The Cursed Mate Bond

"Please don't make me go up there." My voice cracked, but the head servant didn't even look at me. She just kept checking names on her list like I hadn't spoken at all. "You're going, Elena. All servants assigned to the Blood Moon Gathering will attend. No exceptions." I wanted to argue more, but I'd learned years ago that arguing only earned you a beating. So I stood there with the other servants, trying to make myself invisible while guards herded us toward the preparation room. Nineteen years I'd survived in this pack. Nineteen years of keeping my head down and following every rule and doing everything they told me. My parents had been executed when I was a baby for trespassing on pack territory. The Shadowridge Pack kept me alive out of mercy, they said. They gave me food and shelter in exchange for my service. I knew better than to call it slavery, even in my own head. Slaves didn't exist anymore. We were servants. There was a difference, even if I couldn't figure out what it was. The preparation room smelled like fear and cheap soap. They lined us up and told us to strip. I pulled off my rough dress with shaking hands, standing naked with twenty other humans while wolves walked around us. They poked at us like we were animals at market. "This one's too skinny," a female wolf said, grabbing my arm hard enough to leave marks. "When did she last eat?" "Servants eat when their work is done," another wolf answered. "If she's hungry, she should work faster." They all laughed like it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard. My stomach cramped because I hadn't eaten since yesterday morning, but I kept my face blank. A male wolf grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. "What's wrong with her hair color?" "We dye it," the head servant said quickly. "She has strange coloring underneath. Very pale. Almost white. It disturbs the pack members, so we cover it." The wolf grunted and let go. My scalp burned where he'd pulled, but I didn't touch it. Showing pain just encouraged them. They found scars on my back from the whippings I'd received over the years. They found bruises on my ribs from last week when Commander Voss had shoved me into a wall. They found everything wrong with my body and commented on all of it. "She'll do," the head servant finally said. "Cover her up." They dressed us in outfits that made my skin crawl. The fabric was so thin I could see through it. The top barely covered my chest and the skirt rode up so high I had to keep pulling it down. All of us looked like this. All of us wanted to disappear. "Remember the rules," the head servant announced. "Keep your eyes down. Never look at a wolf directly. Speak only if spoken to. If you spill anything, you'll be beaten. If you embarrass this pack, you'll be killed." We nodded because what else could we do. They led us into the great hall and my breath caught. I'd never seen anything like it. The room stretched so far I couldn't see the end. Hundreds of wolves filled the space, all dressed in fine clothes. Candles burned everywhere, making the gold decorations shine. Tables loaded with more food than I'd seen in my entire life lined the walls. The smell made my empty stomach twist with hunger so sharp it hurt. We servants stood against the back wall, waiting for orders. I tried counting the cracks in the floor to distract myself from the stares. Some wolves pointed at us and whispered. Others ignored us completely, which was better. A few looked at us like we were insects they wanted to crush. "You six," a guard barked, pointing at our group. "Take the wine trays and serve the high tables." My hands trembled as they loaded me down with a heavy tray. The crystal goblets felt fragile and expensive. If I broke even one, I'd be beaten until I couldn't walk. I moved through the crowd carefully, keeping my head down. Most wolves didn't acknowledge me at all. I was furniture to them, something useful but not worth noticing. One wolf stuck his foot out as I passed. I saw it just in time and stepped over it. He laughed anyway. Another grabbed the edge of my skirt as I walked by. I kept moving and the fabric tore with a sound that made nearby wolves chuckle. This was normal. This was every day of my life. I just had to survive it. I reached Commander Voss's table and my whole body tensed. He always found special ways to hurt me. His hazel eyes locked onto mine and that sick smile spread across his face. The one that meant pain was coming. "Well, look at this," he said loud enough for his friends to hear. "They dressed up our little rat." He grabbed my wrist before I could pour his wine. His fingers dug in hard, finding the bruises he'd left last time. "You look almost pretty tonight, Elena." His breath smelled like meat and wine. "Maybe after the ceremony I'll request you for private service." His other hand moved to my waist, touching me in a way that made my skin crawl. His friends at the table laughed and made comments that turned my stomach. I had to stand there and take it. Fighting back meant death. Showing disgust meant a beating. "I think I'll keep you for a whole week this time," he continued, his hand sliding up my arm. "We can see how much pain a human can handle before breaking." I focused on breathing. On staying still. On not crying or screaming or doing anything that would make this worse. Finally, he let go. I poured his wine with shaking hands, grateful when he turned back to his friends. I continued serving, my feet aching and my arms burning from holding the heavy tray. But I kept going because stopping wasn't an option. Near the back of the hall, I noticed something strange. An area where no wolves would go. The tables around it sat empty like everyone was avoiding that spot. But someone sat there. A figure alone in the shadows. My route would take me right past him if I continued in this direction. Every other servant was deliberately walking around that section, even though it made their path longer. I didn't have that choice. My orders were to serve everyone in this section, and skipping anyone meant punishment. So I forced my feet to carry me toward the dark corner. The man didn't move as I approached. He sat perfectly still, not eating or drinking. Just existing in that shadow like he belonged there. As I got closer, I could see him better. Black hair with strange silver running through it. Shoulders so broad they looked wrong. Scars covering every bit of visible skin. The air around him felt different. Colder. Heavy. Wrong somehow. My instincts screamed at me to run, but I had no choice. If I didn't serve him, I'd be beaten. Maybe killed. I stepped up to his table and reached for his empty goblet with trembling hands. I just needed to pour the wine and leave. That's all. But my hands were shaking too hard. My arms were too tired. My feet hurt too much. As I lifted the heavy pitcher, my grip slipped. I watched in horror as red wine splashed across his chest. The goblet fell from my tray and hit the stone floor. The sound of breaking crystal echoed through the entire hall. Every conversation stopped. Every wolf turned to look. The music died. The laughter ended. In the sudden silence, I heard my own heartbeat thundering in my ears. The man slowly lifted his head. His eyes were ice blue, but something was wrong with them. Red light glowed at the edges like fire trying to break through ice. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Couldn't think. Those eyes locked onto mine and the world exploded.