The pain never ends...

I woke to a warm, wet touch and rubbed my eyes to find my mom leaning over me. Her gray strands fell over my face, and she pulled my cheek playfully.

Something in her eyes had been lost after the months without my father. But that day was worse. Her age was more visible than usual, and the bags under her eyes seemed to have become permanent.

“Mamma, they made you work overnight again? It’s the third night, and you’re not getting any sleep.” I sat straight on my bed.

“The other maid was sick, and there were piles of clothes to be washed. I’m fine, though. Don’t worry.” My kind mother would do anything for others and bear the pain to help someone in need.

“Please get some sleep before they call you again.” I touched her shoulder.

“I can’t. I need to arrange the tables because there was a pack meeting yesterday, and the chambers need cleaning.” She tied her hair into a bun and tried, unsuccessfully, to straighten the creases on her dress. They stubbornly remained as though mocking both of us.

I wished I could stop her, but the punishment for not finishing given duties would be worse, so I stared at her back until she vanished from my sight. Frustrated, I groaned before getting out of bed. I fixed the pillow and blanket. The rusted iron bucket next to my bed held water, so I cleaned my face and brushed my teeth.

After braiding my long hair, I checked the cupboard. They never gave us lunch—if they could starve us completely, they would—so I hoped to find something. Luckily, I came across a tasty packet of cookies. I enjoyed them while sitting on the corner of my mattress.

As I was washing crumbs from my hands afterward, quick footsteps approached. Despite not being permitted to interact with us, one of the maids rushed into the cabin. For a second, her eyes wandered over the small room, then shifted to me.

“Astrid—your mom—she fainted in the chamber,” she said, sounding flustered. Then she ducked back out so as not to be seen.

My mother? She fainted? The floor seemed to slip from beneath my feet. The room spun around me. My whole body became numb as I stood frozen, staring through a fog of desperation. A sour memory formed in the pit of my stomach as I recalled losing my father.

I wasn’t going to lose her too. I dashed out of the cabin, leaving the door open.

My mind raced, swarming with nightmare scenarios of living without my mother’s protection. I crossed the path to the chamber in a haze. After a brief search, I found her trying to get to her feet, surrounded by other maids who had no choice but to ignore her for the sake of their own wellbeing.

I hurried to her and helped her stand. She trembled, her weakened state making me choke back tears.

“Don’t cry, sweetie. I’m fine.”

I couldn’t help it. The tears came and wouldn’t stop. I looked away, not wanting her to see my pain, not wanting to see her in such a weakened state. The other maids departed, maybe to give us privacy, or maybe because they didn’t want to be involved.

“Mamma. Let’s go to the room. I will do everything. You need rest.” I held her hands tightly in mine.

“But—”

“No. If something happens to you, I will end my life.”

Her eyes grew wide, and she hugged me as I sobbed. “Oh, Astrid. Don’t say that. I’ll go get some rest. Please manage the chamber here.” She wiped my wet cheeks with the sleeve of her dress.

Mother left, and I got to work, sweeping the floor. Then it was lunchtime for the royals, and I had to arrange the table.

“Take this fruit salad with you,” the old maid said from the kitchen.

I carefully balanced the salad tray in one hand and carried a jug of water in the other. At the dining table, Princess Amaira and her mother, Luna Caroline, chatted together in low voices. Princess hated me, and that filled me with icy panic as I approached. But they were in such deep conversation that Princess didn’t even glance my way.

“I am so excited,” Princess said. “The great Alpha, Dominic Knight of the Blood Moon pack, is going to attend the annual ceremony of the Northwest packs. I’ve heard that he’s expanded his empire on his own and now rules over fifty packs in the tropical area. Nobody dares to speak against him. He has dominance over everyone… And I also heard he’s a bachelor!” Princess Amaira beamed with happiness as I hurriedly placed the tray and jug on the table, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” her mother said with bright eyes. “It’s your chance to be his luna. You’ll have to make him go crazy over your charm and looks. Then my daughter will be the queen of the greatest empire.” Luna Caroline clapped her hands excitedly.

“I will definitely. Rumors say he’s the most handsome alpha to be born in this era, though I’ve heard he’s a bit cold and dangerous to approach. Still, the girls are after him. But he hasn’t chosen anyone, and—well, who’s more beautiful than me?”

I kept my expression neutral, though I made the mistake of looking up. Our eyes met and her smile faded.

She rose from her chair. “You ugly, idiot slave! How dare you? Where is your mask?” She walked toward me, her hand clenched into a fist.