Chapter 1

I am Chloe. I am the daughter of Alpha John and Mary Beth. I was currently making appetizers for guests that arrived early. I was a part of the staff as usual for events like this. Alpha John would introduce his new mate and her son Justin to the pack today. 

"Chloe, you better get moving. Guests are already arriving." Alpha John called to me. "Yes, Alpha." I am not allowed to call him dad, father, or any semblance we are related. I thought my dad loved me and my mom. However, after her death, he wanted nothing to do with me. I wonder if it was all a show. They were fated mates, at least that is what Mother told me. I really wonder about that sometimes. 

I walked into the dining room to place the appetizers and the first round of food on the table. Sometimes, I am amazed at what I can create with food. Too bad I can't eat it. The last time I tried to eat something without permission; I was five years old. It was just after Mom had passed. I went to grab some rolls and butter off the table. I climbed up to my usual seat and the maid handed them to me. Dad saw me eating and threw me in the dungeon. He said that I was being punished. I wasn't sure what I did wrong. I never saw our housemaid after that. I don't know if she was banished or if she was killed. 

After setting up the dining room with appetizers, I began to work on dinner. I was dirty from the flour. I made dinner rolls. They were always my favorite thing to make. I made enough to feed a human army. I know it will be gone by the time I am allowed to eat anything. I cleaned up my area and made my way to my room if you could call it that. When I was young I had a beautiful room on the top floor with Mom and Dad. When Mom died I was demoted to the dungeon. Yes, the dungeon. I didn't even get a semi-large closet. They "renovated" one of the cells for me. So the farthest cell that had two walls was mine. Dad instructed the warriors to renovate one of the walls. They made it into a bathroom. They install a shower, toilet, and sink. I am lucky the water is connected to the main water and not someone's drain. Dad used to remind me all the time when I was younger. 

I don't get paid for any work I do and I am not allowed to have a job. So when it comes to essentials; I am allowed to have a bar of soap, a bottle of two-in-one shampoo, a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a towel, and a wash rag to last for the whole month. If I need to wash clothes, I am allowed to have laundry detergent, in abundance, and I have to keep up the appearance that I have some civility. I finished school under my mother's maiden name. I know how to act. I have to wash everything in my shower. They do not want me putting my hand-me-downs and handmade clothes in the washer and dryer that I have to use once a week for everyone else's laundry. I have snuck my stuff in there sometimes, but Moon Goddess forbid if I ever got caught.

Inside my "room", I had a bed. I was thrown out by one of the maids. One of the newly mated couples got a lot of blood on one side. They threw it down here with me. It took me weeks to get the smell out. I took so much laundry soap. That is not monitored as much as the other items are. I have a large pile of sheets, lots of thread, a pair of scissors, and an old sewing machine. They just threw everything out from other people who stayed here. I am allowed to take "trash". So I look to upcycle anything I can. 

I begin to work on a pair of pants and a shirt when I am interrupted by Rob. 

"Hey, the Alpha is looking for you." 

"No, he isn't, he would have mind-linked me. Nice try."

"Was trying to make you jump. What are you working on?"

"Clothes, like always. Why are you down here?"

"I am putting my name on the board. I need a release. Dealing with bloody rogues all day. It is after the party though." He smiled. I was internally rolling with disgust. Dad permitted them to do what they liked with me as long as it followed the rules. One, they had to sign up on a board. No impromptu visits. Two, it can be something that will hinder my work other than bruises and scars. Three, condoms always have to be used. There will be no offspring from me, ever. Four, no one is to mark me as their mate. They will be banished and I will be killed. These rules are not limited to just the guys either. If one of the females thinks I am flirting with her man; they are also allowed to sign up on the board. Usually, their sign-ups are for punishments. Before I was eighteen, it was just for punishments, now it is what it is.

"Good evening friends, family, and treasured guest. I bring you here to introduce my new wife and your Luna of the Sapphire Heart Pack, Julie."

I could hear my father in the dining room. He was using his Alpha voice to command everyone's attention. I looked toward the door of my room and saw that Rob was no longer standing there. He seems to have fled up to the main house.

"Here is our son and your future Alpha, Justin. Last, I hope our guests from the Ruby Mountain Pack and the Onyx Moon Pack are receiving our Sapphire Heart hospitality." Applause begins. That is my cue to change my clothes and begin the next round of appetizers and food. The ladies are going to be ruthless tonight. Every eligible lady is going to fight for a chance to be the future Luna. I quickly showered and changed into a black pencil skirt and a button-up skirt. The buttons didn't match but at least they were the same size.

"Excuse me, Everybody. What are we doing here? Let's party!"

I walked in and everybody was dancing. I walked over to the dining table and began to clear the tables. I grabbed all the empty plates and glasses. They will be hungry again shortly. I cleared everything away and began to do the dishes. I began to prepare round two of dinner. One of the other waiters came by and started grabbing the food I had prepared. From, mashed potatoes, to roast, and cornbread, it all went. The first round was a nice sit-down dinner with the nice china. The next round of dishes should be all paper plates. However, there is always one that wants to use the china.

I began to leave the kitchen when I heard a good amount of yelling. It was Justin cracking open kegs of beer. They had everything from light beer to lagers. Beer to werewolves is like drinking water for humans. Then I smelled it. I was like rain in the woods. This was bad. I knew what that meant. I ran as fast as I could to my room and locked the door. I needed to smell like the dungeon maybe HE won't find me here. I heard banging from the dungeon door. I could only hope that it didn't open.