Maya's POV
When the pot with the hot soup fell to the floor, it sent hot soup flying everywhere. The hot liquid splashed toward Maya's legs, making her jump back. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
"Maya Rose!" Chief Cook The Sterling Pack kitchen was filled with Martha's loud voice. "What have you done now?"
Maya shook her hands as she looked at the mess on the floor. This was the third failure in a row, and this time it wasn't even her fault. Her pot had been knocked over by someone, but no one would believe that. There was never any faith in the omega.
Maya whispered, "I'm sorry," and got down on her knees to clean up the mess. The hot soup burned her fingers, but she didn't dare complain. Omegas didn't complain. They just cleaned up and stayed quiet.
"Sorry doesn't feed the pack!" Martha snapped. "Alpha Kai especially requested this soup for today's lunch meeting. Now what am I supposed to serve him?"
Maya's gut twisted at the mention of Alpha Kai. Just hearing his name made her feel weird inside, like birds were dancing in her belly. She'd been working in the kitchen for two years, and she still got worried whenever someone talked about their pack leader.
"I can make another pot," Maya offered quickly. "I know the recipe by heart."
Martha rolled her eyes. "You? Make soup for the Alpha? Don't be stupid. You can barely carry a pot without dropping it."
The other kitchen workers laughed, and Maya's cheeks burned with shame. She was always the one they laughed at, always the one who messed up. Being seventeen and the youngest omega in the pack meant everyone treated her like a clumsy child.
"Just clean this mess and stay out of the way," Martha ordered. "I'll have to make something quick before the Alpha gets here."
Maya nodded and kept cleaning the floor. Tomorrow was her eighteenth birthday, and she'd been hoping things would change. Adult omegas got slightly more respect than young ones. But looking at the soup stains on her apron, she doubted anything would ever change for her.
The kitchen door swung open, and Maya looked up from her cleaning. Her heart stopped.
Alpha Kai Sterling walked in, and suddenly the whole kitchen went quiet. He was tall and strong, with dark hair and the most amazing green eyes Maya had ever seen. Every woman in the pack had a crush on him, but everyone knew he never stayed with the same girl twice.
"Martha, where's my soup?" Kai asked, his deep voice making Maya's skin tingle.
"There was a small accident, Alpha," Martha said nervously. "But I'm making you something else right now."
Kai's eyes scanned the kitchen and fell on Maya, who was still kneeling on the floor with her scrub brush. She wanted to sink into the ground. Why did he have to see her like this?
"What happened?" Kai asked, looking directly at Maya.
Maya's mouth went dry. The Alpha was talking to her. Actually talking to her. She'd dreamed about this moment for years, but not like this. Not while she was covered in soup and looking like a mess.
"I... the pot... it was an accident," Maya stuttered.
"She dropped your soup, Alpha," Martha said quickly. "Clumsy as always."
Kai frowned and walked closer to Maya. She could smell his scent now - pine trees and rain and something wild that made her head spin. This close, she could see the tiny scar on his chin and the way his muscles moved under his shirt.
"Are you hurt?" Kai asked, and Maya blinked in surprise. Nobody ever asked if she was hurt.
"No, Alpha," Maya whispered. "I'm fine."
Kai stared at her for a long moment, and Maya felt like he was seeing right into her soul. Then he turned to Martha.
"Make sure she gets some ice for her hands," he said. "Those burns look painful."
Maya looked down at her red, swollen fingers in shock. She hadn't even realized how much they hurt until he mentioned it. How had he noticed when she hadn't said anything?
"Of course, Alpha," Martha said, but her voice sounded angry.
Kai nodded and left the kitchen, but not before giving Maya one last look that made her heart race. As soon as he was gone, the other workers started talking.
"Did you see how he looked at her?"
"The Alpha never notices kitchen staff."
"Maybe he felt sorry for the clumsy omega."
Maya tried to ignore them, but her mind was spinning. Why had Alpha Kai been so nice to her? Why had he noticed her burns when nobody else did? It probably didn't mean anything. Rich, powerful Alphas didn't fall for poor cooking omegas. That only happened in fairy tales.
Martha gave her a bag of ice with a scowl. "Don't let this go to your head," she warned. "The Alpha was just being polite."
Maya nodded and pressed the ice to her burning hands. But as she worked, she couldn't stop thinking about the way Kai had looked at her. There had been something in his eyes, something she'd never seen before.
The kitchen door opened again, and Maya expected to see another worker. Instead, Beta James walked in with a serious look.
"Where's the omega girl who was here when the Alpha came in?" he asked.
Maya's blood turned cold. Had she done something wrong? Was she in trouble for dropping the soup?
"Maya Rose," Martha said, pointing at her. "What's this about?"
Beta James walked over to Maya, and she stood up on shaky legs. "The Alpha wants to see you in his office," he said. "Right now."
The ice bag fell from Maya's hands and hit the floor. The kitchen went completely dead. Nobody got called to the Alpha's office unless they were in real trouble.
"What did I do?" Maya asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Beta James's face was unreadable. "That's between you and the Alpha. Come with me."
Maya's eighteenth birthday was tomorrow. She'd been looking for a fresh start, a new beginning. Instead, she might be getting kicked out of the pack.
As she followed Beta James toward the Alpha's office, one thought kept running through her mind: What could Alpha Kai possibly want with her?