The packhouse was chaos.
Selene pressed herself against the corridor wall as three wolves rushed past, arms laden with linens and decorative banners bearing the Bloodfang crest. No one acknowledged her... they never did, but she'd learned to make herself small, invisible, a shadow that didn't warrant attention.
"Move faster!" Beta Kira's voice cracked through the air like a whip. "Alpha Lucian arrives at sunset and this place looks like a pigsty!"
It didn't. Selene had spent three days ensuring every surface gleamed, every corner was immaculate. But Kira's standards existed in some impossible realm where perfection was never quite enough, especially when it came from the Cursed Luna.
Selene waited until the corridor cleared, then continued toward the kitchens, her arms aching from the bucket of cleaning supplies she carried. She had to check on the feast preparations, then finish arranging the guest wing, then...
"You."
She froze. That single word, sharp as a blade, could only mean trouble.
Kira stood at the end of the hallway, arms crossed, her expression promising pain. The Beta and second in command to Alpha Darius, was beautiful in the way predators were beautiful... all sharp edges and cold eyes. Her dark hair was pulled back severely, emphasizing her angular features and the cruel curve of her mouth.
"Yes, Beta Kira?" Selene kept her voice neutral, her eyes lowered in reverence. She knew better than to look the Beta in the eye.
"The guest chambers. I inspected them." Kira said sternly.
Selene's stomach dropped. She'd spent hours on those rooms, making sure everything was perfect. Fresh linens. Polished furniture. Flowers arranged just so. "Was something wrong?"
"The flowers." Kira's smile was razor-thin. "They're wilting."
They weren't.
Selene had picked them fresh this morning, chosen the hardiest blooms from the garden specifically because they'd last. But pointing that out would only make things worse.
"I'll replace them immediately, Beta Kira." she simply said, so as not to incur the wrath of the ruthless Kira.
"You'll do more than that." Kira stepped closer, and Selene forced herself not to flinch. "You'll redo the entire guest wing. Every room. I want new linens, fresh flowers, and everything dusted again. Before sunset."
Selene inhaled sharply. That task was impossible. The guest wing had twelve rooms. Even if she worked at inhuman speed, she wouldn't possibly be able to finish it all before the deadline.
"Is there a problem?" Kira's voice dropped to a dangerous purr.
"No, Beta Kira. I'll have it done." she said softly.
"Good." Kira's hand shot out, gripping Selene's chin and forcing her head up. Her nails dug into skin hard enough to bruise. "Because if Alpha Lucian finds a single thing out of place, if you embarrass this pack in any way, I will personally ensure you regret ever drawing breath. Understood?"
"Yes, Beta Kira." Selene replied with a shaky voice.
The Beta released her with a shove that sent Selene stumbling back against the wall. "Now get out of my sight."
Selene regained her footing and left without another word, heading towards her next chore; Making sure the food preparations were in place.
As Selene stepped into the kitchen, the place was a whirlwind of heat and activity. Three pack members worked at the massive hearths, preparing the feast that would welcome Alpha Lucian. The scent of roasting meat and fresh bread filled the air, making Selene's empty stomach clench painfully. When had she last eaten? Yesterday morning? The day before? She couldn't even remember. Hunger was a norm for her. Starvation was her wage.
But before Selene could even think of reaching out to grab a piece...
"Don't even think about it." A voice suddenly boomed across the kitchen, sharp as a blade.
Selene jerked her attention away from the food to find Marcus, the head cook, glaring at her. He was a heavy-set man with scarred hands and a permanent scowl that deepened whenever she entered his domain.
"I'm just checking on the preparations," she said quietly. "Alpha Darius wanted—"
"Everything's under control. We don't need the cursed one hovering around, bringing bad luck." He made a warding gesture, as if she were some evil spirit that might contaminate the food. "Out."
Selene was startled, but not surprised by his behavior. She tried to reason with him like she always did. "I need to know what time the first course will be ready—"
"Out!" He grabbed a wooden spoon and advanced on her. "Before I tell Beta Kira you were trying to steal from the feast!"
She wasn't. She'd never. But the accusation alone would be enough for Kira to justify another beating.
Selene retreated with a sigh, adding "confirm feast timing" to her impossible list of tasks. Then she proceeded to begin the impossible task Kira had given her... a task she must carry out successfully, even if it kills her.
Because if she didn't... she's as good as dead anyway.
The sun climbed higher as Selene worked.
Guest wing. Twelve rooms. Strip the beds... even though the linens were fresh, and replace them with the spare set from storage. Dust every surface again, even though no dust had accumulated in the few hours since her last cleaning. Arrange new flowers, disposing of the "wilting" ones that looked perfectly healthy.
All these were the commands she had to adhere to... or go another one week without food.
Her hands moved automatically, mind elsewhere to cope with the monotony and injustice of it all.
This was her life. This was all her life would ever be.
The thought settled over her like a familiar weight. Five years since Darius had rejected her. Five years of hoping things might change, that she might somehow prove herself worthy. That hope had died slowly, painfully, leaving behind only the grim determination to survive one more day, then another, then another.
What was the alternative? Run? She'd tried that in the first year. The pack hunters had dragged her back within hours, and the punishment had been severe enough that she'd never attempted it again.
Die? Some mornings, that seemed like mercy. But that same stubborn ember that kept her stealing scraps of food and finding moments of peace in the forest also kept her breathing, kept her moving forward.
Why? She didn't know anymore.
Maybe because giving up felt like letting them win. Like admitting Ronan was right to discard her, that Darius was right to reject her, that she truly was cursed and worthless and deserved everything they'd done to her.
And some deep, damaged part of her refused to believe that.
Selene shook her head, forcing the thoughts away. Philosophy wouldn't help her finish before sunset. Only speed and efficiency would.
She moved to the next room and began the same process all over again.
As she worked alone, Selene enjoyed the serene atmosphere of her station. It was one of the few moments of peace she rarely got to have in that hell of a place. But even peace doesn't last for long.
"Is she always this pathetic?"
Selene's head snapped up from where she knelt, arranging flowers in a crystal vase. Two pack members stood in the doorway... young males, probably mid-twenties, radiating the casual cruelty of those who'd never known real hardship.
"That's her," the taller one said, grinning. "The Cursed Luna. Can you believe she was supposed to be our Alpha's mate?"
"Thank the Moon Goddess he had the sense to reject her." The shorter one stepped into the room, circling her like a predator assessing prey. "Imagine a wolfless bitch being our Luna. The shame of it."
Selene kept her eyes on the flowers, adjusting a stem that didn't need adjusting. If she ignored them, maybe they'll get bored and leave... like they always did.
"Hey." A boot nudged her shoulder. "We're talking to you."
"I'm working," she said quietly. "Beta Kira wants the guest wing finished before sunset."
"Beta Kira." The tall one laughed. "Always riding you hard, isn't she? Probably jealous that even as a cursed slave, you're prettier than her. Don't you think?"
This was a trap.
Agree, and they'd report her for insulting the Beta. Disagree, and they'd mock her for thinking she had any beauty worth noting.
Silence was the safest response.
"Not even going to respond? Where's your backbone?" The shorter one crouched down, forcing himself into her line of sight. "Or did they beat that out of you already?"
His hand shot out, knocking over the vase. Water and flowers scattered across the pristine floor she'd just cleaned.
"Oops." His grin was vicious. "Clumsy me. Better clean that up before Beta Kira sees."
Then they left, laughing and mocking her as they walked out of the room.
Selene stared at the mess, something hot and bitter rising in her throat. Not tears... she'd learned years ago that tears only encouraged them. This was something stronger.
Rage.
It flickered for just a moment before she crushed it down. Anger was dangerous. Anger could get you hurt. And anger would definitely get you killed in a mansion filled with vicious, predatory wolves looking for easy prey.
One wrong move, just one single attempt to retort, and they won't hesitate to rip out her throat. All Selene could do was endure and bear with it all.
She fetched a cloth and began soaking up the water, cleaning up the mess.