“Mate”

[ Calantha ]

THE NEXT DAY

"Calantha! Where the hell is that useless slave?!" Mrs. Grant’s sharp voice rang out from outside, her impatient footsteps echoing closer.

In the kitchen, I was scrambling to finish washing the dishes while keeping an eye on the food simmering on the stove. My heart raced as I shouted back.

“I’m almost done!”

I tried to move faster but in my rush, my hand bumped against an expensive ceramic plate. My stomach dropped as I watched it slip off the counter. Instinctively, I focused my mind, and just before it could shatter on the ground, the plate froze midair.

Relief washed over me as I carefully picked it up and placed it back on the counter. I quickly returned to my work, pretending nothing had happened.

My powers were my deepest secret and to be honest, I didn’t know how it got it either. From a young age, I discovered I could move things with my mind, heal injured animals, and even bring dying plants back to life.

But my adoptive parents had warned me to keep it hidden. I was different —the only werewolf with powers like this. A freak. If anyone ever found out about my powers, they would call me a witch and the pack would have me killed.

“You lazy good for nothing!” Mrs. Grant stormed into the kitchen, her face twisted with rage. Before I could react, she grabbed my arm roughly causing a sharp pain to shoot through me.

“Are you planning to stay in this kitchen all day?!” She yelled into my face. “Isadora needs you in her room, now! What are you trying to do, ruin everything for us? Huh? The Lycan King will be here soon, and we can’t afford any mistakes!”

“I’m sorry.” I murmured an apology, biting back the pain as her nails dug into my skin. Then, she shoved me hard against the counter before letting go.

“You have five minutes to get to Isadora’s room.” She hissed. “Don’t make me repeat myself, or you know what will happen.”

With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving me alone. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and quickly tried to finish my tasks. The spot in my hand where Mrs. Grant had grabbed had a pinkish bruise now, but I ignored it.

I had bruises that were worse than this.

“Calantha this, Calantha that.” I muttered under my breath as tears burned at the corners of my eyes.

My life was nothing more than a string of endless commands and insults. It wasn’t fair, but I had no choice. This was my reality as an orphan and a slave, and it would remain so until my very last breath.

Once done, I rushed to Isadora’s room. She was standing in front of the mirror, tugging at her dress in visible frustration. Her head whipped around the second I walked in, her eyes blazing with anger.

“You sly bitch!” She spat through gritted teeth.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“In the kitchen.” I replied flatly. “Working.”

Her glare darkened, but I ignored it and stepped behind her to help zip up the ridiculously tight dress. I tugged carefully, fearing it might rip under the strain.

“Maybe you should try something less tight…” I began cautiously but she spun around, cutting me off with a harsh sneer.

“And who asked for your opinion, slave?” She hissed, jabbing a finger at me. “Let me remind you, this isn’t just anyone we’re talking about. It’s the Lycan King. You better not mess this up, or I’ll make your life even worse when I become Luna.”

I sighed inwardly, trying to block out her threats as I worked on the zipper.

Isadora had been betrothed to the Lycan King since childhood, the result of an arrangement between the late Lycan King and her father who used to be his loyal Beta.

Isadora and the Lycan King had grown up together, attending the same elite schools. She carried herself like she was already Luna and enjoyed making everyone around her bow to her whims. And of course, she never failed to make sure I felt the full weight of her entitlement every single day.

As for me? I had long since stopped fearing her empty threats. She and her parents had already made my life miserable. What more could they do?

After struggling with the dress for what felt like forever, it finally fit and Isadora’s face lit up with a satisfied smile. Next, I helped fix her hair and slipped her shoes on before another servant stepped into the room to announce the Lycan King’s arrival.

This was the first time he was visiting their house, so it made sense that Isadora was practically glowing with excitement.

“I’ll be out in a second.” She told the servant who bowed and left immediately.

Once the door shut, she gave herself one last look in the mirror, adding final touches to her makeup before heading toward the door. I followed quickly, but just as we reached the door, she spun around and stopped me with a smug smirk.

“Nuh-uh.” She wiggled a finger at me, her nose scrunching as if I smelled awful. “You stay here. It would be humiliating for the Lycan King to see you.”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and strutted out, leaving me standing there. I sighed, rolling my eyes. Typical bratty Isadora.

Reaching into the pocket of my apron, I decided to check my phone. Ryker came to mind again, and I couldn’t help but hope he had messaged me.

Part of me had expected him to reach out after what happened last night. Maybe to apologize, to say he was sorry for how he acted, or at least blame his behavior on his friends.

But I was wrong. The entire day had gone by without a single text from him. Still, I thought maybe this time...

Frowning, I searched my pocket, only to find it empty. My heart sank. A small gasp escaped my lips as I suddenly remembered leaving my phone near the dining room doorway while setting the table earlier.

“Oh, come on!” I smacked my forehead in frustration.

The Lycan King was already here, and I had no idea how long he would stay. I couldn’t afford to wait until he left. My only option was to sneak in, grab it, and get out before anyone noticed.

Thankfully, the phone wasn’t far from the doorway. With a little luck, I could get it without making a scene.

I hurried toward the dining room, stopping just outside the doorway to peek in. The Lycan King was seated at the table with his broad back to me while Isadora sat beside him, smiling sweetly like the perfect angel she pretended to be. Mr. and Mrs. Grant were seated at the table too with stiff and formal postures and exaggerated smiles.

My eyes darted to the corner near the doorway, and relief flooded me when I saw my phone right where I had left it. If I could just stretch far enough, I could grab it without being noticed.

Tiptoeing inside, I bent down carefully and reached for the phone. My fingers were so close.

Just a little more…

“Come on.” I muttered under my breath, stretching further with my heart pounding. It was barely an inch out of reach. I tried again, trying so hard not to make a sound.

Then it happened.

THUD.

My foot slipped and I lost my balance, crashing to the floor in an awkward heap. My heart leapt into my throat as the sound echoed in the room, loud enough to draw everyone’s attention to me.

Oh god!

I froze, humiliation washing over me at once. My cheeks burned as I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing the ground would just swallow me whole this instant.

Slowly, I dared to lift my head to meet every pair of their eyes locked on me.

Isadora’s expression contorted with a mix of shock and concealed fury. Mr. and Mrs. Grant stared at me with barely hidden disdain. They were probably already plotting my punishment for this disaster.

The gods help me!

But then, the next second, nothing else mattered anymore. Because when my gaze shifted to the Lycan King, the world seemed to stop instantly.

Dark, piercing turquoise eyes. Sharp, flawless aristocratic features. An otherworldly handsomeness…

It was him! The arrogant stranger from last night. The man who had taken my virginity in my quest for vengeance.

And he was… the Lycan King?!

“Mate.” He pronounced with his gaze locked to mine, his statement sending another wave of shock to my body all over again.