Remember the rules

Esme POV

“Hurry up, you’re late for breakfast, honey,” Mom said, thrusting a tray at my chest. “What were you doing?”

“Daydreaming again,” Rhoda murmured as she stirred a pot. She was still mad at me for not getting the Obsidian Stone.

I hadn’t told her about my wolf yet, so far only Kira knew about my wolf and Alpha Knox. I don’t know who he thought I was before he snuck up on me last night but he didn’t seem too happy I was a slave but he wasn’t appalled either.

“The royal family likes their breakfast punctual. Remember the rules, Esme. Don’t speak unless spoken to, don’t look at anyone in the eyes. The King won’t be having breakfast with the rest of the family but usual suspects will be there.”

“Why won’t the King be there?” I asked. I’d never been in the same room as him despite growing up in his house.

It was weird, but that’s the way things were.

“That’s none of our business honey.”

“Fine. It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a very big deal. This is your first time serving the royal family breakfast. It’s not like serving the young betas. You have to act right and be presentable.” She straightened the shoulder straps of my uniform.

Since breakfast was so important I was forced to wear the baby pink uniform and white apron above the petite skirt.

“Once you’re done serving you have to wait for everyone to finish eating before you leave. Whatever you hear is none of your business and you can’t repeat it. Understood, honey?”

I nodded. They should pay us more for this.

While the other girls, Jasmine and Griselda carried the last of the breakfast items and headed to the dining room I gave myself a little pep talk. I could do this. No one was getting food on their clothes and I wouldn’t die in there. I carried the tea tray which weighed a ton because of the water flask and the dozens of cups.

I made it to the dining room without falling backwards. The massive round table was nearly full. The Queen Luna sat on the other side of the table with the King’s left-hand man, Mr Fanning and his children, Justin and his brother Kevin. It was common knowledge that Queen Luna Stella hated the Luna Consort Monica for giving birth to Leo and stealing her glory altogether. They were forced to be in the same room for the King’s sake.

Luna Monica sat on the other side on the chair close to the King’s throne, beside her was High Beta Bruce, Giselle’s Dad. Speak of the devil Giselle walked like a ray of sunshine strong enough to wilt a plant instantly. Prince Leo arrived next with his head high and shoulders rolled back. He met my gaze as I set the plates.

His brows knitted together with a flash of rage. It was gone before I knew it. He took a seat on his Father’s throne and didn’t extend a greeting to anyone. I moved aside the bread basket to make room for the meats and made eye contact with Princess Camille. She smiled at me and I returned her smile. She was younger than Chanel by two months and a gamma wolf. She had to be the kindest person in this castle. She always had a book in her hand. Most of my books were hand-me-downs from her. Though we weren’t allowed to play together most times she’d been nice to me.

“Uh, little sister, you’re in my seat,” Chanel said with a sigh.

I moved out of her way. Chanel looked back to her old self which was terrifying enough.

“There’s so many other chairs, Chanel,” Camille said calmly.

Chanel touched her chest and laughed. “Doesn’t matter that’s my seat. I don’t know what your game is Camille but what’s mine is mine.”

Camille put her book down and batted her long dark lashes.

“I’m not playing anything—”

“Just fine another place to sit, Camille,” Leo barked.

She jumped, blinking at her brother. She clutched her book to her chest and moved three chairs down. Disgust boiled in my gut. They were awful. Chanel settled in her chair triumphantly. No one said a thing so I went about finishing my job.

“Here take the mushrooms. I don’t know why that cook insists on bringing them.”

I picked up the basket from Luna Monica, making sure to keep my head down. I think I did a very good job of keeping my head down because I tripped. Jasmine gasped as I went flying and the mushrooms flew from the basket. I’m so dead. Instead of hitting the ground, I fell into strong arms.

Partly paralyzed I allowed the person keeping me from falling to help me up. I was met with Alpha Knox’s cool eyes.

Oh, good grief.

“Watch where you’re going,” he said.

I nodded quickly and stood in line with Jasmine and Griselda. No one said anything about my accident but Chanel glared at me. She tripped me.

“Thank you for joining us, Alpha Knox,” Leo said.

“Yeah well, we have to eat,” Knox grumbled and settled in a chair beside Chanel.

A Cheshire smile spread on her face. “A pleasure to have you, Alpha,” she purred.

Knox arrived with his friend Jax, a man equally as daunting as Knox but the Alpha had a deadlier edge. Knox didn’t pay Chanel must attention he merely grunted at her.

My first time serving breakfast and I made a show of myself. What’s lunch and dinner going to be like? Mom might not let me do it when she hears about this and I’m banking on it. I should have known Chanel wouldn’t take it without resistance.

After a few hours of staring at the red carpet, I looked up to see if they were almost done eating. I met Knox’s gaze again. His serious stare turned playful with a smirk and I looked down again. My cheeks burned bright pink.

“We’ve got a lot to do. We’ll see you at the banquet tonight,” Leo said to Knox as he stood.

Everyone else rose too. Clean-up time.

***

The girls snickered behind me as we carried the trays to the kitchen. Let the taunting begin. At least no one was covered in food.

“Is that everything?” Mom asked.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Good so you can come with me—”

“You!” Luna Monica barged into the kitchen.

Everyone froze.

Her dress swayed as she closed the distance between us. Her palm connected with my cheek so fast I dropped the empty bread bowl. Her slap stung fiercely. I stumbled backwards into my Mother’s arms.

“Luna please,” my mother begged.

“Insolent girl!”

“It was an accident. I tripped,” I said quickly.

“I don’t care! You should never have been allowed to work upstairs. I should have gotten rid of you instead. You can’t do anything.”

“She’s still learning. I promise there won’t be any more hiccups,” Mom begged.

My Mother hugged me tightly. I felt like a child who overstepped her boundaries and Luna Monica was one breath away from sending us away. I was going to be the reason we ended up on the streets. Clutching my mother’s arm, I tried to push the memories away but the memories all flooded back to me of this woman yelling and threatening to cast us out.

“Worthless, good for nothing!” She screamed. “I should—”

“Is something wrong?” Alpha Knox cut her off.

He stepped into the kitchen with his arms crossed and bore into her.