The Alpha King's Chosen Slave

Chapter 4: The One They Hid

One meal a day. And barely enough to keep me alive.

"That's all for today," Beth said. Not unkindly. Just stating fact.

I nodded. Too tired to say anything.

The girls turned to leave but then Anna stopped. Looked at Beth with excitement in her eyes.

"I still can't believe it," Anna said. Her voice getting higher.

"The Alpha King. Coming here. Tomorrow."

Beth giggled.

"I know! Can you imagine?

The most powerful Alpha in the entire kingdom. And he's coming to our pack."

"To choose a Luna," Anna added. Her eyes sparkling.

"To choose a mate. Oh, I've dreamed about this my whole life."

"You think he'll notice us?" Beth asked.

"Why not? We're both unmated. Both young. I'm going to wear my best dress. Do my hair. Make sure I look perfect."

They were both giggling now. Excited. Hopeful.

I sat there on my thin mattress. Holding my bowl. Listening to them dream.

"You really think you have a chance?" Beth asked.

"Maybe! You never know. What if the Moon Goddess—"

"Oh please." Beth's tone changed. Became more realistic.

"You know Beta Marcus has already secured him for his daughter. The whole pack knows it."

Anna's face fell a little.

"Well. Yes. Probably. Miss Lydia is beautiful. And trained. Of course the Alpha King would choose her."

Then Beth's eyes landed on me. Sitting there. Listening.

She laughed. Sharp and mean.

"Can you imagine if he chose Sera instead?" She said it to Anna but loud enough for me to hear clearly.

Anna burst out laughing too.

"Sera? The Alpha King choosing her? That's the funniest thing I've heard all week."

"The wolfless servant girl becoming Luna Queen. Right."

They both laughed harder.

My face burned. My hands clenched around the bowl.

I wanted to say something. Wanted to defend myself. Wanted to tell them to shut up.

But I couldn't.

Because if I did, if I talked back to them, they'd report me to Margaret. And Margaret would punish me. Not them. Never them.

In this house, I had no power. No voice. No rights.

So I sat there. Silent. Taking their mockery. Swallowing my anger.

"Anyway," Anna said, still smiling.

"We should go. Lots to do before tomorrow."

"Oh wait," Beth said.

"We're supposed to tell her. Miss Lydia wants all the servants in the kitchen. Later. After breakfast."

Anna looked at me.

"Did you hear that? Kitchen. One hour. Don't be late."

They left. Still giggling. Still excited about the Alpha King's visit.

The door closed behind them.

I sat alone in my closet. Holding my one meal for the day.

My anger slowly faded. Replaced by something worse.

Sadness.

They were right to laugh. What Alpha King would ever look at me? What man would want someone like me?

I was nothing. Nobody.

Just a servant in my own home.

I looked down at the bowl. At the watery soup that was supposed to keep me alive.

And I wondered. Not for the first time. If Marcus was really my father.

My mother had told me he was. Before she died. Said he'd take care of me. Said he loved me.

But he didn't act like a father. Never had.

He acted like I was a burden. An obligation. Something to be tolerated.

Maybe my mother had lied. Maybe she'd been confused at the end.

Or maybe Marcus had just never wanted me.

I ate the soup slowly. Savoring each bite because it was all I'd get.

Then I waited. Counting down the time until I had to go to the kitchen.

When enough time had passed, I stood up. My body protesting. Everything still sore.

I walked through the packhouse. Down to the large kitchen where the servants worked.

A line of girls stood there already. Ten of them. All the household servants.

I joined the end of the line. Kept my head down.

We stood there. Waiting. Quiet.

Then footsteps. Margaret walked in. Her face stern as always.

"Good morning, Miss Margaret," we all said together. Our voices flat.

She didn't respond. Just looked us over like we were animals she was inspecting.

Then more footsteps. Lydia entered. Wearing a beautiful dress. Her hair perfect. She stood near the corner. Watching. Smiling.

"Listen carefully," Margaret began. Her voice sharp.

"Tomorrow, the Alpha King visits our pack. This is the most important day in our pack's history."

We all nodded. Nobody spoke.

"You will all be on your best behavior. Orderly. Efficient. And most importantly, invisible."

She paused. Let that sink in.

"The Alpha King is coming to choose a Luna. He is coming for my daughter. For Lydia. Not for anyone else. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Miss Margaret."

I could see some of the girls' faces fall. Their dreams of being noticed dying.

"If I catch anyone trying to put themselves forward. Trying to catch his attention. You will be punished. Severely."

Murmurs started. Quiet. Unhappy.

"I don't care about your feelings," Margaret snapped.

"This is not a fairy tale. This is politics. And my daughter will be Luna Queen. Anyone who interferes will regret it."

The murmuring stopped.

"Now. You all have your duties. The packhouse must be spotless. The gardens perfect. The food exquisite. Get to work."

She started to turn away. Then stopped. Her eyes landed on me.

"Sera. A word. Now."

My stomach dropped.

The other servants began to file out. Grateful to escape. Relieved it wasn't them being singled out.

"The meeting is dismissed," Margaret said to the remaining girls.

"Get to work."

They left quickly. Lydia followed them out. Still smiling. Like she knew something I didn't.

Soon it was just me and Margaret.

"Come with me," she ordered.

I followed her out of the kitchen. Through a hallway. To a door I'd never noticed before.

She opened it. Revealed a storage room. Old. Dusty. Filled with broken furniture and boxes.

"This room needs to be cleaned," Margaret said. Her voice businesslike.

"We need the space. For storing things for tomorrow's event. Clean it. Organize it. Make it usable."

"Yes, ma'am," I said quietly.

I stepped inside. The room was dark. Musty. Cobwebs everywhere.

"I'll need supplies," I said. Turning back to Margaret.

"Cleaning supplies and,"

The door slammed shut.

I blinked. Confused.

Then I heard it. The lock clicking.

"Wait!" I ran to the door. Tried the handle. It didn't move.

"Wait! You locked me in!"

Silence.

"Miss Margaret!" I pounded on the door. "Please! Let me out! I need supplies! I can't clean without,"

"You'll stay in there until I decide to let you out."

Her voice came from the other side. Cold. Calm.

"What? No! Please! I'll clean it! I promise! Just give me,"

"Or maybe I'll let you out after the Alpha King's visit. When you can't interfere."

My blood went cold.

"Interfere? I wouldn't, I'm not trying to,"

"I don't trust you, Sera. You're desperate. Pathetic. Exactly the type to try something stupid."

"I won't! I swear! Please don't lock me in here!"

"Enjoy your time alone. Maybe it'll teach you to know your place."

"Please! Miss Margaret! Please!"

I heard her footsteps. Walking away. Getting quieter.

"No! Come back! You can't leave me in here! Please!"

I pounded on the door harder. Screamed louder.

But no one came.

No one ever came when I needed them.

I slid down to the floor. My back against the door. Breathing hard.

She was going to leave me in here.

Because she didn't trust me. Didn't want me anywhere near the King.

Like I would even try. Like any Alpha would look at me twice.

I pulled my knees to my chest. Wrapped my arms around them.

The room was dark. Cold. Smelled like mold and decay.

And I was trapped inside.