Chapter one

Adeline

I tried to hold onto the wall as the floor beneath me shifted; I took in deep breaths, willing myself to stand for longer, my breaths came out in pants, and my sight got foggy. My head suddenly swam, and I felt the urge to throw up, except there was nothing to vomit; my stomach was empty.

I hadn't eaten in three days, the little sneaky devil; Sarah and her minions had refused to give me my food because they were in charge of the cafeteria for the week; as usual, I had pretended not to care and held my head high each time I got skipped at the queue.

The other slaves didn’t dare interfere, and I didn’t blame them; I was mostly hated in this part. Somehow, these people blamed the fall of the human race on my tiny shoulders. My father, who was a werewolf hunter, had killed the former werewolf Alpha, causing the outbreak of the war. The werewolves had won the war, subduing the entire human race.

I closed my eyes to shake off the tiny black dots dancing in front of me, I couldn’t faint and give those little devils the satisfaction of seeing me fall. Determined, I took steady walks to the back of the kitchen. I had to get something to eat, and I knew the kitchen would be empty at this time. The back door was mostly left unguarded.

All the kitchen staff usually left to bring cooking supplies into the store. I looked around to make sure nobody was looking before I turned the door handle, and thankfully, the door was open. I peeped into the kitchen to make sure it was empty before tiptoeing into it.

Steadying my wildly beating heart, I surveyed the kitchen; no one was in sight except the aprons hanging loosely off the cabinets. I had to hurry cause the kitchen servants would soon return. I moved to the oven where the scent of baking bread wafted through my nose and my mouth watered. I swallow and shine hungry eyes on the already-baked loaves packed into a carton.

I take one and sink my teeth into the bread. The rich creaminess fills my senses, and I let out a soft groan. This had to be the bread for the royal family; the bread made for the slaves was nowhere as delicious and soft as this; the one we had was dry and sometimes tasted stale, I thought to myself as I continued taking huge bites off the loaf.

I paused midway to eating as soon as I heard the sound of footsteps coming my way, ‘shit, they were back’.

I quickly grabbed two more loaves and headed for the door, deciding I wouldn’t make it out on time, I scurried under the next available table.

Before I knew it, the kitchen was filled with slaves and servants, I could hear the voice of Mrs Merkel, the matron. Shooting orders on where supplies should be stored. From beneath the table, I could see the various worn-out sandaled feet moving around.

I continued to munch on my bread, revelling in its deliciousness, and I didn’t realise I was making loud humming noises until everywhere suddenly fell silent, with only the whirring of the oven baking heard. I quickly stopped chewing and waited as my heart began beating erratically again; the table suddenly felt too claustrophobic, and sweat broke out on my forehead.

I tried to be as quiet as possible when heavily booted feet stopped in front of the table. The face of a grim-looking guard pops up under the table,

“Who do we have here?” he asked, a sly smile on his face while he gave me a dirty look before he put out his hands and grabbed me by the collar. I let out a shriek at the force he used in pulling me out, and I bumped my head on the table.

I struggled against the heavy guard, but he quieted me by giving me a slap across the face “Dirty thief,” he barked out; he snatched the bread from my hands and handed it to one of the servants.

The slap stung my face, but I didn’t have time to react to it; I raised my head to realise everyone was looking my way, including Sarah and her minions. Embarrassment washes over me, and hot tears sting my eyes and nose.

“Let me go!” I yelled at the grim-looking guard as I continued to struggle against him. I knew I was dirty, but the man reeked of rotten fish.

One other guard appeared at my side, and they bound my hands to my back. Before, they both grabbed at each side of my shoulders and led me away. I fought the urge to cry while gritting my teeth against the pain from the places where the guards' fingers were sinking into my bones.

I am led to the royal court, where the very stiff-looking judge, who had not bothered to spare me a glance, orders my arrest and immediate imprisonment until the alpha gives the final verdict.

The guards led me down to the prison; we passed a dark hallway until we got to an even darker room with just a little window situated near the ceiling.

“You have to be joking; you can’t keep me here,” I yelled, fear enveloping me; the guard untied my hands and pushed me into the cell before he quickly locked the doors. I rushed to the iron bars and rattled them.

“You lot should be ashamed of yourselves, treating me this way all because of common bread; one would think I committed murder. Your Alpha must be stingy,” I yelled.

“You would consider yourself lucky if you got to leave here with all parts of your body complete,” the grim-looking guard spat in my direction before he walked out of the hallway. I heard a loud bang as he closed the mighty entrance gate.

I scrunched up my nose as the rotten smell from his mouth floated into my nose, I tried willing the bread I had just stolen to stay in my belly.

Looking around for a place to sit, dread fills me as the reality of my situation dawns on me. My fate was now in the hands of Alpha Caddel. The most feared man in the entire region, ruthless and cold.

I had heard of his tales, one of which was about when he had single-handedly killed fifty thousand men in battle.

It was one of the stories we had heard growing up. Every child had grown to fear him; one of the songs amongst the slaves used to quieten children was, if you were naughty, he would come in the night and rip your head out. He was every child’s nightmare. He still was that of many adults.

I prayed he wouldn’t have the time to oversee a petty case like mine; the man had to be busy with something; he probably had heads to rip out or wars to fight. I consoled myself with the belief that Alpha Caddel wouldn't bother with someone like me. I was a complete nobody.

I don’t know how long I stayed in the darkness of the cell, but I was relieved as soon as I heard the loud creaking sound of the entrance door. Heavy footsteps stop in front of my cell.

The guards tied my hands and nudged me forward. I was totally weak, and my voice was hoarse from being thirsty. I moved compliantly, afraid that if he pushed me more, I would finally succumb to the need to faint.

We walked up to the royal court. I was grateful to see daylight. We continued to walk in the direction of the royal court. Thank goodness the stiff judge had decided to handle my case, I thought to myself, relieved it wasn’t the Alpha

On getting to the royal court, I am asked to stand in a box where I will be awaiting judgment. The weakness overtakes me, and I start to close my eyes and let my body sag against the wall behind me.

“Why is she sleeping?”

The deep baritone voice asked as my eyes flew open, and I came face to face with no other than the Alpha.