ELENA

"You lazy reject! What are you still doing in there? Don't tell me your still in bed?" A voice yelled out from outside my door.

I struggled as I got up from the hard, creaky wooden bed, its rough surface pressing uncomfortably against my back . From the dim light filtering through the thin curtains , I could tell it wasn't even up to six o'clock in the morning yet.

I felt a sharp pain as I rubbed my temples, trying to soothe the ache. The chill of the early morning air bit into my skin, making me to quickly put on my already thin, worn coat. I could feel the soft fabric scratch against my arms as I slipped it on. 

With a deep breath, I opened the door, only to see a she-wolf standing in front of me, almost blocking the door.

With a fierce look on her face, she pointed at me and snapped, "Today is the Alpha King's Ceremony. Have you finished all the duties assigned to you?"

I couldn't say anything so I just lowered my head. I had only slept for less than two hours because I spent the entire night cleaning up the ball room.

I was so tired and worked up.

"And why are you still standing there? Get out right now and finish your work!" she yelled again.

Then she glared at me, her eyes burning with contempt, before turning around and stomping away with heavy steps echoing through the narrow corridor. 

I sighed deeply and walked towards the laundry room, where a heap of clothes waiting to be ironed hanged on the rack.

Today was Nathan Reed's eighteenth birthday, the day he would be crowned Alpha at the Ceremony. It was my duty to prepare the clothes he was going to wear. 

By the time I finished ironing the clothes, the pale morning sun had risen, casting weak light through the gray clouds that surrounded the Shadow Crest Pack's territory all year-round. The breeze of the damp coldness seeped into my bones as I wrapped my tattered cotton-padded coat tightly around my body and carried a heavy bucket down to the banquet hall.

The hall was already set with many kinds of exquisite tableware, shining under the glittering chandeliers. It was said that after the Ceremony, all the guests would gather here to celebrate the new Alpha's enthronement.

 Just as I started wiping the steps with a rag, a sharp pain shot through my hand as a black stiletto heel pressed down on it. I looked up, startled, to see Eva, Nathan's Sister.

She wore a shimmering-fitting red gown, her blond hair curled in perfect waves. She looked every bit the part of a high-ranking pack member and should I say, beautiful.

"Please, Can you move aside," I said coldly, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Excuse me? Who are you to command me? Do you realize where you are?" Eva sneered, her voice dripping with disgust. "You don't even deserve to be around this four walls at all." 

With a swift kick, she knocked over the bucket of water.

"Eva! that's enough," I protested back, my anger flaring up as i glared at her.

"You can't be kidding me right now? How dare you! A mere omega and slave, yelling at me? How interesting!" Eva laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "Actually, you should know I have the ability to make you even more pissed."

She flipped her long curly hair and looked around as if searching for something. "Bring that over here," she ordered, signaling to the she-wolf at the other corner of the room. 

The she-wolf came over, struggling as she carried a bucket of foul-smelling water, and poured it on the stairs in front of me. The stench hit me instantly, making my stomach churn.

I watched the scene with cold eyes, a pile of hatred bubbling within me waiting to outburst. Eva crossed her arms over her chest, a vicious smile on her face. She was obviously waiting to see me break down.

"Are you done?" I asked , my face emotionless as I picked up the rag immediately to clean the mess she had made. My nonchalant reaction seemed to irritate her as I noticed the corners of her mouth twitch with disappointment.

"You are just a sly witch," she snorted scornfully and walked away, the click-clack of her high heels echoing on the floor. She was finally gone.

I couldn't help it anymore, I let go of the tears I had been holding back. Now, I missed my mother even more. I wasn't born to be treated this way. My mother was once the Beta of this pack. She was capable and loved by the pack, known to be gentle but tough and powerful.

I never had a father, as far as I could remember. When I was young, I tried to ask her about my father. However, she was extremely restrained or bashful when it came to him. And as time went by, I stopped asking in order not to offend her or bring back bitter memories.

I was happy, having her was already okay for me. But fate always loved to play jokes on the good ones. My mother was framed for killing the former Alpha and Luna. And without proper investigation, she was executed and I became an orphan.

The entire pack fueled all the anger at me, blaming me for the loss of their Alpha and Luna.As a result, they made me the lowest slave in the pack.

I hated it, I hated it all.

I wiped my tears and continued to clean up. I had to finish cleaning up the place before the guests arrived, otherwise, I would suffer more than just humiliation and starvation.

"Oh, dear Elena, remember you're not alone," a voice said gently and I recognized it instantly—it was my wolf, Silver.

Silver?" I asked, my heart lifting slightly at the sound of her comforting presence. It had been a while my wolf spoke to me.

"Yes, it's me," Silver responded. "You need to stay strong. Your mate is near and very soon you will have another by your side."

"But I'm almost nineteen years old, and I still haven't met anyone yet,not even being rejected or accepted." I said, sounding a little depressed.

Sometimes I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if my mother had a mate to accompany her, at least she might have lived a much happier life with someone to protect her.

"My dear, the pack is too small. Your mate could even be somewhere else," Silver comforted me softly before she added, "What If we run away."

"Certainly not, at least not now. I still haven't proven my mother's innocence yet." I can never let it go, not after what I have gone through.

So before I leave this pack, I must find the real Murderers and clear her name.