AUDREY

Gripping onto the counter, I shut my eyes tight, trying my best to blink away my haziness. My stomach and head ached badly.

I was being starved as my punishment, but this time it was the longest I had ever gone without food. Six days ago I was seated in the cellar, tied down and bound by ropes and chains. I awaited the grim reaper to dish out my punishment. He was exactly like his name, he was huge, always wore a dark veil and had this leather whip in his hand. He was very muscular and in my eleven years of being here I had never seen his face, honestly I consider myself lucky.

He came in and removed my chains. "You have been pardoned from the physical torture," his gruff voice informed me as he pulled off the heavy metals. I hissed when I saw the burn marks on my ankles. Wolfsbane. I would be weak for the next 2 weeks because of them. Sugars

Wolfsbane, like any other poison, was illegal and banned from the reach of all packs.

I was shocked when I found this pack had an endless supply. They must have smuggled them in despite the very clearly stated laws against owning or even selling such. It was no surprise that various packs got away with possession of wolfsbane or silver bullets.

The king never went around for inventory, neither did he ever send any of his guards. I pushed myself to my feet, staggering to the entrance where I came face to face with Vivian. I swallowed harshly, averting my gaze from her jade cat eyes that glinted with amusement. "Don't for a second think you will not be punished," her ear-piercing voice came, increasing my throbbing headache.

Just like her mother's.

"You are not going to get even a morsel of food. You will beg for crumbs and would not be given. Added to that, you will do all the chores your fellow omegas are supposed to do and that too without any help.

You will be put on cooking duty as well," she smiled wickedly, knowing fully well the smell of food would kill me. "Maybe after that you will learn your place," she spat, looking at me with eyes filled with hate, disgust and resentment. She walked away, her white blonde hair following her movements.

With much difficulty I steadied myself, inhaling deep breaths to keep my gaze concentrated. I could see the other omegas trying their best to help dish the other meals for me. I mouthed a soft 'thank you' to them before walking out to the dining hall where everyone was seated. I slowly strolled over to the Alpha and placed his dish before him, the smell of the delicious food making my stomach growl.

I apologized for my posterior orchestra and excused myself to go pour the drinks in everyone's cups.

"I'm sure all of you have heard that tomorrow is the annual Mating Ball and for the first time since it was made a tradition, the Alpha King is going to be gracing us with his presence," Alpha Nicholas informed, raising his jug to his lips and taking a swing of his drink.

The King, the Alpha King. Alpha King Darius Lockhart. His name was enough to send shivers down people's spines. His name echoed throughout the dynasty, he was ruthless, a beast. He was also a very private person and as a result a lot took his public absence to their advantage. His secrets remained hidden behind the shadows of his distance.

Some had never seen him in their life, but the mere mention of his name was enough to leave a thick mist in its path. Some say they had seen him and never forgotten the encounter. He was said to be the most feared ruler of the mystical world, because he was impulsive and very short-tempered. He had lived for hundreds of years and still never found his mate, as a result of this his wolf was angry and out of control.

A lot speculate that it was the moon Goddess' way of punishing him by giving him a very dangerous uncontrollable wolf and no mate. He was never destined to find true love or receive the unconditional love a mate could offer. Thinking back at the stories made me sad. Everyone deserves love, be it even the big, crude, scary Alpha King.

The stories I heard as a young pup depicted him as a sharp-clawed beast; his hands were so big they could rip people's limbs apart, his claws long and sharp to cut through people's throats in a single swipe, his voice so thunderous it had everyone fall to their knees. And his eyes, dark and stormy like an eternal abyss drawing you into their depths to drown you.

He was feared by everyone and anyone, even though a very large population had never laid eyes on him. He always stayed away from events, occasions, even ceremonies, even those that would demand his presence, he missed them all. It added to his eerie, mysterious aura. So why was he attending this Mating Ball?

"We are in charge of serving, so all the omegas will be transported tomorrow morning to get themselves ready. Everything has to go perfectly, one slip up and we are done," he finished, giving me a pointed look as if telling me not to mess things up. I gulped down hard, feeling my hands begin to shake at the attention drawn to me.

Sugars, breathe.

"I hear he is still unmated, father," Vivian chimed in, chewing on a piece of steak. Gosh, I couldn't stop staring at how good it looked.

"Yes, that's right," he confirmed. "Everyone above the age of eighteen is expected to come and who knows, you may find your mate, Vee."

"My mate may be the King for all I know," she smiled, blushing slightly at the thought.

Why would Vivian think being the King's mate would be something to smile about or even expect? I doubt she'd heard the rumours surrounding him and his markings. "We have a lot to look forward to," Nicholas added, drawing everyone's dispersed attention back to him. "After this mating ball hopefully Hunter would have found his mate and would assume the position of Alpha."

I noticed Hunter's grip on his fork tighten, his eyes flickering to my shaken form. I diverted my gaze, going round to fill the Luna's glass. "I have already found my mate, Alpha," Hunter's impatient tone came, making my eyes widen at the tone he used in front of everyone. The betas and their children included.

Hunter and his father didn't have the best of relationships. They weren't that different, they both loved power and were very corrupt and horrible rulers, but surprisingly they never agreed on how to run the pack.

Nicholas was more of a dictator and believed in being the strongest of all packs. He wanted this pack to be one that gave him glory and fame. At the end of it, he was a partial ruler, he controlled the pack with fear. Everyone feared if they went against him, he would lock them up or burn them with his endless supply of wolfsbane.

No one, not even the Betas, Lucius and Finley dared to stand up against the Alpha's cruel rule and now someone even worse was expected to assume position soon. This pack was doomed. The Silver Moon pack would not survive. Whereas Hunter hated this pack and never wanted to become Alpha, much to his father's displeasure.

"This girl is not your mate, Hunter," the Alpha spoke irritably, banging his fist against the table in annoyance, his nose flaring with anger. His outburst made me flinch and I excused myself back to the kitchen.

After taking care of the dishes and cleaning up the whole house, I retired to the basement-my room. I lay down on my mat, my muscles ached so badly. I felt worn out and weak to my core. My eyelids were heavy, sleep was fast approaching but I hadn't had my bath yet.

I contemplated going to the stream to bathe or just sleeping, choosing the latter. I pulled myself up with a lot of effort, standing to my feet. I picked my towel and bar of non-fragrant soap from the small cabinet beside my mat.

Grabbing extra clothes, I slipped out of the basement and towards the stream, my body swaying with the cold breeze that blew through the air. Winter was coming, if the little frosts falling from the skies told me anything. I increased my pace, ducking when I saw anyone passing. I didn't need any of the guards watching me while I bathed.

Only the thought had my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

I walked further into the forest, depositing my extra clothes and towel behind a tree. I stripped down, my teeth chattering when the cold hit my skin. I rushed to the stream, sighing when the warm water hit my tired limbs.

I lathered my soap, using my wash sponge to scrub my aching body. Hastily I dipped my hair into the stream, a blissful sigh leaving my lips once the now cool water hit my hot throbbing skull. I both loved and hated the cold.

I loved it because I absolutely adored the little snowflakes that danced in the air, creating beautiful glaciers. The snow was so gorgeous and its beauty ethereal, but I hated how easily I caught a cold during the winter.

Quickly I washed out my hair and dried myself off.

Slipping into my hand-knitted sweater, faded jeans and combat boots, I padded along the forest to the stone path towards the pack grounds. I quickened my steps once the snow began falling quickly.

Arriving at my room, I plopped down on my mat, pulled my hair into a side braid and kicked off my shoes. I buried myself under my tarp and tried to fall asleep despite the amount of pain I was feeling. It would all be over soon, I tried to tell myself over and over again with each painful ache of my muscles. My eyes finally draped closed and I succumbed to the darkness.

I was awoken by the chilling feeling of someone in my room. I was in complete darkness, but even at that I could feel someone's presence with me.

I shut my eyes tight, my heart thumped furiously in my chest and my breathing became laboured as fear crept into me. A cold shiver ran up my spine when I felt a slow breath against my ear. "I swear I will make you mine, Audrey," a familiar voice whispered into my ear, making me squeeze my eyes even tighter. It was Hunter. I felt his cold fingers against my cheek, slowly caressing my skin.

Sugars

I willed myself not to scream or cry. If I kept still, maybe he'd go away. I could feel him hovering over me. A few minutes turned into hours and he just remained there, watching me as I slept-or at least he thought I was sleeping.

"My beautiful mate," he said, leaning down to inhale my scent, making me almost gag.

Oh goddess

I finally felt him rise, but he remained in my room. It was easy to tell he was still here, the room was very little and his tall form made the space feel even more suffocating. "When I become Alpha I will have you by my side."

I heard his soft footsteps fade away and the creaking sound of my room door closing resonated through the room.

I stayed still, scared he was still in my room. After a few minutes of silence, I let out a heavy breath, tears rolling down my cheeks. I sighed, sitting up almost hitting my head.

I wiped at my tears, sniffling slightly. Just two more days, after the mating ball I would be free and would leave everything behind and start fresh somewhere else.

~

I was always used to waking up very early to start my chores, but this, this was way too early. I didn't get much sleep after Hunter's visit to my room.

I woke to the screams of Luna demanding me to be downstairs in my uniform in the next 5 minutes. I didn't have enough time to bathe, so I pulled my stringy curls into a quick bun to prevent it from getting in the way, but it came loose, falling at the nape of my neck. I didn't have much time to focus on it, so I hastily changed into my uniform.

I uncomfortably pulled down at the hems, hating the way it rose and exposed my legs. The first time I got it was five years ago and now it was way too short for my liking. I grimaced when I looked at my reflection in the window once again. I didn't need unnecessary attention on me, especially not the one I knew I would get from Hunter. Deciding to just suck it up, I wrapped my white hand-knitted sweater around my waist, hoping it would do its job and cover the back of my exposed thighs.

I padded down the stairs, careful not to move too much to avoid my dress flying up. I knew if I asked, I wouldn't be allowed another uniform, so I had to make do with this. I joined the rest of the omegas-five in total-to load the packaged essentials into the carriages.

We were to be transported in a separate carriage and taken to the venue before the rest of the pack members arrived. I walked back into the kitchen to grab the last packet of food. I checked the cabinets, the pantry, but I didn't find it. I crouched down to check the lower cabinets, but it still wasn't there.

Spotting it on the counter, I picked it up and opened it, the smell wafting up my nostrils making my stomach growl. I shut my eyes tight, reigning in the temptation to take a bite. I still felt my head throbbing and my lack of sleep last night wasn't helping matters.

Today was going to be a busy day and my punishment still extended to the ball. I didn't know how I would survive. I still felt dizzy and my limbs ached, but I had to go through this to come out free at the end of the day.

If I made the mistake of slipping up or not doing my job well, I knew the Alpha would make it his personal obligation to hunt me down and make my life a living hell.

I could do this, just a few more hours.

Pushing the lid back on, I secured the packet to my body, turning around to walk away. If I delayed, it would all be to my detriment. I bumped into a wall, stumbling back. My head hurt, my forehead throbbed as I rubbed it, spluttering out apologies to the wall.

Looking up, all the air in my lungs was knocked out when my eyes met with piercing blue orbs. I stepped back, careful to keep a reasonable distance between us, knowing very well the way I was dressed would trigger him. "I-im sorry, I, I didn't see you," I apologized meekly, diverting my gaze from his.

"Please, Audrey, it kills me to see you suffer like this," he said to me, his tone soft and remorseful.

"Agree to be mine and all this would end," he gestured to my attire, his eyes going dark as they took in my form.

I pulled down the dress, feeling uncomfortable under his lustful gaze."You will be my mate and no one would subject you to punishments ever again. The Luna, my sister and the Alpha would never be able to torment you ever again. Please, my love," he pleaded, his hand coming to cup my cheeks, raising my gaze to meet his.

I flinched away from his cold touch, adjusting my stance. My lips parted and I was about to speak when he interrupted me, "Don't you dare address me as young Alpha," he warned, his tone dangerous. "Address me by my name. I love you and I want you by my side."

My eyes went wide and I tried to ignore his pleading gaze. Did he really think we were mates?

"H-hunter," I said quietly, the way his eyes shone with a spark of hope made me feel so guilty. "We aren't mates. I'm sorry but I-i don't love you," I quietly said, regretting it when he painfully grabbed my jaw, forcing my eyes to meet his.

"You are my mate and you are foolish to question our bond!" He raged, tightening his grip and I winced, tears pricking my eyes.

"P-please," I begged, tears falling down my cheeks.

"Hunter!" Vivian yelled, making Hunter pull away from me to stare at his sister, his eyes narrowing into a deadly glare.

He let go of me, strolling over to her. He came face to face with Vivian, "Don't you ever interrupt me when I am with my mate, do you understand?"

Her eyes widened and she glared menacingly at me, "She is not your mate and you are reducing yourself by being near her. You are the future Alpha so act like it," she reprimanded, her nose flaring in anger.

I used the chance to slip away with the packet, tears free falling down my cheeks as I made my way to the others. I got strange glances from onlookers, but I ignored it and slipped into the carriage along with the others.

All this would be over soon, I chanted to myself as the carriage rolled out of the cobblestone.

•••••••••••••••

I don't know why but I expected the King's manor to be dark, scary and goth-like, but what I stood in front of was the exact opposite. Standing tall in all its beauty was the Alpha King's manor; its pillars were gorgeously adorned with entrails of rose flowers, their red beauty adding to the splash of the cream-colored walls.

The breathtaking garden that surrounded the large expanse of the frontier of the manor was absolutely breathtaking. I could recognize so many exotic flowers that thrived in their habitat. The garden added to the mystical aura that surrounded the entire place.

Different carriages pulled up along the stone paths in front of the grand fountain, and different pack leaders spilled out with their children. Everyone was dressed to impress.

Why wouldn't they be? Everyone coming here was likely expecting to find their mate, their one true love, the one that was destined and created for them. Their soulmate.

Whereas others came to exploit the secrets hidden behind these walls. Nobody had seen the Alpha King in over centuries, yet today he decided to show himself.

A part of me felt uneasy, not wanting to believe his highness would just decide to appear after so long in hiding. Maybe he came searching for his mate as well; surely he would want to give himself hope of finding her in this generation, and for his sake I hoped he would find her. I never knew the Moon Goddess to deprive someone of the one thing she fought and created us for; a mate.

Strict instructions were being fired to us by the Alpha. Everyone listened intently, whereas I couldn't concentrate properly. I felt dizzy and my eyes were seeing double. I blinked several times, squinting my eyes to see the Alpha approaching me.

He stood in front of me and immediately I registered his actions, I lowered my head. "Since you delayed our arrival, you will work more hours than anyone else."

I didn't protest. I couldn't. I doubt I'd be able to part my red lips or blotched cheeks. The winter had started taking its toll on me, and it didn't help matters that I hadn't eaten in days. I felt horrible, but I had to stay strong. Just a few more hours.

We were taken in through the back and led to the kitchen where we unloaded all the food. We were all given trays of small foods by the head chef.

He gave me a sympathetic smile, his dark brown eyes gleaming with sadness, "You don't look good, dear," he pointed out.

I sighed deeply, looking away. I knew all the stress had become evident on my face. The dark rings under my eyes, droopy gaze, blotchy cheeks, and my pale lips.

"Rest, I'll send someone else," he said, opting for me to take a seat, but I shook my head in disapproval. He knew what would happen if he was caught helping me; I couldn't risk getting Burtrum in trouble with Luna. He would probably be subjected to the same punishment as me, and he was too old to handle it.

"Don't worry, Burtrum, I'm fine," I gave him a lopsided smile that didn't really do much to ease his worrisome face. I collected the tray from his hands before he could force me to stay. Walking into the ballroom, I felt my mouth go dry. Everywhere was absolutely gorgeous.

The gold heavy velvet curtains that draped the walls, the huge diamond chandelier added to the grandeur of the ballroom. Everywhere was dripping with expense and the people were dressed equally as expensively.

I sucked in a deep breath, trying my best to look as small as possible as I maneuvered through the crowd, my head lowered and my hands to my sides. I refused to raise my head and look at anyone who stopped me to take from my tray. Maybe if I continued like this, I would get through the day without making a fool of myself. But as fate would have it, I started feeling dizzy.

The mountain of food that resided on the feast table had my mouth watering, but as an omega, I wasn't to be seen anywhere near the benefits of such an event.

According to the Alpha, we were opportune to even be serving at such an event because we were the bottom of the barrel and the scum of the pack, so we should never expect the pleasures other pack members received.