The weight of blood

"Where the hell is she?"

Beta Kieran's voice cuts through the house like a shotgun blast, and my stomach drops because, of course, he's talking about me the lone miserable servant still breathing under this roof of insanity.

I groan quietly and drag myself up from the floor, grabbing the cleaning basket like it's some kind of lifeline. Technically, it is. If my hands aren't busy, someone always finds another way to remind me how useless I am.

Kieran spots me immediately. His lips curl like a predator that's just found wounded prey. He storms toward me, grabbing my arm so hard his nails scrape across my cheek.

I don't scream.

Years of surviving this circus have trained me well.

Keep your mouth shut. Keep your eyes on the floor.

Breathe quietly. Speak only when spoken to. Move only when commanded. Pain is routine. Humiliation is standard. Survival is optional if you screw up.

"Alpha Kael and I are expecting a guest, and somehow, magically, you've still managed to screw up the office!" Beta Kieran snarls, each word dripping with venom.

I tighten my grip on the cleaning basket.

For a brief moment, I imagine swinging it at his face, hard enough to break his nose. The fantasy lasts less than a second. Kieran is faster, stronger, and far more cruel than I could ever afford to challenge. One wrong move and I'd spend another week without food... or chained in the cellar again.

"Do you even understand how crucial this is?" he continues. "Alpha Kael. The alliance. His pack"

The rest of his rant fades into noise.

I stare at the floor instead. Answering him would only give him another reason to hurt me.

Still, one name echoes in my mind.

Alpha Kael.

Rumors about him spread through every pack territory like wildfire. Crimson eyes. Ruthless.

Powerful. The kind of Alpha whose presence alone could make lesser wolves bow their heads.

Leader of the largest pack in existence. Feared by wolves smart enough to stay out of his way.

And here I am... staring at a cleaning basket while my life continues to rot around me.

Kieran shoves me forward roughly, his nails digging into my shoulder like shards of ice as he pushes me down the hallway toward the office.

"Useless wolf," he mutters before disappearing.

I bite the inside of my cheek, swallowing the anger burning in my chest. Screaming would only make things worse.

The office door slams shut behind me.

I sink slowly to the floor, staring around the room. It's spotless. Perfect. Every surface gleams like it belongs in a palace instead of this cursed pack house.

Perfect enough for a powerful Alpha to judge.

Perfect enough for someone to decide my fate without a second thought.

I exhale shakily.

Eighteen years old.

Technically an adult. Technically free.

Freedom.

What a joke.

Four years later, I'm still here. A ghost. A servant. A mistake with a pulse.

A quiet throat clears behind me.

My body freezes.

I'm not alone.

Slowly, I turn my head.

And there he is.

Alpha Kael.

He's sitting comfortably in one of the chairs like he owns the room-and maybe the entire pack house along with it. His dark hair is slicked back neatly, and a glass of whiskey rests lazily in his hand. But it's his eyes that steal the air from my lungs.

Crimson.

Not dark brown. Not amber.

Red.

They glow faintly under the dim light, studying me with lazy amusement, like he already knows every secret I've tried to bury.

"Is this how you greet visiting Alphas?" he asks.

His voice is calm. Smooth.

Dangerous.

My heart begins to pound violently in my chest.

"I...I'm sorry," I whisper quickly, scrambling to my feet. "I thought I was alone."

Of course he doesn't introduce himself. Someone like him wouldn't need to.

"Step forward," he says.

The simple command makes my throat tighten.

If Kieran sees me standing this close to him... I'll be punished later. I know it.

Still, disobeying an Alpha would be worse.

My legs tremble as I obey.

I expect pain.

Humiliation.

Maybe even death.

Instead, Kael tilts his head slightly, studying me like I'm something strange he's just discovered.

"You smell... off," he says slowly. "And yet... you're a wolf."

I nod weakly.

Most wolves laugh when they realize what I am.

Most of them hate me even more once they learn the truth.

"Speak when addressed," he growls softly.

"Yes," I whisper immediately, panic clawing its way up my throat.

Mistakes pile up in my chest like bricks.

"Why do you smell strange?" he continues. "And why didn't you sense me?"

I hesitate.

The truth is messy. Dangerous.

"My... abilities were sealed," I mutter quietly.

That answer is simple enough to avoid further questions.

For a moment, Kael says nothing. Then he leans forward slowly, placing his glass down with a soft clink.

"Who would do that?"

"Punishment," I whisper.

The word tastes bitter on my tongue.

Memories of my twin sister Liora flicker painfully in my mind. Her smile. Her laughter. The moment everything went wrong.

Before Kael can question me further, the office door suddenly swings open.

Beta Kieran storms inside.

"Liora! What the hell are you doing in my office?" he snaps immediately.

Kael doesn't even flinch.

"She was showing me in," he says smoothly.

Kieran freezes.

I know that look on his face. I'll pay for this later.

"Go fetch Alpha Jarek," he orders me harshly. "Our guest is here."

I nod quickly and rush out before anyone can change their mind.

The dining hall is quiet when I arrive.

"Alpha Jarek wants you," I say softly. "The guest has arrived."

The newspaper slams down on the table.

Dark eyes glare up at me.

My brother.

"Lucky the Alpha sent you," he mutters coldly. "Otherwise you'd be skipping meals again."

His hand suddenly grabs my hair, yanking my head back painfully.

The message is clear.

Remember your place.

Minutes later, I'm back in the office holding a tray of champagne.

My hands tremble as I begin pouring drinks.

Kael suddenly takes the bottle from me.

"I can manage," he says calmly.

Heat rushes to my cheeks not embarrassment, not pride. Just fear.

I should've been faster. More invisible.

But I've never been perfect. My scars prove that.

Kael's gaze shifts toward my brother.

"She's your sister?"

Jarek's jaw tightens. "She is."

Kael raises a brow. "Then why do you treat her like shit?"

The room goes silent.

No one dares answer.

Finally Kieran scoffs.

"She killed Liora."

My eyes shut instantly.

The accusation still hurts even after all these years.

"Responsible... how?" Kael asks quietly.

"She poisoned her," Kieran mutters.

Don't breathe. Don't react.

Kael steps closer and grabs my chin, forcing me to look up. His fingers slide from my jaw to my throat, gripping it just enough to remind me how fragile I am.

"You killed her?"

"I was ten," I whisper weakly. "I just wanted to make lemonade."

Memories flash painfully in my mind Liora's laughter, her sudden scream, the chaos that followed.

Kael glances toward Kieran.

"Hardly seems fair to blame a child."

"A ten-year-old should know better," Kieran snaps.

Kael ignores him. His crimson eyes return to me.

"A wolf should sense another wolf," he says slowly. "So why didn't you sense me?"

My stomach twists.

"My abilities were sealed," I whisper again.

"By whom?"

"My brother."

The words hang heavily in the air.

Kael studies me for a long moment. Then he leans closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur.

"Interesting."

Kieran suddenly explodes. "You"

"Enough," Kael interrupts sharply. "She's alive. That's more than your pack deserves."

Kieran's face turns red with rage, but he stays silent.

Kael's attention drifts back to me.

His eyes narrow slightly.

He inhales slowly. Once. Then again.

Something in his expression changes.

The amusement disappears.

Replaced by something darker.

"What..." he murmurs quietly, "...is that scent?"

My blood runs cold.

Kieran frowns. "What scent?"

But Kael isn't looking at him anymore.

He's staring directly at me like I'm the answer to a mystery he just discovered.

His grip tightens slightly as he pulls me closer.

"You're not just a wolf," he says slowly.

The entire room falls silent.

My heart stops.

Because if Alpha Kael realizes what I truly am...

Then the secret I've spent ten years hiding will finally destroy me.