Chapter 1

PHOEBE’S POV

I got up hurriedly as I was already late for my daily duties. Putting on my clothes which could be easily passed on for a rag, I rushed out of my room only to meet the she-devil.

Not wanting to be the center of attraction, I gently moved out till I heard a voice.

“Poor Phoebe!” Alexa called in her taunting tone.

My legs shook involuntarily as I turned to look at her.

“Good morning Alexa,” I murmured while she gazed at me with a wicked smile.

There was just something about Alexa that made me so wary of her. She never liked me since I was adopted into the clan and has never hidden it.

I had tried to gain her love but it had always been abortive instead she hated me more.

Her dislike for me had grown worse since my wolf had refused to show itself despite passing the required age. I was going to be twenty soon and hadn't seen my wolf yet.

I couldn't even get my mate, I was going to be stuck in this pack for a while.

I had prayed to Moon Goddess every day just for my wolf to show itself, at least my days of suffering were going to vanish but it seemed I was just so unlucky.

“You stink terribly, didn't you have your bath?” Alexa asked, stepping on my toes as usual.

“You are very useless! Everything about you disgusts me, just your sight alone is ready to set my day bad! I just wish you could die!” she screamed angrily at me.

I couldn't ignore her else I was going to be severely punished. She was like an untouchable force and had been torturing my life lately.

I was still thinking of what to say when Beta Alfred walked in angrily. He glared at me before turning to look at Alexa who was the Alpha's daughter and gave her a smile.

“I didn't know you were busy with her, she is needed to do her job.” Beta Alfred said. They talked about me like I wasn't like them like I didn't have flesh and emotions like them.

Tears stung my eyes as they fell freely from my eyes. This was what I didn't like about myself, I was just too weak. Both emotionally and physically.

Rushing to the kitchen, I started doing all I was supposed to do as fast as I could. Even the maids didn't treat me right, I was unlucky!

“You should take this to Princess Alexa, she needs it urgently.” A maid said to me.

I knew what she was trying to do, Alexa was very mean and inhumane. She could do something very cruel without even batting her lashes, everyone avoided her and always pushed me to her.

Despite knowing this, I still don't understand why I couldn't stand for myself. I wished I dared to stand up for myself despite my conditions but I couldn't. I endured everything they did to me because I couldn't object.

Knocking gently on her door, I tried to avoid making too much of a noise. She muttered a come in before I gently walked in.

Placing the cup of juice in the right place, I waited for her to send me off.

“I can't believe Alpha Adrian is searching for his mate. What if I am his mate?” one of Alexa’s friends said excitedly.

“I also heard, I have a feeling he is actually my mate. He is so handsome!” Alexa cooed. I hated being in conversations like this, the girls basically don't do anything else other than talk about men.

I pitied whoever was Alexa’s mate.

“What are you still doing here?” She asked rudely, cutting off my thoughts.

I shook my head in response before running away. She seems in a pretty good mood. Who was Prince Adrian anyway? The walls of the pack house were filled with his name and I felt like an outcast.

Deciding that I was going to ask my best friend, I didn’t bother thinking about it anymore.

“Have you sorted the meal? And the plate?” The chief maid asked. “No, I have been so busy,” I said tiredly.

“Do I care about that? Make sure everything is properly done before I come back here!” she shouted at me, causing everyone’s eyes to be on me.

I couldn't help but burst into tears, I couldn't withhold her harshness and broke down. I was tired of living this way.

Soon it was time for me to head back into my store. This was the only time I was stress-free and wasn’t bullied.

Mia was my best friend and was usually there for me. She was the only one who treated me special and didn’t treat me any less like the others. We had planned to go on a date today so I walked to the lake.

“Bestie!” She called out excitedly once she saw me.

We shared an embrace before bursting into laughter.

“You were quite late!” She said, feigning anger. “You can’t really blame me, I had a lot to do,” I said sadly.

I couldn’t go out just when I wished to, shoving thoughts about my messed up life we started discussing something else.

“Who is Adrian anyways?” I asked, curiosity finally at its peak. “Geez! You have also heard of him.” Mia said excitedly, causing me to roll my eyes.

“He is a beauty god. He is very handsome, perfect height, muscular, and very rich!” Mia praised while looking dreamily.

“You haven’t even seen him before,” I said, going in to grab some cookies.

“Words about him are everywhere. I heard he is looking for a mate and any girl would die to be his.” Mia explained further.

“Well, I don’t really care about that. I can never be his mate.” I said with a shrug.

“Why did you say that?” Mia asked.

“What if you were?” She asked again.

“What if I was?” I thought.