Chapter 3

Clara’s POV

As I scrub pots and pans in the kitchen the next morning, I can’t stop thinking about my sweet night with Alpha Damien.

His warmth. His touch. The way he growled my name, called me mate, made me his–

‘How could you have left him like that?’ Marigold demands in frustration.

I scrub a pot harder, suds flying. ‘What was I supposed to do? Stay for breakfast and pretend I don't have floors to mop?’

‘You’re his mate, Clara. That’s more important than chores! You could have at least let him know before leaving!’

‘He hasn’t made anything official yet,’ I argue. ‘I’m a maid. I still need this job!’

‘Once you’re Luna, you’ll never—’

A sharp tap on my shoulder shatters my internal argument. I jump, nearly sending a porcelain plate to its death.

“Clara? Where were you?” Layla’s fingers curl into my shoulder, her eyes wide with worry. “You never came home. I thought… I thought something bad happened.”

I feel the heat climbing my neck. “I’m fine. I just… got held up. Cleaning.”

Layla winces. “I feel so bad about making you cover for me. The date wasn’t even worth it. Are you sure you’re alright? What happened?”

“I really am okay,” I promise her. “It–it’s nothing.”

“But you didn’t come home.” Her brow furrows in concern again. “Oh Goddess, did Alpha Damien come home? Did you get punished?”

Tentatively, I lower my voice to a whisper. “He–he did come home early,” I stammer out. Can I tell her this? Am I even allowed to be telling people this? It still doesn’t feel real. “But he didn’t… it wasn't a punishment.”

Layla narrows her eyes. I can almost see the gears whirring in her mind, trying to piece together what happened.

“He caught you, didn't he?” she presses, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. “So what was his reaction? What could have possibly happened that you can’t tell me? We don’t have secrets. Speak!”

She has a point. Layla has known me since we were pups. She’s more than a friend, she’s family, and we’ve never kept secrets from each other.

I draw in a deep breath. It still barely feels real. I can’t quite believe what I’m about to say.

“Okay, fine,” I mutter. “I… I ran into Alpha Damien yesterday,” I begin tentatively, stammering over the words. “And… well… he’s my mate.”

For a moment, Layla just gapes up at me.

But then she starts beaming wider than I’ve ever seen her before, flinging her arms around me and pulling me into a tight embrace.

“Moon Goddess above, that’s amazing!” She exclaims. “We’ve got to–we need to tell everyone, oh my stars, you’re going to be Luna–”

“Shh!” I say sharply, eyes flashing. “No one can know, okay? I don’t–I don’t know what’s happening yet. Please, you’ve got to keep this quiet.”

“Alright,” she concedes, a smile still tugging at the corners of her lips. “I promise not to tell anyone your amazing, incredible news.”

“Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

“How did your date go, by the way?” I ask as Layla tugs on a pair of gloves and starts washing dishes alongside me.

She growls in frustration. “He wasn’t my mate,” she hisses. “Just some brute trying to take advantage of me. I barely managed to get away after drinking him under the table,” Layla adds with a snort. “Not that he ever would’ve gotten away with anything.”

“Oh, Layla, I’m so sorry,” I say comfortingly. “I know how much you were hoping he was the one.”

She shrugs half-heartedly. “It’s not like it’s the end of the world,” Layla says. “I’m still open-minded. I know I’m going to find my mate someday, and until then, I’m saving my virginity for him.”

Virginity. Right. The images from last night flash through my mind. My virginity, which I… no longer have.

I did keep it for my mate, though.

Layla seems to notice the fresh blush colouring my cheeks, since she leans in again, voice teasing. “Hey, speaking of, you never made it back home last night…So your virginity…”

“Layla!” I hiss again.

She laughs, nudging me. “Oh, come on! You two totally did it. So, when is Alpha Damien going to officially announce you as his Luna?”

Before I can even gasp at her bluntness, an arc of pain lashes out across my face. I let out a shriek of agony and clutch my hand to my face, the world suddenly gone red.

I look up to see Rachel, the Beta’s daughter, pulling her hand back for a second strike. Her face is a mask of pure malice.

“You little whore!” Rachel screeches like a banshee. “How dare you try to seduce our Alpha so shamelessly?”

“I didn’t do anything to seduce him!” I try to protest, but I’m already trembling with fear, tears welling in the corners of my eyes. “That’s not what–it’s not–”

“Don’t lie to me,” Rachel snarls, stalking forward. I trip, hitting the floor, and she looms over me like a predator. “You were seen leaving his bedroom this morning. You think a pathetic maid like you can just crawl into his bed like that?”

Panic chokes me. As the Beta’s daughter, Rachel’s influence is absolute and everyone knows she’s obsessed with Damien.

“Leave her alone!” Layla cries out, stepping forward. “She was just cleaning!”

Smack!

Rachel backhands Layla without even looking at her. My heart twists at the sight of seeing her in pain, guilt setting in strong.

“Fall back, Omega,” Rachel sneers, her focus returning to me with lethal intent. “How dare you sneak into his bed? You pathetic, worthless, ugly little—”

Her chest heaves with loathing as she draws her hand back for a final, crushing blow. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the impact. I can’t fight back; her rank is a wall I cannot climb.

The blow never lands.

A low growl suddenly rips through the room—a warning rumble like silk over thunder.

The scent of rain and cedar wood washes over me, instantly soothing my panic. I hear a collective gasp and a terrified, stammered, “Alpha!”

I open my eyes, and my heart stops. Alpha Damien is there, his massive frame shielding me. He has pinned Rachel’s frail wrists with one hand, trapping her effortlessly as he glares at her with a lethal fury.

“How dare you harm my mate?!”