All Chapters of The Alpha's Broken Pet: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

VanessaThe halls of the servants' wing had finally fallen silent. It was the kind of exhaustion that had stolen every last voice and footstep.A new day would come soon, bringing with it the same cycle of work, but now, in the dead of night, there was a brief illusion of peace.I tightened the black scarf around my head, hiding my hair as my ears strained for any sound of movement. Nothing. Everyone was asleep.My worn flip-flops were tucked beneath my pallet by the main door of the quarters. The shortcut I intended to take wound behind the main washroom, a narrow path that threaded past the old copper pipes of the estate’s plumbing.It was a route I had memorized as a child, a hidden exit that led straight into the backyard.I slipped through the gap in the wall. The open air greeted me with freedom. Overhead, the moon hung heavy and full, a perfect silver disc, watching me and turning familiar shapes into mysterious silhouettes.I found a spot of cover behind the vegetable patch. My

VanessaTurns out Nina hadn’t been lying about the assignment. Or about the head maid’s growing impatience.I had delayed as long as I possibly could.I lingered in the laundry rooms, inventing tasks no one had asked me to do, folding linens that were already perfectly creased, organizing supplies that were already in order.Like a ghost, I tried to remain in the shadows where I belonged until the summons came.A maid found me. She delivered the order with a stiff tone that left no room for argument: I was to report upstairs to the Alpha’s wing immediately.So, I found myself there, walking hallways that smelled different than any other part of the estate. Fresh-cut flowers in crystal vases adorned the sills, replaced so regularly their scent never had a chance to fade.The silence here was different, too. It was a heavy silence. It was like stepping into another world entirely. I passed a carved wooden bench where a small group of upstairs maids had gathered near a closet. They were l

AlecThat evening, the four walls of my room began to close in, and the silence grew louder than the war in my head. I decided to meet Lucas and Gary at the pack’s main bar.When I stepped through the oak double doors, I gave a curt nod to the guards stationed at their usual post. The common room hushed as I entered.Dozens of heads turned, and voices lowered as murmured greetings filled the air. Some addressed me with the respectful formality of “Alpha,” others with the cautious reverence my title demanded.I didn’t return their greetings, not the way I usually would. On another night, I might have acknowledged someone by name, offered a firm clap on the shoulder, or thrown out a dry, witty remark to earn a few laughs.Tonight, I kept walking toward the back of the room, letting a single low grunt act as my only reply. It was enough. It said, not tonight.Someone near the bar whispered a question, just loud enough for my hearing to catch. “What’s wrong with the Alpha?” I didn’t turn o

VanessaAlec shifted. My eyes dropped immediately to the ground. I turned and bolted toward the nearest tree where I had dropped my dress and shawl. My hands shook as I fumbled with the fabric, pulling it over my head.I wasn’t supposed to care if he saw me naked. In our world, nudity meant little. Only a bond—this accursed soul tie—made it feel awkward. But with Alec, it burned.When I finally stepped out from behind the tree, my clothes hastily pulled on, he was already tugging his dark pants up over his hips. I tried not to feel anything. Not shame. Not heat. Not this stupid ache that bloomed in my stomach whenever he was near.“Is it a crime to shift in the garden now?” I folded my arms across my chest, trying to project a confidence I didn’t feel. “Or do you enjoy tackling unsuspecting wolves for amusement?”His eyes found mine.“This garden belongs to me, Hunter.”I scoffed bitterly. “Right. Like everything else in this territory you stole.”He chuckled, humorless. “I didn’t stea

VanessaThe next morning, Lady Maya sent for me. I frowned when the order came, uncertain what she could possibly want, but I obeyed.Her chambers smelled of sweet oils and crushed roses. Morning sunlight filtered through the drapes, painting the room in ribbons of gold.I stepped in barefoot and kept my eyes low, though my chest felt tight with something unwanted. It annoyed me. Why should I fear someone who, by the laws of the moon, was beneath me? Still, I wore my mask of submission.Maya sat at her vanity, brushing her golden curls. Her silk robe hung loosely at the shoulders, delicate pearls lining the collar.“Can you braid?” she asked, without turning.I nodded. “Yes, my lady.”“Do it,” she ordered.I stepped forward, took the comb from her, and gently gathered the ends of her hair.“You’re a quiet one,” Maya commented, watching me in the mirror.I didn’t respond. I patted the thick waves and began sectioning the hair.She laughed harshly.“You all smell the same,” she said. “Li