Olivia's POV
The morning sunlight crept across my face like an unwelcome intruder. I groaned, burying my head beneath the worn pillow, hoping it would all disappear—the light, the castle I was supposed to work in, the pitying stares of villagers who never forgot what my father had been accused of.
But the curtains snapped open, and my mother's soft voice broke the illusion.
"Olivia," she said gently, but firmly. "Get up, child. The Alpha's sons don't wait for anyone."
I turned my face away, pressing it into the pillow. The thin fabric smelled faintly of soap and smoke from the fire we'd stoked last night to keep warm. It wasn't much, but it was ours.
"Just five more minutes," I muttered, my voice hoarse.
"Olivia Evercrest," she said, using my full name now. "Do you want them to dock our pay? Do you want Mal to laugh in your face again?"
My chest tightened at the mention of that name. Mal. Once my closest friend, now my cruelest tormentor. She wore the title Beta's daughter like a crown, forgetting that it once belonged to me. That her father now held the position stolen from mine.
I pushed myself up slowly, hair falling into my eyes. My mother stood by the window, her figure silhouetted in sunlight. She was still beautiful despite the lines etched into her face from years of struggle. Her once-sparkling eyes now carried a constant heaviness.
"Did you dream of him again?" she asked softly.
I didn't need to ask who. My father.
I swallowed hard. "I don't… I don't remember."
But I did. I always did. The dreams of his voice calling my name from the darkness of the pit. The place where they had thrown him like an animal. No trial, no mercy. Just the Alpha's word, and that was law.
My mother sighed, walking over to brush my hair from my face. "We must endure, Olivia. One day the truth will come out. Until then… we keep our heads down."
Her touch was warm, but her words cut deep. Keep our heads down. That's what we'd been doing for six years. Surviving. Never living.
I dressed quickly, tying my long dark hair back into a braid. My dress was plain, patched in too many places, but it would have to do. We couldn't afford fine silks like Mal or the noble girls who giggled in the Alpha's halls.
Before leaving, I paused at the small table in our hut. On it lay a cracked wooden frame holding the only picture we had of him—my father, in his Beta's uniform, standing tall and proud. His eyes were the same shade of storm-gray as mine.
"Everything will be alright," my mother whispered, as though repeating it enough times might make it true.
I nodded, though neither of us believed it.
---
The Alpha's castle loomed above us when we arrived. Black stone walls stretched high into the morning sky, casting shadows over the village like a predator watching its prey. Banners with the silver wolf crest snapped in the wind, a reminder of who ruled us all.
Inside the gates, the world was another universe—guards in shining armor, courtyards filled with training warriors, servants rushing with trays and linens. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread drifted through the air, a cruel reminder of what we'd never have.
My mother went one way, I went another. She worked in the kitchens; I was assigned to the laundry hall. But today, fate had other plans.
"Olivia."
The voice made my blood run cold.
I turned slowly, and there she was. Mal.
Her blonde hair was braided intricately, adorned with silver pins. Her gown was far too extravagant for someone not yet mated, but she wore it like a queen. The smirk on her lips widened as she looked me up and down.
"Well, if it isn't the traitor's daughter."
My jaw clenched. "Don't call me that."
Her laughter rang through the corridor, drawing the attention of nearby servants. "Why? Isn't that what you are? Your father stole from the Alpha. Everyone knows it."
"He didn't!" The words burst from me before I could stop them.
Gasps echoed around us. Speaking against the Alpha's judgment was dangerous. But I couldn't help it.
Mal leaned closer, her perfume choking me. "Careful, Olivia. If you're not careful, they'll throw you in the pit too."
Her words sliced into me, but before I could reply, another voice interrupted.
"Mal."
We both froze.
Lex.
The eldest of the Alpha's triplets stood at the top of the staircase, his presence commanding without effort. His dark hair framed sharp cheekbones, his piercing eyes scanning the hall like a predator.
Beside him, his brothers Levi and Leo followed, identical in features but different in aura. Levi carried himself with arrogance, a smirk playing on his lips as his gaze swept over me. Leo was quieter, his eyes softer, almost curious.
The sons of power. The future leaders of this empire. My childhood friends. My forbidden thoughts.
Lex's eyes locked on Mal. "Don't waste your breath."
Mal's face paled, and she dipped her head immediately. "Of course, my lord."
Then his gaze shifted to me. My heart hammered. His eyes lingered—too long, too intense. My body betrayed me, heat rushing to my cheeks.
"Olivia," he said, his voice low and unreadable. "Follow me."
Every whisper in the hall fell silent.
Me? Follow him?
My pulse quickened. Because if the Alpha's son wanted me alone… nothing good ever came from that.
Lex's voice still echoed in my head as I carried the tray of water across the marble halls of the castle.
"Be careful, Olivia. Don't talk to Mal that way again, or you'll end up like your father."
Those words stung more than any slap ever could. Locked away in the pit. Forgotten. Buried alive in silence. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.
I hated this empire. I hated the power games, the lies, the cruelty. But most of all, I hated the fear that lived in my bones every second of every day.
"Olivia!"
The bark of a guard's voice startled me. I turned, clutching the tray tightly. His eyes narrowed on me, cold and dismissive. "Lady Mal requests water in Lord Levi's chamber."
My heart skipped. Levi.
A flicker of panic spread through me, but refusing wasn't an option. "Yes," I said softly, bowing my head.
The guard grunted and marched away. My legs felt like lead as I carried the silver jug and glass toward the tall double doors of Levi's room.
I stopped outside, taking a deep breath. The carved wolves on the wood seemed to sneer at me, mocking my trembling hands. I knocked lightly.
"Come in," came Mal's soft, sugar-coated voice from inside.
I pushed the door open slowly, keeping my gaze lowered to the ground. The room smelled of spice and musk, heavy and intoxicating. I stepped forward quickly, placing the glass of water on the polished oak table.
I turned to leave, desperate to escape, when her voice stopped me again.
"Wait."
I froze.
Reluctantly, I lifted my eyes.
And I wished I hadn't.
Mal was sprawled across Levi's bed, her golden hair loose around her shoulders, her perfect skin glowing in the morning light. And Levi—half-naked, his powerful chest bare—was kissing her hungrily. His hand gripped her breast, squeezing, while the other slid down her waist possessively.
My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to move, to run, but my body wouldn't listen. I stood rooted to the spot, shame burning through me like wildfire.
"Mm—Levi," Mal moaned, arching against him, her lips swollen and wet from his kisses.
I swallowed hard, biting down on the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stay silent. My fists clenched around the tray so tightly my knuckles turned white.
Levi's lips left her mouth to trail down her neck, sucking and biting as Mal gasped and clung to him. Their sounds filled the room, raw and intimate.
I shouldn't be here. Goddess, I shouldn't be here.
I turned quickly, my feet moving toward the door, desperate to escape the sight searing into my mind.
But his voice stopped me cold.
"Who said you could leave?"
Levi's tone was sharp, cruel. My whole body stiffened as I slowly turned back, dread flooding my veins. His golden eyes glowed faintly, locking on me like a predator to its prey.
"Know your place, Omega," he sneered. "Or you'll end up punished… just like your father."
The words cut deeper than claws. My throat tightened, but I dared not speak.
Mal slipped off the bed, her perfectly curved body moving with feline grace. Completely unashamed, she walked across the room toward the table, her hips swaying deliberately. She poured herself water slowly, her eyes never leaving mine.
She took a sip, then smiled—a cruel, knowing smile. "Anything else, Olivia?"
I steadied my breathing, fighting the storm inside me. "No," I whispered.
Her grin widened. "Oh, wait. Yes, there is something."
I lifted my chin slightly, though my heart pounded. "What is it?"
She set the glass down and stepped closer, her smugness radiating. "Did you know I'll be marrying one of the Alpha heirs next week? Imagine that—me, the Luna of the empire. While you…" she looked me up and down, "you'll still be scrubbing floors."
Levi smirked beside her, clearly entertained. Mal flicked her fingers dismissively. "Tidy up the room when we leave. Just like you did in Lex's and Leo's chambers."
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood. "Yes, my lady," I said flatly.
They left, laughing together, and the sound echoed like nails scraping inside my skull.
---
Hours later, after I'd scrubbed and polished until my fingers ached, another guard found me.
"Lord Leo requests your presence."
My stomach dropped. The youngest of the triplets.
I entered his chamber cautiously. He was pacing, anger burning in his eyes.
"Where is it?" he snapped the moment he saw me.
I blinked. "My lord?"
"My diamond necklace! The one I bought for Mal. I left it here this morning. You were the only one who came in today." His voice rose, dripping with fury.
"I—I didn't touch it," I stammered. "I only cleaned—"
"Liar!" he spat. "Do you think I wouldn't notice? Thief!"
My heart hammered. "Please, my lord, I swear I didn't—"
The door slammed open, and suddenly Lex and Levi stormed in, their faces twisted with rage.
"Olivia!" Lex's voice thundered, shaking me to the core. "Where is my bundle of money you took?"
Levi sneered, stepping closer. "And where are my gold earrings? The ones I gave Mal. Do you think you can steal from us and get away with it?"
My head spun. No, no, this wasn't happening.
"I didn't take anything!" My voice cracked, panic clawing at my chest. "Please, I swear on the Goddess, I would never—"
"Enough!" Lex roared.
He crossed the room in a heartbeat, his hand shooting out. His fingers wrapped tightly around my neck, slamming me against the wall. My breath left me in a choking gasp as his grip tightened, his eyes glowing molten gold.
"Where is it?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Tell me now, Olivia, or so help me—"
His strength pinned me helplessly, his face so close I could see the flecks of fire in his irises. My pulse raced, terror flooding me.
But deeper than the fear… was fury.
Because once again, I was being punished for crimes I didn't commit. Just like my father.