THREE: MATE(S)

Valerie

The pack hosted a party every year. It was an avenue for some to meet their mates, for some it was just free booze and women. It wasn’t a special event, this year, it was the anniversary of when the triplets Alphas became Alphas.

An avenue for those assholes to get more pussy than usual. You’d be disappointed to hear how many unmated and mated women and men were willing to get a taste of them.

I couldn’t even lie, they were hot. And their eyes… but I still don’t see the hype. They were vile wicked men, and I hated them.

Everyone was going to be there, at the palace. The party was an avenue for people like me to earn money serving tables and clearing messes, and the more jobs I took on, the more money I was going to get.

And I needed money if I wanted to leave this place. I already mapped out my foolproof plan. It wasn’t easy in any way, but oftentimes one had to take risks. If I don't run, one day I am going to be killed.

My load, which wasn’t going to be much, was going to be hidden at the back of the palace, and when I got paid for the night, I was going to sneak out through the bushes, taking the trail out of the pack.

I had a friend, a guard who was going to let me out with no issues. I couldn’t risk anyone knowing.

Especially Lydia. They hated me, but never wanted me to go. They wanted to make sure I suffered.

There was a central pack out of this one, where every kind of wolf was accepted. Maybe I could find a life there.

For the first time, hope filled me. I was finally going to live life as a person, not a misfit.

I straightened my white stewardess dress, and pinned my hair at the back of my hair, taking it away from my eyes, the ones who were different from everyone else’s’. The main reason I could never blend in. they were Violet, and they stood out on my pale face.

A sigh left my lips. I have come to fact that I was a freak. But that didn’t mean it hurt less when I heard it.

“Okay women! Today’s party is more important than another party we’ve had in a while. If anything goes wrong, I will personally have you flogged by the guards.”

The head maid roared at us all. Her eyes moving from one person to another, before finally landing one me.

“Especially you, Valerie,” she spat in disgust, and everyone else laughed.

It didn’t come as a shock to me. I did this every year, and every year, I was put in trouble by the Alphas, especially Ansel, the prankster.

My fist tightened. I had had to endure years of whippings, but I needed the money. No one was going to get me clothes.

Not like It ever got enough. Lydia always took more than half. “For your accommodation,” she would say.

And when I got the clothes and almost worn-out clothes, Fiona would bully me into giving her almost all.

I never win. But tonight, a smile crept on my lips despite being made fun of by the other maids.

Tonight, I would win.

“Okay let’s go! Start with the important people.” She instructed, and we all made our way out of the kitchen, but a hand held me back.

I turned to see the head maid glaring at me, and I fixed my gaze on the floor, “madam,” I politely said.

She let out a scoff, “You said you were going to anything I asked if I allowed you to work extra for extra money?”

I nodded eagerly, my heart rate spiking.

“okay. I would give you this last chance. Your duty is to answer all the needs of the young alphas.”

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. There was no way I wasn’t going to get whipped.

And she knew it.

“please madam,” I began to plead, but she held out her hand, shutting me up.

“do you want this or not? I do not care about your personal issues, Valerie.”

desperation welled up inside me as the head maid's words hung in the air. The prospect of serving the young alphas was a hard-frustrating task, and I knew it involved more than just carrying trays and cleaning up after them.

I took a deep breath, my mind racing for a way out. "Yes, madam," I stammered, my voice barely audible. "I'll do whatever is required."

She smirked, enjoying the power she held over me. "Good. Remember, this is your last chance. Mess this up, and you'll regret it."

I nodded, trying to hide the fear in my eyes. The head maid released her grip on my arm, and I joined the other maids as we made our way to the grand hall where the party was already in full swing.

The wolves partied like there was no tomorrow, and I ignored the anger and jealousy in my chest as I watched them having the time of their lives.

I do wish I fitted in.

With a burdened sigh, I made my way to the Alphas’ table but they were nowhere to be found.

I was about to let out a breath of relief, but my eyes met the head maid’s from across the room.

“don’t just stand there, go find them.” She mouthed, and I almost let out a groan as I made my way out of the hall, looking for the three people I hated.

She smirked, enjoying the power she held over me. "Good. Remember, this is your last chance. Mess this up, and you'll regret it."

I nodded, trying to hide the fear in my eyes. The head maid released her grip on my arm, and I joined the other maids as we made our way to the grand hall where the party was already in full swing.

The wolves partied like there was no tomorrow, and I ignored the anger and jealousy in my chest as I watched them having the time of their lives.

I do wish I fitted in.

With a burdened sigh, I made my way to the Alphas’ table but they were nowhere to be found.

I was about to let out a breath of relief, but my eyes met the head maid’s from across the room.

“Don’t just stand there, go find them.” She mouthed, and I almost let out a groan as I made my way out of the hall, looking for the three people I hated.

They were nowhere to be found, not in their chambers, not anywhere. my feet already hurt as I had walked the whole palace. as I was about to give up, I decided to check the last place I had not checked.

The back, where I had hidden my things.

Cleaning the sweat beaded on my forehead and hoping that this would be the last area I would check, I headed to the back.

Out of nowhere, a strong scent hit me.

Hmm, I took a long sniff of the air. What was that delicious scent?

I followed the scent, greedily taking it all in.

The scent led me to a sight I never expected. Ansel, Kaden and Grey, all looking at me in shock as the scent hit me in full force.

Something stirred within me, and the softest voice ever whispered the word could have never imagined hearing.

"Mates!"