CHAPTER 4: PACK POLITICS

The din of voices in the dining hall rolled over Selene like a crashing wave. The clinking of silverware against porcelain and the low hum of laughter and conversation created a backdrop of indifference that Selene had grown used to. 

Her hands trembled as she carried the heavy tray, laden with plates of food she wasn’t allowed to touch, to the Alpha’s table. Her arms ached, but the fear of faltering was stronger than the pain.

The Alpha sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding the room without effort. Damian Stormcrest didn’t need to raise his voice to remind everyone who held the power here. 

His gaze swept over the room like a predator surveying its domain, sharp and calculating. Selene avoided his eyes, lowering her head as she placed the dishes carefully in front of him and the others seated around him.

“Faster, girl,” snapped Beta Liam, his voice laced with irritation. His words cut through Selene like a blade, sharp and deliberate. She flinched but didn’t look up.

“Yes, sir,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She moved quickly, careful not to spill a single drop from the goblet she set before him. 

Her heart pounded in her chest, the pressure mounting with every second she lingered in their presence.

“Selene,” someone sneered from the middle of the table. It was Seraphina again, her tone dripping with mockery. “Your hands are shaking. Are we scaring you?”

The laughter that followed was cruel and biting, echoing in the corners of the hall. Selene’s cheeks burned, but she kept her head down, her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn’t trust herself to speak. Any response might fan the flames of their ridicule.

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. “Careful, little orphan. We wouldn’t want you to drop something. Damian’s temper can be... unpleasant.”

The Alpha didn’t react. He never intervened in their games, never stopped the jabs or the subtle cruelty.

Selene wasn’t worth defending, and they all knew it. Her wolf stirred faintly inside her, a muted presence that offered no comfort, only a hollow ache of longing. 

As she retreated from the table, the conversation resumed as though she wasn’t there. She moved silently among the tables, collecting empty plates and cups while the pack members barely noticed her existence. Some shoved their plates toward her without a word. Others didn’t even look up when she reached for their dishes.

Selene’s stomach churned, not from hunger, she had learned to ignore that long ago, but from the constant reminder of her place. She was a shadow in this house, a ghost among wolves who thrived on power and dominance. 

She didn’t belong here, but she didn’t belong anywhere else, either. The pack was all she had, and yet she had nothing.

“Selene, clean up this mess!” A voice snapped from the far corner of the room, jarring her from her thoughts. 

Her head turned quickly to see a young omega pointing at a spilled drink on the floor. The liquid spread in a dark stain across the polished wood, glistening under the glow of the chandeliers.

“I’m sorry,” Selene said softly, hurrying to grab a cloth. She dropped to her knees, ignoring the dull ache in her joints, and began scrubbing the floor with quick, frantic motions. The omega scoffed, stepping over her without so much as a glance.

On the ground, Selene felt smaller than ever, her position a glaring reminder of her status. The pack thrived on hierarchy, on the unspoken rules that kept everyone in their place. 

The Alpha sat at the top, his word law, his will absolute. Beneath him, the Betas and other high-ranking wolves carried out his commands. 

The omegas served as workers, their roles thankless but necessary. And then there was her, Selene, the orphaned outsider with no rank, no worth, no future.

The Alpha’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding. “Enough.”

The room fell silent instantly, the weight of his authority pressing down on everyone present. Selene froze where she knelt, her hands stilling on the damp cloth. She didn’t dare look up, didn’t dare breathe too loudly.

“Seraphina,” Damian said, his tone even but dangerous, “don’t waste my time with your petty games. If you have a problem, solve it quietly.”

Selene’s heart leapt to her throat. It wasn’t a defense of her, she knew that. It was a warning to Seraphina, a reminder that even the Alpha’s companion wasn’t above his disdain. But still, it felt like a small reprieve, a fleeting moment where the tide shifted ever so slightly.

Seraphina muttered an apology, her tone subdued, but Selene didn’t miss the venom in her eyes as she glanced in her direction. The promise of retribution was clear, and Selene’s stomach twisted in anticipation of whatever punishment would come later.

As the night wore on and the dining hall emptied, Selene was left alone to clean the mess they had left behind. Plates stacked high, crumbs littered the floor, and spilled drinks stained the tablecloths. 

She moved mechanically, her body running on autopilot while her mind swirled with emotions she couldn’t quite name. Anger. Resentment. Sadness. All of them mingled together, a tangled knot she couldn’t untie.

Her hands ached as she scrubbed the last table, her muscles screaming for rest. But the work wasn’t done. It was never done. She had to prepare the Alpha’s quarters, clean the training room, and ensure the hallways were spotless before morning.

The Alpha’s quarters were the last on her list. She pushed the heavy door open cautiously, stepping into the dimly lit room. 

The air inside was thick with his scent, earthy, commanding, and unmistakably him. It sent a shiver down her spine, though she couldn’t tell if it was fear or something else.

Selene worked quickly, her movements precise and efficient. She wiped down the furniture, folded the blankets, and straightened the books on his desk. 

Her fingers brushed against a leather-bound journal, and for a moment, she hesitated. The temptation to open it was fleeting but powerful. 

“What did Alpha write about? Did he have secrets, fears, desires? Or was he as untouchable as he seemed?”

She shook her head, banishing the thought. It wasn’t her place to wonder. It wasn’t her place to feel anything at all.

As she finished and turned to leave, she paused in the doorway, her eyes lingering on the room for a moment longer. It was a reminder of everything she wasn’t, everything she would never have. Power. Belonging. Freedom.

Selene closed the door behind her, the sound echoing softly in the empty hallway. She leaned against the wall, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. 

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stand upright. There was no room for weakness here, no room for dreams or hope.

She was Selene, the invisible girl, the shadow who cleaned up after the powerful. And no matter how much she longed

for something more, she knew the pack would never let her be anything else.