Evaline:
The night was long and restless. Every ti I closed my eyes, I saw his face. His taunting smirk, his cruel laughter, the sickening way he looked at as if he owned . My body still rembered the pain he had inflicted, the humiliation he had made endure.
Fortunately, morning ca soon enough. The thin walls of the servant quarters did little to block the early morning noise. I had barely slept, but there was no ti to rest. I knew that if I didn’t get up now, I would be punished again.
I sat up, ignoring the sharp pain in my lower back. My muscles were protesting, but I had no choice. I forced myself to my feet, reaching for my servant uniform. Once I got dressed, I headed to start my day.
By the ti I had finished my morning chores - scrubbing floors, polishing silverware, and fetching water from the well - my arms were on fire, and my back was throbbing.
The other maids worked alongside , but they acted as if I didn’t exist. No one spoke to . No one acknowledged my presence unless it was to bark an order or sneer in my direction.
I was the enemy’s daughter. And now, I was nothing more than a maid.
I had just finished sweeping the back corridors when Sera stord into the hall, her eyes blazing with frustration. I would have loved to avoid her wrath, but I was never the lucky one.
"You! Useless girl!" she snapped.
I stilled, gripping the broom tightly. "Yes, Head Maid?"
"The western wing is a ss," she growled. "The guards brought in mud last night, and none of the other girls want to clean it up. So guess who gets the honor?"
Of course. .
I lowered my gaze and nodded. "I’ll get to it right away."
"Make sure it’s spotless," she snapped before marching off, muttering under her breath.
I sighed and turned toward the western wing.
It was one of the lesser-used areas of the mansion, mainly occupied by higher-ranking warriors and visiting rogues. I hadn’t been sent there before, and a part of wondered if Sera was purposely making my life harder.
Not that it mattered. I had no choice but to obey.
With my cleaning supplies in hand, I trudged toward the western wing. The hallway was eerily quiet as the usual hum of servants was absent. A thick layer of dried mud was covering the floor, saring into dark streaks by careless boots.
I knelt down, scrubbing at the stains. The rough bristles of the brush dug into my palm, but I kept going, biting my lip against the discomfort.
Minutes stretched into an hour. Then two.
By the ti I reached the end of the hall, my fingers were raw, and my arms felt like lead. I leaned back, wiping sweat from my brow.
That’s when I heard it.
Footsteps - slow, asured, and deliberate.
A shiver crawled down my spine as I realized that soone was coming. I scrambled to my feet just as a figure rounded the corner.
He was tall, powerful, and unmistakably commanding.
My heart skipped a beat as my eyes landed on him.
Alpha King Kieran.
The second-born of the Rogue Alpha Kings.
Unlike Lucian, whose presence was cold and suffocating, or Oscar, who radiated controlled arrogance, Kieran carried an air of quiet intensity.
He wasn’t as outwardly intimidating as his brothers, but there was sothing about him that made the air feel heavier. His features were sharp but not cruel, and his shoulder-length blonde hair was slightly tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it absentmindedly.
His deep green eyes locked onto mine. And for a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Then his gaze flickered to the bucket of dirty water at my feet. "You missed a spot."
His voice was calm. Smooth. But there was sothing underneath it... a quiet amusent, a test.
I stiffened, gripping the cloth in my hands. "I was just about to finish."
He tilted his head slightly, as if studying . "So, you are the infamous princess-turned-maid."
The way he said it made my stomach twist. I had no idea why they addressed as ’Princess’ when I was just an Alpha’s daughter. I’m no royalty like them.
"I was never a princess," I said before I could stop myself.
His brows lifted slightly. "No?"
I swallowed hard, lowering my gaze. "No."
Silence stretched between us. Then, without warning, he crouched down, leveling his gaze with mine. The proximity sent a wave of unease through . He was close. Too close.
"Strange," he murmured. "I expected you to be more... bitter."
I didn’t answer. Because I wasn’t bitter. I was just tired.
His gaze flickered to my hands, to the raw skin on my fingers. "They are working you hard."
"It’s what I deserve, isn’t it?" I said, keeping my voice even.
His eyes darkened slightly. "You think so?"
I didn’t know how to answer that.
I had been punished my entire life. First by my father, then by my stepmother, my stepsiblings, by the pack that never wanted , and then by my fated mate.
And now by them... the Alpha Rogue Kings.
Kieran exhaled, standing back to his full height. "You should take care of your hands," he said simply before stepping past .
The mont he was gone, I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
I didn’t know what just happened. But one thing was certain - eting Kieran was different.
And for so weird reason - that terrified more than anything.
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