Have you ever had to choose between death and death? Yeah, it's best not to pick at all.
I've heard that not choosing is still choosing, so I guess I'll go with that.
'Are you crazy? We can't go to the palace,' Rhea snapped into my head.
'And we can't refuse the Luna either,' I replied, 'The punishment remains the same. I am not going back to the dungeon, our stomach is still cramping from two days without eating.'
'The dungeon is better than being dragged in front of the king.'
'That is enough. I told you to be quiet today—stick to it.' Rhea can be irritating at times.
"Luna, yes… of course, I'm going," I answered aloud, trying to smile. I was going to walk away when she interrupted me. I had no idea she was speaking to me because I was so caught up in my thoughts.
"I need to do something before the Alpha learns that we're gone. Go get my son," she ordered, leaving without waiting for a response.
The Alpha, Edward, Darly's father, had no idea we were headed to the palace. Darly was his firstborn, but the Alpha had a younger son, Akeem, who would be eighteen next month—and Edward wanted to declare him Alpha.
The majority of the pack did not agree. Half of them wanted Darly to take control. He was twenty-four years old and had found his mate, Freya, the sister of one of the Alpha King's wives. It was just power.
The Luna wanted Darly to become Alpha, so she was going to take him to the palace behind her husband's back as a power move.
I raised my hand to knock, but the door slid open, revealing the last person I wanted to see… Vanessa, Darly's mistress, Jax's older sister, and my tormentor.
"Shit, my day is ruined. What do you want, you little whore?" She covered her boob's which were almost popping out of her revealing vest.
I kept my voice calm: "The Luna asked me to get Daryl." I tried not to meet her gaze. I still had a scar from the last time I did.
She'd detested me from the minute I joined the Shadow Hunters pack, ever since she found out Darly was my mate, she made sure he didn't look at me. As if he needed convincing.
"Darly! Get dressed and leave my house. I can't stand this wolfless servant's scent."
I took a step back as she spat, knowing from years of experience that she likes to aim for my face.
Darly stepped out, still buttoning his shirt, and kissed her goodbye. "You look pathetic," he told me as he passed by. I followed silently, "I told you," he said, looking back, "You can still be my sex partner. You'll beg for it once I'm Alpha."
–He had rejected me, but that didn't stop him from attempting to force himself on me. And no, I wasn't giving in. Even if I had nothing else, I wouldn't let him take the last of me. Especially not when Alphas taking their mate's virginity strengthened them. I would rather die.
I sat silently in the backseat of the car with Luna. Darly and Freya sat together up front. She was quiet as usual, shy.
She couldn't shift—like me—and her own mate had rejected her. But, unlike me, she was descended from nobility and had a powerful sister who married the King. This made her valuable. Marriage-worthy. A perfect pawn.
The car eventually came to a stop, and when I looked up, my breath hitched. The Palace. It was ancient and majestic, too gorgeous to be true.
The grass was beautiful, the fountains were flawless, and the buildings looked like something out of a human luxury resort. Nothing like the Shadow Hunters' pack, where I had been living as a ghost for five years and I thought was heaven.
But, I felt scared. My feet felt heavy as I trailed behind them, Luna's gift basket in hand. Rhea had gone silent, totally hidden. But I could not blame her.
If the palace Seers discovered my past or sensed who I was... it was over.
Inside, we met the First Queen. She greeted us pleasantly and announced that the King would be joining us shortly.
"The third queen is ill. I'm sure your sister told you where she went," she said politely to Freya then she gave me a smile, "We often forget our servants are living creatures too." She motioned for me to sit.
The Luna clearly did not want me to, but the Queen's command left her no choice. Darly rolled his eyes, Freya remained silent, shrinking into herself as always– she was so down to earth.
Soon after, a servant came in and whispered to the Queen. She stood and led us into the royal dining room. I blinked. This was the most sacred area in the palace. Why was I allowed in?
I sat next to Luna, highly aware that I was still wearing my maid uniform. I had not even changed, I was not supposed to be here.
The men entered one by one and ten minutes later... He walked inside. The Alpha King. Everybody stood, bowed.
I froze, my legs shook, and my palms were slippery with sweat.
Rhea resurfaced in the back of my head, causing dread and overwhelm, followed by her voice: 'Mate. Mate. Mate.' Over and over.
Then he touched my chin and everything shattered.
Nobody—no mate—had ever claimed me like this. Not my first, not Darly, they never called me theirs, but the King did.
"Mine."
Panic surged across my chest, and my heart dropped.
This cannot be happening, a third mate? A third rejection would result in death, not exile, not punishment, death!
A third rejection declared a she-wolf unworthy of even serving.
There was no way the Alpha King would accept me. I was nothing.
I could not breathe, my knees sagged, the room whirled, and the last thing I saw before everything went dark…Was him.