FROM SLAVE OMEGA TO LUNA

CHAPTER 3

A month later

"You can't mop the hallways properly, you're so useless." Mistress Alice's slap resounded against my face, sending me sprawling and knocking over the bucket of dirty water. The filthy water splashed across the hallway again.

"See what you did now! Make sure you mop it again, and if it's not clean, I will have you whipped naked in front of the warriors' garrison," Mistress Alice threatened, leaving me to my mundane task.

This was my day-to-day life. The Luna had condemned me to a slave's existence. All the work I did in the palace was unpaid. I was only fed and given a small room to sleep in. Nobody knew my former identity. Not that I cared about it; the name Lakewood was dead and gone to me.

I had almost finished cleaning the Alpha's hallway when I heard footsteps. I quickened my pace. If the Alpha's hallway wasn’t spotless...

"If you keep slacking with your tasks, you are going to be punished." I recognized the voice and turned around to see the man who had saved me a month ago from those men.

"Commander Silas," I whispered as he walked towards me. He was probably on his way to the throne room to report to the Alpha himself.

I learned his name from the other servants. He was often the topic of gossip among the servant girls. After all, he was young, successful, and one of the best warriors.

"Th-thank you for saving me... back then," I stammered, unable to look at him. He scoffed.

"It disgusts me to see warriors without discipline act like animals..." He said, stopping after he had walked past me. "I merely acted on my philosophy. I didn't necessarily save you."

"Either way, I just want to thank you," I said nonetheless, though I was confused by his earlier concern.

Silas scoffed again, pulling out a small coin purse and tossing it on the ground next to me. "You aren't eating well enough. When you're done with your task, you can spend that on food." He pointed at the coin purse.

I picked it up slowly, surprised by the amount inside despite its small size. "Thank you so much," I said with a small bow. I thought I saw a smile on his face.

"Don't get caught with it," he cautioned as he left.

"Were you talking with the commander just now?" A girl, almost my age and wearing the same maid uniform, approached. She was the only person I considered a friend here. Her name was Betty.

"He barely spoke to me," I replied, and Betty nodded, glancing dreamily in his direction.

"I heard he's the Alpha's right-hand man now," Betty whispered. "And that he's never lost a battle."

I only nodded, pocketing the coins and returning to my task. I couldn’t afford to daydream about commanders and battles. My reality was this hallway, this mop, and the ever-looming threat of Mistress Alice’s wrath.

"Help me finish up this area so we can go back to our rooms."

"Sure, but afterwards you will share those coins in your pocket with me," Betty said, and I sighed.

"Fine, just don't tell anyone or else we'll be in trouble." I agreed, hoping Betty didn't see the coins because she was terrible at keeping secrets.

Later, after the hallway was spotless and the palace had settled into its evening rhythm, we were about to return to our rooms when another maid ambushed us, delivering a message that Mistress Alice needed us in the kitchen room as fast as possible.

As soon

as we got there, Mistress Alice was already addressing the staff with important news. "The Alpha of the Silver moon is coming, and we need to prepare for him. There will be a feast, and I don't want any of you slacking. Is that clear?" Her eyes darted to us, the two latecomers.

"Both of you are late. What were you doing?" Mistress Alice's voice was sharp and interrogative.

"W-we just received the message," I replied, feeling Betty sigh beside me.

"Yeah, that was what happened," Betty added, her voice shaky and suspicious.

Mistress Alice's eyes flicked between us, narrowing. "Are you two hiding something from me?" She moved closer, looking directly into my eyes. I couldn't flinch; it would be a sign of guilt, and if Mistress Alice found those coins...

"W-we aren't hiding anything from y-you, Mistress," Betty stammered.

Mistress Alice nodded slowly. "I see." She stepped back, and Betty let out a sigh of relief. I was also relieved, thinking we had escaped a terrible fate.

"Search them!" Mistress Alice commanded suddenly. The other maids restrained us as one dug her hand into our pockets. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the clink of coins. The maid handed the coins to Mistress Alice.

"Where did you get this from?" She roared, her rage palpable. Both Betty and I were terrified, but before I could react, Betty blurted out everything.

"Mistress Alice, I had nothing to do with it. It was all Jessica's fault. I told her it was a bad idea, but she wouldn't listen to me."

"What?" I was dumbfounded by Betty's betrayal.

"She stole it from the Alpha's chambers when she was cleaning the hallways, and after I caught her, she tried to bribe me with it," Betty lied, throwing me under the bus to escape punishment.

"Is that so?" Mistress Alice's rage turned towards me. She didn't care if the story was plausible or not; all that mattered was that the coins were in my pocket.

My mind raced. I had to say something, anything, to defend myself. "Mistress, it's not true! Betty is lying to save herself. I would never steal from the Alpha. I don't even have access to his chambers!"

Mistress Alice's eyes scrutinized my every word. "And yet, the coins were found in your pocket. Do you expect me to believe they magically appeared there?"

My heart pounded in my chest. "I swear, Mistress, I didn't steal them." I couldn't tell her that Silas gave them to me; she wouldn't believe it, and it would cause trouble for him.

Mistress Alice's gaze remained unyielding. "Enough! I have no time for your excuses." She turned to one of the guards. "I will let the Alpha decide your fate."

Fear gripped me as I was dragged away. I glanced at Betty, who looked away, her face pale. I couldn't believe she had betrayed me so easily. My mind was a whirl of anxiety and anger as I was led to await the Alpha's judgment.