Reyna
I walk into the kitchen of the maid’s quarters and as soon as my best friend Lily-Ann sees me; her smile drops. She saunters over to me, her blonde hair flying behind her as she rushes to get to me.
“Oh, Goddess!” she cries out when she sees my bruised face. “What have they done now?”
I shake my head. “Don’t worry, I can still work and will be healed by the time we open the doors to the Bloodmoon Hall. Do you need me to braid your hair so we can start?”
Lily-Ann looks at me with a mixture of pity and sadness, and I could just die right there and then. She’s an Omega orphan and a maid just like me, but we’ve been friends since we were ten years old.
She knows about my plans to leave and wants to go along with me, but to be honest I would much rather do this alone. Her life isn’t filled with pain like mine is and she has her wolf and mate already.
I can’t let her throw all that away for me.
She wraps her arms around me and I suck in a breath since my ribs are bruised from Abby’s kicks. “You know how it is, but luckily, I don’t have to deal with this for long,” I say.
Sighing, she lets go of me and places her hands on my shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want us to leave with you? We have a carriage and will gladly accompany you–”
“No, I promise I’ll be fine! I’ve saved up enough to ensure safe passage into a new city and I’ll find a job in no time as soon as I leave here,” I say with a smile on my face. “You and Hans deserve to have a happy life here.”
The corners of her mouth pull down in a grimace. “I’m so sorry you were mated to an asshole like Aiden! No one deserves happiness more than you, Reyna,” she says, then pulls me into her arms again.
If a mate can break a sacred bond like this, I do not want one again. All they do is lie and hurt you, only to go to the next available thing.
“Let’s get this morning’s duties over with so we can get to the meeting with Headmistress Neave. She wants to assign roles for the Hallowed Bond Ball, and we know everyone will cringe when it comes to it,” I say, knowing full well I’ll be offering up my services to lead the maids that evening.
It will be triple my usual salary and we get paid half of it before the Ball even starts. More than enough that I need, so I am all in. My group might hate me for volunteering, but I have to do this for myself.
After a few hours of going about our duties, Headmistress Neave calls us all into the maid quarters. She’s an elderly lady who shouldn’t be working as a maid and always reminds me of a strict nun. There are about fifty of us spread into four groups, and Lily-Ann and I lead two separate sects.
“Attention, everyone! I have an important announcement to make,” she says, clapping her withered hands together. “As we all know, an important event is taking place for the first time in our lovely city, Ravens Hollow!”
The Hallowed Bond Ball is an important event for everyone in the Four Kingdoms of Aether. Our city, landlocked and surrounded by other three larger countries, was neutral ground throughout the War of the Alpha Kings.
That war only ended last year, and to celebrate it, Silvercrown is hosting the rocky alliance between the three Alpha Kings. My father is the Alpha of Silvercrown Pack, and our castle will be hosting the event.
“We’re getting two hundred more people to help with this event, but we need one of you to oversee and direct everyone. Do I have a volunteer?”
Oh, balls. I can manage a group of fifteen girls, but over two hundred?
Swallowing my pride, I raise my hand and watch as the surprise slips into Headmistress Neave’s eyes. “Reyna? Are you sure?”
I nod and take a step forward. “I know Bloodmoon Hall like the back of my hand and will be able to direct them well. But if anyone would like to take over…” I trail off, looking at the other women who won’t even meet my eye.
None of them want this responsibility and I am revelling in the fact that I won’t have competition. Granted, the Alpha Kings are dangerous and ruthless men, but I would rather take that than another day of living in slavery.
“Oh, fantastic then! Come with me as we work out the schedules for the evening; there’s much to be done!” Headmistress Neave says before dismissing everyone and pulling me into her office.
***
By the time I get home that evening, I am exhausted, but know I need to keep up my strength for the slew of insults I know will come my way at dinner time.And as we are seated, they don’t disappoint.
“You’re truly a disgrace, Reyna,” Maria, my step-mother, sneers as she looks down at me from her crooked nose. “Trying to seduce Aiden like that. No wonder my poor Abby hit you!”
I bite the inside of my cheek as my rage simmers inside of me, and once again, it feels like I am so close to shifting. Why can’t I just be like a normal shifter? I really picked the short straw when the Goddess handed out wolf spirits.
“It won’t happen again,” I say, looking at her and my step sisters, Abby and Leana. “If it does, please feel free to strike me.”
“As sure we will!” Abby shrieks. “I don’t know why Father keeps a seat at this table for someone as worthless—”
“Enough, Abby,” my father’s voice booms through the dining hall, shutting everyone up. He walks inside and takes his place at the head of the table, then he turns to look at everyone but me.
He’s a large, burly man who has commandeered armies in his younger days before our city became a neutral one in the way of everything. Alaric Eamons is a powerful man, but not a good one.
“Reyna is my biggest mistake, and the Goddess wants me to always see it. So this is not up for discussion.”
Once again, my heart breaks at his cruel tone, and I can do nothing but swallow his words like razor blades. I know I am his mistake. Not a day goes by where it isn’t staring me right in the face. My father has light features —green eyes and red hair and it is all evident in the beautiful ways my sisters look.
I’m raven-haired and have lilac-coloured eyes… the object of my father’s regret.
The Hallowed Bond Ball cannot come any sooner… I am so done with feeling this way.
Reyna It’s a beautiful evening on the night of the ball and we’re dressed in crimson gowns to indicate we’re servers and helpers for the evening. Headmistress Neave had my father make these specifically for us for this special occasion, and to be honest, they’re absolutely gorgeous. Our hair has been curled and pinned up; nothing like this has been done before when it comes to the different functions my father has at the manor. He must really be trying to impress these Alphas, and understandably so. The scent of roses floats on the breeze, coupled with the delicious foods being prepared in the kitchens. For the first time in a long time, I wished I were on the other side of the festivities. I look around the familiar hall and breathe out a sigh. The hall is vast, with soaring ceilings adorned with intricate, handcrafted chandeliers that bathe the room in a soft, golden glow. Draped from the ceilings are the banners depicting the pack emblems of the Four Kingdoms of Aether. A grand
Reyna I stumble backward as three pairs of blue eyes look at me as if I’m their last meal. The crowd moves out of the way, but then Alpha Malachi turns to face the other two with a frown etched on his face. “Pardon my fucking language, but did I just hear you both recognize my mate as yours?” he growls, and I see his claws start to extend. “Correct me if I am wrong, please, gentlemen.” Alpha Rune drops his hood and glares at him. “There’s no need for violence, Malachi,” he says, and the latter scoffs. “Violence!” Alpha Malachi chuckles. “I am prepared to go back to war to have her as mine alone—” “Such a brute. No wonder your father died at my hand,” Alpha Cassian says and crosses his arms. “It is obvious what has happened, and if you don’t put those kitten claws away, I will break them.” Alpha Malachi growls and I take a step back…then another… until I’m running out of the hall as fast as my legs can take me. There is no way I’m going to stay in the middle of this! The Moon Godd
Reyna I turn around to face the Alpha behind me and see him leaning with his shoulder against the stable door. His Alpha blue eyes regard me curiously, and I detect no anger or annoyance in his scent. “Alpha Rune,” I whisper his name, and a faint smile appears on his face, astounding me. This Alpha is actually quite… gorgeous. Despite the, broody, mysterious air around him, he has an attractive young and chiselled face with the sweetest smile I have ever seen. “Hello again, darling. Where are you off to in such a rush?” he asks as he cocks his head to the side. My stomach clenches at the curious smile on his face, and I feel like I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t be doing. Well… I take a step back from him and swallow hard, only for him to push off from the doorway and walk toward me. That broodiness quickly shifts into something more dangerous, and my heart feels like it’s trapped in a vise. “I…uh…” “You can be lucky I’m the only one out of the three of us who can
I am roused from my sleep by the sound of hushed voices and I’m about to tell them to sod off when I hear my name.“...Yes, I am well aware of that. I know we’ve had our differences and we all hate each other, but I think this is more important than that. I caught her trying to run away last night. We all terrified her.”I sit up quickly in my bed, only to realise that I’m not even in my bed. Before I could even wonder where the heck I am, everything comes flooding back to me and the sweet bakery scents hit me right in the gut. Oh, Goddess gracious, I have three mates and they’re literal enemies!My heart is beating so fast that I think I might just pass out from lightheadedness. Placing a hand on my chest, I try to calm myself down by leveling out my breathing. However, before I can even get my heart to settle down, the carriage door swings open.I know for a fact that I am not a light sleeper; that when I sleep, it shows on my face. Right now I can feel my hair standing up wildly a
ReynaI roamed through a foggy forest that appeared to stretch on for miles. The trees are veiled in mist, which made it difficult to see and created an eerie stillness. Am I dreaming right now? That seems to be the logical explanation, seeing as I seem to be alone here.My heart leaps into my throat when I see a huge, shadowy figure appear in the distance, its form indistinct. I squint to try and make out what I am seeing, but my mind cannot comprehend what this creature could be.Black fog in a misshapen shape. However, it was the eyes that grabbed my attention - two captivating orbs of purple that shone like jewels in the darkness. An inexplicable urge pulled me forward as if the creature beckoned me to follow.Step by step, I ventured deeper into the fog, my heart racing with both trepidation and curiosity. Each footfall sent echoes through the silent forest, heightening my awareness of the unknown lurking in the shadows.As I trailed behind the creature, a sense of familiarity w
ReynaAlpha Malachi holds his head proudly as we enter the dining room and of course, every head turns to face us. Gods, I’m sure the rumours about last night have spread heavily across the city. The Alpha’s illegitimate daughter is the supposed mate of the Alpha Kings.I swallow hard when we arrive at a private table and Alpha Malachi pulls a chair out for me. “Alpha Malachi, if I may—”“You don’t need to address me so formally, Reyna dear. My first name is fine,” he says, leaning his face close to mine. “I am sure Cassian will say the same thing since you using our titles feels so…wrong.”“For the first time in your entire existence you’re correct about me, Malachi,” Cassian says as she sits down in the chair next to me. “Just my name without the title, little mate.”I shake my head and scoff. “Weren’t you two just at each other’s throats last night? What happened in the time I fainted?”Malachi chuckles lightly. “A near-death encounter which could have been prevented if Cassian an
CassianWe’re seated in Alaric’s meeting chamber, watching as he and his Beta fall over themselves in a bid to explain how they had nothing to do with the attack this morning.I’m well aware that he had nothing to do with it, I just want to see him sweat a little.“This can be seen as a signal of war. To attack when all three of us are here in a neutral country? Why aren’t there more patrols out during the day? Do you want more bloodshed on your hands, Alaric?” Rune asks. He’s standing with his hands braced on the table in front of him, anger radiating from his scent. The last time I saw Rune this angry was when his uncle turned traitor and I informed him about it. It was the beginning of our truce, the seeds planted to end a war our grandparents started. A war none of us wanted.“I understand the implications, but please Alphas, rest assured we will find whoever did this!” he declares, and I lean back bracing my chin on my fingers. “We will—”“And?” I ask, watching as confusion inch
ReynaWe hurriedly left the kingdom after Malachi and Rune returned with clothing for me, the events of the attack still fresh in my mind. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of trepidation and curiosity. Cassian, Malachi, and Rune seem to move with swift determination after the meeting with my father, but no one would tell me what exactly was discussed.As we approach what appeared to be a hidden field, I notice a gleaming metallic structure in the distance. My heart skips a beat as the carriage draws closer and I am a confused mess as I try to comprehend what I am seeing. My eyes widened with awe as I took in the gleaming metal body, the polished finish reflecting the sun’s soft light. The sight was unlike anything I had ever seen before; it stood like a majestic beast, large and imposing.The carriage comes to a stop and we get out, all the while my eyes remain transfixed on the thing in front of me.“What... what is this?” I stammer, my eyes wide with wonder as I gaze up at the metal