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IVY'S POV

The first thing I heard that morning was my name being spat like an insult.

“Up from bed, you useless swine.”

The voice cracked through the small servant quarters like a whip. My eyes flew open and I rolled off my thin cot before the real whip could follow.

My feet hit the cold floor.

Too slow.

CRACK.

The slap came before I could fully stand.

Pain exploded across my cheek, snapping my head to the side. I bit back a cry and pressed my hand to my face.

Margaret, the head maid, stood over me with narrowed eyes and her arms crossed over her chest.

“You seem to have forgotten your place, Ivy,” she said coldly. “You are a maid in the Grey household. No one cares whether you slept or not. When you’re told to stand, you stand. When you’re told to bark, you bark.”

Her lips curled.

“Or you don’t get paid. Is that understood?”

My cheek burned. My stomach twisted with hunger and exhaustion, but I forced myself to nod.

“Yes, Head Maid Margaret.”

Arguing would only make it worse.

Margaret watched me for another moment before turning away in disgust. She grabbed a bucket of water and dumped it over the other two maids still sleeping.

“Move!” she barked. “The gala is tonight. If this mansion isn’t spotless, you’ll all regret it.”

The other girls scrambled up, shivering.

So did I.

By sunrise, my hands were raw from scrubbing marble floors. My back ached from hauling buckets. The smell of polish and bleach clung to my skin.

I hadn’t slept more than three hours.

Last night, Maven Grey had been drinking again. That meant I had to stay outside his room until he decided he didn’t want anything else.

Tea. Wine. More tea. And sometimes…

My fingers tightened around the rag. No. Don’t think about that.

In this world, omegas like me survived by doing one thing very well.

Staying invisible.

“Ivy.”

I immediately straightened when Enola Grey descended the grand staircase. 

Mistress of the house.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor like a judge delivering a sentence.

“The garden must be cleared before the guests arrive,” she said without even looking at me. “Not a single leaf out of place.”

I bowed my head.

“Yes, my lady.”

I had just finished pulling weeds when her daughter appeared.

Evangeline Grey tossed a folded note and some cash into my hands like she was feeding a stray animal.

“Pick up my dress from the boutique,” she ordered. “And if there’s so much as a stain on it…”

Her eyes narrowed with amusement.

“You’ll regret ever being born, Omega.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The errands never stopped. Dress pickup.

Hair styling. Carrying boxes. Serving drinks. Cleaning again.

By afternoon my arms trembled every time I lifted something.

But one small mercy remained.

Maven Grey was still asleep. I prayed it stayed that way.

“Ivy.”

Margaret’s voice cut through the kitchen.

“Maven wants hangover tea and biscuits. Take it to his room.”

My stomach dropped. Of course he did.

I carried the tray upstairs, each step tightening the knot in my chest.

The door to his room was half open. I knocked once before stepping inside.

The curtains were drawn, leaving the room dim despite the afternoon sun. Maven lay sprawled across his bed wearing black shorts and an open robe. His chest rose slowly as if he had all the time in the world.

My hands tightened around the tray.

“There you are,” he said lazily.

His eyes opened. Sharp. Predatory. “I’ve been waiting.”

I placed the tray on the bedside table and stepped back.

“Is there anything else you would like, sir?”

Before I could move again, his hand shot out.

My wrist was caught in a grip like iron. I gasped as he yanked me forward.

The tray rattled as I fell onto the edge of the bed beside him.

“You smell like sweat and cleaning chemicals,” Maven said with a slow grin. “Doesn’t the Grey household feed their pets properly?”

His finger traced my jaw. I forced myself not to recoil. He noticed anyway. His smile widened.

“Oh?” he murmured. “Does the omega have something to say?” The door burst open.

Three of his drunk friends staggered inside, laughing loudly.

The grip on my wrist loosened. That was my chance.

“I have to help Lady Evangeline prepare for the gala,” I said quickly, pulling away.

Maven watched me like a bored cat watching a mouse. Then he waved his hand dismissively.

“You may go.”

I didn’t walk. I ran.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of hairpins, dresses, and insults. By the time the sun disappeared, my legs were shaking.

And the gala had just begun.

The Grey mansion glittered with lights.

Powerful wolves filled the ballroom-Alphas, Betas, their mates, their allies. Diamonds flashed. Expensive perfume filled the air.

I moved through them like a ghost carrying a tray of champagne.

“I wish there was a way to rid ourselves of this omega filth,” one man muttered while grabbing a glass.

“They weaken the entire bloodline,” another agreed.

I lowered my eyes and kept moving. Invisible. That was the rule.

Until suddenly- A gasp cut through the room. I turned.

Evangeline Grey stood near a tall Alpha couple, an empty champagne glass dangling from her fingers.

Another woman’s dress was soaked.

Champagne dripped down the expensive fabric.

Evangeline covered her mouth dramatically.

“Oh no,” she said sweetly. “The servant bumped into me.”

Every head turned toward me. My stomach dropped. I hadn’t even touched her.

“How dare you!” the Alpha whose mate was drenched roared.

His aura slammed into me like a wall.

My knees nearly buckled.

Before I could speak, another voice cut through the tension.

“Get on your knees.”

Maven Grey stepped forward through the crowd.

Cold amusement glittered in his eyes.

“Apologize,” he ordered. “Now.” Dozens of eyes watched.

I swallowed the humiliation burning in my throat and sank to my knees.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Please forgive me.” Maven chuckled.

He stepped closer and placed his hand on my head. Like I was a dog.

“The dog does what the dog is told,” he said, laughing with his friends.

Heat burned behind my eyes. I stared at the marble floor and began counting silently.

One.

Two.

Three.

Please, goddess. Let this end.

Suddenly- Maven was ripped away from me.

A violent force slammed into him. He stumbled backward into a table, sending glasses crashing across the floor.

The entire ballroom fell silent. Slowly… I turned.

A man stood behind me. Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

His presence alone made the air feel heavier.

And the fury in his eyes was terrifying.

His voice dropped like thunder across the room.

“Who gave you permission to touch what isn’t yours?”