WEREWOLF CINDERELLA

Mia’s POV The vase shattered. I was unusually clumsy today and it was proven from the manner in which the expensive vase slipped from my hands to the floor, breaking into uncountable pieces. A piece cut me and I could feel the hand in my right leg. I knew I was in trouble. Like someone I know would always say, I was in a hot pot of soup. The supervisor was right around the corner and she came to me. I tried avoiding her gaze but she grabbed my chin fiercely. “Do you have any idea how much that vase costs?” the supervisor asked angrily. I raised my eyes to look at her but the moment our eyes met, I received a slap. I endured while I trembled at her presence. I fell on my knees. “Please, forgive me! It will never happen again!” I begged continuously. She seemed to be enjoying it but not too long after, she kicked my face. Her long, sharp toes almost stabbed my eye but I was lucky enough as only dirt found its way in. I had to blink and cry so that the dirt would evacuate. “Go to the confession zone. Kneel and confess your crimes for the next sixteen hours,” the supervisor told me. It was with excitement that I stood up and thanked her. I rushed down to the confession zone like she said. Actually, my pleas must have worked. Anyway, the confession zone was an outdoor area with a large metal platform. It is heated by the scorching sun, making it painful to its victims. This wasn’t my first time going through this. As I knelt on the metal platform, I found out that it was hotter than ever. “Ouch,” I found myself muttering. “I have sinned greatly. I beg the heavens for forgiveness. Forgive me, Alpha!” I kept up with my pleas for forgiveness. I could smell my flesh getting burned but this only motivated me to shout louder. The sun had kept its brightness so high as if it had grudges against me. It was painful and as I actually confessed my crime and asked for forgiveness, I cried. You must be wondering, why was I so happy with such gruesome punishment? Now, listen up. The Savannah pack was just like every other pack in Mid-Grim Badlands. It had those considered to be of lowly birth and others known to be young masters and mistresses. I was an omega, the lowest rank in the pack. I was to serve as a slave for twenty-five years after which I could be considered for release. Any crime (like accidentally breaking a vase) would mean five years added to my s*****y term. Trust me, I would rather have my flesh burned. Six hours passed and I was sweating profusely with no strength left to cry. I thought I was going to die today but the heavens had other plans for me. In the next few minutes, the sun’s brightness was lowered, the clouds gathered, and rain began to fall. It was raining heavily. Everyone except the guards found their way indoors while I remained outside, serving my punishment. My flesh did not burn now but matters worsened. I shivered, murmuring my plea of forgiveness. I couldn’t tell how long it took before my voice got inaudible. Soon, everything began to get blurry. “I committed a huge crime… I am a sinner. Forgive-” I think those were my last words as I lost consciousness. ** I didn’t die. A guard picked my body up and took me to the slave doctor. I survived and I was given a day to rest. That was all. I could remember that date clearly and since I didn’t know my birthday, I decided to use that date. Exactly two years later, there was famine through the Mid-Grim Badlands. Rain last fell two years ago when I was being punished. It had been seen as a punishment from the heavens and the seven Alphas from the seven packs had to meet together to offer a rite to make rain. My own pack was chosen. “Mia! Help out with the chores at the kitchen,” I was told. I had looked forward to being placed in the welcoming team but again, that old, mean supervisor of mine would never let me enjoy it. Our pack was playing host to six Alphas from different packs hence the hustle and bustle. But for the first time, I wasn’t having it. A timid maid had been placed in the welcoming team and I knew she would be very clumsy if she went. Using this window, I went to her. “Hey, how about we exchange roles?” I asked her carelessly. She raised her head. “Why should I?” she asked calmly. I could remember that this same girl was crying when another maid picked on her. She feared everyone but ME. I didn’t want to be a scary person but then, a different person would have it easy with this girl. Anyway, I put on a smile. “I noticed your hands were shaky…” I offered warmly. “What if something goes wrong while you serve the Alphas directly? I will be better at-” She didn’t let me finish. “You are the infamous one who broke an expensive vase!” she replied fearlessly. In my mind, I was shouting ‘BUT THIS GIRL ACTED WEAKLY WITH OTHERS’. “It’s fine,” I replied. “To be fair, I broke a vase two years ago. It’s been long enough.” “I’m not interested!” she eventually told me. “I could hear the girls gossiping yesterday. Everyone of them hopes one of the Alphas fall in love with them and make them his concubine. Well, I don’t plan to miss out.” With this, she walked away. I was disappointed but you know what, I guess I will be fine. I would simply devote myself to assisting in the kitchen. Those who were sent there were obviously those whom the supervisor disliked. “The old witch makes me sick…” one of the girls said. Meanwhile, the ‘old witch’ was a nickname designed for our mean supervisor. She has been with us for several years and there were doubts as to which she would retire soon. “If I were you, I would be delicate with those pastries,” another girl chirped in. “A mistake won’t get you five more years, it will be beheading.” All of us laughed it off but the girl looked serious. No one believed her till in the evening. One of the maids who went to welcome the Alphas died by beheading because she made a mistake while presenting wine to one of the Alphas. Plot twist, it was the same girl that refused my offer to exchange roles. ** Panic spread after the beheading and all the girls who were planning on seducing an Alpha suspended their plans at once. None of them wanted to lose their heads. Many began to beg the supervisor for a reshuffle of roles. I was already bewildered about the beheading and I was also satisfied with my kitchen role. However, the old witch (the supervisor) wanted a reshuffle. Lo and behold, I was among the ones selected to serve the Alphas. Now I was sure that the old witch wanted my death. How on earth would she push me into the lion’s den if she wasn’t tired of my living? But I had to obey. I, and one other maid were to serve Alpha Pedro his lunch. The Alphas were staying in different quarters in the castle. Alpha Pedro was the Alpha of my own pack but I have been fortunate or unfortunate enough not to meet him. Tales of his brutality and ruthlessness had spread like wildfire. “Leave!” Alpha Pedro instructed the maid that came with me. I held my breath. I had begun to worry now. I began to serve his meal on the table. “What is your name?” he asked. “Mia, my lord,” I replied curtly. My hands were shaky but I got more careful. I didn’t want to be beheaded just yet. “You had such beautiful hands,” he grabbed my hands firmly. I didn’t dare struggle. My heart was thumping hard. I could feel sudden heat. Soon, his right hand went around my waist. I could already imagine his hand grabbing my butt. That would probably be next. But the door opened. “Forgive me for the disruption, Alpha. An elder wishes to see you,” it was a guard who had barged in. “You should watch it, uncultured brat!” Alpha Pedro spat in anger. “You have just ruined my fun, you manner-less thing.” The guard apologized. I could tell that he was scared as well. “We will have to continue this later…” Alpha Pedro told me. “Come to my bedroom tonight.” Sheepishly, I nodded. No way. I had kept my virginity for the past twenty-four years of my life and I was going to lose it to the infamous Alpha Pedro. NO f*****g WAY.