CHAPTER 4 - THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING

The Silver Moon pack house was in a state of complete, chaotic madness.

Everywhere Rosemary looked, people were running around frantically, cleaning walls, polishing silverware, moving furniture, and shouting angry orders at one another. Today was not just a normal day for the pack. Today, the entire territory was preparing for the grand arrival of Alpha Kieran of the Moon Claw pack.

Even in her small, isolated corner of the world, Rosemary knew exactly who Alpha Kieran was. His name was a legend known by every shape-shifter alive. He ruled the Moon Claw pack, which was widely known as the biggest, richest, and most terrifyingly powerful pack in the entire world. Everyone in her pack whispered about him in hushed, terrified voices. The stories said he was completely ruthless in battle, totally unyielding to his enemies, and incredibly handsome.

Rosemary stood near the edge of the grand dining hall, her arms straining as she carried a massive, heavy stack of freshly ironed white tablecloths. Her back still ached with a deep, throbbing pain from her chores yesterday, and her ribs felt tender, but there was absolutely no time to rest today. If she slowed down for even a second, she would be punished.

"Look at her, standing there and staring into space like a complete, brainless fool," a nasty, familiar voice mocked from behind.

Rosemary didn't even need to look up to know it was Anna. She bit her lower lip and tried to walk past quietly, hoping to avoid a fight. But Anna stepped right into her path, blocking her way completely. Two of Anna's usual bully friends stood right behind her, mean grins plastered across their faces.

"I hear a wonderful rumor that the Moon Claw pack is bringing a lot of their elite, unmated warriors with them today," Anna sneered, leaning her face close to Rosemary's. "Is that why you look so alert and excited today, Rosemary? Are you actually hoping that some handsome warrior from the greatest pack on earth will look at a broken, mateless piece of garbage like you?"

"I am just trying to do my job, Anna," Rosemary said softly, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the wooden floorboards. "Please just let me pass. The Luna wants these dining tables dressed before the guests arrive."

"Don't you dare use the Luna to hide your pathetic desperation," Anna hissed angrily.

Suddenly, without any warning, Anna reached out and roughly shoved Rosemary's shoulder with all her might. Because Rosemary was holding the massive, heavy stack of tablecloths, her hands were full, and she couldn't reach out to catch her balance. She crashed hard against the sharp, rigid edge of a thick wooden pillar before tumbling painfully to the floor. The heavy wood struck her ribs instantly, making her gasp out loud for air as a sharp pain exploded through her side. She knew immediately that it would leave a deep, dark bruise.

"Let me make this very clear to you, you freak," Anna whispered filled with pure hatred, bending down low so only Rosemary could hear her words. "You are an absolute embarrassment to the Silver Moon pack. When the great Moon Claw wolves get here, you stay in the dark shadows where you belong. Don't look at them, don't dare to talk to them, and do not dare to hope for a miracle. A powerful warrior wolf would rather die a painful death than have a broken, useless Omega mate like you."

Anna reached out and intentionally kicked one of the clean, white tablecloths into the dirt, staining it. She laughed loudly with her friends, and the group turned around, strutting away toward the grand front entrance to wait for the royal guests to arrive.

Rosemary sat on the cold floor for a long moment, pressing her small hand tightly against her bruised ribs. Sharp tears of pain and humiliation pricked her eyes, but she forced herself to swallow them down. She couldn't cry today. Not today. She carefully gathered the clean linen from the floor, making sure the dirty spot was hidden underneath, and finished dressing the grand tables as quickly as her aching, bruised body allowed.

As the hours ticked away, the air inside the pack house suddenly grew incredibly heavy, thick with a new, overwhelming wave of dominant power. The massive front gates of the estate swung open, and a deafening roar of greetings and pack howls echoed loudly from the stone courtyard outside.

He is finally here, Rosemary thought to herself, her heart suddenly racing wildly inside her chest for a strange reason she couldn't understand. A weird feeling of warmth washed over her soul.

She knew she couldn't be seen looking like a complete, dusty mess. Her clothes were covered in dirt from cleaning the floors, and her long hair was trapped in a messy, chaotic knot. Since she was officially assigned to serve the high-ranking Alphas and guests in the grand dining hall, she needed to look presentable and neat.

Holding her aching, bruised side with one hand, Rosemary quietly slipped away from the busy main hall and hurried down the dark stairs toward the basement. She needed to wash her face and change into her clean, official serving uniform immediately, before the great, terrifying Alpha Kieran walked through the front doors of the house.