Chapter one.

Selina's POV.

"Move faster, you sluggish little thing!" The chief maid growled at me, roughly poking me at the back as we proceeded towards the Beta Nicholas's house, with a few of the other selected house maids, like myself.

It was the third day of the week, and ofcourse cleaning up the pack's Alpha and Beta's houses was a task never to be skipped.

Despite the hose mistress's vile words, I was extremely overjoyed to be picked among the bunch of maids to clean up Beta Nicholas's house instead of the Alpha's house.

Alpha Malik was my worst nightmare.

I've avoided him like plaque all my life, it has been rumored that he detests weak people, all he wanted was active subjects who would protect the pack even in his absence.

While the policy was undoubtedly admirable, it did however not favour people like me who was born weak.

In order to avoid further humiliation, I tried my possible best to stay off his path no matter what it takes; which has been pretty easy because what exactly could ever lead to a lowly orphaned omega like me who only survived by working as a pack maid, scrubbing floors from sunset to sundown, crossing paths with the mighty Alpha Malik?

Yeah, you guessed right; I didn't think so too.

Just as we got to Beta Nicholas's house, the rest of the maids were quick to spread themselves out, and in a split second, every corner of the house was claimed by each of them.

It was usually like that because once you delayed and the entire task is taken, you'll be surely taken to another location.

I was at the brink of panicking when my gaze lowered down to the sizeable bowl containing a decent amount of soapy water and rag.

I had carried it all the way from the maids quarters, hence the floor is mine to claim; well so I thought, not until one swift move and the bowl was in the hands of another.

"Hey, give that back!" I tried to protest, but the house mistress was quick to jump to the scene.

"What is the noise about?"

"The bowl is mine to use, I carried it all the way here, she took it from me." Tears were beginning to well up in my eyes, at this point, but I tried to hold it in.

"Well, she has it now, and I know Janet, she does quite well with floor mopping."

My heartbeat accelerated as I feared hearing her next words.

"I guess you'll be fixed somewhere else then, but judging that you have been cheated, I suppose I could be a little merciful."

No! This is not happening.

"I haven't assigned anyone to the Alpha's mansion, you'll serve there for the next one week, it's filled with a bunch of other maids, so you'll have a less difficult time there."

I felt my breath become heavy and the walls of the room spun in different directions setting my head in a hassle. "No ma'am, please can I do something else? I'll do anything." My voice quivered as I spoke, tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

"You should be grateful, now off you go." She spat, turning around and stormed off.

My entire world seemed to be collapsing around me.

How could I possibly serve at Alpha Malik's mansion for a week consecutively without running into him?

I have taken great lengths to make sure I stayed off his path my entire years in this pack, to avoid any encounter that could lead to humiliation, or worse, sanction.

Why is this happening now?

"Hey, why the tears, you should be glad for such opportunity." I suddenly heard a voice behind me and I turned to see one of the maids, Nora. standing beside me, an excited grin on her face.

She seemed quite excited and an idea suddenly struck me.

We could totally switch places!

I mean she looked like she would do anything to be in the position that I am right now.

"You know that we could switch places right? You seem like you want to clean Alpha Malik's room." I offered and a wide smile broke out on her face.

Then it suddenly crumpled into a sad frown.

"That would have been possible if it was last week when house mistress wasn't on duty, she's very much invested today in checking every duty post, she's gonna find out and we'll be in trouble." She shrugged.

I nodded my head slowly and dragged my gaze to the floor feeling bashful.

There's no way out for me at this point I guess, the only option was to face the situation heads on.

*

The walk to the Alpha’s mansion felt like the longest walk I'd taken in my whole life, despite it being a few minutes walk; the massive mansion stood tall before me finally while I tried to calm my racing heart before heading in.

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 ever thought. 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… just maybe he isn't as bad as the rumors has made him out to be, and maybe, this week wouldn’t be as impossible as I thought.