Finding My Mate

Maya's POV

My heart hammered against my ribs. What have I just done?

Kaiser's hand went slowly to his cheek. Then he smiled. It was the most terrifying smile I'd ever seen on his face.

"There it is," he said softly. "I was wondering when you'd fight back. It was getting boring watching you play dead all the time."

He grabbed my throat and yanked me close.

"Do it again," he whispered. "Show me that fire."

Then he slapped me so hard I flew sideways and crashed into the floor. My head hit the wood with a sickening crack. Everything went white. I couldn't see, couldn't think.

"Get up," he said. "Don't be boring now."

I could hear him getting closer. I lay still, trying to catch my breath. Nobody was coming to save me. Nobody ever did.

A knock came at the door.

"What?" Kaiser snapped.

The door opened. One of the pack servants stood there with her head down. "The council requests your presence, Alpha."

He looked at me one more time, rolled down his sleeves, and walked out without another word.

As soon as he left, the servant girl rushed over. "Maya! You're bleeding!"

"I'm fine, Iris," I lied, trying to stand. The room spun. I grabbed her arm to steady myself.

"Let me take you to the healer," she begged.

"No. Just help me clean it up."

We went to the slave quarters where I had a tiny room next to Iris's. She pressed a cloth soaked in alcohol to my forehead. I bit down hard on my lip to keep myself from screaming.

"You have to run away," Iris whispered, not looking at me. "You can't stay here. Not with him."

Iris had been brought here as a slave a few years after me. We became friends over the years. But unlike me, Kaiser didn't notice her. She was invisible to him. Lucky.

"Run where?" I asked. "Back to my family?"

She shrugged. "Anywhere is better than here."

"If I break the treaty, war starts again. People die. I can't do that."

"What about you?" she asked angrily. "Don't you matter?"

"Not more than everyone else who'd die in a war."

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Your good heart is going to get you killed."

"Mayaaaa!" Victoria's voice called from outside. "Where are you, little mouse?"

I took a deep breath. A few seconds later, my door banged open and Victoria strutted in.

Victoria was Kaiser's younger sister. Same dark hair, same sharp features, same black heart.

Her face changed to fake concern when she saw me. "Oh no! What happened to your face?"

I saw Iris glare at her. I almost smiled.

"I'm fine," I said, moving away from Victoria's reaching hand.

"Did my brother do this? How terrible. He really should treat you better, even if you are his property." She laughed like she'd said something hilarious. "Anyway, come on. I need you to do my makeup."

She grabbed my hand and pulled. I stumbled after her, up the stairs to her room where two other girls were trying on dresses. The room looked like a tornado had hit it.

"When's the last time you showered, Maya?" one of them asked, wrinkling her nose.

"What's a shower?" I asked with a straight face.

"I can't believe you let her in your room," the other girl said to Victoria.

"And I can't believe you exist, but here we are," my wolf Luna said in my head.

I smiled to myself.

"Make me beautiful," Victoria said, sitting in front of her mirror. "I want to look perfect."

"Why?" I asked.

"The Blood Moon Pack," one of the girls squealed. "They're coming tonight!"

My heart stopped.

"I heard their Alpha is searching for his mate," the other girl whispered. "Traveling pack to pack looking for her."

"He won't need to look far," Victoria said confidently. "He'll take one look at me and know. The sister of Crescent’s Alpha and the Alpha of the strongest pack in the region? We're meant to be."

Hope flared in my chest like a match in the dark.

The Blood Moon Pack. They were powerful, respected, feared. If they were bringing their whole pack, that meant warriors, betas, gammas. Unmated wolves.

One of them could be mine.

For fourteen years, Kaiser had kept me locked up here, never letting me go to gatherings or meetings. He was terrified I would find my mate. But now, my mate might be walking through those gates tonight.

Victoria hummed softly while I brushed powder on her cheeks. Her perfume was so strong it made me dizzy. 

"Careful," she said sharply when I almost dropped the brush. She grabbed my wrist, her nails digging into my skin. "If I look ugly tonight, you’ll wish Kaiser’s slap was the worst thing that happened to you."

I froze, trying not to show fear. Her grip hurt, but then she let go and smiled sweetly.

"Relax, little mouse," she said. "I’m only joking."

But I knew she wasn’t.

The two other girls in the room whispered behind her, laughing quietly. I focused on my work, trying to finish fast. I could feel Victoria watching me in the mirror, her dark eyes sharp and cold.

"You should be thankful," she said suddenly. "My brother could’ve killed you years ago. But he didn’t. He keeps you here. That must mean something."

I kept my face calm. "It means he likes breaking things slowly."

Victoria smirked. "Maybe. But he only breaks what he loves."

Her words made my stomach twist. I wanted to answer, but I couldn’t.

A knock came on the door. One of the guards peeked in. " Lady Victoria, the guests will arrive soon."

"Good," she said. "Tell the kitchen to double the wine. I want everyone from the Blood Moon Pack in a good mood tonight."

Then she turned to me. "And clean yourself up, Maya. You can’t walk around looking like a beaten dog. You still belong to our pack."

The girls giggled again as I left. The hall was full of noise, servants rushing around, lights being lit, the smell of food and perfume filling the air. Everyone was getting ready for the big visit.

The Blood Moon Pack was coming.

In my small room, I washed my face with cold water and tried to hide the bruise on my cheek. My wolf, Lyra, stirred inside me. If our mate is here tonight, we run, she whispered.

And if he’s not? I asked her.

Then we’ll make him see us, she said.

"Please, Moon Goddess," I prayed silently. "Please let this be it."

Finding my mate was my only way out. Without that, I would be trapped with Kaiser forever.

The thought of that made me want to die.