Harper POV
“Ma’am Veronica, are you certain it’s wise for me to reside in the same mansion as Alpha Lucas?” I asked, my hands submerged in the soapy water as I scrubbed the clothes with diligent care. “He doesn’t… appreciate me, to say the least. My priority as a slave is to serve with diligence, not to incur the anger of the Alpha.”
Veronica’s expression was sympathetic but firm. “Harper, you are exactly where you need to be. The Alpha may not understand you yet, but that will change in time. Your skills and dedication will prove invaluable to this household and to the pack.”
I sighed, my eyes fixed on the water, as I rinsed the garments with a sense of resignation. “I hope you’re right, ma’am. I truly do; he hates me and punishes me with anything that would cause me pain.”
“Alpha Lucas was nice during his tender days with you, Harper,” Veronica said, her voice laced with a hint of warning. “But don’t expect him to be the friendly Lucas you’ve always played with. Time changes people, and circumstances shape them.”
I raised an eyebrow, my gaze locked on hers, but her words seemed to hover over me like a cryptic message. I refocused on the clothes, scrubbing them with a gentle intensity, my mind whirling with questions.
“Ma’am Veronica,” I ventured, my voice barely above a whisper. “What’s your observation on Alpha Lucas’s relationship with Amelia? Do you… like her?”
Veronica’s gaze flashed like a furnace, her eyes burning with fierce intensity. “Their relationship is none of your business, Harper,” she snapped, her voice low and even. “Get back to work and stop blabbering your mouth.”
I felt a sting from her rebuke, my cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. Does she know anything about Lucas and Amelia?
“Okay, ma’am, I’ll keep quiet,” I whispered, my eyes downcast.
Veronica’s gaze narrowed, her voice low and menacing. “You better do, Harper.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I rubbed my ears with my shoulders, a soft chuckle escaping my lips. “Ma’am Veronica, that tickling is making me giggle,” I muttered playfully, my sarcasm evident.
But my words were met with a cold, dark silence. “What’s so funny about your stupidity, Harper?” Amelia’s voice cut through the air, sending a jolt of electricity down my spine.
I froze, my heart racing, as I slowly raised my eyes to meet hers. Her face was pale, her anger palpable, and her gaze pierced through me like a dagger.
“Get up, Harper,” she spat, her voice barely above a whisper. “The Alpha of the Crystal Pack will be visiting in an hour. Prepare the guest room, and make sure you’re presentable.”
I felt a surge of fear mixed with adrenaline as I scrambled to my feet, my hands shaking slightly as I hastened to obey her commands. The air was thick with tension, and I knew I had to tread carefully to avoid Amelia’s wrath.
She turned to leave, her hips swaying side to side, her presence commanding attention. “Ma’am Amelia,” I called out, my tone shaky and hesitant.
She stopped in her tracks, her gaze still fixed on the direction she was heading. “What is it, Harper?” she asked, her voice firm and commanding.
I swallowed hard, my words hitching in my throat. “Mmmm… Amel…” I tried to address her, my voice barely above a whisper.
But before I could finish, she spun around, her eyes flashing with anger. With a swift motion, she clutched her fist tightly around my throat, her grip like a vice. “Address me as’my lady’,” she hissed, her breath hot against my face. “Do you hear me, Harper? Never dare to address me by my name again.”
I nodded frantically, my eyes wide with fear, as I struggled to speak. “Yeah, my lady,” I stammered, my voice barely audible.
Her grip tightened, and her eyes blazed with intensity. “Good,” she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. “Remember your place, Harper. You are nothing but a slave, and I am your mistress.”
With a brutal shove, she sent me crashing to the ground, my knees scraping against the cold floor. I wept, my body trembling with fear, as she raised her heel, poised to strike.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” I begged, my voice cracking with desperation. “Please, forgive me.”
But her expression remained unforgiving, her eyes flashing with contempt. “You’re just a slave, Harper,” she sneered. “A mere plaything. Alpha Lucas doesn’t want you. You’re nothing but a nuisance.”
Her words cut deep, like a knife twisting in my heart. I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins, my mind racing with desperation.
But I knew I had to obey. With a heavy sigh, I nodded, my tears falling like rain. “Yes, my lady,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
With a final glance of disdain, she turned and left, leaving me shaken and broken on the floor. I slowly rose, my body aching and my spirit crushed. But I knew I had to move before she returned and got me beheaded.
I stumbled towards the guest room, my heart heavy with sorrow and my mind reeling with the cruel truth. I was nothing but a slave.
I hastily arranged the room, my fingers trembling as I smoothed out the bedsheets, my movements mechanical and forced. The pillows seemed to weigh a ton as I lifted them onto the bed, my exhaustion evident in my labored breathing. I stuffed the dirty duvet cover into the laundry basket, my mind numb.
But as I stepped out into the compound, a familiar scent wafted through the air, teasing my senses. My wolf stirred, her growl low and curious. I followed the scent, my heart pounding in my chest and my senses on high alert.
And then, I saw him. The Alpha of the Crystal Pack Our eyes locked, and I felt the world spin around me. The same jolt of recognition, the same spark of connection I had felt with my first mate-it was all there, and more.
My mind raced in shock, and my thoughts were screaming in disbelief. “I’m mated to the Crystal Pack Alpha? But how? It can’t be…!”