CHAPTER 1

AMELIA’S POV

It was the familiar sound of the car horn that pulled me out of my slumber. I peered at the wall clock hanging above and saw that it was a little past midnight.

Rubbing the remnants of sleep off my eyes, I trudged towards the gate. There were only three people in the pack house who moved around at midnight like fucking ghosts and it was none other than the Nevermore triplets — Jason, Kyle, and Damian, the bratty sons of the Alpha of the Nevermore pack and my worst nightmares.

In the two years that I’d served as a maid for the Nevermores, the triplets had literally made my life hell on earth. However, nothing annoyed me more than their frequent late night outings which meant I had to stay up till they were all back and let them in.

I crossed the lawn quickly and opened the gate before they could throw a tantrum but apparently I wasn’t quick enough for their liking.

“Lord knows what you do all day in this house,” Jason grumbled as soon as he alighted from the car.

Kyle and Damian stepped out right behind him with matching smirks.

I ignored their sassy remarks and made my way to the front door but they were not taking my silence as an answer.

“I’m talking to you, orphan girl,” Jason growled, stopping me dead in my tracks. “Why the hell did you keep us waiting?”

“I dozed off for a while…” I started.

“Father doesn’t pay you to doze off for a while,” Kyle rambled on as he brushed past me.

“Pathetic bitch,” Damian added under his breath, his shoulder deliberately bumping into mine.

I could smell the alcohol in their breath as they spoke and I knew better than to get on their bad side tonight.

“And where is our dinner?” Jason eyed me.

I made my way to the kitchen and a moment later, I was back with plates for all three of them.

They took the first bites and I stood still, waiting for the usual complaints. Surprisingly, it didn’t come tonight. Instead, all three of them glared hard at me for a long time.

“What are you still doing here?” Jason growled.

I swallowed hard and inched closer to them.

“There’s something I want to talk to you about,” I started.

Judging from their sour mood tonight and their semi-drunken state, I knew that this was not the best time to make any requests. Sadly, I had no other choice. The district’s annual art exhibition and auction ceremony was in a fortnight and if I wanted to sell my favorite oil painting at a decent price, I had to be there.

Rumors had already started flying around that Alphas from the top packs around would be in attendance, and that was going to be a perfect opportunity for me to showcase my talent and save up some money for college.

Jason adjusted in his seat and stared up at me while Kyle and Damian continued eating.

“And what would that be?”

“I’ve been thinking of getting a ticket to the upcoming art exhibition,” I started to say.

“How exactly is that our problem?” Jason snapped.

As much as it crushed my spirit, I had been expecting it. The triplets were never going to help me.

I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night as I was lost in thoughts. This art exhibition had been my only hope of raising the money I needed for college but now, my situation looked so bleak. However, the sound of someone knocking at my door pulled me out of my train of thoughts.

I hurried to the door and my breath caught in my throat when I saw him standing there — the Alpha of the Nevermore pack himself,

“Alpha Max,” I whispered, lowering my eyes immediately.

He studied me for a moment, before holding out a cream-colored envelope with the faint golden insignia of the district council etched on its surface. I froze, recognizing it instantly.

“To the art exhibition,” He said. “I overheard your conversation with my sons last night.”

My heart stopped for a beat, shame flooding me at the thought of him hearing the triplets insult me. His eyes softened slightly as though he had read my mind.

“You’ve endured a lot these past two years,” he continued, his voice lowering. “My sons have so much to learn. Yet despite their temper, you’ve never failed in your duties.”

My lips parted, but words failed me.

He extended the pass closer, and my trembling fingers reached out to take it.

“Thank you, Alpha,” I managed to whisper, clutching the envelope to my chest like it was the most precious treasure in the world.

He nodded, then stepped back. “Use it well, Amelia. But I need something from you in return.”

My stomach twisted into a knot, fear rushing through me instantly.

What could I possibly give a man with so much power?

“Word has it that one of Alpha Nolan’s sons would be representing him at the event…” He started.

My eyes went wide with shock at his words. Alpha Nolan Wellington was the most respected Alpha in the district. I had never seen him but from the rumors I’d heard, nobody wanted to be on his bad side.

“So I want you to help me keep an eye on the triplets,” He continued. “I can’t have them running their mouths at that event not when we have no idea who Alpha Nolan’s son is.”

He fixed his gaze on me. “Can I trust you with this task, Amelia?”

Babysitting the triplets at an event filled with the most powerful Alphas in the district was going to be a tough one. I could barely handle them when they were sober, and at an exhibition, with all their arrogance I didn’t know if I was up to the task.

Still, I bowed my head. “I will do my best, Alpha.”

A small smile eased across his lips, and he patted me across the back.

“You’ll need all the sleep you can get,” He said before leaving.

The day of the exhibition came faster than I had anticipated. I stood in front of the cracked mirror in my tiny room, eyeing the only decent dress I owned. It was a plain navy blue gown, reaching just below my knees, with short sleeves that made my thin arms look even thinner. Not exactly glamorous, but at least it wasn’t one of the patched-up rags I wore for cleaning.

I let my hair down for once, brushing the dark waves until they gleamed faintly in the sunlight. My hands shook with nerves as I tied the small ribbon at my waist, trying to convince myself that I looked presentable enough.

This was it. My one shot at making my talent known, at stepping into a room full of people who could potentially change my life. I clutched the painting in my hand and after one last glance to make sure it was perfect, I was ready to go.

By the time I arrived at the grand hall, my nerves were coiled tight. The place was stunning — the huge chandeliers spilling golden light over the polished marble floors, the walls adorned with art of every form and color. The air smelled faintly of roses and expensive perfume, mingling with the underlying scent of dominance from the Alphas and their entourages.

I tucked myself into the shadows near the corner, clutching my small oil painting. I didn’t belong here. Everyone was dressed to kill - the ladies in stylish gowns, and the guys in expensive tuxedos. Even the sound of their laughter made me feel so uncomfortable.

I told myself to stay calm, to observe and wait for the right moment.

But of course, fate had other plans.

The triplets found me first.

They stood with their usual swagger, jackets thrown carelessly over their shoulders, ties loosened as though the rules of formality didn’t apply to them. The smirk on Jason’s lips faded the second his eyes landed on me. Kyle and Damian flanked him, their identical faces twisting with the same disdain.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Jason demanded, marching up to me. His voice was loud, drawing a few curious glances from those nearby.

I swallowed hard, trying not to shrink into the wall. “I—I have a pass, Jason.”

His eyes narrowed. “A pass? Don’t lie to me, orphan girl. You think you can sneak into a place like this?”

Before I could respond, a cluster of their friends approached, laughter trailing behind them. They were sons of other high-ranking pack officials, dressed in tailored suits and oozing arrogance.

“No way,” one of them chuckled. “You brought your maids as your dates to the exhibition?”

“She’s not our date,” Kyle growled, his face turning bright red instantly.

“Oh come on,” another teased. “We’re your friends and we don’t judge. Right guys?”

Heat burned through my cheeks, and my hands clutched my painting tighter against my chest. I wanted to disappear, but their laughter only grew louder.

Jason’s face darkened, his pride pricked in front of the very people he spent his life trying to impress.

“She’s not with us!” he barked.

A lot of heads turned in our direction and just like that, we had drawn the attention of the entire hall.

“Get lost!” Damian shouted, his eyes blazing with anger. “You think you can use us to crawl your way into circles you don’t belong in? You opportunistic whore!”

His words left me speechless. Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by a few muffled laughs. My throat closed up, shame sinking its claws deep into my chest. I felt every eye on me, every judgmental stare branding me an intruder.

At that moment, I wanted to fling my painting in the air and run as far away from the hall as I could. My legs trembled beneath me, and my vision blurred with unshed tears.

“What are you waiting for?” One of their friends chuckled. “You heard them. Get lost.”

I spun around, ready to abandon my dreams but a tall figure stood in my way.

He was dressed simply in a dark hoodie and worn jeans that looked strikingly out of place amidst the glittering suits and gowns. His hood was pulled low, shadowing his features, but his aura was impossible to ignore.

For a moment, silence descended on the hall.

But then his voice broke through, carrying an authority that silenced even the triplets’ loud friends.

“That’s no way to talk to a lady.”