The moon was still bright in the sky as Marie pulled herself out of the small broken wooden bed she slept in every night. Her body ached from the fact that her mattress was thin and worn and the springs were sticking through in some places. She stretched her arms and legs, and let out a sigh, She shifted her eyes over to the neatly folded pile of clothes that sat on the floor in the corner of her room. This mostly consisted of clothes she had managed to rescue from the bin from other members of the pack who were getting rid of them. Since the death of Annabella, the old maid who raised her and the only person who showed her love, her life had gradually gotten worse. Her father, who had once agreed to provide money to cover clothes, food and education, had pulled this offer the moment Annabella died. Leaving Marie to be a maid in her own house and treated as dirt by all pack members. She had to cook, clean and do any other task her rather felt would disgrace her further. She was allowed to attend school due to the laws of her pack. However, this was not a safe space for her either, as the torment was continued by the other pack members who would use her as a target daily.
Marie grabbed some jeans and a jumper from the pile of clothes and quickly got herself dressed. The jeans were too big as they hung off Marie's skinny frame. She was not allowed to train with the other wolves, so therefore, her muscles and body had not developed like every other werewolf body would. The jumper was navy blue and it fit her better than the jeans. Marie chose this as it hid the rest of her body well. Marie took a glance at herself in a beautiful golden framed mirror with a red jewel adorning the top that sat pierced on top of a cardboard box. This mirror was the nicest item that Marie had. Annabella had given it to her when she was little and told her that it had used to belong to Marie's mother. Annabella had rescued it from the wrath of her father in the early days of her mother's death and decided that Marie should have it. Maried dragged a brush through her red fiery hair and pulled it back into a high pony tail. The dark circles under her eyes made her emerald green eyes dull. Marie shook her head at hr reflection and readied herself for the day ahead. Marie moved through the house quickly but quietly to ensure she did not wake her father. She made her way to the kitchen and grabbed all the ingredients she would need for breakfast that morning. Marie quickly set about cooking eggs, sausages and bacon and brewing tea. Her mouth watered at the smell as everything began to cook. However, she knew that all that would pass her lips today was bread and water, as this was all that her father allowed. Marie had once tried to take some food from the kitchen as she cooked but was caught by another maid in the house. She quickly took it upon herself to report this to her father and Marie was beaten and locked in her room for 4 days without food and one jug of water to last her the length of her imprisonment. Marie did all she could to avoid the beatings, so taking food was not an option anymore.
The food quickly cooked and she set the table ready for the arrival of her father. Marie was pleased her father never remarried and had pups with others and she knew that she would not even be given the grace of living in her family home had this been the case. She took the little wins where she could.
"Morning father", Marie announced when Lord Francis stomped through the dining room door and took his seat at the head of the table.
" I have warned you to not call me father" he shouted.
"Apologies my Lord, I forgot myself."
A grunt left his lips as he started to serve himself the food which had been prepared for him. Marie turned to take her leave to get ready for school when,
"Marie, there is an event tomorrow at the Alphas house i have offered you as maid. You must report there after school today and not return until after the event"
"But my lord". She stuttered "It is my birthday tomorrow, and i had hoped you would allow me to spend the day to myself as you have in previous years."
Lord Francis slammed his fist onto the table making Marie jump backwards with fright.
"You will do as i have said and report to Alpha's house to do whatever it is that will make him happy!. If i hear you have caused any trouble, the punishment will be harsh."
"Yes my Lord, I am sorry. My Lord"
"Go, get out of my sight."
Marie turned on her heels and ran as quickly as her thin weak legs would carry her back to her room. She charged through the door and slammed it behind her, so angry that on the one day in the year that she could escape the hell she lives in had been taken from her. Marie was turning 18 in the morning and it was the day that she had been dreaming about for a very long time. Marie hoped deep down that on the day of her 18th birthday this would be the day that her life would change for the better and she could say good bye to the abuse and beating she suffered on a daily basis. Marie hoped that she would find her mate and become loved and protected. Feelings that she had only ever felt from one person and that one person was now gone. Marie had hoped she would spend the day wondering about the pack lands waiting for the most delicious scent of her mate to catch her nose and led her to her happiness, but now she had to work at some silly pack event. Marie grabbed her school bag and some extra clothes and left for school.
The school day dragged by slowly, which made the constant torment and bullying she experienced on a daily basis even hard to cope with. As she walked down the hallways, other students would knock her into the lockers or simply trip her up so that as she fell to the floor all the books she was carrying would spread wildly across the floor. Jamie was the worst wolf of them all. he was the son of the Beta Garrett and he loved to ensure everybody knew how important he and his family were in the pack and today was no exception. Marie was sitting at a small lunch table at the very back of the lunch hall trying to hide away from her tormenters when she caught Jamie's scent under her nose. She quickly gathered her books up and stood to leave trying to avoid him but it was too late. His grasp came hard and sharp on the top of her arm.
"Where do you think you are going in such a hurry?" he hissed at her
Before Marie could open her mouth to respond, a hard slap landed on her face knocking her backwards.
"He asked you a question, bitch!" Marie looked up and saw Sophie. The girlfriend of Jamie. Sophie loved to join in Jamie's abuse of her and took every opportunity she could.
" I am sorry Jamie, I will answer your question, I was just...
Sophie laughed with such venom. " As if he cares where you are going really. He just didn't want you running away before i could slap you"
Jamie laughed and wound his arm around Sophie's waist. " Come on babe, let's go". They both walked away laughing. Marie raised her eyes from the ground and saw that everybody else was staring at her with hushed comments being made. She quickly rushed from the dining room to find a space to hide.
Marie entered the greenhouse that was tucked away at the very back of the school field and hidden from view by the wildly growing bushes and trees. She knew that nobody would bother her here. She slid down the wall and wrapped her arms around her knees as tears began to stream down her face, She hated her life and everybody in it. She wanted nothing more than to find her mate and have some happiness in her life. Marie remained in this position until the bell for the end of the day rang out. She was not bothered that she had missed her classes and knew that the teachers would not even notice her absence. She rose to her feet and headed for the door. As she stepped outside she walked into something hard and fell backwards onto the floor. She raised her head and as she realised who it was that she bumped into she scurried backwards with fear on her face.
" Jacob, I am so sorry, I didn't mean, I mean i didn't know you were there. I am sorry". Marie scrambled to find the words that would ease the situation.
Jacob was tall, with ash-blonde hair and the best physique Marie had ever seen. He was also the Alpha's son and the next Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack. Jacob tilted his head to the side as he watched Marie stutter her words at him. Jacob had never been directly abusive towards Marie. He had never stepped in when his friends or anybody else had used her for their entertainment. Marie just assumed that this was because he saw her as so far below him in the pack that she simply wasn't worth the hassle. She wished the others felt this way.
With his head still tipped to the side, he outstretched his hand to Marie.
"Here let me help you up" his voice sounded silky and smooth. Marie hesitated and then quickly came to her senses and pulled herself to her feet. There was no way she was going to fall into whatever trap this was.
"I am sorry again Jacob, I must be going. I cannot be late". With that, Marie grabbed her bag and ran across the school field. Jacob watched her until she was out of his sight.
As Marie walked to the Alpha's pack house she could not shake the feelings of confusion out of her mind. Why was Jacob outside the greenhouse and why, when she had walked into him, had he offered her help? He had never uttered a single word to her.
The Alpha pack house appeared in front of her. It was a large mansion with towers that reached high into the sky and the most beautiful stained-glass windows scattered over the outside. Marie had rarely ever been to the alpha pack house. it was only th eodd occasional in which she needed to collect a delivery for her dad, but even then she was not allowed to use the front entrance and had to use the servants' entrance at the very back of the house. She stood in awe as the roof glistened in the setting sun.
"What the fuck are you doing here" A Hiss came from behind her. Marie quickly spun on her heels and found that he hiss came from the most gorgeous girl in the whole pack. Elizabeth, the future Luna of the Dark Moon Pack and the girlfriend of Jacob. She had long flowing golden hair, porcelain features, the longest legs that Marie had ever seen on a she-wolf before and was dressed perfectly.
" I am here to help the other maids with the event", she replied quietly.
"Well, use the back entrance, nobody must see.." Before Elizabeth could finish her sentence a low growl could be heard from behind. Both of the girls' eyes grew wide when they saw that the growl itself came from Jacob.
"Oh babe, it is you. I was just informing this omega slave that she must use the back entrance."
With the same expression and tipped head, Jacob looked past Elizabeth and straight at Marie. " You may use the front entrance as all other helpers are in the great hall. This will get you there quicker."
Elizabeth inhaled sharply "But babe, i had already told her which door to use"
"Yes, I am aware and I have decided otherwise."
Elizabeth's lis turned down and she opened her mouth as if to protest, but then Jacob snaked his arm over her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Come on Lizzy, let's go"
Elizabeth glared at Marie with a smirk on her lips and walked away hanging off the side of Jacob.
Marie could not believe that she had had two encounters in less than 2 hours with Jacob and neither of which ended with her being slapped.
Marie walked into the great hall and understood in an instant as to how it got its name. The ceilings must have been atleast 100ft high and each and every wall was dripping with gold and ornate fixtures. The room was a buzz with many different wolves running around carrying out different tasks. Some were hanging decorations, others were cleaning the walls and floors, some maids were seen to be bringing in tables and chairs. A older wolf hurried over to Marie and grabbed her hand.
"You must be Marie. Lord Francis informed he was sending one of his maids over to help." I do not recognize you so i knew it must be you.
"Yes, that is me. Where would you like me?" Marie asked, without batting an eyelid, because she was not aware she was indeed Lord Francis's daughter and maid.
"Could you please take a ladder and hang up the banner above the entrance to the hall. Once you have finished that, you can help in the kitchen. There is a bed for you in the maid's quarters which you can use tonight. Tomorrow i will need your help with the servers at the party."
"Of course" Marie nodded her head and quickly set off to start her job.
Marie found a ladder leaning against the wall so she picked it up and moved it into place outside the great door. Wolves were normally strong and agile, but Marie's movements were clumsy. She had not developed like other wolves and the tasks that should come easy were always difficult for her. Marie climbed the ladder and tied the front end of the banner up. She moved to the other end and repeated.
"You are the most useless wolf. Why does Lord Francis even keep you around?"Came Elizabeths voice, followed by a giggle from Sophie.
"Take that down and start again you useless bitch" Spat Sophie.
As the girls walked past, Elizabeth kicked out her leg and knocked the ladder. Marie braced herself for the pain that was to follow and closed her eyes waiting for the floor to meet her but it never came. Instead, she felt strong arms catch her and put her down gently on her feet. Marie opened her eyes and was shocked to find that it was Jacob again who had come to her rescue.
" Are you OK?" he asked gently.
"I..I am fine thank you, I am so clumsy. I lost my balance and fell" Marie knew that it was easier to state this than try to point the finger at Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Sophie, however, could not understand why Jacob had not let her fall and stood with their mouths open in shock.
"What are you doing Jacob?" Elizabeth asked.
"stopped the help hurting themselves whilst prepping for my party. As future Alpha, it is my job to protect all in my pack, is it not?
Elizabeth knew she could not argue and simply agreed with Jacob. She walked forward, linked arms with him and led him away.
The rest of the evening passed without consequence and Marie made her way to the maids' quarters to find the bed which had been allocated to her. Marie could not believe her eyes. Lying on the bed in a neatly folded pile were some pajamas, she reached out her hand and stroked the soft fabric. A small smile reached her lips as she had not seen new pajamas in such a long time. Lying next to the pajamas was a little wash bag that consisted of shower gel and shampoo. Marie could not help the little squeal of delight that escaped her mouth at the sight of this. It had been so long since she had used shampoo or shower gel. She was used to using a small bar of soap she had found in the laundry room once. She grabbed the items of the bed and looked for the bathroom. Another maid in the room was watching her with curiosity.
"the bathroom is just outside the door and to the right" she whispered.
Marie nodded her head in thanks and cast a smile before heading off to the bathroom. Marie stood under the hot running water for what seemed to be an eternity before she finally washed her body and hair, dried off and headed back to her bed. She threw herself onto the bed and braced herself for an uncomfortable night but was shocked to find that the mattress was thick and comfortable and the pillow was full of feathers and made her head feel as light as one too.
"My name is Emily" whispered the young wolf from earlier.
"Hi, I am Marie. It is nice to meet you"
"I have never seen you around before. Why is that?" Emily asked curiously.
" I am a maid for Lord Francis and he only allows me to work in his home. I have therefore never been here before."
"hmmm, Well it is nice to meet you. I hop you like the gifts that were left for you."
"Oh, I do, very much so. It has been so long since..."Marie stopped herself before finishing her sentence.
"A long time since what?" asked Emily, who had now moved from her bed and was sitting on the end of Marie's
"Oh it is nothing. We have a busy day tomorrow. We must get some rest" Mairie said as she climbed into her bed and wrapped the covers around her.
"yes i guess your right, good night them Marie" Emily gazed at Emily taking in her appearance and not missing how mistreated she looked.
"Good night" Marie whispered back.
Marie lay curled up under the covers watching the clock. When the clock struck midnight Marie wished herself a happy birthday and finally let sleep take over her.