Stolen Fate, The Barbarian's Mate

Avira POV “Avira, where have you been?” My Mother blasted. I cringed. I couldn’t tell her I was hiding in the meadow reading my book and trying to get a sneak peek of all the Alphas and their entourage. That would only make things worse for me. “The Welcome ceremony is in a few hours. We’re busy.” “I lost track of time, but I’m here now, and I’m ready to cook.” I grinned and quickly grabbed an apron before Mom spoke, but she snatched the apron and glared at me. “Oh no, you’re not cooking. Demita’s cooking, and you’re picking up the slack.” I mostly did the sewing and laundry, and there was none of that to do right now. I’d only just become an official servant or slave of the Golden Oak Pack, Pack house, despite growing up in this house. I’d never been allowed to go upstairs or speak to the Alpha’s family. I’ve never seen the Alpha King in person. Despite calling this place home, it was also a mad torture house. However, right now we were understaffed, so we needed all the help we could get in the kitchen. “Oh crap.” Demita smirked and thrust a tray of alcohol and chicken wings into my chest. “The young betas ordered these hours ago. Take it upstairs.” Her cruel grin grew brighter by the second. She could have delivered these herself, but she didn’t want to deal with the spoiled future leaders of our Pack. I took the tray and suppressed my grumbles as I braced myself for the name-calling, but with the arrival of the Alphas, they might be too busy to notice my presence. Alphas from far and wide were coming because this year the Golden Oak Pack is hosting the Mating Run. It comes around every twelve years, and if anything goes wrong, there are serious consequences for werewolves. I was only a child when the last Mating Run happened, but I’ve heard stories and dreamed of taking part. But wolflesses aren’t allowed to take part, and unfortunately for me, my expiration date hit years ago. Tonight, I’ll be twenty-one. But hope still burned within me. “Are you sure this is going to work, Giada?” A familiar voice asked. I made it to the first floor. It was dark, with pounding music coming from one of the closed doors. I realised Demita didn’t tell me which room to go into. “Crap,” I whispered. “Ugh, you need to put on your big girl panties if you want to get with the Alpha. Besides, you’re our father’s right-hand man’s daughter and my best friend. You are the perfect match for Kallen,” Princess Giada said. “Yes, you’re right. I deserve a powerful Alpha too.” Giada flipped her luscious blonde hair over her shoulder. She was the belle of the pack, but only in facial beauty. But even that was deadly. The princess’s poison bled from her pores and killed anyone unfortunate enough to be in her path. Like me. I backed up slowly, but it was too late. Giada caught my scent. Vielle, her best friend, shot me daggers too. “Eavesdropping, slut?” Giada’s blue eyes flashed venomously red as she advanced like a predator. “When did they let the slave upstairs?” Vielle laughed. “I’m leaving,” I murmured. Giada advanced while I backed up. “Leaving with our booze?” “Uh...” Giada’s evil smirk turned my blood cold. Vielle snatched the vodka bottle off the tray. “When will you learn to act like a shadow like the other slaves?” “I wasn’t—” Giada’s claws connected with my skin, the tray went flying, the glasses shattered, and I stumbled down the stairs behind me. As I rolled, my bones cracked, and my head smashed on the concrete steps. “Wolfless trash!” The princess spat and brushed glass and wing sauce off her dress. All I heard was their cruel laughter. I’d had trash thrown on me, my bedroom destroyed, and beaten up when I stood up for myself, but this time something inside me broke. My life flashed in front of my eyes when I rolled down those stairs. All I had to think about was abuse and joy when my bruises healed. “Ouch,” I winced as blood trickled down my arm and legs. A rough hand wrapped around my wrist and dragged me to my feet effortlessly. I stared into crystal blue eyes similar to Giada’s crazy ones. “A-Alpha Kallen,” I stuttered. “What the hell is this?” he asked coldly, but a part of me thought he wasn’t talking about my accident. What else could he be talking about? The place was a mess. “Oh, nothing, brother. It’s just Avira making a fool of herself again. On top of being an eavesdropper, she’s a klutz.” Vielle giggled exaggeratedly, and Giada glared at her. “What are you doing here, Giada? The Alphas are arriving. Mom and Dad want you to make a good impression.” Giada flipped her hair. “I don’t need to make a good impression for anyone. My eyes are set on one Alpha.” Kallen’s grip on my hand tightened. It’s like he forgot he was holding me. His touch burned like a graze from the sun. It touched my very soul, and I couldn’t explain how. “He’s an uncultured barbarian,” Kallen spat. “Say what you like, brother, but Alpha Dacre’s one of the most feared Alphas for a reason,” Giada smirked and pranced off. “See you tonight at the welcome ceremony, Alpha Kallen. Save me a seat?” Vielle smiled innocently as if she and her friend hadn’t just tried to kill me! Kallen nodded. “Of course.” Once we were alone, the weight of Kallen’s touch nearly crushed me. I snatched my wrist free and put distance between us. The sudden movement sparked rage in his eyes. He pounced and, in an instant, had me pinned to the wall, pressing his solid body against my fragile frame. His fingers curled around my throat. I wished I had a wolf to defend me, to come alive and attack Kallen, but I was hollow inside. “What do you think you’re doing?” he barked. “Me? You’re the one on top of me!” His rabid eyes relaxed, but he didn’t let me go. “I’m barely crushing you, but I can show you what it’s really like to be under me, Avira.” I scowled, and he finally got off me. Alpha Kallen was the heir to the pack, son of the Alpha King’s second wife. He’s drop-dead gorgeous, the best warrior in the Pack and his Father’s pride and joy. Despite that, he was arrogant and an asshole. I’d known him my whole life, and count could the times he’d shown me kindness. It was more than Giada, so I had to give him credit for that. “You made a mess, Avira. Want to tell me what happened?” he asked, raising his brow. “I don’t need to tell you that,” I mumbled. He shrugged. He knew his sister’s games too well. “I should get going. I have a lot to do for the welcome ceremony.” “The ceremony you’re not allowed to attend,” he said, straightening his clothes. “What, why?” I’m supposed to be working then! He frowned. “You’re a slave, plagued with bad luck. The last thing I need is for you to f**k things up for me,” he said, glancing at the wings on the ground and the shattered glass. “And you’re wolfless. You have no business there.” Once a wolf goes past eighteen, their chances of their wolf showing up are over. However, I had hope tucked away in the dark corner of my heart that maybe tonight the moon goddess would bless me with a wolf. Was I silly for wanting that? “Clean this up and stay out of sight. Have I made myself clear?” He said close to my ear, his breath tickling my cheek. I nodded, unable to speak. After cleaning up Giada’s mess, I found my trusty first aid box and cleaned up my cuts. The welcome ceremony had begun. A knock came at my door, then Mom walked into my room wearing a subtle black dress with her hair pulled up. She smiled at me. “I’m sorry you can’t attend the ceremony, honey,” she said, then sat on the edge of my bed. I nodded. “You knew I couldn’t attend, right?” She sighed heavily. “When Luna Monica allowed you to work in the rest of the mansion, she put strict rules in place for you. You know how lucky we are to be in this house.” I nodded. Yes, she’s told me so my whole life, but now I wanted something different. I didn’t want to die in this castle. I had too many bruises to testify to how close I’d come to my death. Maybe, just maybe, the moon goddess would favour me. “Keep your head down just like you’ve always done, honey.” “That didn’t stop them from attacking me,” I grumbled. “We’ll talk about this later, Avira. I need you to help Demita in the kitchen. I love you, honey.” I nodded. She kissed my cheek and walked out to supervise the party. I could have gone to the kitchen to help cranky Demita, but my birthday was in a few hours. I wanted to feel the light of the full moon on my face. I needed to figure out what I was going to do with my life. Many others had already concluded that my life was worthless. I trekked to the forest surrounding the castle. I walked until the distance drowned out the music and laughter. I lit a candle I kept in my bedroom and exhaled. “I just want a wolf, an escape,” I whispered. The wind snuffed out my candle and pulled my hair in front of my face. Tears stung my eyes. The silence was as cold as the knife piercing my heart. I was nothing but a hollow shell. I dropped the candle. “Pointless,” my voice cracked. “Mate.”