Chapter 4 The Alpha's Slave

Laughter echoed from the hall, and I froze, my heart racing as Kaden and Lila entered, arm in arm. He looked at her with warmth in his eyes, his smile softening as she whispered something in his ear. Pain twisted in my chest, a cruel reminder of what should have been mine. But he didn’t even glance my way, his gaze sliding over me as if I were invisible. I kept my head down, my hands trembling as I continued scrubbing. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Lila’s laughter filled the room, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Oh, Ella,” she cooed, her eyes sparkling with malice. “You missed a spot.” She tipped her glass, letting the wine spill across the floor. “Clean it up.” I gritted my teeth, my fingers curling into fists. But I had no choice. I dipped the rag in the bucket and began scrubbing the spilled wine, my hands shaking with anger and humiliation. She had taken my place as Luna. She had stolen my mate, my life. And now, she was determined to break me completely. But no matter how much she tried to crush me, I wouldn’t give up. I would endure this humiliation, this pain, because deep down, I still believed in the Moon Goddess’s plan. I would survive. I would endure... And one day, I would make them pay. But, days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Each day was a new trial, a fresh round of humiliation and pain. I woke before dawn, my body aching from sleeping on the cold, hard floor. There were no blankets, no comforts—only the tattered mat and the drafty room that barely kept out the winter chill. My hands were raw and blistered from scrubbing floors, washing dishes, and cleaning up after the pack’s feasts. I was forbidden from eating with the pack, relegated to scraps after everyone else was finished. Sometimes, the kitchen maids would “forget” to leave me any food, and I would go hungry, my stomach twisting in pain. But the worst part wasn’t the physical pain. It was the constant humiliation. Lila made sure of that.... She took every opportunity to remind me of my fall from grace. I was forced to serve her during meals, pouring her wine and bringing her dishes as she laughed and flirted with Kaden. She would drape herself over him, whispering in his ear, her eyes gleaming with victory as she watched my every reaction. I learned to school my face into a mask of indifference, hiding the pain that tore through me each time I saw them together. But inside, my heart shattered over and over again. One morning, I was cleaning the grand staircase when Lila appeared, her voice ringing through the hall. “Ella!” I jumped, my heart racing as I hurried to her side. “Yes, Luna?” Her eyes narrowed, and she slapped me across the face, the sting burning my cheek. “Did I give you permission to speak?” I bowed my head, fighting back tears. “No, Luna.” She smirked, satisfied with my submission. “Good. Remember your place, slave.” She dropped her handkerchief on the floor, her lips curling in disgust. “Clean that up.” I knelt down, my fingers trembling as I picked up the delicate lace. It was spotless, but I knew better than to point that out. I reached for my rag, but Lila’s foot shot out, knocking the bucket over. Dirty water spilled across the floor, soaking my dress. I bit my lip, refusing to react as she laughed, her voice dripping with false concern. “Oh dear, how clumsy of me. Clean that up, too.” “Yes, Luna,” I whispered, dropping to my knees to scrub the floor. My fingers ached, my knees bruised from the hard marble, but I kept my head down, scrubbing until the floor gleamed once more. Lila watched me with satisfaction, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight. “You’re lucky I let you live,” she said coldly. “You should be grateful to serve me.” I kept my eyes on the floor, my hands trembling as anger surged through me. But I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t defend myself. One wrong word, one act of defiance, and I would be back in the dungeons—or worse. After she left, I sank back on my heels, my body trembling with exhaustion and rage. I wanted to fight back, to scream the truth for all to hear. But no one would believe me. Not when she had Kaden wrapped around her finger. Kaden... His name was a curse on my lips, a wound that refused to heal. Every day, I served him and his guests, forced to watch him smile and laugh with Lila, his arm wrapped around her waist as if she were his everything. I was nothing to him now. A slave. A shadow. A ghost of the girl he once knew. One evening, I was ordered to serve during a banquet. The hall was filled with pack members, their laughter and voices echoing off the walls. I moved through the crowd, keeping my head down as I refilled drinks and cleared plates. Lila’s voice rang out, sickeningly sweet. “Ella, more wine!” I hurried to her side, the bottle trembling in my hands as I poured her drink. She watched me with that familiar smirk, her fingers brushing against Kaden’s arm as she leaned into him. “Careful, Ella,” she cooed. “You wouldn’t want to spill anything on my dress.” My hand shook, the bottle tipping dangerously. I steadied myself, focusing on keeping my movements calm and steady. But Lila’s foot shot out, kicking my ankle just as I finished pouring. I stumbled, the wine spilling across her lap. Gasps echoed through the hall. Lila stood, her face twisted in fury. “You clumsy little fool!” She slapped me hard, the force knocking me to the ground.....