Chapter 1 The beginning
|Moondor Packhouse, Central City|
I balanced the heavy laundry basket on my hip, the scent of lavender soap trailing behind me as I walked through the winding hallway. The sole of my worn-out shoes padded against the cold floor as I hummed a tune under my breath.
"Morning, Sara," Mila greeted with a bright smile, brushing past me with her arms full of linen.
It was another Saturday morning in the packhouse which meant general cleaning, and as usual, all the omegas would be busier.
The only thing I liked about today was that I didn't have to spend the entire day grovelling at Luna Vera's feet. Being her handmaiden was more terrifying than anyone would imagine but we weren't allowed to talk about it.
"Morning, Mila," I answered back with a smile.
As I passed the kitchen hall, a warm hand reached out and dropped a crumbling cookie into my mouth.
"You need this more than I do. Well done," the cook winked and I grinned.
"Thank you," I murmured, touched by the gesture. It was just a cookie but it meant a lot to me.
I climbed the staircase to the Luna's quarters, careful not to jostle the basket. The corridor was unusually silent. As I approached the door, I couldn't help but notice the tension hanging in the air.
I knocked softly but there was no answer.
Swallowing, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was total chaos. A mirror was cracked down the middle, the Luna's jewellery and perfume bottles shattered on the floor. The chairs were turned upside down.
Oh, no.
I didn't need anyone to tell me what was happening. Luna Vera was having another of her moments and this time, it seemed like it had hit worse.
I had barely taken another step when a lamp flew across the room.
I gasped and ducked. The lamp smashed against the wooden door behind me, sending glass spraying across the floor.
A few maids had already huddled in the corner, pale and wide eyed. I didn't hesitate in joining them, finding a corner to hide myself.
I was well aware of what happened when a maid had interrupted one of Luna Vera's outbursts. It wasn't pretty.
The culprit stood in the center of the room, her golden hair was wild and mascara ran down her face. Her silk robe flared as she turned towards us.
"Clean all of it," she spat. "Before I return. Or you'll wish you were never born."
With that, she stormed out, the door slamming behind her with a deafening echo. I released the breath I didn't realise, I was holding.
The other maids began to move at once, cleaning the mess as instructed with an impressive amount of speed. We were used to it already.
I clutched the basket resting on my hip tightly, heading towards the dresser to arrange all of them.
One of the girls suddenly flung her cleaning brush across the floor, startling the rest of us. "I don't understand why we have to suffer every time she's angry."
"Shh! Don't be stupid," another girl whispered, her eyes darting towards the closed doors. "You want to end up in the dungeons?"
I didn't speak. I knew better. Complaining was useless.
We were omegas, less than nothing in the eyes of the powerful. And worse, handmaidens to a Luna who couldn't bear a child and lashes out on us every time her monthly course came like a shock.
The Alpha and the Luna had been trying for an heir for as long as I can remember but nothing had changed. Luna Vera was unable to get pregnant, and it was beginning to cause agitation in the pack.
Whispers were traveling, and the councillors were already pushing the Alpha to dethrone her and take another that would be capable of fulfilling her duties.
It made Luna Vera tense each time, and she was slowly starting to lose her mind.
But it wasn't any of my concern. I had only one thing to do, and that was my job. I'd learned long ago that survival meant being invisible.
It meant bowing my head and swallowing every Cruz every bruise, every injustice without a word.
I had just finished scrubbing the last of the silverware, my arms aching and my feet were numb from standing all day.
I took the plain dinner in silence, and crept into my cot tucked away in the servant quarters. I wasn't in the mood for small talk with anyone, and I knew Myra wouldn't let me hear the end of it by tomorrow.
My eyes closed the moment my head hit the pillow, and sleep wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I didn't know how long I was out for when the whispers came.
"Sara!"
I felt a soft tap on my arm, and I stirred. Another tap, this time more urgent.
"Sara, wake up."
My eyes snapped open. The head maid stood over me, holding a flickering oil lamp. Her lips were tight and her eyes unreadable.
"Ma'am Cory?" My voice was hoarse from sleep. "Is something wrong?"
The shadows from the lamp danced across her wrinkled face, and I rubbed the back of my knuckles against my eyes.
"No time," she snapped. "Get up. Now."
I moved to grab my robe, but Ma'am Cory yanked me up by the wrist. "Forget that. Come."
My heart thudded as I was pulled into the corridor, my bare feet were freezing against the cold stone floor.
What in heaven's name was going on?
A loud yawn split my mouth open in half, and Ma'am Cory shot me a dirty look while I grimaced in apology.
Outside the room, five other girls stood in a row and just like me, they were all wide eyed and confused.
"Follow me," Ma'am Cory ordered, already turning into the darkness of the east wing.
That was the Luna's quarters. And it made me even more perplexed.
My legs felt weak, and my stomach tightened with dread. The other girls exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak.
Where were we going? And why were we chosen?
My heart was suddenly pounding like a warm drum. Something wasn't right about this.
And I could feel it in my bones. Wherever we were going would change everything.
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