As soon as David pushed me into the darkness, my breath got caught in my throat.

My back hit the cold stone wall so hard and I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat as Lila's voice echoed down the hallway.

"David? Bryan? Where are you?"

Her footsteps got closer and I pushed myself deeper into the shadows, my heart slamming against my ribs. If she saw me here, if she even suspect what just happened, she would make my life even more worse than it already was.

Facing David, Bryan cursed under his breath. “Get rid of her.”

David exhaled sharply, his voice indifferent. “We’re here, Lila.”

I couldn't see them from my hiding place, but I could hear their voices.

"Ahh, there you are." Lila's voice was gentle. Nothing like the voice she use when talking to me. I imagined her reaching out, tracing her fingers down David's arm the way she always did. "The full moon is strong tonight. You should be careful."

"We're fine." David said coldly.

Lila let out a laugh. "Of course you are."

I heaved a sigh of relief. It seem she doesn't suspect anything. I decided to leave through the back door. There was silence before Lila's next words stopped me in my track.

"Why are you out here, my love?"

My stomach twisted. She was talking to David. I waited for him to push her away, to say something to dismiss her.

Instead, his voice was gentle. "I could ask you the same."

I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I shouldn't have felt hurt. David and Bryan had already rejected me. They made it clear that I mean nothing to them. And yet, something inside me twisted painfully at the way he played along with her so easily.

Lila sighed softly. "I was waiting for you. You've been so distant these few days."

Bryan yawnedp. "If you two are going to get started, I would rather not be here."

Lila laughed softly. "Come to my chambers tonight."

David purred and my breathing stopped for a moment. "If that's what you want, my love." he said.

Something in me broke as he uttered the statement. I barely took notice of the sound of their steps disappearing down the corridor, of the empty space they left behind.

I heard just one thing over and over again. If that's what you want.

I stood in the darkness for a long time, long after they were gone. My fists tightened to the point my nails tore into my flesh.

I had been an idiot to think this bond meant something. It meant nothing.

****

I barely had any sleep that night. The next morning, I was back at work, scrubbing the floors of the palace with aching fingers.

I forced myself to move faster, to work harder. If I kept my head down, if I acted like the maid they wanted me to be, maybe and just maybe they would forget I exist.

But Lila did not forget. She never did.

"Slower, Omega. You're making a mess."

She stood over me, swirling a goblet of wine in her hand as I scrubbed the dining hall floor. I bit my tongue, paying attention to the work I was doing.

"She's ignoring you, my lady." one of the noblewomen said from across the table.

Lila sighed. "How rude.

Before I could stop her, she tipped the goblet forward, spilling deep red wine across the floor. The liquid splashed over my hands, my dress and the already cleaned floors.

My stomach tightened. "Oops." She smiled. "It looks like you'll have to start over again."

The noblewomen laughed. I closed my eyes for a moment, gripping the brush so hard my fingers ached.

This was a game to her. A test. She was waiting for me to break.

But I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

Slowly, I dipped the brush into the bucket of soapy water and started scrubbing again.

Lila laughed. "See? This is what happens when you let lowly omegas into the palace."

I kept my head down. "If it were up to me, I would have you thrown to the rogues." She continued.

Hours later, I was on my knees in the corridor outside the throne room still cleaning. I was glad Lila left already with the other women after making my life difficult. I made a note to finish the chores before she comes back.

But the instant the door to the throne room opened, I froze.

David and Bryan walked past me without sparing me as much as a glance. Their faces held no expression as they strode past me and walked into the throne room where their father, King Aldric Moonshade sat waiting. He must have summoned them.

Curiosity tickled my skin. The king never summoned both his sons at once. I shouldn't have stayed here. I should have kept scrubbing with my head down but I couldn't. I kept feeling the urge to listen, so I did.

I said nothing as I placed my ear on the door straining to catch every word through the open doorway while praying I don't get caught.

"Do you know why I called you here?" the king's deep voice sounded from inside the throne room.

David's voice was cold. "If this is about the war council…"

"It is not." He said before continuing. "A prophecy was revealed."

My breath got caught in my throat.

"A prophecy?" Bryan repeated, sounding bored. "Let me guess, another warning of death and destruction?"

The king ignored his sarcasm. "A seer has spoken. If you do not accept your mate, calamity will befall this kingdom."

My heart stopped momentarily. Mate. So he knew. But how?

Bryan let out a laugh. "That's ridiculous."

"Is it?" the king snapped. "Strange things are happening in the pack. Different sicknesses keep spreading in villages. The animals are aggressive. The last time something like this happened, the Moon Goddess punished our ancestors for denying their mates."

I felt a shiver ran down my spine.

"It does not matter. We will never accept her."

The words sliced through me. Though I knew already that they won't accept me, it still hurt because of the mate bond. The king let out a deep breath. "You are making a mistake."

"You expect us to claim some omega maid just because a seer says so?"

The king insisted. "You will take her in."

"You cannot force this." David retorted.

"Yes, I can or you are to take her as your breeder."

There was silence in the room and I had to pinch myself to make sure I'm not having a bad dream. A breeder. Not a mate. Not a wife. Just a vessel for producing babies.

Bryan was the first to break the silence. "Are you serious?"

"Very." The king's tone remained the same. "You will observe her for months. If any one of you impregnates her first, you will inherit the throne."

My stomach twisted. This couldn't be real.

"You are gambling the throne on this?"

"I am ensuring our survival," the king corrected. "If the prophecy is true, we cannot risk defying fate."

Bryan's chair scraped against the floor. "You expect us to fight over a weakling?"

"You will do what is necessary," the king said. "Or you suffer the consequences."

There was a moment of silence before David finally spoke, his voice colder than ever.

"If we must take her, then we will make her regret ever being born."

I didn't wait to hear anymore. I ran down the corridor before I could hear another word. My chest heaved and my breath came in short painful gasps.

They were not just rejecting me. They were going to destroy me.

And there is nothing I can do to stop it.

I thought the worst had already happened. That nothing could be more painful than David and Bryan rejecting me. That being treated like a worthless maid in the palace would be my greatest disgrace.

But I was wrong. Because now, I was no longer just an unwanted mate. I was a breeder.

A pawn in the power struggle between two brothers who hated me to the core as much as they despised one another.

And the worst part? I had no way to escape.

*****

The day after the king summoned them, I was dragged out from the quarters where the servants slept and thrown into a chamber in the east wing of the palace.

It was too big, too suffocating and the bed too large for someone who had slept her whole life on the cold floor. But I wasn't buying it.This was not an act of kindness. It was more like a prison.

A new prettier cage in which they could control me.

Lady Lila made sure I knew it. She came into my room that morning and barged inside without knocking. There was a smirk on her lips as she looked around.

"So, the little maid has become something useful after all." she said while tracing her fingers along the velvet curtains.

I clenched my fists. "You act like I chose this."

Her gaze bore into mine. "Didn't you?" she said sweetly.

My breath hitched. "What?

She took another step closer towards me and using her index finger, she lifted my chin up so my eyes could meet hers.

"You think I don't know what you're doing? How strange that a lowly omega like you suddenly became the fated mate to the Lycan princes. You planned this, didn't you?"

"Are you insane?"

Lila didn't burge. "You must be so proud of yourself. Seducing not one, but two men far above you. I almost admire the ambition."

I shook my head in disbelief. "I never wanted this!"

Her smirk widened. "Then prove it."

I stilled. Lila leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. "Leave."

Her word sent a shiver down my spine.

"Run away," she whispered. "Prove that you don't want this power and the title. That you are not just waiting to open your legs for whoever gives you a crown."

My blood boiled. "You don't know anything about me."

Lila pulled back, tilting her head. "No?"

She smiled. "Then let's see how long you will last."

And with that, she turned and left the room, leaving me speechless.

****

David and Bryan avoided me for the next few days.

I had expected them to barge into my chambers, furious with their father's decision.

But instead, they act like I did not exist. Fine. That was fine.

If they don't want to see me, then I don't want to see them either.

Most of my time was spent inside this new prison, and I only left when summoned.

But then, on the third night, I realized I was being watched. The hair on my neck rose as I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Something was wrong. Slowly, I turned my head and locked eyes with Bryan.

He was standing in the shadows near the door with his arms crossed as he watched me with an unreadable expression.

My breath caught in my throat. "What the hell are you doing?"

He didn't answer.

I sat up, glaring at him before pointing towards the door. "Get out."

Bryan smirked. "You're in our wing now, little omega. We can go wherever we want."

I hated the way my pulse quickened at the way he looked at me like I was something he was trying to figure out.

"Leave" I blurted out.

He ignored me, his gaze straying to the untouched food on the table.

"You're not eating."

I crossed my arms. "I'm not hungry."

He raised an eyebrow. "Or are you hoping to starve yourself out of this?"

My jaw clenched. "Would that be such a bad thing?"

Bryan let out a low chuckle. "You really are a stubborn little thing."

He took a step closer but I remained glued to the spot.

"You should be careful, Elara." he murmured.

I hated the way my name sounded on his lips. "Careful of what?" I snapped.

Bryan tilted his head. "Me."

Then, before I could do anything, he turned and walked away, vanishing into the darkness again.

I let out a loud puff of air, my heart racing. What is wrong with everyone today?

The next morning, David came.

Unlike Bryan, he did not sneak into my room like a thief in the night.

No. He simply strode in as if he owned everything which I supposed he did.

I had just finished bathing when he came in. Quickly, I I grabbed a cover before his cold voice sliced through the silence. "Get dressed?"

I blinked my eyelids. "Pardon?"

David didn't even bother to face me as he wandered over to the window with his hands clasped behind his back. "My father wants you to join us for dinner tonight."

I frowned. "Why?"

"So he can pretend this whole thing is normal."

I wrapped my arms across my chest. "I am not going to dinner.

David finally turned, his ice blue gaze pinning me in place. "You don't have a choice."

A cold shiver ran down my spine and I lifted my chin in defiance. "What if I refuse?"

David took a step forward. Then another until there was barely a gap between us.B"You won't."

His voice was soft and dangerous.

I glared at him. "You can't control me."

David smirked. "Can't I?"

Before I could respond, he was already walking away, his voice drifting over his shoulder.

"Be prepared by nightfall."

And with that, he was gone.

****

I sat in the grand dining hall that night, surrounded by two men who hated me.

King Aldric sat at the head of the table, looking at us.

"You look great, Elara." he said.

I smiled politely. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Bryan scoffed and David said nothing.

There was tension in the air.

But just as I reached for my glass of water, a familiar voice cut through the silence.

"I hope I'm not too late for the party."

Lila.

She moved into the room as if she owned it, her silk dress hugging her figure.

But I wasn't looking at her.

I was looking at David.

Because for the first time since I met him, his expression wasn't blank.

It was filled with something else. Something I will only ever see when he looked at her. And then, Lila sat down beside him.

Her fingers grazed his wrist. And David let them. Something in me just snapped.

Bryan smirked. "Careful, little omega."

I barely even heard him. I was too busy drowning.

And the worst part? David did not even notice.

Her fingers brushed his wrist, and he let her. It was a simple and gentle touch. It was one that shouldn't have mattered.

And yet, it felt like someone had reached into my chest and ripped my heart out.

I wanted to look away and pretend it didn't affect me but I couldn't. Because David wasn't just letting her touch him. He was allowing it as if he wants me to see.

As if to remind me he has already chosen his mate. And it wasn't me.

Bryan's voice cut through the silence. "You look so tense, Elara."

I forced myself to breathe and try to keep my expression flat although humiliation seethed under my skin.

"Perhaps she's just feeling a little bit overwhelmed," Lila said, her voice reeking of false sympathy. "After all, she has never been amongst nobility in her life."

A sharp laugh broke from Bryan. "That's true. She was just a little maid, wasn't she?"

My hands curled into fists under the table. I would not let them see how much this hurt. I refuse to let them see.

"Enough."

The entire room stilled. King Aldric's golden eyes swept over the table, lingering on his sons before finally settling on me.

Elara is here because the Moon Goddess willed it," the king said, his voice even but firm. "You would do well to remember that."

Lila smiled sweetly. "Of course, Your Majesty. We all respect the Moon goddess's will."

David said nothing and Bryan merely smirked.

But the message was clear no matter what the king said. They did not respect me.

Not as a mate. Not as an equal. Not as anything but an object to be controlled.

I barely made it through the rest of dinner, my body was stiff and my mind numb throughout.

But I made up my mind never to let their words get to me. I wasn't weak, not anymore. And if they want to break me? They are going to have to try harder.

****

I went back to my room that night determined to shut out the emotions clawing at my chest.

But Bryan had other plans because I had just closed the door when a hand reached out, grasping my wrist.

I gasped, yanking back only to find myself pinned against the wall. Bryan towered over me, his grip firm but not painful held me his place and his blue eyes gleamed in the dark.

"You looked miserable at dinner." he murmured.

I clenched my teeth. "Let me go."

His lips curled into a smile. "But you haven't answered my question."

I glared at him. "Which is?"

"Why does it bother you so much?" He asked as his fingers tightened on my wrist. His body was so close that I could feel the heat emanating from him.

I hated that my pulse quickened. Hated that my body recognized him even after everything.

"It didn't." I lied.

Bryan chuckled. "Liar."

I yanked my arm free from his grip. "It doesn't matter what I feel." I snapped. "Because you and David have already made your choice."

His smirk disappeared in an instant. Then, his expression hardened. "That's right." he whispered. "We did."

Something sharp wedged itself in my throat. But I swallowed it down, raising my chin. "Then leave me alone."

Bryan tilted his head towards me, observing me like a predator observing it's prey. "Be careful what you wish for, little omega."

Then, before I could utter another word, he vanished.

I collapsed against the door, my whole body trembling.

I should have felt relieved but all I had felt was the emptiness in my soul.

*****

The morning after that. I was just waking up when I heard a knock on my door. Strange, I thought because everyone just barge into my room. Standing up, I opened the door to see a maid at the entrance.

"His Majesty has commanded you to appear before the royal court today." the maid told me.

I glared at her and asked. "Why?"

The girl looked around uncomfortably. "I don't know. B-but Lady Lila will be there too."

Of course she would be. I wanted to refuse this, but couldn't. It was the king's order after all.

So I got dressed and went down to the great hall, where the nobles were already waiting. The moment I stepped inside, they started whispering.

"She is the omega?"

"I can't believe someone like her was chosen by the Moon goddess."

"She's weak. She won't last."

I held my head high, like I couldn't hear them. Until Lila's voice cut through the room.

"Your Majesty," she cooed. "Is it really wise to force this…arrangement?"

The nobles murmured in agreement.

Lila turned, her dark eyes locking onto mine. "Elara is weak." she continued, smiling. "She does not belong here."

King Aldric's expression didn't change but David's jaw clenched. And Bryan, he merely smirked.

"Then perhaps we should put her to a test." he said with a tone of finality.

A chill crawled down my spine. "What kind of test?" someone asked.

Bryan's gaze burned into me. "Let's see if our little breeder can survive a night in the Moon Forest."

The hall fell silent and I froze.

The Moon Forest was forbidden territory. It's a dark forest filled with wild beasts, rogue wolves, and things that even Lycans feared. It is a death sentence.

King Aldric frowned. “That is not necessary.”

But Bryan just leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Are you afraid she won’t last?”

David finally spoke, his voice cold. “It’s a waste of time.”

Lila smirked. “Then let her prove us wrong.”

All eyes turned to me. They were waiting, expecting and daring me to refuse.

I lifted my chin. “I’ll do it.”

A flash of surprise crossed Bryan's eyes. David's face remained impassive. But Lila's smile widened.

"Good." she whispered.

And with that, my fate was decided. Tomorrow night, I would be cast into the Moon Forest. Alone. And if I never returned? Well, that would rid them of all their issues, wouldn't it?