Bound by love, divided by duty

ELENA'S POV

After the little heated session with Alpha Gabriel and his mother, I quietly left his room before he noticed.

As I raced toward the maid's quarters I bumped into his mother,

"Sorry ma," I whispered, about to leave but she pulled me back with a disgusted stare plastered on her face.

"What's wrong with you!!" She yelled, scanning me from head to toe 

"Ma'am." I voiced a bit confused about what she just meant, 

"Why can't you let go of my son, don't you understand it yet? You can't be on the same level with him, I only allowed him to have his way with you because you were a maid and he needed you to deal with the uncontrollable pleasures he felt. Nothing else so why are you taking this further?" She asked, I tried to stay quiet while the other maids around the palace began to hide behind the walls to listen to our conversation.

"I am sorry, my queen. I never meant any of the things you said, we sincerely love each other." I whispered.

"And who said Gabriel loves you!!!! Why don't you understand the fact that you are nothing but a maid and that makes you a rogue ...have you ever heard of an Alpha mating with a rogue and making her his Luna? Why are you so dense!!!" She yelled. I tried my best to hold in the tears in me,

As I stood there, listening to Gabriel's mother tear me apart with her words, the tears I had been holding back began to spill down my cheeks. The pain of her words cut deep, confirming all the doubts and fears I had been carrying within me.

"But...but...Gabriel said he loves me," I stammered, my voice barely audible. "He promised to fight for our love."

Gabriel's mother scoffed and shook her head, her eyes filled with hatred. "Love? Do you think love can conquer everything? You're living in a fantasy, my dear. The reality is that Alpha Gabriel has responsibilities, duties. He cannot be tied down to a mere maid like you."

The words struck like daggers to my heart, a harsh reminder of the painful truth I had been trying to ignore. The unfairness of our situation washed over me, the weight of our love being overshadowed by the constraints of the pack's expectations.

"I...I understand," I managed to choke out, my voice trembling. "I never asked for any of this. I never wanted to come between him and his role as Alpha. I never wanted to be the cause of chaos and conflict within the pack. It's just...we can't control who we fall in love with."

Gabriel's mother let out a bitter laugh, her eyes filled with malice. "Love is a luxury, my dear. And you, a mere maid, cannot afford it. You are replaceable, and easily discarded. Don't delude yourself into thinking that you can ever be on equal footing with an Alpha."

Every word she uttered felt like a blow to my very being. The pain mixed with anger now, a fierce determination rising within me. I couldn't let her break me, couldn't let her extinguish the love I shared with Gabriel.

"I may be a maid, but I am a person with feelings and worth," I said, my voice trembling but filled with passion. "And love should never be limited by titles or status. I will fight for our love, fight for Gabriel. Whether or not he can be with me, that's for him to decide."

Gabriel's mother looked at me with a mix of surprise and disdain. "You have quite the audacity, don't you? But mark my words, maid, you will never be more than just a passing fancy for my son."

With those final words, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, tears streaming down my face. The weight of her words lingered, but I refused to let them crush me completely.

I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. If Gabriel truly loved me, if he truly believed in our love, then he would fight for us, just as he promised. Please Gabriel fight for us.

ALPHA GABRIEL RIVER'S POV

I stared at my reflection in the mirror with a pale face. I don't know what to do, I love Elena but I don't think I can engage in the fight my mom wants. I can't get involved with anyone else but Elena.

   I promised to be by her side at all costs and now I am more confused than anyone. A soft knock on the door distracts me from my lonely thoughts.

"Come in," I ordered, and a maid walked in with a letter which I collected immediately.

" You are needed in the hall." She said softly before walking out, I tore the letter open and it was an important meeting from my Beta Brent.

Was this the weapon my mother wanted to use against to let go of Elena? Well, it won't work no matter how urgent it is.

I put on my coat with the letters in my hands as I stepped out of my comfort zone. Halfway to the hall, I saw Elena with a few maids. I wanted to talk to her and let her promise not to take my mother's words to heart.

I entered the hall room to see it was quite more crowded than it was supposed to be.

Before I could even begin the meeting, my Beta, Brent, stood up from his seat with a stern expression on his face. The tension in the room immediately amplified, and I could feel the weight of the stares from the other pack members.

"Alpha Gabriel," Brent began, his voice cutting through the silence. "We need to discuss your future as the Alpha of this pack."

Confusion washed over me as I looked at him, trying to understand his intentions. "What are you talking about, Brent? I have no intentions of stepping down as Alpha."

Brent's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "It seems that your emotions have clouded your judgment, Gabriel. Your relationship with Elena, the maid, has compromised not only your position as Alpha but also the reputation of this pack."

My blood ran cold as his words sunk in. This was not going the way I had hoped. I needed to find a way to salvage the situation, to convince Brent and the rest of the pack that love should not be a hindrance to my role as Alpha.

"I understand your concerns, Brent," I said, trying to maintain my composure. "But Elena and I are in love, and I believe that our relationship can coexist with my duties as Alpha. Love does not weaken a leader, it strengthens them."

Brent scoffed, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Love blinds, Gabriel. It clouds judgment and compromises decisions. As your Beta, it is my duty to protect this pack, and right now, that means ensuring that you make the right choice for the future of our pack."

I could feel the anger simmering within me, the conflict between my heart and my responsibilities pulling me apart. But I couldn't let Brent's words sway me. Love was worth fighting for, and I needed to make everyone understand that.

"I appreciate your concern, Brent," I said, my voice carrying a note of determination. "But I will not let fear dictate my decisions. Elena is my chosen mate, and I will stand by her, no matter what."

"Is that what you want?" Beta Brent asked.

"Yes," I responded, still fully confident in m

y choice.

"Then step down as Alpha immediately and take Elena away with you."