CHAPTER 4
I don’t know what’s worse. Dying like a rogue or living as a servant in the enemy’s territory. Seriously, what kind of karma am I paying for? Was I some evil warlord in my past life? Perhaps a homewrecker?
Or, is this because of my evil father? Am I paying for his sins?
The humiliation parade from the courtyard is next level cruelty!
Yes, the Alpha changed his mind and let me live but I am not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse.
Then the guards grunt something I don’t care to hear as they yank me down a dim corridor that smells like wet dog and disappointment. I trip over a loose stone as they drag me and some servants laugh at me and I see someone rolling her eyes as if I personally offended her ancestors.
Cool.
I really love it here in Crescent Fang. From the Alpha’s daughter, now I am a nobody who has to work as a servant for the pack. I should be glad that they spare my life but I doubt those bastards will really leave me alone!
Yesterday, I was the privileged daughter of an Alpha and I was about to become the Luna of Alpha Jimin.
Now? I am just a prisoner in Crescent Fang, sentenced to mop floors and serve the triplets with obedience. They are supposed to be my mate but those motherfuckers just scoffed at the matebond. They don’t even bother to reject me!
“This way,” one of the guards growls before shoving open a creaky wooden door.
I immediately wrinkle my nose at the smell of the room.
It’s…really foul!
I gag at the smell because it reminded me of someone who only took a bath once a year.
“Are you serious right now?” I whisper, blinking at the cramped space.
The mattress is lumpy. The blankets look like it survived war and the single fluorescent lamp on the ceiling flickers like it’s also trying to give up on life.
“This will be your room for now,” he says before slamming the door shut behind me.
The lock clicks and I am alone. Unbound by chains but still miserable. I am not dead yet but this doesn’t feel like living either! How can I live in a place like this? The room smells like sweaty regrets and I swear the walls are closing in just to mess with me.
This is my life now? Damn it!
I thought being at the mercy of my mates was the worst but apparently, I am wrong.
When the door creaks open again, a woman sporting a top bun enters. She is tall with silver-streaked hair, and judging by the permanent scowl etched into her face, I already know that we are not going to be besties.
“You,” she snaps, like I already disappointed her by existing. “Stand up.”
I blink at her. “Do I look like I have the energy to stand right now?”
Her eyes narrow to slits before she tosses a bundle of fabric at my feet. I flinch as it hits the floor with a dramatic thud.
“What’s that?” I inquire.
“Uniform,” she says curtly. “You are now a servant of this pack so you will dress accordingly.”
I glance down and grimace at the thought of wearing something so ugly. Slowly, I pick it up and check the uniform before making a face.
Oh no.
It’s worse than I imagined!
“Got a problem with that?” she asks.
The dress is…hideous!
A faded brownish-gray monstrosity that looks like it was stitched together by a drunk raccoon. The design is poor, especially the collar that might choke me in my sleep. Plus, the sleeves puff so awkwardly I might accidentally take flight.
What’s wrong with them?
“Seriously? Do you guys just collect ugly things for fun?” I ask but she doesn’t laugh.
Thinking I might be wrong, I stare at the dress again but for a brief second, I consider setting it on fire!
“What’s your name again?” she asks instead.
For a second, I think about lying but I cancel the idea. “Vivienne,” I answer briefly.
“Just Vivienne? No middle name or last name? Well, nevermind. Just put it on, Vivienne. We don’t have all day,” she orders with impatience.
“Why?”
“Why? You are a servant now in this pack, bitch. Meaning, you have to get up now and start working!” she snaps.
“Right away? I mean, I just got here and I think the room needs more attention, Madame,” I snap back.
“Are you saying you are unwilling to work now, Vivienne? Shall I inform the Alpha?”
My nostrils flare when she mentions that treacherous man. Yes, the Alpha cancels the execution but it doesn’t mean I am off the hook.
“Can I take a quick shower first?” I inquire.
It’s been more than twenty-four hours that I have been away from home and I really need to have a shower.
“There’s a common bath area for servants down the corridor. Go on but you should be able to report to me in twenty minutes,” she says.
I want to argue but it seems the idea will just infuriate her more so I nod my head. When she leaves, I search for a clean towel inside the room but there’s none. Frustrated, I leave the room with the ugly uniform in my hand and look for someone who can give me a fresh towel.
Unfortunately, I am cursed to meet that arrogant man I met in the woods. His name is Nico and he is the Beta of the pack.
“Going to take a bath?” he asks while pinching his nose as if I stink so badly.
“Not yet. I am looking for a towel that’s fresh and clean,” I answer.
“There are towels in the bath area, Vivienne.”
Seriously? I furrow my brows in disbelief but before I can offend him, I enter the bath area. Fortunately, he didn’t lie about the towel. There are a lot of fresh towels in the bathroom and the supplies are abundant as well.
So, how come that fucking room looks so horrible?
Taking a deep breath, I take the wedding dress away from my body and throw it in the nearby trash bin, and then I turn on the shower. The head servant says I only have twenty minutes before reporting back to her but I have no plans of following the deadline.
I take my time, scrub my skin like I can wash the misfortune away, and I clean my hair thoroughly. Then, I make some adjustments to my uniform because there’s no way I am going to wear its original design!
However, when I finally step out of the bath area, I don’t expect to see the Alpha and the headservant. It seems they are waiting for me to get out. She keeps checking her wristwatch and that tells me I spend more than twenty minutes inside the bathroom. Otherwise, she will not be furious. Then, her eyes widen in horror when she realizes what I am wearing.
“What did you do to it?” she asks while taking a step closer to me.
“It looks better now, right?”
Even though there’s no response from her, I know that the uniform I am wearing right now is better. I snip the horrible sleeves, cut off the hem, and rip the collar. The result? A uniform that barely covers my thighs and shows far too much cleavage. Fortunately, the fabric is thick, or else, they can see my nipples underneath as I don’t wear any undergarment.
“Are you crazy?” the alpha snaps.
“I think her mind is unstable, Alpha Cassian. I will handle her,” the head servant says.
So, his name is Cassian. Nice name but his demeanor is something else. “Crazy people will wear the damn uniform, Madame,” I shot back.
“A-Are you saying I am crazy?” she stammers.
However, before I can reply, Alpha Cassian grabs my arm and drags me away before I can argue more with the head servant.
I squirm, furious. “Let me go!”
“You don’t get to decide anything here,” he replies coldly then he hauls me through the hallways and elevators until we finally reach a room that makes my wolf go crazy.
The second I step inside, my wolf stirs continuously so I know that my other mates are in the room. I look around and find them sitting on the oversized sofa as if they are waiting for my arrival.
Nico doesn’t bother to hide his reaction upon seeing me. Then, his gaze drops straight to my chest as if his eyes have lasers! Even when his brothers are present, Nico stares at me and swallows hard as if he is enjoying the view.
“Damn it, woman! Are you here to flaunt your figure?”
“Do you also find her sexy, Jaxon?” Nico asks his other brother.
“Sexy, my foot!” Jaxon exclaims.
“See? That’s something you will get from my brothers and other men if you dress like that,” Alpha Cassian says.
I arch my brows before responding but Nico stands up.
“Change your clothes,” he says flatly. “Or I’ll rip that thing to shreds myself,” Nico warns me.
