CHAPTER O1
Emma's POV
My name is Emma Winters, or it used to be. Now I am just Emma.
My father gave me to a pack that is two hundred miles from where I was born. Father said I was weak and would never have a mate.
Getting out of bed, I shower and then got dressed in the uniform I was given.
I put my long wavy black hair that has streaked with silver up in a ponytail.
I look at myself in the mirror. My skin is pale. I am 5'6 "and very underweight. There was a knock at my bedroom door. I opened it, and it was leigh.
“Hurry up, we are going to be late” she says to me and grabs my hand.
We run down to the kitchen. As we enter the cook looks at us and then the clock. Leigh and I go right to work doing prep for breakfast. ALPHA Samual and luna Rachel are good to us. but make no mistake, we will be punished if we get in trouble.
I finish my part of the breakfast prep and run to the laundry. I spend 3 hours in laundry, and then I run back to the kitchen and do lunch and dinner prep. Only after the whole pack fed do leigh and I get to eat. There is usually not much left. Then we have to do all the dishes before we can go to our rooms.
I’m exhausted and change into my night gown and climb into bed. I am only 16 years old. I have thought about running away, but if I get caught, I will be punished. There is a knock at my door it is late. Who could it be. There was a knock again.
“Emma get up, Alpha Samual wants to see you now.” The warrior yells through the door.
“Coming”
I get up, throwing on sweats and a hoodie, I go out in the hall and follow the warrior. Why does Alpha Samual want to see me? I am worried. What did I do wrong. The warrior knocks on Alpha Samuels office door.
“Send her In” Alpha Samuel says to the warrior. “then wait for her.”
I go into his office, and the warrior closes the door. I lower my head alpha. “You wanted to see me.”
“Yes, Emma” he says. “You were late again this morning.”
“Yes, alpha, but only two minutes.” I tell him.
“Interesting, he says I was told you were 15 minutes late. He looks at me I can see he is mad.
“No, alpha you can ask leigh it was only 2 minutes.
“Who do I believe Emma is the cook who has been here her whole life or a cast out whose own pack did not want?”
“Alpha, I would not lie to you.”
“Emma enough. I’m going to give you a warning this time because your father is a friend. As of right now, you will work cleaning the floors of the pack house and the guest room. Do not talk to anyone. Just do your job.”
“Yes,” Alpha, I said. Is that all.
“NO! Emma, we have important guests coming I will send you a better uniform, you are to make sure they have what they need. Understood?”
“Yes, Alpha”, I said. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
“Emma, I really don’t understand your father. I was glad to take you in, but I’m not happy with him.”
“Oh,” I said still keeping my head down.
"He is an Alpha, and he threw away his only child to live as a servant. I could not see you going somewhere else. Your new Luna loves you and wants to take care of you.
“Alpha Samual, can I ask a question, please?”
“What is you question Emma” he looks at me annoyed. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, getting ready to be yelled at.
“Alpha Samuel, why can't I train with everyone else?
“You are not a pack member Emma you are just hired help.” He says sternly.
“Yes, alpha, " I said with tears in my eye. I tried not to cry, but they did not consider me part of their pack. I was still alone.
“You may go; Alpha told me.
“Thank you alpha” I said and went out the guard escorted me back to my room.
I laid awake the rest of the night. I could not sleep. I tried to think of what I was going to do, but I did not want to stay where I was considered an out sider. I would make enough money and leave I thought, but I had to figure out how the border patrols were tight. We were getting a lot of rouge attacks.
Someone knocked on my door. I looked at the clock it was 5 am. I opened the door, and an elderly lady stood with the guard.
“This is your uniform dress and come down you will eat in the kitchen then I will show you around up in the guest area and what is expected of you.”
“Thank you.” I said, “I will just change.”
10 minutes later I was down in the kitchen in my new uniform eating the cook snarled at me. Leigh was shocked she brought me tea
“what happen” she asked quietly.
I told her we would talk after work she smiled and passed me some extra fruit for later. When I was done eating the elderly woman told me to follow her and we went to the second floor the old woman showed me where everything was kept. she took me to a finished room telling me all the guest room should look like this one. I nodded my head. I got my cleaning cart and mop and bucket and stared washing floors and dusting. After I cleaned the second floor, I started on the stairs. I got frustrated that people kept walking on the wet floors, making them dirty again.
I was finished by 2 pm. I went to find the older lady to find out what else I needed to do.
“You are done for the day and make sure I was not late for dinner.” And she walked away. I went back to my room, and I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. I was tried from not sleeping the night before. I don’t know how long I slept when I heard a knock at my door. I could tell it was Leigh. I opened the door for her to come in.
“you missed dinner,” she told me.
I was shocked. “What time is it?” I asked as she came in with a tray.
“It is almost 8 pm” leigh told me. Leigh looked at me.
“Why did you not work in the kitchen today?” she asked.
I told her about getting called to Alpha Samual’s office and what he said.
“I don’t like it.” leigh said I have heard bad things."
I sat on my bed listening to her. “Like what” I asked.
“The guest will abuse you.” Leigh said.