.

"Morning lady Bianca," I said, keeping my head down as soon as she stepped in front of me.

"Serve the breakfast" she commanded and walked to the chair, I dragged my finger out of the way, narrowly missing the pointy heels of her shoes. I moved immediately, serving the hot breakfast of all of them.

Jonathan, my stepbrother arrived just as I finished setting the travel and plopped down on the chair.

"Is this all of it?" I heard a loud clang and flinched.

"Y-yes my lady" She said nothing and stood up, matching to the pot and opening the lid.

"Then what is this"

"Sorry," I dropped to my knees, feeling instant regret for leaving that little bit for myself.

"I wanted to eat a little" I cried.

"Eat a little? What gave you the right to eat a little?" She pulled my hair, her sharpened nails digging into my scalp.

"Forgive me" I cried harder.

"Stupid bitch" she struck me across the face. I couldn't hold myself up and ended up falling to the ground.

Tears clouded my visit but I studied my sob. All I wanted was a little to eat.

"Mother....you should be nicer" I heard Jonathan's mocking voice.

"Nicer? She doesn't deserve anything from me. Did you scrub the entire basement like I asked you to?"

"No, my lady"

"And you think you deserve to eat?" She stomped her foot repeatedly on my fingers and I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out in pain. It would only anger her further.

"You haven't completed your duties and as such, you are not allowed to eat until I permit you to"

I bit my lips harder so a sound couldn't escape. I couldn't scrub the entire basement without eating a thing. But I didn't dare say that out loud.

"Next time you want to steal from me, remember that only I determine what you do and don't. Remember that you don't deserve to live but I let you. You are dirt like your mother and you should have died with her but I let you live. So you are only allowed to eat whatever I deem suitable. If I say you cannot eat, then you cannot eat" I cried harder as she finished speaking.

What wrong have I committed to suffer this cruel torture? Being born? I never asked to be born. Why did u have to suffer for the mistake my parents made on their own? I heard the creaking of stairs and she glared at me.

"Pick up your pitiful self from there. If your father finds out what happened, you know what I'll do to you"

Lie against me and have me thrown out of the pack. It was a threat I heard one too many times so I quickly got up. I didn't want to be a rogue or banished from the pack. The close relationship with the alpha made anything possible. Just a word from her and I could be removed.

Father arrived and walked past us, not sparing a glance in my direction. He never bothered to acknowledge me so I didn't understand why she was desperate to hide her maltreatment from him.

"Oh honey" she moved to his side and I continued cleaning, packing up the discarded food that I could have eaten.

From the corner of my eye, I watched her serve his meal while petting him with her hands until she returned to her seat. It was silent for a full moment until she broke the silence.

"I'm so excited" Lady Bianca's voice rang loudly.

"Jonathan is getting mated in two days" I heard all about it. He was getting mated to the alpha's daughter.

"I can't believe that'll finally be getting the recognition we deserve" Lady Bianca added. The prestige of the family would be increased and the tight bond between the two families will only become tighter.

"Yes. As Alpha, I'll be in charge and all the wealth belonging to them will be ours. We will be the rulers of this pack soon" Jonathan said with a distant look in his eyes.

They were both already imagining taking over the wealth and control of the pack.

"The ladies will look at me with respect. Nobody will ever talk down at me" Lady Bianca added.

"There's so much to do, so much to prepare. We have to get rid of the old furniture. Anything unpleasant to the eye..." she paused and I felt her eyes boring holes into my head. She didn't have to say it because I had an idea about what she wanted to say.

I couldn't attend. I was unpleasant to look at. Besides, I'll be too busy slaving away in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning all day.

I listened to them as they discussed preparations and whatnot. Nobody remembered that in two days, I would also be twenty years old.