Being Called Ugly

HAERA 

I never knew my parents. 

Didn't even think I had one. But I have being reminded constantly in my life that I could have died in the cold as a baby outside of the Alpha palace if Gennora hadn't found me. I was just a few hours old when I was brought by her into the Alpha palace and raised me as her own-a maid...not her daughter. 

"HEAR ALL! HEAR NOW! THE PRINCESS BIRTHDAY IS TODAY. ALL ASSEMBLE, THE PRINCESS TURNS 18 TODAY!" 

The call doesn't only serve as my wake up call, but also a reminder of how miserable this very day has always been for me. 

Both none of those actually give me the hot like my third wake-up call that is probably just a few seconds away from–

"Haera!!!" 

There it is. 

The call might always be for me but it isn't just me who panics and scurry around the room. Since I share the bunker room with nine other maids, you can only imagine the commotion the entire room descended into. 

Everyone was struggling to get into their clothes, pack their hair and clean the drool on the side of their mouth, just in time for Gennora, the Head of the maids to swing the door open and cast her dark beady eyes upon us. 

"Good morning, head maid." 

It was an echo of distress and tired voices who needed more sleep than they got. 

Gennora wordlessly stepped fully into the room but every of her step in is enough expression that words can't offer. I didn't need to look to know she has  her eyes roaming the entire room before finally landing on her main subject of concern. 

Me. 

"Haera, come here." 

A simple command that I dare not waste anytime standing at the spot I was. I scurried over to stand in front of her with my head hung low in front of her. 

We were not meant to look our head maid in the eye. 

"Look at me." 

But I was the only one given that privilege, mostly on this very day in the past years. As great as the word privilege sounds, it's nothing but torture for me. 

The other maids have no idea what good it is for them that they are not allowed to look her in the face. 

I looked up to meet her eyes. The shiver it sent down my spine is one I've gotten so used to, yet it still gets to me every time I look into Gennora's face. 

Her face is twisted in that all to familiar disdain for me. The big scar that starts from the side of her head to the top of her brows always does it job to make her look as menacing as that of a predator. 

Sometimes, I wonder if that's why the maids aren't allowed to look at her and if she's the one who made the rules.

I gulped hard, wanting nothing but to look down and away from her but that would only earn me a severe punishment. 

So I just stared into her eyes. She stared back, hard. 

"As always, I've come to check if you still know your place and where you stand in this pack. You are a maid. Nothing more. A maid who only got lucky to be born on the same day as the princess." 

It's no surprise why I've always hated this day now, is it? 

That luck Gennora keeps reminding me about every single year is one thing I wish I never had. 

Everyone's birthday is the best day of their lives while mine is nothing short of the worst day. I hate having to be reminded of the kind of life I have and how miserable it is. 

But Gennora makes it her mission every year to remind me that the princess of the pack is the only one who matters on a day like this. 

But why? Good question. I don't know why Gennora does that all the time. The hatred for me runs deeper than the deepest hole I've ever seen.

Ultimately, my birthday doesn't matter. 

I'm not allowed to celebrate it.

No one is allowed to wish me.

No one even remembers. No one cares. 

It's been like that and now that I turn eighteen, old enough to find my mate and control my wolf better, I fear things will never change. 

"Now get back in line." 

I rushed back to join my fellow maids lined up and ready to take our orders for the day. 

"Listen up everyone, today is a big day for the princess. Everything has to be perfect." 

With the joy and pride in Gennora's voice as she talked about the princess, you'd think it was her own child celebrating her birthday today. 

There are rumors going round that Gennora lost her baby on the very day I was born and it's what made her lose her sanity. 

Whatever made her that way, our fear for Gennora probably runs deeper than the one for the Alpha and his family. 

"Some of you will stay and plan the Princess's party to make sure it goes smoothly while the rest will be sent off with the Alpha king's entourage to the Imperial pack to help prepare for the Alpha-Duel which takes place tomorrow." 

Gennora paused as if waiting for everyone of us to take in her words. 

The room was so silent that I couldn't even hear the breathing of the person next to me. 

"The ones going to the Imperial pack for the Alpha Duel will take along home-made snacks for the ceremony."

"Your bunker room head will choose who goes to the imperial pack and who stays." 

I can already imagine,  Erylis, our bunker room head proudly barking out orders at us as soon as Gennora turns her back away from us. 

"Haera." 

I looked up sharply.

"Yes, Head maid." 

"You're going to the Imperial pack. Join Balfour in the kitchen to make the Cookies for the ceremony." 

I should have known she wouldn't let me stay at the pack to plan the princess's birthday. 

It's always been like that everywhere. Gennora always finds something for me to do while everyone else is setting up the party. 

It's either I'm running errands out of the Alpha abode or in the Omega guards quarters, scrubbing floors and washing toilets. 

This year, the Alpha-Duel of the Imperial pack gave Gennora a proper opportunity to keep me away from the pack. 

And it also marks the first year to actually work in my favor, I'd pick cooking in the kitchen with Balfour, the palace chef rather than scrub floors.

I loved cooking so much and it's the only activity that I find solace in from my dark life.

I was chirpy when I replied Gennora.

"Yes, Head maid." 

"Good. As you were.". 

She commanded and everyone of us relaxed, releasing breaths of relief as she walked out of the room. 

"Remain on your lines everyone so I can pick out those who go and the ones who stay." 

Erylis, the bunker room head piped out just as Gennora left. 

Since I already knew where my job lies today, I made to walk out of the room but Erylis stopped me before I could pass by her. 

She casted an angry look at me. 

"I wasn't done talking, ugly duckling."

The room echoed with laughter’s from the other maids in the room at the words of Erylis. 

Another thing I've gotten so used to, is the bullying from my colleagues regarding my looks. 

Apparently, I was the ugliest in the bunker room, to say the least. My face was ridden with a gazillion of pimples that makes the other maids avoid me like a plague.

"Wow, that rhymes pretty well, doesn't it?" 

"Yes Erylis, it does. I'm not denying that. How come the color of your face and that of your butt doesn't rhyme that way?". I countered.

My words were followed by uhhs and ahhs from the little crowd of maid spectators. The scene isn't a new one for them. Erylis always picks up a fight even when I'm not looking for one. 

One thing I've also gotten used to is firing back at Erylis or any other bullies of mine even if it earns me a few slaps and kicks here and there. 

It's mostly my wolf's fault but it's also nothing Dezra, my wolf, can't fix. In fact, it's Dezra's life mission to kill off all of my enemies one after the other. I just haven't given her the chance–according to her. 

Erylis already had her face contorted into that of deep set anger at my offensive words towards her. 

"You ugly bitch!"

She lunged at me but I picked my feet swiftly off the floor before she could lay a finger on me. I ran out of the room and didn't stop running until I was far away from the Maid Quarters. 

"You should have waited to teach her a lesson  not to mess with you. It's your birthday today!"

Dezra snarl rang inside of my head and I rolled my eyes. Violence is what my wolf just lives for. 

"Oh really...like I did the last...I don’t know, uncountable times!? Those girls beat me up to a pulp every time." 

"But I fix it every time, don't I?" 

Dezra countered. 

"It's easy for you to say, you're not the one who gets beaten every single time." 

She wanted to say more but I blocked her out of my head. Our arguments will only go on for ages and now isn't the time to argue with my wolf. 

I skipped happily to the kitchen that was directly opposite of the maid quarters. The sweet smell of pastries laid the foundation for my entrance into the kitchen. 

Balfour was standing by the oven when I entered, taking out a tray of freshly baked cookies. He must have picked up my scent because he turned his heavy weight around to look in my direction. 

A cheeky smile spread across his face just as he saw me.

"If it isn't the birthday girl!" 

My hand went flying to my mouth as I rushed over to grab Balfour's flabby arms in a bid to stop him from probably singing the traditional werewolf birthday song next.

"Shhh...!" I shushed him. 

" You know you're not allowed to say that out loud. Someone will hear you!" I chided. Balfour opened his mouth to say something but someone else beat him to it. 

"Too late. I already heard him."