Jane

Jane's POV 

“Josephine, what should I do today? What’s my duty?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady even though I still hadn’t recovered from this morning’s chaos.

She looked up from the vegetables she was cutting and gave a small sigh. “You’re supposed to work differently for Alpha Liam. I can’t give you a task without his permission.”

Before I could reply, one of the maids near the sink turned toward us with a mocking smirk. “Does her task require sleeping with the Alpha?”

I almost choked on my own spit. What did she just say? Why would she even ask that?

Josephine straightened immediately, her face hardening. “What are you talking about?”

The girl shrugged. “We saw her come out of Alpha Liam’s room. Since she came into this house, she’s been in his room more than anyone else.”

I turned to her, anger rising in my chest. “And how does that justify that I’m sleeping with him?” I asked.

“Don’t act clueless, Jane. We all know girls like you,” another maid chimed in, her voice thick with venom.

“You get special treatment from Josephine, and you have direct access to the Alpha. How is that even possible unless you’re spreading your legs for him?” she added.

To be honest, I was stunned. I haven't even used a month here and they are already accusing me of sleeping with the alpha.

Josephine’s voice rang sharp. “Watch your tongue, both of you.”

But they didn’t stop. They came prepared with their lies and accusations.

“See? You’re even taking her side,” the first one sneered. “Favoritism is loud in this kitchen.”

“It is spreading around the house,” her friend added.

Josephine’s eyes flashed with anger. “You know what the Alpha will do if he hears you talking about him like that.”

“This isn’t about the Alpha,” the second girl hissed. “It’s about her. She’s trying to seduce him, and she’s pretending to be innocent. Let's be honest, everyone wants the alpha. Why is she pretending not to?”

“Keep quiet already,” Josephine snapped.

I had heard enough of their nonsense. I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay calm. I know how to handle people like them but I wasn't ready to do anything. I'm still new here.

“Just let them be,” I said softly, forcing myself to sound unaffected. If only they knew what I was going through. If only they knew I was the most confused and most lost in this house.

“They don't even know what they are talking about,” I added. 

They hissed and turned to mind their business. 

I turned back to Josephine. “Just give me a task. Alpha Liam won’t be angry because of that.”

“He won’t get angry because you know how to ride him well,” the first one spat.

I thought that bitch was done but she wasn't and I won't take it anymore. I won't just stand and let her talk shit about me. 

So I grabbed the nearest glass of water and threw it at her face. They both gasped, stunned by my action.

“If you say anything bad about me again, I won’t go easy on you,” I said, my voice shaking, not from fear, but fury.

The second girl narrowed her eyes. “Your days in this house are numbered, slut.”

I didn’t even think. Without wasting time, I grabbed another glass and poured it on her too. They screamed, cussed and lunged at me, but Josephine stepped between us with a raised hand.

“Enough!” she shouted. “Get out of here, both of you!”

They glared at me, soaked and seething, but they obeyed, and stormed out of the kitchen.

I stood there, breathing hard, my heart pounding in my chest. But I was pleased with myself. I wasn’t here to fight, but I also wasn’t going to be anyone’s punching bag. Not anymore. I was done with being brought down by others. 

"You shouldn't have done that," Josephine said, folding her arms with a sigh.

"I'm only trying to defend myself," I replied, my voice firm.

She stepped closer, her eyes filled with something like concern. “You should have ignored them. Silence was the best answer. 

“You heard them. They were not going to stop unless I stopped them. And I successfully did.”

"You're outnumbered by them, Jane. I won’t always be there to defend you." She said with so much concern. 

I was touched by her concern but I wasn't ready to let her worry about me. "I can defend myself. I've been doing that since I was a kid," I said, my tone sharper than I intended.

And it was true. I grew up in an orphanage where bullying was part of daily survival. There was no such thing as softness or mercy. I moved to the Blood Moon Pack when Theo’s parents found me. For reasons I still didn’t understand, they adopted me into the pack, and from that moment on, I had to fight for everything.

These bitter maids? They were nothing compared to what I’d been through. They are not even close to Mia when it comes to doing evil. 

Josephine must’ve read the shift in my expression because she didn’t argue further. Instead, she handed me a cup of coffee on a silver tray.

“Take this coffee to the Alpha’s office,” she instructed.

My spine stiffened instantly. I stepped back, shaking my head. “I can’t.”

“You asked for a task and now you’re rejecting the first one I gave you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry, Josephine. I just… I don’t want to see the Alpha right now,” I said, avoiding her gaze.

I could still feel the sting of Liam’s voice from earlier, the way he’d barked at me in the courtyard like I meant nothing. The way his touch turned from warmth to disdain within seconds. I was still shaken.

“Well, I’m sorry too,” she said, pulling out her phone. “Because the Alpha wants to see you.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

She showed me her phone. A message was boldly on the screen. ‘Send Jane with my coffee.’

“He wants you to bring it. Not me, not anyone else,” she added, pressing the tray into my hands. I collected it without thinking. 

I stared down at it, my heart thudding in my chest. What did he want with me now? After yelling at me for doing nothing wrong… or have I done something wrong? 

So many questions raced in my mind and I was shaken at the same time. I just hope this was something else. Something that wasn't trouble.