Marked by Fate, Hated by the Alpha

First day as a servant

~Liana

My ear still hurt where Susan had pulled it,

I stayed crouched beside the washroom basin for a moment, pressing my lips together as the dull ache slowly settled.

“You don’t speak unless you're asked to, you don't question me, and you obey before complaints. Is that clear? I nodded.

“Get lost!” She commanded after letting go of my ear.

Rolling up my sleeves, I knelt by the drain, the metal cover was set tightly into place. I pressed my finger on the edge, pulling and twisting, hoping it would move but it didn't. I adjusted my grip and turned it the opposite direction, still nothing.

“You’re doing it wrongly, you'll break it like that.” A soft voice spoke behind me.

I looked up to see a girl standing by the doorway. She was about my age, maybe a little older. Her sleeves were rolled up and hands already wet and pale, obviously from doing other chores.

“Oh.. really?” I said, pausing.

“Yeah.. let me show you” She said with a soft smile. She came closer and squatted beside me.

“It loosens from this side”. She said as she put her fingers on the edge of the cover, twisting it carefully, the metal shifted and the cover came loose.

We both carried the cover away and as soon as it came off, the smell from the pipe filled the air. It was filled with stagnant smelly water, a thick clump of hair and grime.

“Ewww this is so disgusting! I muttered.

“You would hate to see the kitchen drains.”

I reached into the pipe with a metal hook and pulled some of the hair and grime out. Some of the dirt came out but it was still blocked, there was still so much inside.

She watched me for a moment, then took the metal from me after several failed attempts and reached deeper, pulling them out carefully. We worked quietly for a few minutes, clearing the pipe bit by bit until we got out every last clump that was in the drains. Immediately, the water rushed downward all at once until it was finally empty.

“There,” she said.

“Thank you so much. You saved my ass”

“Don’t mention.”

“I'm Liana” I said with a grateful smile

“Rhea”.

“Everyone struggles with their first time. Just keep your head down, obey before complaints. You don't want to be on Susan's bad side, she's a hard one to deal with”. I nodded in reply, even though that didn't sound reassuring. I'll just try my best to be on the safe side.

“I should leave now. I'll see you around”. She walked towards the door and stopped halfway.

“Don't let Susan know I helped you, she wouldn't like to hear that”.

“Alright. I appreciate”. She gave me a quick smile and dashed into the hallways and out of sight.

I swept out the dirt and grime, and packed it into a sewage disposal bin. I rinsed the floor and moped it dry, ensuring all corners were sparkling clean. It wasn't so difficult to clean the washroom, since I had watched the servants at my father's palace clean mine a few times, so I had little idea on how it's done. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of accomplishment. I cleaned myself and wiped my hands on the towel beside me. Stepping out of the door, I came out through the corridor, moving past the servants. The floors were nicely polished, the faint smell of scented candles filled the air.

Walking cautiously down the hallway, my eyes scanned for any sign of Susan. She was nowhere in sight. Good. That meant I could leave without immediate trouble.

I turned the corner and got back into the hall, every one was busy with one task or the other. I didn't know what to do next so I sat on the empty stool by the wall, exhausted.

“Hey you!”

There was a young servant standing there with a pile of clothes in her hands.

“Are you done with the task you were assigned to?

“Y.. yes! I stuttered

“Good! Then stop sitting there, this is no time for idleness. The kitchen's short on hands today, make yourself useful, you don't want to get yourself into trouble.”

Before I could even respond, she slid out.

I pushed myself to my feet, my knees stiff from crouching for so long.

Good gracious! I don't even get time to recover? I sighed.

I asked for directions from a servant I came across and after walking for a while, I found myself in front of a huge metal door. The smell of food, roasted meat, fresh bread, and spices filled the air.

And that was when I realized that I hadn’t eaten since my arrival here. My stomach rumbled.

The room was larger than expected, pots and pans were hung on the iron hooks on the wall, plates and cutleries neatly arranged in a large basket on the counter, it looked similar to my father's kitchen back at the palace, but larger and better.

“Hey.. we need help with the dishes. This way!

It was a woman with her sleeves rolled up to her arms. I followed her to a section of the kitchen. Several servants were already there, sleeves soaked as they scrubbed plates and pots in the large basins, stacks of dirty pots and dishes were piled beside them.

I stepped into a space between them and picked up a plate. I dipped the plate into the basin and began scrubbing, trying to copy the quick movements of the others.

Every time the stack beside us shrank, another servant appeared with a fresh tray of bowls and cups, dropping them beside the tub. Time blurred as the rhythm of the task took over.

My fingers were wrinkled by the time the pile of dishes finally started to finish. I dipped another cup into the basin, scrubbing carefully. I placed it upside down beside the others and reached for the next one.

“You!” I looked up to see a woman standing there, holding a small tray with a glass of wine.

“Take this to Susan,” she ordered, handing over the tray.

The moment I heard her name, my body stiffened. Of all the people here, it had to be me. Still, I dried my hands and took the tray.

“Where is she?”

“She’s at her desk”. She replied.

The unpleasant memory of Susan’s fingers twisting my ear earlier that day lingered. Well, there's no way I can avoid this now, I'll just keep my head down like Rhea said earlier. Balancing the tray gently, I left the kitchen and headed back into the corridor. After several carefully calculated steps, I finally reached the door.

Susan didn’t look up when I entered. She was leaning back in her chair, flipping through a stack of papers. I walked carefully towards her desk.

“Here,” I said, extending it.

She reached out to pick it up, and just then, my hand wobbled. Before I could stop it, the cup tipped over and the liquid ran across the table and splashed onto her dress. For one frozen second, the entire room went cold. Susan's eyes snapped up at me, then slowly looked down at the wet spot. Then her head lifted, her eyes locked onto mine.

“Do you know how much this dress costs? She screamed at me, standing to her feet.

“I'm sorry, it slipped”.

I apologized, hoping this would save me from yet another drama today.

“You incompetent little b***h!

She yelled, raising her hands to hit me.

“That’s enough Susan!”

A deep familiar voice cut her off, making her hands freeze midway. The familiar scent filled the air, the atmosphere changed.

I turned around.

My breath froze the moment my eyes landed on him.

It was the Alpha!