THE ALPHA'S HUMAN MATE

CHAPTER THREE: THE SELECTION

“Ugh... Do I hate her?” One of the maids says, looking at the door. “Who does she think she is? I think she needs a reality check to know she is just a human and nothing more.”

“You know she sleeps with them willingly, having some guards wrapped around her fingers.” Another voiced out, siding with the first maid.

“I think it's best we all get back to work instead of discussing what Brielle does and doesn't do.” An elderly maid says, butting in on the conversation. “You do know we have a deadline to meet.”

Her words put an end to the conversation, with the rest of the maids carrying on with their work.

When we were done with our respective works, we were called back into the hall where Madam Celeste was going to give us the final decision about the routine change.

We stayed in lines, waiting for her to come into the hall for the second time that day.

Like in the morning, we didn’t have to wait long before she walked with the same trio trailing behind her.

“Heads up.” She commands. “The decision has been made concerning the routine change. Prior to my announcement earlier today, a selected few have been chosen to work in the Blackthorn Palace, while some of you get a new task given to you.”

“The list would be placed on the table over there.” She points to a small table at the side of the entrance of the hall. “You are expected to check where you have been assigned to and be prepared the next morning. That's all for today.”

The head maid gave us one distasteful look and then left the hall with her entourage following behind her as the female among them placed a paper on the table, walking out.

We all moved in line to the table, checking out the list. I kept my focus on the table, my heart beating faster with each step I took.

I sighed when it got to my turn, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I never knew I would be this scared to check my name on the list.

Slowly I peeled my eyes open, looking down at the list. My finger traced down the name, and I gulped when I got to mine.

Elara Vale.

I traced my name, moving my finger to the right side.

The Blackthorn Palace.

No.

Please, no.

This can't be real.

I can't be assigned to the Blackthorn Palace; this was all a dream. A bad dream.

I could feel my heart beating rapidly along with the panic that sat at the back of my throat.

“Can you move out of the way so that the rest of us can check the list? Instead of standing there being dramatic.”

Brielle's venomous voice spat behind me.

I didn't get the time to move out of the way since the queen bee thought it was funny to push me aside, catching me off guard. Losing my footing, I fell flat down on the floor, my butt hitting the floor hard.

A loud groan escaped my lips. I stayed seated on the floor, trying to ease the pain, knowing for sure that it would bruise.

After managing to lift my body up a little, a loud shriek filled the room, and I was pushed back down with more force than before.

My teeth clenched tightly together, holding back a groan. I felt a figure tower over me, causing me to lift my head up, coming face to face with Brielle's pissed-off face.

“I don’t get it. Why would they pick you when clearly I'm a better fit than you? Why, why, why...” She screamed, straight in my face.

“Do you think I wanted to get picked?” I whispered, looking at her dead in the face. “I prefer enduring whatever tutelage is given to me here rather than being on the other side of the palace.”

She scoffed, folding her hands to her chest. “I guess you won't be pleased. I guess it’s best to say your last prayer. There is no way you are going to make it through the day.” She smirked cockily. “Good luck, not.”

Brielle rolled her eyes, walking out of the hall with Mireya following behind her.

The other maids passed by me; some gave me a cold smirk, while others held pity.

I got up from the floor and dragged my legs out of the hall, down the stairs, and back to my room.

There was no way I would have any appetite to eat—not after the list. I walked to the bed, lying on it without getting out of my uniform.

My body was cooped up like a foetus, my hands hugged my body, and I lay there thinking about what my fate might be. Numbness filled my body; my mind refused to work. I didn’t know if it was due to confusion, fear, denial, or the three put together.

Brielle was right; there was no way I could last a day.

I was going to die.

I guess my time was up; maybe it won't be such a bad idea. Now, I can finally join my family and Liora in paradise, if there was one.

It was the next morning, and everyone expected to be at the Blackthorn Palace, standing at the entrance of the second palace, waiting for the guards in charge of taking us over there.

We set out to the other palace, which took about half an hour since we had to walk over there.

On getting there, we all had to write our names down, including our age and gender. Then we were directed to the slaves’ quarters.

A few minutes later, an elderly-looking woman, clearly one of them, walked into the quarter, standing in front of us.

“Alright, listen up. I am Madam Marcella, the head maid for this palace.” She spoke fiercely and filled with confidence. “From this moment on, you all belong to the king. Forget about your old lives; you lived an hour ago. Forget about whoever was your master. Know that you belong to the king and queen. Your only purpose here is to serve and please your master for the days of your lives.”

“You all are privileged to serve such a great master as His Majesty, King Darius Valen.”

There it was again.

That word.

Why do they keep telling us that?

It was obvious how well they loved and respected their king; they didn’t have to force us humans to like them. Not after everything they had done and were still doing to my kind.

They were monsters.

Nothing was going to change my thoughts about them.

I kept my face passive, looking at the new head maid, Madam Marcella, as she spoke; this time it was about a rule we were meant to follow.

“I'm sure you are all aware of what would happen to you if any of the rules are broken. With no doubts, the punishment will be severe; you will wish for nothing but death. So think twice before breaking any.” She says sternly, watching every one of us. Her face held no emotions.

“Number one, remember to keep your head down always. More importantly, in front of the king. Only raise your heads up when asked to. Number two, don't even think about escaping, ever. You won't get that far. Number three, there should be no act of disobedience or resistance against your master. These are the three major rules to survive here; do not forget them.”

“The rest will be taken care of by Eveline; she is in charge after me. She is the one to meet if any issue you wish to discuss arises. Follow the guards, and they will take you to her.” She looked around the room. “That's all for now.”

We stayed in line, following the guards out into a corridor. We walked down the stairs, stopping in an open hall with a lady no more than five years older than me.

I couldn't help admiring how beautiful she looked; with the maid gown, she stood with grace.

I give it to them; they do have great skins. Every female beast I have ever come across all have this glow in them.

“Okay everyone, listen up. There won't be much time to list out the remainder of the rules, so they will be pasted on the wall of the hallway for you all to go through.” The lady spoke, her voice sounding so adorable. “You get the rest of the day off, giving you a chance to mingle with other maids and get your footing on how it works here. Make no mistake, you won't be getting any more free days after today.”

Of course, we were nothing but slaves to them.

“You will each get your task before the end of the day. Your uniforms are already placed in your respective rooms. That's all; you are free to pick a room.”

My room, just like the other palace, was small and plain with a tiny window by the side of the wall. But still, I had my space, which was more than enough.

I walked over to where my uniforms were placed. They looked more decent and in better shape than my previous one.

There wasn't anything too unique to see in the room as I decided to take a bit of rest. I climbed onto the bed, slowly closing my eyes. It was long after that I fell asleep.

I was woken up by a bang on the door, jumping to my feet. I tidied up my hair and dress before opening the door to see the rest of the maids standing by their doors with their heads down.

I followed suit, not asking a question as I kept my head down.

“Heads up.” Eveline said, standing by the far end of the hall, with her hands clasped to the back.

“I hope you guys had time to go through the rest of the list.” She says, scanning through the hall. “Without wasting any more time, I'm going to call out your name, as well as your task. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am?” We all chorused together.

“Good, let's get right into it.” She unfolds the paper in her hands. “Naomi Carter.”

A young lady, not less than twenty-five, raised her hand.

“Kitchen duties.”

“Tessa Morgan.”

Just like the first lady, a petite girl my age raised her hand.

“Garden duties.”

I stopped paying attention to the list of names being called until I heard my name, and my head shot up.

“Elara Vale.”

I raised my hand, trying my best not to shake even though I was falling miserably.

“Personal servant to King Darius Valen.”

“What...” I whispered, a look of horror on my face.

“You are to serve the king as a personal servant.” Eveline says, giving me a pointed glare.

I stood frozen, my hands clenched tightly to my clothes as Eveline carried on with the names like she hadn't just assigned me to death herself.

“I suggest you get as much rest as possible today because tomorrow you resume back to work. From 5am in the morning to 9pm. Remember, tardiness won't be allowed; you will be punished if you are even a second late.” Eveline's warning rang through the hall.

She gave us one last look before leaving the hall. As she left, the hall was filled with silence. I could feel eyes on me, the glance of sympathy being thrown my way from both old and new maids.

The maids cleared out of the hall, going back to their respective rooms. I, on the other hand, remained rooted in my spot.

Numbness filled me up; my mind and body refused to cooperate with me. I swore I could hear my heart beating fast; I'm surprised it was still intact.

Struggling to move my legs, going back to my room. I fell to the bed; a lone tear fell from my eye.

I guess I will be seeing my family soon.