Beast Mate

The bucket of cold water hit Ayla’s legs again. She didn’t flinch. She was used to it.

“You missed a spot, stupid girl!” a tall she-wolf shouted, pointing at the dirty floor.

“Yes, Mila,” Ayla whispered and bent down again to scrub harder.

“You’re so slow! Are you even trying?” Mila spat.

“I’m sorry... I’ll be faster.”

“You better be. If I see one speck of dust, you’ll sleep outside again. And don’t think the Alpha will help you. He doesn’t even know you exist.”

Ayla didn’t answer. She just nodded. Her hands were red from scrubbing, her knees bruised. Her stomach growled, but she had learned not to ask for food.

Another maid laughed as she walked by. “She thinks she’s special because the guards gave her old bread yesterday.”

“Pathetic,” Mila added. “You’re not even a real wolf. Your wolf hasn’t spoken to you. You’re weak.”

“I know…” Ayla said quietly, hiding the pain in her chest.

Hours passed before she finally finished cleaning. She took the dirty water outside and dumped it behind the old barn. The sky was dark now. Most wolves were eating meat and bread, laughing, dancing.

She sat behind the barn, chewing on a dry piece of bread she had saved from the night before.

Suddenly, a strong smell hit her. Whiskey… leather… something spicy. She stood quickly.

“Who's there?” she asked, eyes wide.

A tall man stepped from the shadows. His hood was up. He wore black. His face was partly hidden.

“Do you always eat alone?” his deep voice asked.

“Yes,” she answered. “I don’t belong with them.”

The man moved closer. His steps were quiet. Dangerous.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Ayla.”

“Ayla… That’s soft. Fitting for a small thing like you.”

She looked down, nervous. “Who are you?”

“Just a traveler,” he said, stepping closer. “Looking for a place to rest.”

“This is the Bloodfang Pack. You’re not from here.”

He chuckled. “Smart girl. But I won’t hurt you. I just need somewhere quiet.”

“You can stay in the old hunting lodge,” she said. “No one uses it anymore.”

He tilted his head. “You’ll show me?”

“I can’t… I’m not allowed to leave the yard at night.”

He stepped even closer, his breath now warm on her cheek. “I won’t tell.”

“I–”

He suddenly grabbed her arm. “You smell like something I’ve been searching for…”

Ayla tried to pull back. “Let go.”

But he didn’t. His grip was strong. Too strong.

“What are you doing? Please don’t–”

“Shhh,” he whispered, pressing her back against the barn wall. “Just for tonight. No one will know. I need this.”

“No! Stop–please!” she begged, panic in her voice.

He didn’t stop.

The stars above didn’t blink.

He didn’t stop, even as she cried out.

*

*

*

Sometime later, Ayla lay on the cold ground, silent tears running down her face. Her dress was torn. Her body ached.

He stood, fixing his cloak.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, not meeting her eyes. “You smelled like my mate. I couldn’t control it.”

She didn’t speak.

He knelt beside her and placed something in her hand. “Don’t tell anyone. Ever. Here’s some Shillings. Buy yourself medicine or food. And… thank you.”

Ayla stared at the coins. Her hands shook.

Then he was gone.

She cried until her voice broke.

*

*

*

The next morning, Ayla dragged herself to the washroom before anyone could see her. Her body was sore. Her legs felt heavy. She cleaned her bruises and scrubbed her skin until it burned.

But no amount of scrubbing could wash away what happened, she left the washroom to wear her maid dress.

Suddenly, the door slammed open.

“Ayla!” the head maid barked.

She jumped, heart pounding.

“What is taking you so long? Do you think you're special?”

“No, I.. I’m sorry–”

“Shut up! Sylvia is waiting! You are to serve her now!”

Ayla blinked. “Sylvia?”

“Yes, you stupid rat! The Alpha’s friend. The one he might make Luna soon!”

Ayla’s lips parted, confused. “I thought I wasn’t allowed in that wing.”

The head maid glared. “Do you think I care what you thought? You go now, or I’ll throw you into the dungeons myself!”

Ayla didn’t argue. She fixed her dress and grabbed the tray of food and tea. Her hands shook, but she kept her head down.

She walked down the long hall. Everything here looked clean, expensive, shiny. She had never been here before.

She knocked softly.

“Come in!” a sharp voice snapped.

Ayla entered the large room.

Sylvia stood by the window in a silk red dress. Her golden hair curled perfectly. Her lips were painted dark red. She turned and sneered.

“Oh. So they sent another garbage maid.”

Ayla kept her eyes down. “Good morning. I brought your breakfast.”

“Did I ask for your voice? Put the tray there and don’t break anything, rat.”

Ayla placed the tray gently on the table.

Sylvia walked up to her slowly, heels clicking against the floor.

“Why are you shaking?” she asked coldly.

“I’m not.”

“Don’t lie to me!” Sylvia snapped, stepping closer. “You think you're better than me? Huh?”

“No, I don’t–”

“You do! You think you can walk into this wing, where real wolves live, and act like you're clean? You’re filth. Omega trash. A stray mutt!”

Ayla didn’t reply. Her eyes stared at the floor, trying to hide the tears threatening to fall.

Sylvia leaned forward and hissed, “You think you’ll ever dream of becoming a Luna? You think someone like the Alpha would even look at you? Don’t make me laugh.”

“I never–”

“Shut up!” Sylvia screamed and raised her hand.

Ayla flinched, expecting the slap.

But a deep voice boomed through the room.

“What is going on here?”

Both girls froze.

Sylvia turned quickly, fake tears already forming.

“Alpha!” she cried. “She tried to poison me!”

Ayla’s eyes shot up.

Alpha?

The tall man stepped inside the room, his eyes dark and cold. He wore a fitted black shirt, his scent–whiskey, leather, spice,filling the air.

Ayla’s heart stopped.

That scent…

That voice…

It was him.

The man from last night.

The man who had hurt her.

Her hand trembled.

The glass cup she held slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.

Sylvia screamed.

But Ayla didn’t hear her.

The world spun.

The room grew dark.

And then, everything disappeared.

She fainted