Chapter 2

Tiana

Every time I closed my eyes, he was there. His muscles flexed, head thrown back, holding that woman beneath him while she screamed his name. 

My body still ached with that shameful heat I had tried to drown in a freezing shower. 

And worst of all? Some pathetic part of me had enjoyed watching him.

I pressed my face into my pillow and wished the Moon Goddess would strike me.

Which happened in a way, as a bucket of ice water hit me.

I gasped and shot upright, water streaming down my face and soaking through my thin nightgown. Head Servant Geraldine stood over me, an empty bucket dangling from her gnarled fingers as her lips twisted in that familiar sneer of disgust.

“On your feet, useless girl.” Her voice was sharp. “Just because you were playing peeping tom last night doesn’t mean you get to sleep in.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. She knew. Everyone probably knew by now.

“I wasn’t—I didn’t mean to—”

“Spare me your excuses.” She tossed the bucket at my feet with a clatter that made me flinch. “You have ten minutes to make yourself presentable. The Alpha’s breakfast won’t prepare itself.”

I wanted to crawl back under the covers and disappear. But Geraldine’s punishments for disobedience were creative and painful, so I forced myself up.

I changed into my servant’s uniform—a shapeless gray dress that did nothing to hide my curves—and braided my wet hair with shaking fingers. Then I threw myself into the morning routine I had 

performed for eight years.

The kitchen erupted in whispers the moment I walked in.

“Did you hear what happened?”

“I did, maybe she thought he would want her next,” another voice said.

I ignored all of their comments, hoping they would stop but they did not.

“I heard she just stood there staring,” a young omega named Claire said loudly. “Like a creep. While he was with the other lady.”

“Pathetic,” another servant agreed. “Everyone knows the Alpha has standards. He would never touch something like that.”

My hands trembled as I cracked eggs into a bowl, but I said nothing. Responding would only make it worse.

Claire flipped her blonde hair dramatically. “The Alpha’s type is more like me. He wouldn’t waste his time on a girl like her who can barely look presentable.”

“At least I’m not delusional enough to think I have a chance with him,” I snapped before I could stop myself. “Unlike some people who throw themselves at him every chance they get and still get ignored.”

Claire’s face went red. “What did you just say to me?”

“You heard me.”

The kitchen went silent.

Then Claire lunged at me.

She moved so fast I barely had time to react. Her hand connected with my face in a sharp slap that snapped my head to the side.

“You disgusting pig!” She yanked my hair. “You think you can talk to me like that? You’re nothing! You’re just a piece of shit!”

“Ladies!” Geraldine’s voice echoed in seconds. “What is the meaning of this?”

Claire released me immediately, stepping back with wide, innocent eyes. “She attacked me, Head Servant. I was only defending myself.”

“Liar,” I breathed, my hand pressed to my stinging cheek.

“Is that so?” Geraldine’s gaze swept over me. Then she looked at Claire, whose uniform was pristine while mine was disheveled. “I see no evidence of abuse from Claire. Tiana, however, looks quite violent.”

My stomach dropped. “That’s not true.”

“Silence.” Geraldine moved closer. “You’ve caused enough disruption for one day. Finish the Alpha’s breakfast, then report to the laundry. You’ll be washing linens for next week. By hand.”

I bit my tongue and nodded. “Yes, Head Servant.”

Everyone else returned to work, as Claire blew me a mocking kiss before sashaying away.

I finished the breakfast preparations with shaking hands, plated the food, and carried it upstairs to the Alpha’s private dining room.

My heart hammered with each step. What if he was there? What if I had to face him after last night?

The room was empty when I arrived.

I set the tray down with relief, turning to leave when I heard a voice. 

“Stop there.”

I froze.

Alpha Zane stood in the doorway. “What are you doing?”

“I brought breakfast, Alpha.” I replied, hiding the shiver in my voice.

Before he could ask any more questions, Beta Ezra appeared in the doorway.

“Alpha, the Council is assembled. They’re waiting for you.”

Alpha Zane’s jaw tightened. “Go,” he instructed. 

I fled.

As I hurried down the hallway, I heard the Alpha’s voice, “Have her brought to my office in one hour. I need to speak with her.”

My footsteps faltered.

He wanted to see me? Why?

The next hour was torture.

I tried to lose myself in laundry duty, scrubbing linens in the freezing water until my fingers went numb. But all I could think about was that meeting.

What did he want?

Was this about last night? Was he going to punish me officially?

When a guard finally came to call me, my hands were shaking so badly.

I followed him through the pack house to the Alpha’s office. 

“The servant Tiana, as requested, Alpha.”

“Send her in.”

I stepped inside, and the door closed behind me with a finality that made my stomach drop.

Alpha Zane sat behind his massive desk, every inch of him radiating authority and power while Beta Ezra stood to his right. 

“Come here,” Alpha Zane commanded.

I forced my feet to move, crossing the plush carpet until I stood before his desk. I kept my eyes lowered. 

Then Alpha Zane spoke.

“I called you here to inform you that we are getting mated.”

The room tilted.

Mated. To Alpha Zane.

My knees wobbled. 

“I’m sorry, Alpha.” My voice came out thin. “I… I don’t think I heard you correctly. You want to mate me?”

“You heard correctly.” His face was stoic, giving nothing away.

“But… why?” The question escaped before I could stop it.

Beta Ezra stepped forward, his expression grim. “It is the high priestess’s words, that you are capable of bearing the Alpha’s heir.”

“That’s impossible,” I whispered. “I’m just a—”

“A servant,” Alpha Zane finished coldly. “Yes. Believe me, if there were any other option, I’d take it.”

The casual cruelty of it stole my breath. 

“You have to understand that this is only a contractual agreement. You will bear me a son. When the child turns two, you’ll be given a settlement and released from this pack. Until then, you belong to me. Do you understand?”

I stood there, frozen, as the weight of what he was saying crashed over me.

This was the moment I had fantasized about since I was fourteen years old—standing before Alpha Zane, having his attention and mattering to him.

But not like this.

“Do you understand?”

I forced myself to meet his eyes. “What if I refuse?”

The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

Alpha Zane rose slowly from his chair to me, his full height and power radiating off him in waves that made my wolf cower. 

“Refuse?” His voice was deadly. “You think you have a choice in this?”

“I—”

His hand shot out, wrapping around my throat. “Let me be very clear, Tiana. You will submit to the mating. You will bear my heir. And if you try to refuse…”

He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear, and let out a low, mocking chuckle that sent ice through my veins.

“I can bet you don’t want to know what will happen.”

Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. 

“You have until noon tomorrow,” he said, releasing me with a slight shove that made me stumble. “Sign the contract, or face the consequences.”

He returned to his desk, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. Beta Ezra handed me a thick document, his eyes filled with something that might have been pity. “Read it carefully, Tiana.”

I didn’t need to read it. I already knew what it would say.

I was being sold. Reduced to a womb with an expiration date.

My fingers closed around the contract, the paper crinkling in my shaking grip.

This was my fault. The Moon Goddess was punishing me for daring to want something I had no right to. But I would not accept it. 

It was better to be a rogue than live as Alpha Zane’s unwanted, temporary Luna.

I had until noon tomorrow to make my escape.

I just had to survive that long.