Chapter 1: Did You Think Today Was About You?

I woke up suddenly as cold water splashed over my face. As I jumped up, my body shook from the shock and cold. The freezing water soaked my clothes, making me shiver even more.

"Get up, you useless girl!" a sharp voice said. "Don’t you know what day it is?"

Beta Rhys’s wife, Selene, twisted in disgust as she yelled.

She held an empty wooden bucket, water dripping from its rim, proof of what had happened.

"The Lunar Festival isn’t going to prepare itself," she said, throwing the bucket aside. "Or did you think today was about you?"

Of course not. It never was.

Today was the Lunar Festival, a sacred day honoring the Moon Goddess’s blessings upon the pack. It was a time of joy, food, and celebration.

It was also my birthday.

I turned sixteen today.

But no one cared.

As Selene stepped out of the room, I peeled off my wet clothes, shivering from the cold. My room is small, dark, and damp. It was deep in the packhouse where no sunlight reached. The only thing in the room was an old torn mattress pushed against the wall. There was no furniture, no decorations, nothing to call my own.

My thin blanket had holes in it, barely keeping me warm at night, and now it was drenched, thanks to Selene.

I then changed into my only other dress, a garment barely holding itself together, before tying my hair back with a frayed ribbon. My hands trembled slightly as I exhaled, hoping the day would not get worse.

The smell of fresh bread and roasted meat filled the air as I walked through the hall. My stomach growled as the delicious scent of food filled my nose, but I knew better than to hope for even a crumb. The pack was celebrating, and I was nothing to them.

I headed to the kitchen, where the omegas were finishing our previous night's cooking.

Unlike me, the omegas were still part of the pack. They were servants, but they had warm beds, good meals, and some respect.

As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, a harsh voice rang out, followed by a hot slap on my cheek. "You’re late, wretch." An older omega, Magret, frowned as she shoved a heavy bucket into my hands. "Now go scrub the hall, we don't have time for your laziness."

My cheek ached from the slap as I picked up the bucket and the mop. I overheard two people whispering nearby as I headed to the hall.

"Today would have been his birthday," one said, glancing at me before looking away.

"If not for her," the other whispered. "Heir-Eater."

I tightened my jaw, trying to suppress my anger. I've heard cruel words like these countless times before, but the pain is always the same. I thought I'd be used to it by now.

As I started mopping, my hands shook from exhaustion. I guess it's because I was up all night, cleaning, washing, and cooking for a feast I would never be allowed to join.

While the others laughed and prepared for the feast, I silently worked.

"Faster, wretch," a voice snapped before a hard slap landed on my shoulder. I swallowed my pain and kept moving.

Selene, Beta Rhys’s mate, stood over me as she shook her head.

"She’s always so slow and useless," another voice added. "She should be grateful Alpha Cedric let her live."

It was Damon, her son, and the next Beta. He was a year older than me, his golden-brown hair falling into his smug eyes.

I could only bow my head and continue my assigned task. I knew better than to respond to them.

A familiar, chilling laugh made my stomach turn as Delta Gareth stepped into the hall, his presence commanding attention.

His daughter, Kiara, followed him, laughing as they walked towards me.

Kiara didn’t just hate me, she enjoys making me suffer because she believes I ate her mate, my twin and my father's true Heir. Thus she made it her life's work to make me suffer

"She couldn't even apologize for her pathetic existence!" Kiara sneered, tilting her head. "Kneel, Heir-Eater."

The room went quiet. The pack stared at me, waiting.

I hesitated.

Damon smirked. "What’s wrong? Not used to obeying?"

I clenched my fists hating my life. This had happened so many times before but deep inside I hope for them to show me a little respect someday.

Slowly, I knelt.

I kept my eyes on the floor, forcing myself to stay still as my anger burned through me.

"That’s better," Gareth said with a chuckle. "If only you had been this obedient in the womb, maybe our true Alpha would be here instead."

Gareth grinned and leaned down, lowering his voice so only I could hear. "Go to the storage house and bring more wine for the festival. And don't take too long, unless you want to be punished."

I swallowed my anger as I stood up and went to fetch the wine. The cold air hit my face as I stepped outside, my thin dress doing little to shield me from the cold.

I ran towards the storage house trying to escape the cold. But in my haste, I must have taken a wrong turn because the room I entered was dimly lit, unfamiliar, and far too quiet. The room had a sweet scent of sandalwood.

Then the sound of footsteps approaching made my stomach drop. I barely had time to react. Heart pounding, I darted toward the nearest hiding place, a large wooden closet tucked into the corner. I slipped inside just as the door creaked open.

Then, I saw them.

Irene, Delta Gareth's mate walked in first, her gown slipping off one shoulder, revealing creamy skin that glowed under the dim lighting. Behind her was Beta Rhys, whose dark eyes were filled with lust and passion.

“You shouldn’t tease me like that in public,” he murmured.

Irene smirked, stepping back until she hit the bed. “And what are you going to do about it?”

Beta Rhys’s hands found Irene’s waist as he whispered "You know we don't have much time.

"Get over here!" she jokingly commanded as she pointed to a spot on the bed. "Do you want a blowjob or not!"

Beta Rhys wasted no time, his hands moved to his belt, swiftly unbuckling it before yanking down his trousers. "I would love a good blow job, Ma'am."

Before I could fully understand what was happening, his cock was already in her mouth, her lips wrapping around him without hesitation as his moans filled the air.

I knew I should close my eyes, cover my ears, or do anything but watch.

But I didn’t.

That was when the realization hit me. They'd been having an affair all along.

What if they See me?