CHAPTER 2: Hell Under Giselle's Rule

Isabella's POV

Morning came with a sharp knock on my door and a sharper voice.

"Get up, breeder! You have work to do!"

I groaned and peeled myself off the thin mattress. Everything hurt. My thighs, my back, places I didn't even know could hurt. Courtesy of Alpha Nolan's "nothing means anything" session last night.

I splashed cold water on my face, pulled on the gray servant dress they'd given me and tied my hair back. The mirror on the wall showed exactly what I felt like... a mess.

"Perfect," I muttered. "Just the look every girl dreams of."

The breeder handler was already gone by the time I stepped into the hallway, so I followed the sound of voices and clinking dishes toward the main areas of the pack house.

Silvermoon Pack's estate was massive. Stone walls, high ceilings and tapestries. Everything screamed wealth and power and "you don't belong here."

I kept my head down as I walked and that's when I noticed them. Pack members. Everywhere.

Some whispered behind their hands. Others shot me looks... pity from the women, disgust from the men. One older lady actually shook her head like I'd personally disappointed her.

"That's her," someone muttered. "The breeder the Alpha bought."

"I heard she tried to seduce him."

"Pathetic. Luna Giselle must be furious."

I clenched my fists and kept walking. Ignore them. Just ignore them.

But my wolf stirred.

'They don't know anything.'

"Neither do we," I whispered back. "So let's just survive today."

I reached the main corridor near the kitchens when a servant girl grabbed my arm.

"You. Follow me."

She led me to a storage closet, handed me a bucket, a rag and a brush.

"Start with the east wing hallways," she said. "And don't touch anything expensive."

"Got it."

She walked away without another word and I stood there holding a bucket like it was my new best friend.

"Welcome to your new life, Isabella," I muttered. "Scrubbing floors for the man who paid you like a prostitute."

I got to work.

***

By midday, my hands were raw and my knees ached from scrubbing marble floors. I'd cleaned three hallways, two staircases and a sitting room that looked like no one had sat in it for a decade.

I was on my fourth hallway when I heard heels clicking behind me.

I didn't look up. Just kept scrubbing.

The heels stopped.

"Well, well. Look what we have here."

I froze.

That voice. Smooth, sweet and sharp as a blade.

Luna Giselle.

I slowly lifted my head and there she was. Blonde hair perfectly curled, emerald green dress that hugged her curves and a smile that could've sliced steel.

"Luna," I said quietly, getting to my feet.

"Don't get up on my account," she said. "You look so natural down there. On your knees."

A few pack members nearby snickered.

I kept my face neutral.

"Is there something I can help you with, Luna?"

Her smile widened.

"Oh, I just wanted to see how our new... addition... was settling in." She circled me slowly. "Tell me, how does it feel to be a breeder? To be bought and used like livestock?"

My jaw tightened but I didn't answer.

"Nothing to say?" She stepped closer. "That's surprising. I heard you had plenty to say last night. Something about being mates?"

My stomach dropped.

She knew.

Of course she knew.

Giselle laughed and the sound was cold.

"Did you really think Alpha Nolan would choose you? A wolfless nobody over me?" She leaned in. "He told me everything. He said you were desperate. Delusional. Pathetic."

Each word hit like a fist.

"He doesn't want you," she continued. "He never will. You're just a body he used because I wasn't available. That's all you'll ever be."

I swallowed hard.

"I understand, Luna."

"Do you?" She grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at her. "Because if I ever catch you sniffing around my Alpha again, I'll make sure you regret it."

She shoved me backward and I stumbled, catching myself against the wall.

Giselle smiled sweetly and turned to the small crowd that had gathered.

"Everyone, meet Isabella. The breeder. If you need someone to scrub your floors or warm your bed for a few coins, she's available."

Laughter erupted.

My face burned but I kept my mouth shut. Fighting back would only make it worse.

Giselle walked away with her heels clicking and her laughter echoing and I stood there... humiliated, broken and alone.

A young servant girl approached hesitantly.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I lied.

She bit her lip.

"Luna Giselle... she's always like this when she feels threatened."

"I'm not a threat."

"Maybe not," the girl whispered. "But she thinks you are. Be careful."

She hurried away and I picked up my bucket.

Just survive. That's all I had to do.

***

By evening, I was sent to clean Alpha Nolan's study.

Of course.

Because the universe hated me.

I stood outside the door and took a deep breath. Maybe he wouldn't be there. Maybe I could just clean quickly and leave.

I knocked.

"Come in."

Damn it.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The study was all dark wood, leather chairs and shelves filled with books. A fire crackled in the hearth and Alpha Nolan sat behind his desk with papers spread in front of him.

He didn't look up.

"Clean quickly and leave," he said flatly.

"Yes, Alpha."

I grabbed the duster and started with the shelves. The room was silent except for the crackling fire and the scratch of his pen.

I tried to ignore him. I really did.

But the bond... Goddess, the bond was pulling at me. Every second I was in the room, it got stronger.

My wolf stirred.

"Mate is close."

"Not now," I whispered.

"What?" Nolan's voice cut through the silence.

I froze.

"Nothing, Alpha."

He set down his pen and finally looked at me.

"Come here."

My heart stuttered.

"Alpha, I'm just..."

"I said come here."

I put down the duster and walked toward his desk slowly. He stood and the firelight cast shadows across his face.

"You told Giselle," I said quietly. "About the mate bond."

"I had to."

"Why? So she could humiliate me?"

His jaw tightened.

"She needed to know the truth. That it means nothing."

"Then why did you pull me into your room last night?" I shot back.

He stepped around the desk and suddenly, he was right in front of me.

"Because I'm weak," he said, his voice rough. "Because the bond won't shut up. Because every time I see you, I..."

He stopped.

I looked up at him.

"You what?"

His hand moved before I could react. He grabbed my waist and pulled me against him and the air between us ignited.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he admitted. "And I hate it. I hate you for making me feel this way."

"I didn't ask for this bond," I whispered.

"Neither did I."

He kissed me. Hard. Desperate. Like he was trying to fight something inside himself and losing.

I should've pushed him away. Should've reminded him about Giselle. Should've had some self-respect.

But I didn't.

I kissed him back just as desperately.

His hands gripped my hips and he lifted me onto the desk, scattering papers everywhere. My legs wrapped around him instinctively and the bond roared between us.

And then... he stopped.

He pulled back, breathing hard and shoved me away so violently I almost fell off the desk.

"Get out," he said coldly.

I stared at him.

"What?"

"Get. Out." His eyes were hard. "Stay away from me. You're polluting my space."

The words hit like a slap.

I slid off the desk, grabbed the duster and walked to the door.

"Alpha Nolan," I said quietly without turning around. "One day, you're going to regret treating me like this."

I left before he could respond.

***

That night, I couldn't sleep.

Again.

I wandered the hallways aimlessly and that's when I heard it.

Voices. Hushed. Urgent.

I followed the sound and stopped outside a partially open door. Luna Giselle's chambers.

"...the vampires are getting impatient," Giselle was saying. "We need more... offerings. Soon."

My blood ran cold.

Vampires?

"I'm working on it," Giselle continued. "The omegas no one will miss. The rogues. I'll have another shipment ready by the next new moon."

A male voice responded but I couldn't make out the words.

"Don't worry," Giselle said. "No one suspects a thing. And even if they did... who would believe them?"

I stepped back slowly and my heart pounding.

What the hell had I just heard?