His cold eyes locked on the man, and the drunken guest recoiled immediately.

I was fazed as his gaze shifted to me, intense and unreadable.

I walked away feeling embarrassed.

My stomach churned as I moved through the crowd, serving drinks, avoiding wandering hands, keeping my head down. When it was finally over, I dragged myself back to the maid’s quarters, too tired to even cry.

The next morning, I resumed my cleaning duties with heavy limbs and a heavier heart. My back ached, my knees burned, and Coco was making my life hell by piling more work on me than anyone else.

“You’ve done enough for today,” Anita said kindly, resting a hand on my shoulder as I scrubbed another floor. “Go to your room. I’ll find someone else to finish this.”

Relief swept over me like a wave. “Thank you,” I murmured, straightening up and trudging down the hall.

My body moved on autopilot, my mind too exhausted to do more than count my steps. But as I reached the quiet hallway leading to my room, a prickling sensation crept up my neck. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being followed.

I glanced over my shoulder, but the corridor behind me was empty. I told myself I was imagining things and slipped into my room, ready to collapse on the bed.

But just as I shut the door, a strong hand shoved it open.

“Hey, girl.”

Marcus pushed his way inside, slamming the door shut behind him. His eyes glinted with a devilish and predatory glow.

“What do you want, sir?” I asked flatly, though my voice trembled despite my best effort to sound rude.

He smirked. “I saw the way you stared at me when I arrived. You want to have a taste of me.”

My stomach lurched. “You’re mistaken. I don’t want you. Please leave. I need to rest,” I snapped.

His smirk widened into a cruel grin and in a split second, he shoved my back onto the bed.

Before I could react, he was on top of me, pinning my wrists above my head. I struggled, but he was too strong, too fast. In the blink of an eye, he’d tied my hands and straddled me, his breath hot on my face.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” I cried, tears welling in my eyes.

He leaned closer, his grin widening. “Don’t you know what I want?” he scoffed. “I take whatever I want.”

I thrashed, crying, terrified as his hands grabbed at me, pulling at my clothes. My voice cracked as I screamed for help, though deep down I doubted anyone would come.

He was about to rip my panties off when the door burst open.

“Get off her!” Anita’s voice came through.

Marcus stopped mid-way, his head snapping toward the door. For a moment, the two of them locked eyes in a silent battle of dagger stares. Then, with a sneer, he climbed off me and stalked out, slamming the door behind him.

I lay there shaking, gasping for air, my wrists burning from the ropes, tears streaming down my face.

Anita hurried to my side, untying me and pulling me into her arms.

“It’s okay now,” she whispered, stroking my hair. “The moon goddess didn’t abandon you, Rose.”

***

Weeks passed, and I endured.

Anita became my shield against Marcus’s advances and Coco’s cruelty. Every new day after the previous felt like an intensified rate of some war, but at least I wasn’t alone in it.

Then, one morning, Lottana called all his concubines to a meeting. I hesitated at the door, unsure if I even belonged there. Lottana had never touched me, and I still did more work as a maid than anyone else.

But Anita nodded at me to join, so I stepped inside and stood near the back.

Lottana’s voice boomed through the room. “My first son and Alpha of the Red Moon pack, Dexter, is coming to find his mate here in this pack. We will hold a feast for him tomorrow night.”

He paused, his cold gaze scanning the room.

“Coco will select the maids who’ll serve at the party. Angel will oversee the preparations. And…” His eyes landed on me. “… Rose will choose the strongest, most capable females to present to my son as potential mates.”

My breath caught in my throat.

He’d given me… a task?

Anita squeezed my shoulder, smiling softly. “Congratulations, Rose,” she whispered before walking out to begin her duties for the day.

But Coco lingered, her eyes blazing with resentment.

“Don’t think you’re now special,” she hissed. “He only gave you that job because you’re the late Alpha’s daughter. Don’t get any ideas.”

I ignored her and left, hiding the overwhelming joy and satisfaction in my chest.

At least for once, I wasn’t scrubbing floors.

***

The preparations began immediately. I was even allowed to visit my mother to help me identify the best candidates among the young unmated females. Seeing her alive, though weak and disarmed, rekindled hope in my heart.

On the eve of Dexter’s arrival, Anita and I sat together in the maid’s quarters, resting after a long day.

“Have you ever met him?” I asked, my curiosity gnawing at me.

She shook her head. “No. But I’ve heard he’s… hot. Handsome. And he has a body to die for.”

I scoffed lightly. “Then why would he come here? Surely there are better options in the Red Moon pack.”

Anita only sighed, as if the answer was something hidden and too heavy to say aloud. “We’ll find out tomorrow.”

I nodded, my unease growing. Something about this visit didn’t sit right with me.

***

The next morning, I woke up by dawn. I dressed carefully, smoothing my simple dress, pinning my hair back.

“You look good,” I murmured to myself in the cracked mirror, forcing a faint smile before stepping out into the empty hallway.

I followed the sound of murmured voices to the living hall, where the others were already assembled in two neat rows. Anita beckoned me over.

“You’re almost late,” she whispered as I joined her. “Alpha Dexter is here.”

Phew! A chill ran down my spine.

The doors opened, and Lottana entered, his son at his side.

I bowed my head with the others as Lottana’s voice rang out. “These are my concubines,” he announced, one by one pointing us out to his son.

When he reached me, I kept my head down, my heart pounding wildly.

But then… I suddenly felt something.

A strange, electric pull.

I grudgingly looked up, and my eyes met his.

Without having any related thoughts and my permission, a word escaped my lips.

“MATE!!!”