Rejected and Banished; The kids are his.

Selina's POV.

I don’t know if it was the cool breeze of the early morning or the fear twisting in my stomach, but my hand wouldn’t stop trembling as I walked toward the maid quarters. My first day.

My first time ever working as a maid. Even thinking the word made my throat feel tight.

I had never imagined my life would come to this. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be scrubbing floors and serving food just to keep myself from starving, I would have laughed in their face. But life had a cruel way of stripping you down until you were desperate enough to grab whatever scrap it tossed your way. Ever since my parents passed, it’s been nothing but darkness, and this job... humiliating as it might feel... was the only opportunity I had left.

I could hear the chatter of voices as I stepped inside; a tall woman who I assumed to be the head mistress was addressing the rest of the maids.

Their eyes drifted towards me and I raised my hand to wave nervously with a small smile on my face, hoping to introduce myself but they turned away from me as quick as they had turned to me, the frown on their faces was unmistakable.

I felt my heart sink, is this normal here? Or… did they just hate me already?

“Selina.” the head mistress's voice snapped me out of my chain of thoughts.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied quickly, stepping forward. My voice sounded small from the toxic welcome I just received.

She gave me a quick, evaluating glance. “Since it’s your first time, you’ll be serving at the Alpha’s mansion for a week. The head maids there will determine if you are qualified to join us permanently. Do well to obey instructions.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes, ma’am.”

Her lips barely twitched in acknowledgment before she clapped her hands. “Dismissed. Back to your assigned posts.”

The others dispersed quickly, not sparing me so much as a second glance. I could feel their silent judgment following me out the door, but I pushed it aside. My focus needed to be on not messing this up.

The walk to the Alpha’s mansion felt like entering another world. The path was lined with towering trees, the massive mansion stood tall before me as I tried to calm my racing heart before heading in; I had heard stories about Alpha Malik. His power. His coldness. His piercing eyes that could make even the bravest wolf bow in submission.

Stepping inside was overwhelming. The sheer size of the place made me feel small. The ceilings arched high above, my shoes clicked softly against the floor as I looked around, trying to catch every detail so I wouldn’t get lost later.

I was so distracted that I didn’t see the figure coming around the corner until... I crashed into a soft body, and a glass fell and shattered at my feet.

“What the hell!” a sharp, high-pitched voice snapped.

I looked up, my breath quivering.

It was Chloe. I recognized her instantly... Alpha Malik’s closest female friend, known for her beauty.. well, and her ruthless temper.

“I... I’m sorry,” I stammered, my cheeks burning. “I wasn’t looking, I... ”

“You weren’t looking?” she repeated mockingly, her voice rising. “Do you have any idea how expensive that drink was?!”

I held my hands up. “I’ll clean it up right now. I’ll just go get a bin.. ”

“No!” She fired, her voice laced with venom. “You’ll pick it up with your hands. That will be your punishment for blindly bumping into me.”

My stomach turned as her words hit my ear. “But… it’s glass. I could cut myself.”

She tilted her head, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Then maybe you’ll learn to watch where you’re going.”

I hesitated, but her glare was hard and pressing down on me. Slowly, I crouched, reaching for a jagged piece of the glass. My fingers trembled, not just from fear but from the sting of humiliation.

“What the hell are you doing?”

The cold, rigid voice behind me froze me in place. My heart leapt into my throat, and I turned my head slowly.

Alpha Malik stood there.

And oh, goddess… he was even more striking than I had imagined. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that framed a hard structured jaw. His eyes... goodness, his eyes were dark and intense, the kind of gaze that could strip you bare. My mind, traitorous and foolish, actually drifted for a second to thoughts of what it would be like to be the focus of that gaze for something other than a reprimand.

I snapped myself out of it. Stop it, Selina.

Chloe’s demeanor changed instantly. She rushed toward him, her voice soft and sweet now. “Malik... she bumped into me and wasted my drink. I was just..”

“Is that why you’re watching her pick glass with her bare hands?” His tone was calm, but it carried a dangerous edge.

Chloe blinked innocently. “No! No, I told her to get a bin, but she refused. I was only trying to help.”

I stared at her, my mouth falling open. The sheer ease with which she lied was incredibly shocking .

Malik turned his eyes to me. For a moment, I braced myself for the scolding I was sure would follow. My mind raced, already rehearsing my defense.

"What’s your name?” his question struck me to a shock.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Uhm.. Selina.”

“You’re new?”

“Yes,” I murmured.

His expression softened, just barely... but enough for me to notice. “Be more careful next time.”

And with that, he walked away, Chloe clinging to his arm, though she glanced over her shoulder to shoot me a glare cold enough to freeze fire.

I just stood there, staring after them, my mind reeling. Did that really just happen? He didn’t punish me. He didn’t even believe her lie.

Maybe… maybe this week wouldn’t be as impossible as I thought.