3 - Slaves

LUCY'S POV

Of course, I couldn’t tell him the truth.

I couldn’t go back to my pack, hell, I didn’t want to. It was a death sentence.

“I was orphaned as a baby to a human family. I ran away when I found out what I was. I have no idea what pack I belong to, Alpha. I’m content with serving you. I have no desire to find my real pack.”

The lie flew out of my mouth without hesitation.

I was used to telling small white lies, but this one was far bigger than any others.

Seth was eyeing me from the side of the room. He was on the couch going over some files.

He was acting busy, but I could feel his eyes on me now and again. Leander narrowed his eyes at me for a moment.

“Are you sure? You should have a pack marking on your wrist, but I don’t see any. That’s odd, don’t you think?” Leander says, obviously suspicious.

So now he is asking real questions, more topics for which I wasn’t prepared.

As an Alpha heir, my pack mark was above my chest, covering the skin above my heart.

I was thankful that he hadn’t questioned this possibility as he looked at my wrist.

If I didn’t let my Alpha aura slip after I turned 18, this would be a secret I held to my grave.

He stared at me while I pondered his questions for just a moment. That’s all it took for me to think of my next lie.

“It must have faded when I was younger, maybe from being away from my pack since birth.” I had no idea if that was a real possibility, but he nodded at me, accepting my answer.

I sighed internally with relief until Seth decided to open his big mouth.

“I’ve never heard of a pack mark fading unless a wolf rejects their pack and becomes rogue. If the mark faded, don’t you think that she would also smell like a rogue?” Shit, Seth made a good point.

Leander nodded.

I could tell he was thinking hard about what Seth had said. I had to stop his thoughts before they went to something else that I couldn’t explain.

“Alpha Leander, you mentioned you wanted to speak to me about some changes that would be happening. Does this have to do with your sons arriving in a few days?” While this was my way of distracting his thoughts, it was a question I had had since he brought up his son's Alpha ceremony in the meeting.

I was essentially Leander's assistant. I served at meetings, got him coffee and food, ran mail, made appointments, etc.

A stark contrast to the things I was forced to do for other packs.

If he was going to be stepping into retirement, what did that mean for me?

When I finally drew from my thoughts and looked up at him, he had a shit-eating grin on his face.

“My dear Lily, have you noticed that we don’t have slaves in this pack? The wolves in this pack are here because they want to be here. They are all given the freedom to live a life that pleases them. Even the maids and kitchen staff here at the pack house chose those positions freely. Some people enjoy serving, and others find different work more fulfilling," Leander said softly.

I looked him over, searching for any sign that he was telling a lie, and found nothing, yet I was still at a loss for words.

What did he want me to say to that?

He must have caught on to my first-ever loss of words. Not even my need to shut down any awkward silence was winning.

“I have a feeling that bringing me coffee and running my errands isn’t what you dreamt of doing your whole life. I can easily find someone else to fill that position, Lily. While Leon and Liam would likely keep you as their assistant once they’re running things, I want to make sure that this is what you truly want." He pauses for a moment before adding to his thought.

"I would of course pay you if you decided to stay in this position. However, as my assistant, you would have to remain living in the pack house next to the Alpha room so that you’re available when needed.”  

He finished this speech and glanced over to Seth, who I could see smiling in the corner of my eye.