Amelia's pov
The kitchen was always warm, but today it felt like an oven, the heat wrapping around me like a
suffocating blanket.
My hands were slick with sweat as I prepared the meal, my fingers fumbling with the edges of
the linen napkins. I could barely concentrate, my mind a tornado of nerves and fear.
Alpha Marku had insisted that I serve the regional alpha personally, and I knew it wasn't
because he trusted me. No, this was a trap, a chance for him to catch me slipping up. He
enjoyed punishing me, the twisted satisfaction he got from my pain was written in every smirk,
every condescending word.
I glanced over at Lorna, the head chef, who was working beside me. She was the only person in
the entire pack who ever showed me kindness. Her calm presence had always been a small
comfort, a rare thing in a world filled with harsh orders and cruel glares. I wished I could absorb
some of her steadiness, but my hands wouldn't stop trembling.
"Amelia, you need to breathe," Lorna said gently, noticing my shaking hands as I tried to fold a
napkin. She reached out, placing a hand on my arm to steady me. "It's just another meal. You've
done this a thousand times."
I shook my head, biting my lower lip to keep it from trembling. "But it's not just another meal,
Lorna. It's the regional alpha and his beta. If I mess this up…" My voice trailed off, the rest of the
sentence hanging in the air between us.
We both knew what would happen if I made a mistake. Marku would have his excuse to send
me back to the dungeon, where the darkness and cold were the least of my fears.
Lorna's eyes softened, and she sighed, giving my arm a gentle squeeze. "Listen to me, Amelia.
You can do this. Just take it one step at a time. Focus on what you're doing, not on who's
watching."
I nodded, though my heart was still hitting so loudly I was sure Lorna could hear it. She released
my arm and went back to her work, humming softly to herself in an effort to ease my nerves. I
focused on the rhythm of her movements, trying to mimic her calm actions as I prepared the
tray.
The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of the
gravy I was about to serve. The smells were comforting, but they did nothing to calm the storm
inside me.
When the tray was finally ready, I took a deep breath and picked it up, my hands still trembling
slightly despite my best efforts. Lorna gave me a reassuring nod as I walked toward the door
that led to the dining room. But before I could push it open, I felt a cold shiver run down my
spine, the familiar sensation of being watched. I turned to see Marku standing in the doorway of
his office, his eyes fixed on me with a predatory glint.
"Remember what I said, Amelia," he called out, his voice dripping with a false sweetness that
made my skin crawl. "One mistake, and you'll spend the rest of the week in the dungeon."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I nodded in response. "Yes, Alpha Marku."
He gave me a cruel smile, his eyes narrowing. "Good girl. Now go and make sure our guests
are well taken care of."
With that, he turned and disappeared back into his office, leaving me standing there with my
heart racing and my stomach in knots. I hated the way he called me that "good girl" as if I were
nothing more than a dog to be trained and beaten into submission. But I had no choice. I had to
do what he said, or the consequences would be unbearable.
Pushing the door open with my shoulder, I entered the dining room, my steps careful. The
regional alpha and his beta were already seated at the table, their conversation quieting as I
approached. I could feel their eyes on me, scrutinizing my every move. My hands shook as I
began to place the dishes in front of them, trying to keep my focus on the task and not on the
overwhelming pressure of the moment.
Then it happened.
As I bent down to place a dish in front of the regional alpha, something strange and powerful
washed over me. It was like an invisible force, pulling me toward him, and I couldn't resist it. My
eyes were drawn to his, and the moment our gazes locked, everything around me seemed to
fade away. His eyes were a deep, intense blue, and they bore into mine with an emotion I
couldn't quite place,something between shock, recognition, and… longing?
My heart skipped a beat, and in that split second, my hands betrayed me. The tray slipped from
my grasp, the heavy dish crashing to the floor with a loud clang. The sound echoed in the silent
room, and I froze, horror flooding my veins as I realized what I'd done.
The silence that followed was suffocating. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All I could do was
stare at the mess on the floor, my mind blank with fear. I was dead. Marku would punish me for
this, and I knew it would be worse than anything I'd endured before. I braced myself, waiting for
the inevitable explosion of rage.
"Amelia, I gave you one simple instruction!" Marku's voice cut through the silence like a whip,
and I flinched, my whole body trembling as he stormed toward me. I knew what was coming. His
punishments were always swift and brutal.
But before he could reach me, a deep, growl filled the room, stopping everyone in their tracks. It
was a sound filled with power, a warning that sent shivers down my spine. I looked up, my eyes
wide with shock, and saw the regional alpha rising from his seat, his expression dark and
dangerous.
"MATE!" he growled, the word reverberating through the room with an intensity that made my
heart race even faster. The alpha's eyes were fixed on Marku, and in that moment, I saw a
glimmer of fear in Marku's eyes,a very rare sight.
Everything was happening so fast. My head was spinning, and I struggled to make sense of
what was going on. Mate? The regional alpha was my mate? But how could that be? I was just
a servant, a nobody in this pack. Mates were supposed to be special, chosen by the Moon
Goddess herself. This couldn't be real. It had to be some kind of mistake.
Marku's hand, which had been poised to strike me, lowered slowly, his face contorting with a
mix of anger and uncertainty. He was clearly weighing his options, trying to figure out how to
handle this unexpected turn of events.
The regional alpha took a step forward, his eyes never leaving Marku's. "Touch her, and you'll
regret it," he warned, his voice low and filled with deadly intent.
For a moment, the room was thick with tension, the air crackling with the unspoken threat
between the two alphas. My breath was caught in my throat, and I could feel my pulse hitting in
my ears. I didn't know what to do, didn't know what any of this meant. All I knew was that
everything had changed in an instant.
Finally, Marku stepped back, his expression hardening as he forced a thin smile onto his face.
"Of course, Alpha Lucian. I didn't realize she was your mate," he said, though the bitterness in
his voice was impossible to miss.
After his rejection Marku never expected me to find a second chance mate,so I understand his
reaction.He always emphasized how I was stuck with him forever, lonely and unwanted.
Lucian. The regional alpha's name was Lucian. The name seemed to echo in my mind, as if it
had always been there, waiting for this moment.
Lucian's gaze softened slightly as he looked at me, and I felt a strange warmth spreading
through me, replacing some of the fear that had been gripping me. His eyes were still intense,
but there was something else there now,something protective, almost tender.
"I think it's best if we continue this conversation later, Alpha Marku," Lucian said, his voice calm
but firm. "For now, I'll be taking Amelia with me."
Marku's jaw clenched, and I could see the struggle in his eyes as he fought to maintain control
of the situation. But he knew he had no choice. Lucian was the regional alpha, and defying him
would be a dangerous mistake.
"Very well," Marku replied, though his tone was icy. "But I expect this… oversight will not affect
our future dealings," he said in contempt.
Lucian didn't bother to respond, his attention fully on me now. He extended a hand toward me,
his eyes softening even further as he waited for me to take it. I hesitated, the enormity of the
moment pressing down on me. This couldn't be real. How could the regional alpha be my mate?
But his presence was overpowering, a force I couldn't ignore, and despite everything, I felt
drawn to him.
But then the reality of the situation hit me like a wave crashing over rocks. The room, the
silence, the danger I was still in, the unpredictability of Marku,it all came rushing back. I couldn't
think straight. I couldn't breathe.
No, this wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.
Panic surged through me, and without thinking, I wrenched my hand back before it could fully
touch his. I turned on my heel and bolted, my feet hitting against the floor as I fled from the
dining room, my heart hammering in my chest.
"Amelia, wait!" I heard Lucian call after me, his voice filled with concern, but I didn't stop. I
couldn't. My mind was spinning, fear gripping every part of me. I had to get away, I had to.