Chapter 1 The Servant

[Claire’s Point-of-View]

“Get out of the way! ”

A loud, angry yell almost made me throw the basket I was holding.

“Get out of the way! King Alpha is coming! ”

Marie rolled her eyes in exasperation and stuck her tongue out as if mocking the one who was yelling. She mimicked him with a silly voice.

“Stop it; they might see you,” I warned her, and I patted her hand when she attempted to pick one more apple to buy. “Enough. We already have enough supply for a week.”

“I’m sorry, I just grow hungry when I hear that irritating horn sound every time the King Alpha takes this path towards the House of Sacrifice.” Marie winced when I spanked her shoulder, a warning to keep her voice down, but she kept talking. “Many people are famished in this part of his territory, and yet he just sits in his chair, lifted by those poor men, and brings the finest lamb in the whole kingdom to the House of Sacrifice to burn to a crisp.”

“Shhh, shut your mouth, silly girl. Do you want your tongue to be cut? That lamb is required as a sacrifice for a successful hunt this season.”

My best friend Marie grimaced, disagreeing with me, and continued looking at the succulent fruits displayed. It is a typical day in the market, and we are in charge of buying the supplies needed in preparation for the coming Bloody Moon and the event we call ‘The Choosing’.

The head maidservant, Marina Foller, a strict old woman but a loving mother-like figure to me, adopted me. She’s working under the care of the Rutherford family, the Royal Blooded Werewolf Race.

After the war between the Claw and Fang Clan, a gang of rogue werewolves attacked villages ten years ago. Both of my parents were slain in front of me, and I was lucky enough to hide under the floor, inside a secret small bunker that my father made as storage for our winter supplies.

When he found out the gang attacked our small village, he quickly hid me under it and sat on top of the bunker just so the assailants wouldn’t notice the space between the floors. I could still remember how my parents' blood flowed down on me, bathing me with it. The memory is still fresh in my brain like it just happened yesterday. And every time it emerged in my mind, my body couldn’t stop trembling in fear.

We’re both working as maidservants in the household of the great landlord of this part of the kingdom’s territory. My landlord’s name was Ralph Rutherford, the very handsome, kind, and sweet best friend and ally of the Alpha King, Edison Tyrell. Although Edison is known as a barbaric, heartless, and cold Alpha, Ralph is his total opposite.

He was loved by the people inside his dominion, and he was respected by many. He’s intelligent and never failed his people even in this poorest part of the kingdom. He visits the elders and the orphans and supports their needs. He was a very generous, kind-hearted official ready to serve his people. Just thinking about him makes me smile already.

I didn’t know how to explain this, but I assumed Ralph also had a feeling of affection for me every time he looked me in the eyes. I saw how his eyes grew bright when we saw each other pass the corridor, and he helped me whenever there was something for me to carry. Tonight, we’ll see each other again in the middle of the maze of his garden, telling me there’s something he wants to tell me about that place. Whatever it was, I believed it was something important, and I couldn’t wait to see him.

“You’re smiling like an idiot, Claire. You’re scaring me.” Marie narrowed her eyes on me as if thinking hard about what made me smile from ear to ear. She took a large bite of the apple she was holding.

“It’s nothing. I just remembered something important,” I said to her, taking the apple from her hand. She gave me a sharp look when I took a huge bite too.

The day is busy as usual. Attending to the needs of the higher members of the household, cleaning, helping in the kitchen, and tending to and feeding the horses, pigs, and goats. Helping with the laundry and keeping Lord Ralph’s bedchamber clean, making sure that the pillowcases and bed sheets are spotless and fresh. I always put yellow chrysanthemum flowers on his bedside table.

I gaze at the king-sized bed in front of me, imagining myself on top of it with Lord Ralph’s arms around me. The idea suddenly made me feel nervous and fuzzy, and I felt that strange tickling sensation in my groin. It get elated when I imagine him kissing or embracing me.

Blushing and embarrassed, I sat at the side of the bed, smoothing it with my small hands. I daydream about him a lot, and I can’t hide the fact that I’ve been in love with him since we were just kids. When I was seven and still training to do the housework in this mansion, I remember the first time we met—the way he smiled at me while offering me his favorite toy.

It was a small wooden horse, and up until now, I still have it in the drawer of my room. It’s the only treasure that I possess from the person I love. He was such a good kid back then. He never treated me differently and always asked me to play with him. I was always scolded by Miss Marina not to get too close to him. She always reminded me that I was a servant and not a playmate to the young master, but Lord Ralph always defended me, saying I was his favorite playmate.

There was a loud creak on the door that was opened in haste, and I almost jumped when I saw old maid Marina, her forehead full of creases as she frowned when she found me sitting on the Lord’s bed.

“What are you doing, you fool? Go and help in the kitchen! ”She scolded me and waved her hand toward the outside of the door furiously, wanting me to get out.

“I'm sorry, I am just having a short rest,” I explained, intimidated by her upset look. I scurried across the room and quickly went outside to run again, heading to the kitchen.

I thought of looking back if old maid Marina was still glaring at me, and I was startled when I bumped into someone, squeezing myself against the impact.

Raising my head to someone who I accidentally ran into, my eyes widened with terror as I stared at the last person I ever wanted to meet.

“What are you looking at? ”The King Alpha’s brows were in a deep frown, looking down at me as if I were just a mere rat in his eyes.

Oh my god, I am so dead.