Ava's POV

I clutched my stinging cheek where the chief maid’s slap had landed, the taste of humiliation still fresh on my tongue. My knees ached as I pushed myself off the cold marble floor, head bowed, dress crumpled, eyes brimming with tears.

"Tsk, a lowly thing like you should be grateful that you had the chance to set your rotten eyes on the princess. I expected more from you, but what did you do? You messed up like how your life has always been a mess!" She cursed at me and then took the wipe from the platter.

"Please, I promise that it was a mistake. I never intended to spill the wine on her, please." I begged, feeling the cold sweat that had broken through my back. I quickly backed away, hoping to get out of the mess, but the maids around me held my shoulders and pinned me to the cold floor, making me unable to move.

I felt my eyes burn and turn blurry. My heart was racing unsteadily as I watched her move in my direction. I struggled to break free, but it was fruitless.

"This isn't the first time you'd tell me this. Pin her down," Jane yelled, veins turned visible on her neck, as she raised the wipe. I tightly closed my eyes, waiting for the pain that was about to hit my body, and my hand gritted, but nothing happened.

"Stop!" An authoritative voice sounded from the door, and I felt the pressure on my body lessen as the maids quickly stood up and bowed their heads in that direction.

The person's heels clicked on the tiles as they made their way towards us, and a suffocating aura followed after that.

"I can see that you are having a little business here, Lady Jane." An elegant voice sounded out. Hearing this, I shook my head, and the first thing that came into my view was the silver heels, and my eyes widened in horror, because I knew who the person was.

"Lady Astra, I sincerely apologize for what this lowly Omega did to the princess. I hope she didn't take it to heart." Jane bowed curtly, then straightened her back.

With that, I watched the duo conversing, and I knew at that moment that my life was about to turn into a living mess. Had I known, I would have held the jug tightly if I knew my life depended on it.

"Where is its insignificant existence? Lady Astra's voice jolted me awake, and I quickly stood up.

"My name is Ava." I tried to introduce myself, but she caught me off guard.

"The lowly Omega? That's good; take her with me." The woman ordered, and the maids behind her all strode in my direction.

"I can walk by myself," I fiercely told them, and I heard a soft chuckle.

"It seems you haven't been training your maids to be cautious and respectful, Jane," Lady Astra said as she walked out of the place.

However, I took a deep breath, dying down the anger and hatred I felt in my heart. So I cleared off the tears and went after them as they dragged me to the princess's chamber.

"Who do we have here? Her irritating voice resonated in the hall, and I bit my lip tightly.

Princess Isabella, the only heir to the throne and daughter of Alpha Zeth, is a ruthless and bloodthirsty she-wolf.

"Greetings, princess," I muttered, and I felt a sharp pain in my legs that made me lose my balance and collapse on the floor.

"Such insolence! You bow when speaking to the princess!" One of the maids' yells entered my ears, but I simply ignored it and tried to get up, but they pinned me down.

"It seems she has forgotten her status so soon in the palace. Just because you live in the maid's quarters doesn't guarantee that you are part of it. You are just a lowly servant eating from the remains given to the dogs, so you better know your place if you want to survive here." Her provocative reminder made my heart bleed, but I wasn't one to give in so soon.

So, I pushed the maids and got up on my feet. "Oh? What are you going to do now? She questioned as a chukule followed.

Then, a cold smile appeared on my face as I stood my ground.

"It will be treason if I speak ill of the princess, but at the same time, I do think the princess needs to return to some of the classes she missed. I remember clearly that the nobles do not speak in such ways, and I wonder if I am wrong about this." I coldly replied, and I saw the veins in her head pop up.

"How dare you?" She yelled angrily as she picked the hairpin from her hair and slashed it at me.

Well, it was missed. Then. a thud was heard behind me, and when I turned to see what it was, I noticed that the pin had pierced the neck of a maid, and she was gagging.

"Take her to the medical ward now," Lady Astra ordered as Isabella fumed angrily, and she was ready to say another word, but Lady Astra quickly intervened.

"Princess, I think we should save the energy for Alpha Ethan. He will be here in two hours, and it will be a shame if he sees the pack's princess in such a state," she reminded through clenched teeth.

Meanwhile, I simply smiled and gave Isabella a mocking look.

"I wish you well, princess." My head bowed, then turned to leave, but a hand grabbed mine and said,

"Henceforth, you are the one in charge of serving the princess, and you must do so with all your heart. The king had ordained it, and you don't have any right to reject it," Lady Astra said coldly, her voice stern.

Hearing this, I smiled and turned towards the princess. "It will be a great honor to the princess," I said, and not long after, I slowly made my way to the door. Making it out of the door, the smile on my face disappeared immediately, and what was left was nothing but cold and desolate. Then, I felt my heart beating heavily as a strong wave of emotions engulfed me. So I whispered to myself, "I am not one to fall under their powers." I held my chest, feeling pained. Then, I quickly cleared off the hot tears on my face and turned to leave when I accidentally bumped into a strong wall.

"Ouch!" I whimpered in pain, my hand on my head. Then, a fresh scent drifted into my nostrils, and strong adrenaline rang through my body as I suddenly felt a strong pull and yawned. I slowly raised my head, feeling the connection with the person. A strong arm wrapped around my waist, and what greeted me were scarlet blue eyes. I could feel the current running through his eyes, and unknowingly, I got lost in them.

"Can you feel the connection?" I could hear the roars in my head and the excitement of my wolf.

"M-mate?"

These words echoed in my ears and brought back a hopeful look in my eyes. Maybe it's time to escape from the pack house, but just when I thought I was going to get acknowledged, his voice brought me back from my train of thought.

"A servant?" His cold words sounded in my ears, and the next thing that happened was so fast that I couldn't register it.

"A servant as my mate? His cold voice rang in my ears, and that was when I noticed that I was on the floor.

I was confused and scared. I tried to get up, but my legs were shaking terribly as a bad feeling brewed up in my stomach.

"I can never accept a servant as my mate." He said, then squatted towards my level and held my chin to look at him.

"It's such an unfortunate fate, little one. But only the princess can be my mate. I have to follow the traditions," he said, then kept quiet.

At that moment, I felt my heart racing as I tried to catch my breath. I wanted the ground to open and bury me. Because I didn't want to hear the next words that would slip out of his mouth.

"P-please," I stuttered, choking in between my sobs, but that didn't stop him.

"I, Ethan, Alpha of the Crescent Pack, reject you..." He paused and then stared at me, his brow raised.

"What's your name? He asked, and my brows furrowed. Then, I heard an unusual sound and saw a shadow in the corridor. With that, I slowly turned my head toward the darkness ahead, and my eyes widened in fear.