Chapter 1 - Disguised Slave

- Aurelia -

I stared angrily at the unstable heap of dirty dishes piled in the sink.

I was supposed to wash them, that has always been my duty but my feet wouldn’t move. My body refused to obey anymore.

But I had to.

Forcing myself forward, I took a step—

Crash!

The stack of plates came crashing to the floor, shattering into pieces.

My eyes widened in horror as I stared at the fragments, I looked up and my eyes were met with Sonia’s glare, Sonia the kitchen bully as she was called behind her back.

I opened my mouth to speak, but two hard slaps landed across my face before my words could leave my lips.

My cheeks stinged in pain, my veil could never reduce the effect of such a slap.

“You stupid Omega!” Sona yelled into my face.

“What is going on here?” Our head mistress, Madam Donna asked sharply.

She stood at the doorway, a deep frown was etched on her face as her gaze settled on the shattered dishes scattered across the floor.

“I didn’t—”

“Aurelia pushed them down because she didn’t want to work,” Sona interrupted quickly.. rather too quickly.

My head snapped toward her.

“That’s not true!” I exclaimed immediately.

Since the day I stepped foot into this kitchen, Sonia never liked me, it was as if my very existence annoyed her. She was always ready to put me in trouble.

“Everyone saw you do it.” Sonia scoffed, she turned and looked from one person to the other, her gaze daring anyone to say otherwise.

Madam Donna stared from one person to the other, her eyes asking for answers.

I gritted my teeth beneath my veil and clenched my fists. I knew what was coming.

No one ever says otherwise to Sona except they wanted trouble.

Expectedly, every one of them nodded their heads.

Madam Donna stormed towards me and-

Pa!

Pa!

My cheeks twitched in pain as my hands flew under my veil to my cheeks, rubbing them.

"You good for nothing, useless Omega!"

"Madam-"

"No food for you for a week."

My eyes widened in horror and I didn't know when I blurted and yelled out my words, "I didn't do it!"

"How dare you talk back to the mistress!" Sonia spat as she pushed me, making me fall to my knees, as my knees hit the floor, a wave of pain travelled across my body, my knees had come in contact with some shreds on the floor.

I stifled in my scream, determined not to give Sonia any satisfaction but a loud yell tore from my throat as her heels pressed hard against the back of my hand.

"Shut up! You ugly veiled fool!" She spat and gave me a hard knock on my head.

I pressed my lips tight, my other hand gripped the floor and my teeth clenched hard as anger over rode the pain in me.

This wasn't me.

No, I was never meant to be here.

Not as a veiled fool.

Nor a Slave.

Nor even an Omega.

Six years ago, no one could ever call me that. Not even in a whisper. It could never even be told as a joke.

I was born into royalty, an Alpha King’s blood runs in my veins… Six years ago I was the next heiress to an empire.

I was Crown Princess Aurelia Isolde Draxmere of the Northern Kingdom.

I shut my eyes as memories I have buried but never forgotten flooded my mind.

-Six years Ago-

“Now, I crown you, Princess Aurelia Isolde Draxmere, the Crown Princess of the Northern Kingdom.”

A big smile spread across my face as I knelt before my father, Giovanni Draxmere, the Alpha King of the North.

He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on my forehead before gently placing the crown on my head.

Loud cheers erupted through the palace hall as the people shouted my name with joy.

“I am proud of you, my dearie.” My father said warmly.

I rose to my feet and immediately threw myself into his embrace.

“Oh? Am I being left out now?”

My mother’s voice sounded from behind us.

My father and I turned at once, both smiling as she slowly walked toward us, one hand resting on her protruded stomach.

“I am so proud of you, my dear,” she said softly before kissing both my cheeks and joining the hug.

“I—”

A sudden kick against my stomach cut me off.

Then another kick came.

My eyes widened as I looked down at my mother’s belly.

“Oh, Moon Goddess… the baby kicked!”

My father chuckled softly.

“Seems the little one doesn’t want to be left out either.”

He slowly lowered himself to his knees, placing both hands on my mother’s protruding belly before planting a gentle kiss on it.

“My darling—”

But suddenly, the joyful cheers filling the palace seemed to shift into screams.

“We have been attacked!”

My father's smile vanished, he hurried to his feet, his strong arms pulled I and my mother behind him.

Before I could even blink, different angry looking wolves with their fangs dripping with blood raced into the hall.

“Oh moon goddess! The westerners.” My mother exclaimed fearfully, she took my hands in hers, her grip tightened over my wrist.

My father turned to us, he took a brief look at my mother and I and for the first time in forever I saw fear in my father's eyes, nothing ever scared him, nothing ever.

But this did. My heart pounded.

“Run! Go now!” He said and without waiting for a response he pushed us towards a door, “Don't look back! Run!”

From my rear vision I could see my father's huge black wolf, as we ran his loud growl shook the hall.

But we weren't fast enough because an angry yell stopped us.

“Stop or I will dig my claws into your belly!”

My mother and I came to an abrupt stop.

My heart slammed violently against my chest. Her grip around my wrist tightened painfully.

She took a step forward pulling me alongside, I followed fearfully.

“I said don’t move!” The angry man yelled, taking a step forward, but my mother ignored him.

Suddenly, she jerked me forward, ready to make a run for it but our actions were halted by a very loud, painful scream.

My mother's. My body froze.

No… please.. no. Slowly my head turned to her but before I could catch a view of her, her hand which had already shifted to paws, her claws sticking out held my face in place, forcing my head away.

Still, I tried to look.

Her claws dug to the sides of my face, my blood trickled down my face.. tears already blurred my vision.

I tried not to think… I tried to push the thoughts in my head out… Mother was alright, nothing was wrong but then …

Slowly, her grip began to loosen…. Please.

I turned a little and from the corner of my eyes I saw it.

The sword. Blood dripped from it.

My blood ran cold, I felt my body go numb.

The sword had come from behind and went straight through her body.

Blood spilled from her lips.

“Mother…” My voice broke. I wanted to scream, yell and shift into my wolf but..

“Aurelia…” she whispered weakly. “Run.”

I shook my head violently, my tears crawling down my cheeks. “No… Mother, please—”

“Aurelia Isolde Draxmere!” she screamed, startling me, I knew that scream bore her last strength, with a bloody cough she screamed again. “RUN!”

Her hand fell off my face.

I shut my eyes, took the deepest breath I have ever taken in my sixteen years of existence and without thinking about the angry man behind me, I shifted into my wolf and I ran.

As I neared the exit, I turned and saw not one, but two men, one older, one younger.

The younger one held the sword, the older man who shared similar features with him patted him on the back then placed his own hands on the younger one and together…

They pulled out the sword.