2. She’s Not Your Servant. She’s Mine

BELISARA'S POV

"Where the fucking hell is that fat-for-nothing Belisara?!" Cressida shrieked. "I'll butcher her damn head off if she doesn't bring in our food right now!"

I swallowed hard and pushed the kitchen doors open with my shoulder, whilst balancing three massive, burning–hot ceramic platters on my forearms.

My weak muscles ached under the platter, my skin blistering slightly against the heat of the porcelain, but I didn't dare to drop them.

Keeping my eyes firmly on the floor, I reached the long table where my auntie and cousin sat.

"I'm sorry for the delay," I whispered, my voice was small and raspy even to my own ears. "I had one last meal to prepare."

"Sorry for yourself," Morwena fired back, looking up at me from her polished fingernails.

Cressida quickly snatched the lid off the center platter and her pointy nose wrinkled in disgust.

She poked the roasted meat with the tip of her fork and glared. "Mother, come look at this. My breakfast looks small today, much smaller than yesterday's."

My heart plummeted to my stomach. "I—I—I weighed everything exactly as the recipe—"

"You're stealing our food, aren't you?" Cressida cut me off, her eyes gleaming with pure cruelty. "You think because you're a wolfless freak, you need to eat enough for two people? Look at you. You're already bursting out of that cheap apron."

"I didn't steal anything!" I defended myself, the words slipping out before my fear could choke it back. "I swear, I haven't tasted a single bite since yesterday morning."

"Shut up, Belisara!" Morwena slammed her hand down on the table, causing the glass cups to rattle.

She stood up and walked around the table until she was standing right in front of me, staring down at my wide hips with total contempt.

"How dare you talk back?! Your belly is the only thing growing in this pack and starting from today, I'm cutting your ration to one meal a day."

The room moved under my feet at her words. How could I eat a meal a day? Just weeks ago, she reduced my ration to two meals.

Sooner or later, I'd be eating nothing at all.

"I barely have anything to eat," I cried out as tears prickled the corner of my eyes. "I didn't even have supper last night, because I had to feed the pigs the leftovers."

Morwena's face twisted. "Are you threatening my order?!" She raised her hand up high, her palm ready to strike me across the face.

I flinched and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the pain but Morwena's slap didn't land as the doors swung open.

A guard rushed inside, holding an embellished parchment scroll sealed with shimmering silver wax.

Morwena lowered her hand slowly and her eyes fixated on the royal insignia pressed into the wax.

"Forgive my intrusion, Luna Morwena," the guard was slightly out of breath, bowing his head. "A royal message has just arrived from Wolf Capital, the Silvermoon Pack."

Morwena snatched the scroll from his hands, breaking the seal with a sharp snap of her finger.

Her eyes scanned the elegant cursive text. "A royal ball ceremony. . . at the Silvermoon pack. It's a gathering for all Alpha families before the Prince's official mating ceremony."

"Is this real?! A royal ball?!" Cressida squealed with excitement, completely forgetting the food in front of her as she jumped out of her chair.

Her face lit up with absolute ecstasy. "Oh, my goodness! Prince Evander will be there! He's going to meet me, and make me his destined mate!"

"Easy, Cressida." Morwena gently patted her daughter's cheek and smirked. "We have just three days to prepare you."

"Oh Moon Goddess, I can't believe this is real! I have to go tell father, I need new dresses, new shoes, new makeup, perfumes and hair pins." She rambled.

"Yes, go and tell your father, dear." Morwena said and Cressida sprinted out of the room to find her father.

I stood there in the quiet dining room, keeping my head low but for the first time in months, a tiny spark of hope flickered in my chest.

A Royal Ball at the Wolf Capital meant they'd travel across borders to Silvermoon Pack and would be away for days.

I'd finally be left alone. I could sleep past dawn, rest my blistered hands, and maybe even find a stale piece of bread to eat.

"Don't look so relieved," Morwena's cold voice shattered my thoughts.

"Huh?" I blinked back to reality and she thrust the empty scroll wrapper into my chest.

"You're coming with us to serve as Cressida's escort." She said and my hope died as quickly as it arrived.

— — —

The long gravel road felt like hot coal beneath my worn-out flats, and each step I took shot a jarring pain up my thighs.

Twelve miserable miles. . . that's how far I’ve been trekking to Silvermoon Pack while Uncle Maloch and his family sat inside the carriage.

"I—I—need to rest, please." I panted, my chest heaving with every breath. "Please, m—my legs are hurting."

"Walk fast, Belisara!" Morwena hissed. "She's such a disgrace, she can barely carry herself." She complained to her husband.

"What did you expect from a fat dog." Uncle Maloch said flatly. 

"Can I h—have some water to drink?" My lungs burned from exhaustion as I hoisted Cressida's luggage over my shoulders.

"She's terribly lazy, mother." Cressida sneered at me. "It's a good thing you didn't permit her to eat breakfast this morning."

"P—please, just water." I begged, but Cressida scoffed.

"You'll get water after our horses have enough to drink." She tucked her head back inside the carriage and shut the window close.

Back at Ambercrest, I needed to feed the pigs before I ate, and now the horses had to drink enough water before I could.

Why did they hate me so much? What did I ever do to become so maltreated by my own blood family?

I lowered my teary gaze and struggled to keep trekking until the crystal gates of Silvermoon Pack loomed ahead on the mountain.

The moment the carriage rolled to a halt in the courtyard, I caught my breath and steadied my legs from nearly giving out.

"Oh heavens! I can't believe I'm at the palace!" Cressida quickly came down the carriage.

Uncle Maloch and Morwena followed after her, their eyes wandering across the courtyard.

Immediately, King Osric and Queen Anatolia appeared above the marble stairs, flanked by royal guards.

"Welcome to Silvermoon pack, Alpha Maloch, Luna Morwena," King Osric's deep and regal voice echoed through the courtyard as they stepped down warmly. "The Silvermoon pack honors your arrival."

"The honor is ours, Your Majesties," Uncle Maloch replied and bowed low.

I sank into a deep, trembling curtsey, keeping my eyes glued to the ground but a strange pull in the air made me lift my gaze.

My eyes slowly moved away from the King and Queen to look at the tall figure standing next to them and my lips parted in recognition.

Prince Evander.

His smile was so charming and he possessed an effortless, overpowering aura that could make any she-wolf desperate to throw herself at his feet.

But then, I realized Prince Evander wasn’t even looking at my family. He was staring directly at me.

His piercing grey eyes roamed round my body, the quiet intensity of his steady stare made my stomach do a terrifying flip and somehow that caused his smile to deepen.

Could he tell how flustered under his gaze?

Morwena eagerly pushed Cressida to him. "We present our daughter, Cressida. She has looked forward to meeting Prince Evander for so many years."

Cressida stepped in front of Evander, puffing out her chest and displaying a dazzling smile. "It’s nice to meet you, Your Majesty."

"It’s a pleasure." Evander gave her a respectful nod, but his grey eyes didn't linger on her for a second.

He sidestepped her, his black boots stomping on the ground as he walked straight to me.

The courtyard went dead silent, all eyes turned towards me and in that moment, I wished the earth would crack open and swallow me.

"May I ask your name?" Evander peered at me behind his silver-tipped hair, his baritone voice causing the hairs on my arms to rise.

Cressida's face burned with anger as she tried getting in between us. "Your Majesty, please ignore her. She's just a—"

"I wasn't speaking to you, was I?" Evander snapped.

The cold authority in his words made Cressida stumble back, and her mouth popped open in shock.

Evander stopped right in front of me and his rich cedarwood scent embraced me. "Forgive me, your name again?"

"I am Belisara, Your Majesty. I’m. . . the Omega of Ambercrest Pack." I expected him to grimace at my title but he didn't even flinch.

Instead, he bowed low and pressed a lingering kiss on my blistered knuckles.

My heart fluttered so hard against my ribcage, I thought I might faint as heat rushed up my ears.

I tried pulling my hand back, suddenly self-conscious of my rough fingers but Evander wouldn't let go.

His steady gaze watched me, his thumb tracing lightly in my palm as he gave my hand a faint squeeze before turning sharply to his parents.

"Father, mother, I've finally made up my mind. I'll be taking Belisara of Ambercrest as my date to the royal ball tomorrow."

Wait, hold on? I blinked, completely dazed and confused as my mind spun in chaotic circles.

His date? When did I agree to this? He didn't even asked me?

"Unbelievable!" Cressida scoffed in disbelief.

Queen Anatolia stepped forward, her brows furrowing with deep concern. "Evander, are you out of your mind? A prince cannot bring an Omega as his date to the royal ball."

"A wolfless Omega, might I add," Morwena chimed in.

"Evander, be sensible. The Wolf Capital will—" King Orsic started to speak but Evander cut his father off.

"I don't care about the Wolf Capital. I've made up my mind." He said and turned back to me. "Unless. . ." his voice dropped to a softer tone. ". . .you don't want to come with me?"

Behind Evander, Cressida frantically shook her head, her lips mouthing the words: No. No. No.

I looked at Morwena's glare, at Uncle Maloch tensed countenance and finally into Evander's steady eyes.

"I do. I want to go." The words blurted out my lips before fear could choke them down.

A smile beamed across Evander's face. "Then it's settled."

"Absolutely not!" Morwena snapped. "She's our maid! She's meant to tend to our needs for the duration of our visit!"

Evander turned to face Morwena, and his tall posture radiated absolute royal dominance.

"I will have Silvermoon maids attend to your needs, Luna Morwena. But as long as Belisara lives within these palace walls, she's not your servant. She's mine."