Mate?

NAERIS

“Life to you, pup.” I felt water splash on my face and I jerked up almost immediately, looking around in confusion as I tried to absorb my surroundings.

Where am I? The last thing I remembered was…nothing. The more I tried hard to think on what led up to this moment, the more it felt like some kind of load had been placed on the top of my brain making it hurt even more.

“What the hell?” I murmured, standing up as I was already completely drenched in water.

“You want to be a maid, yeah? You got it.” I saw someone throw a rag and bucket and some wash soap onto my clothes.

“Stand up and get to it. You are to wash the entire floors of the east wing till it was sparkling.” I swallowed hard still in confusion when it hit me like an inferno.

The Alpha spared my life and made me a maid. Talon…Talon had rejected me and reduced my status even lower and due to all the hurt, I couldn't even feel my wolf anymore.

“Alright.” I finally replied, picking up the items she had thrown and tossed them into the bucket while trying to wriggle out the water that had been poured into my garment.

I looked at them as the one who seemed like their leader pursed her lips for a second, clearly shocked that I had agreed ever so willingly but what was the point of being so defiant?

If I questioned authority more than I should, one thing would always haunt me and that was the fact that my parents were traitors. I knew for a fact that everyone was going to keep judging me for that and the sooner I maintained a lower status, the better.

“You're to scrub the walls and floors till they're shining with no filthiness or stain.” The lady repeated like she wanted it to sink in properly and I nodded.

“I know. Now if you're so gracious, please show me to the east wing?” I smiled, staring at them wide eyed hoping I could maintain that smile and put away some of my misery.

My parents had been killed. I was now all alone in this world and I had to do whatever it is possible to survive. At least, even if it wasn't for me, for them, my parents.

“Are you trying to piss me off? I'm the head maid and I could end your life and status the moment you blink wrongly.” She warned and I released a breath I very much knew I was holding.

“Then I better hope I don't blink wrongly then.” I answered and I saw the corner of her jaw tighten in what seemed like anger.

“Liora, show her to the east wing.” She finally said and one of the girls who had been standing there immobile nodded before gesturing at me to follow her and I did.

“This is the east wing. You're to start from this end to the other end.” My breath seemed to hitch in my throat as I surveyed where I was supposed to clean.

I couldn't even see the end from where I stood and yet somehow, they expected me to wash and clean everywhere till it was sparkly including the walls. 

If I don't finally kick the bucket while doing this the moon goddess was an ever faithful mother.

“A piece of advice, Naeris?” Liora called out and I snapped out of my thoughts, turning to stare at her while nodding.

“If you're given a task next time, try to thrash out and make it seem too big for you to handle else you would be given even harder task. Nyea is like that some time. She gets pissed off.” I nodded immediately while she walked away and I swallowed hard.

I went down to fetch water and after applying the wash soap, I began scrubbing as hard as I can trying to let my mind roam free.

Right now I wasn't here scrubbing floors and trying not to let the death of my parents and family cloud my thoughts, I was somewhere in my subconscious. My parents were still alive and I was in the forest with them enjoying the cool air.

Every day, I was made to clean the east wing and I knew it was just Nyea trying to feel good about herself and her status and probably the best way they knew they could punish the daughter of a traitor.

Every day, for months, I was given strenous task but I took them on without complain. And today? Today I was cleaning the west wing.

“Is it safe to pass on from here?” I heard a masculine voice question and that snapped me out of my thoughts as I also felt my wolf stir inside of me.

When I turned to their direction, there wasn't one, or two but three insanely hot men just standing in my direction staring at me and worst of all, they all looked the same.

Like they were identical, could be triplets.

“Umm, yeah. Yeah sure, it's safe. Just umm, mind your steps.” I answered, unable to form a coherent sentence as I swallowed hard feeling my wolf stir inside of me as I could feel fluttering feelings in my belly and then just like a prayer that would save me from evil, my wolf muttered: Mate.

They stopped in their tracks, turning to stare at me like they were in confusion as well but when they turned, that was when I was able to piece all of this together.

I wasn't mated to just one of them.

I was mated to all three of them and it wasn't just a bluff but reality. Why do I have to be an abomination? Why could nothing about me just feel normal, at least for even a little bit?

Harems were outlawed, it was a crime, it was an abomination. It was everything that wasn't right.

And yet here i was, directly involved in a harem amidst being the daughter of dead traitors.

I was innocent but I'm pretty sure I would never be able to live up to that name.

The best I can do right now is ignore the bond, pretend that I wasn't mated to them or at least, make them believe I didn't know.

“I’d want to clean that spot.” I pointed and the next instant, I could feel them all hovering around me and then in unison, they mentioned the dreaded word: Mate before one of them took few steps away from me.

“This is disgusting. An omega? And from Talon's pack no less?” He appeared really irritated as he glanced at me from top to bottom.

“Nyxion, calm down.” Another of them reiterated as he was also rubbing the centre of his forehead, it appeared he was doing so out of frustration.

“Yo, check it out. She's not just an omega, it appears she's also a maid.” The other one chirped in and I swallowed hard trying to bite my tongue to prevent myself from saying anything that could ruin me but one thing I wanted them to know is that over the months and years, my patience level had run significantly low.

The only thing stopping me was the fact that they looked important, dangerous if I might add.

“Nyxion, Varek, that is not the point right now. I mean, she is disgusting but what even troubles me more is the fact that it's a Harem. HAREM!!” He stressed and I wrung out the water from the wash cloth I was holding.

“I can't let this get in my way. Let's find Talon and settle what we came here for.” Nyxion ordered, staring me down and they all nodded simultaneously walking away without sparing me a glance.

“If you're looking for Alpha Talon, you're going the wrong way.” I finally stated.