One.

/-Crystal-/

Hold on, Crystal. Don't pass out yet. Don't pass out yet. 

“How long do you think she'll hold it?” The voice sounded muffled as my head was buried deep inside the water.

“You should pull her out, Elle. We don't want the slave dying by our hands,” another said, and in a few seconds, my head was yanked out of the mop bucket, and my body expelled a wave of violent coughs. 

Their cruel laughter followed as I choked repeatedly, spitting out as much of the dirty water as I could. It was funny to them of course. I was their tool of entertainment. 

“Get back to work, slave or I will tell your mistress that you've been messing around instead of working!” She threatened. 

I wiped my face with my tattered shirt. Fighting them was no use. If anything, it would only make things worse for me. I made to grab the mop bucket, but she kicked it over, and the water was everywhere.

“No…! What have you done?!” I gasped, running to grab the bucket but it was too late. The water already poured completely, and everywhere I had suffered to clean in the last thirty minutes was now a complete mess. 

My fists clenched as I glared at them. Their laughter immediately died down as they took in my expression.

Elle stepped forward, “Would you look at that? The little pig is angry?” 

She stopped in front of me with a sneer. “So what now? Are you going to hit me? Fight us perhaps? Or you're just going to stand there glaring like the pathetic fool that you are?!” She challenged me.

My fists clenched harder, but then she shoved me roughly, and I slipped, hitting the ground with a thud. 

“Answer me, freak! What are you going to do about it!” She hissed, while I winced in pain from the hall.

My eyes watered. I wanted to attack her so badly. To press that stupid smug of her against the floor and force her to lick off every drop of water she spilt, but I couldn't. 

How could I when she was betrothed to the Alpha? The Luna would have my head if I dared to lay a finger on his fiance.

I managed to get off the floor and pick up the bucket.

“Pathetic!” She huffed, walking past me. I didn't know what came over me at that moment, but I stuck out my leg, and she tripped over. 

“Are you blind?!” She yelled, picking up her drenched self from the floor. At least it was the two of us now. I could barely contain the smirk that broke out of my face and that was when all hell broke. Her cronies stomped over to me and before I could even apologize, they descended on me, beating, hitting and kicking me at every available spot they could reach. 

“Please let me go… please I'm sorry…” I sobbed, curling against the floor. My shirt was completely soaked but none of that mattered to them as long as I was in pain. 

When they finally released me, Elle crouched over. My hair was all over my face so she grabbed a handful of it.

“The next time you repeat this nonsense, I promise you, I won't be the one punishing you. Disgusting pig!” she threatened and walked away with her friends, leaving me to wallow in pain. 

As they walked away, I picked myself off despite the pain searing through me. I knew I didn't have the luxury to lie here crying. I would only end up setting myself up for punishment, so I immediately set to work. 

Hours later, my arms ached from scrubbing, my fingers raw and blistered. Every part of me screamed for rest, but I couldn’t stop. Not yet.

“Crystal!” The sharp voice of the head maid, Margret, cut through the quiet and I flinched. 

I turned slowly, dread pooling in my stomach as she marched to me. Her eyes swept through the place and I muttered a silent prayer to the goddess. She never saw good in anything I did.

“This place isn’t spotless,” she snapped, her beady eyes narrowing at me.

“But I…”

“Don’t you dare talk back to me!” Her hand lashed out, the slap stinging my already raw cheek. “Do it again. And don’t even think about stopping until it’s perfect. The Alpha’s engagement ceremony must be flawless.”

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, swallowing the bitter retort that rose in my throat.

“Yes, ma’am,” I whispered, bowing my head.

The moment she left, I collapsed to my knees, tears streaming down my face. My chest heaved with quiet sobs, each one a release of the pain and humiliation I’d bottled up for so long.

My fingers trembled as I picked up the brush. But as I scrubbed, a strange warmth bloomed in my chest. It started as a faint flicker, then grew until I was burning. My body felt like it was on fire. 

What is happening to me? We, am I developing a fever already? My heart was pounding at an erratic rate, and the next minute, a jolt of pain shot through me. My breathing quickened, and a low growl rumbled in my throat.

No. Not here. Not now.

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress it, but the pain only grew, spreading through my limbs like wildfire.

How the hell could I have forgotten that today was my eighteenth birthday? But then again when you have so much work to do and little energy to even breathe, it is expected. 

My eyes flickered to the work around me. I couldn't leave. The engagement was in a few hours. 

“Please just hold on… just thirty minutes please…” I pleaded, even though I knew it was impossible to stop your first shift. “Please… just ten minutes…”

But it was too late. My wolf was awake and ready to break free. Shifting in here would get me into a lot more trouble than just leaving it dirty.

The mop clattered to the floor as I bolted, my bare feet pounding against the marble. Panic clawed at my chest. I needed to get out. Away from the mansion, away from everyone. 

I knew I was most likely going to be a small omega wolf, but I didn't need anyone rubbing it on my face or mocking me on my first shift. 

Besides, shifting also meant I was going to get a mate and the thought made my chest flutter.

The cool night air hit my face as I ran into the forest, the transformation already taking hold. My bones cracked and shifted, pain mixing with a strange, exhilarating freedom.

Moments later, I stood on trembling legs, the soft earth beneath my paws. For the first time in years, I felt alive.

I ran around in my wolf form for a while before shifting back and falling to the ground with exhaustion. 

Suddenly the sweet smell of berries floated into my nostrils.

“Mate!” My wolf leaped and I sprang to my feet. I spotted a figure a few meters away from me, and I instinctively covered my body. 

Why would anyone be out here at this time? 

I searched frantically for something to conceal my nakedness as the figure approached me. 

“Stay back!” I warned, strutting backwards. My wolf didn't understand my panic, however.

“He's our mate! We need to be near him!” She whined. 

“Crystal?” The awfully familiar voice sent a chill running down my spine. Why did that sound so much like…

He stepped into the moonlight, naked as I was and my breath caught my throat. My face grew so hot that I feared it would explode. Those mesmerizing green eyes shine under the moonlight. 

This had to be a mistake. There was simply no way!

“Your… highness?” I immediately bowed my head, my heart drumming in my chest as he took long strides towards me. 

“It's really you! You're my mate!” He cupped my face between his hands and I paled out immediately. 

 I immediately flinched away from him as if he burned me. 

“What are you talking about?” I blurted. 

“You know what I mean, Crystal. You feel it too. This ache, this longing to be close to each other…” 

He tried to touch me but I stepped back. “But… you're engaged to Elle! We can't be…”

He placed a finger on my lips. “Elle is not my mate. You are. Do you really think I will marry her while you are here?” 

I bit my lips, feeling a blush creep on my cheeks.

“Really? Would you do that? I'm not your class or…”

“Ssshhh! You're my mate, that's the most important thing,” he said huskily. “I want to make you mine. Will you let me?” 

My heart was beating so loud I was sure he could hear it. 

“Yes…”

Then he slammed his lips against mine.