Mira's Point of View

I'd barely slept an hour when Lady Hilda, the woman in charge of the Omegas, dragged me out of my small bed. I groaned in anger, remembering how hard I'd worked the night before, helping prepare everything for Prince Xavier, the Alpha's son, who was about to assume the position of Alpha King. I'd done so many tasks that I was exhausted and hadn't made it to my room until late, only to be woken up again before I'd even had a chance to rest. I was furious.

"Hey, girl! Get up! How dare you sleep like some princess?" she barked angrily, and I wondered what was bothering her so much. I was the one who should be furious. "I suppose you've forgotten your rank, haven't you? Otherwise, what gives you the nerve to keep sleeping on such an important day as this?" she yelled at the top of her lungs, never tiring of shrieking. I had no idea why she was used to yelling like that. I got out of bed slowly, and, as expected, that only made her more tense. Suddenly, she grabbed my hair, and I let out a yelp of pain. "You little trash! Take this outfit to the Alpha's room. It's what he'll wear for the coronation, and I'm warning you, if anything goes wrong, you'll be punished accordingly. Now get out of here!" she shrieked, throwing the expensive clothes at me without a care in the world.

It was when my bedroom door closed that reality hit me. Did I have to deliver the Alpha's clothes? Why? I was confused. If the Alpha's clothes had to be delivered, it shouldn't be me. Everyone knew that. I couldn't understand why it had to be me, of all people, taking them, especially on a day like this. Had the woman in charge forgotten how much he despised me? Why hadn't she sent someone else?

Anyway, I had no choice but to do as I was ordered. All I needed to do was pray that Prince Xavier would be in a good mood and that I wouldn't have any trouble.

I was walking down the hallway when I saw Zadar coming out of the Alpha's room, and I panicked. Without wasting a second, I quickly hid behind a pillar so he wouldn't see me. He resented me for no reason, even when my father was still alive, and I knew that running into him that morning with the look on his face would only cause a scene I didn't want.

I watched him walk down the corridor, pass in front of me, and noticed how impeccably dressed he was, as if he were the one who should be the Alpha. Even his clothes seemed more elegant than those of the Prince I was carrying. However, he was only the man temporarily occupying the position of Alpha since the old Alpha and the Moon died.

I sighed as I watched him walk away with measured steps, relieved I'd been able to stop him. I left my hiding place and headed to the Prince's room, my heart pounding faster and faster, knowing I could get into trouble for the way Zadar had left the chamber.

Just as I had predicted, I began to hear metallic sounds coming from inside the room as I approached. That's when I heard his raspy voice:

—How dare Zadar speak to me like that? Who does he think he is, addressing me as if I were a child?

The sounds of movement coming from inside the room made me tremble with fear. Xavier wasn't in a good mood, and that definitely wasn't going to be good for me.

Holding the clothes in my hands, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I was the one who had to deliver his coronation robes, and there was no way to escape him. When I reached the door, I took another deep breath, swallowed, murmured a few words of prayer, and knocked.

There was no answer. I had no choice but to go in.

"The Alpha Ceremony is about to begin. Please change your clothes now," I said softly as I took slow steps toward him, lowering my head in the hope of not angering him.

"What are you doing here, you disgusting thing?" I wasn't surprised by his words, so I let him say whatever he wanted while I tried to apologize and hand him the clothes.

But he seemed completely out of control. He grabbed my hair—the same hair everyone else kept pulling—and though I tried to bear the pain, I felt something entirely different. An electric current suddenly coursed through my veins, and my she-wolf stirred within me as I held my breath, astonished. Then I understood.

My partner!

"No, no. We can't be partners!" he growled as I couldn't help but gasp.

"My partner?" I asked, not addressing anyone in particular, as I knelt down, looking at him with wide eyes.

How could we be colleagues? Prince Xavier? My worst nightmare, my colleague? It couldn't be. How was it possible?

I knew it was impossible when he started rejecting me, and I don't know where I got the courage to accept the rejection. I just knew we couldn't be partners. I accepted his rejection.

The surprise on his face when I did it was obvious. I could feel the tension of his anger as he looked at me with danger.

"How dare you accept my rejection, you filthy slave?" he roared, and his voice echoed throughout the room.

—I wouldn't want to be paired with someone like you—

He interrupted me abruptly.

"Do you dare speak to me like that? Did you just raise your voice to me? To an Alpha?" He spoke with such authority that I trembled from head to toe.

-I'm sorry-

"Oh! Bravo! The little idiot has grown wings. Now you can answer me, huh?" He pressed his lips together as he moved closer to me. I felt my lips tremble when he was so near. "Have you forgotten that I'm your Alpha now? Even your father in his grave would respect me," he spat, and I couldn't take it anymore. I had enough of my father. Every single time. That innocent man hadn't done anything to him. All he did was look after the pack, and in return, he only received a painful death.

"Please, never disrespect my father again," I said harshly, unable to believe my own courage, but I knew it came from the anger of rejection and resentment.

"How dare you speak to an Alpha like that?" he growled, but I was already more prepared.

"An Alpha, you say? You're just a tool, nothing more. I wouldn't be so excited if I were you," I spat, avoiding eye contact.

A malicious laugh escaped him as he muttered:

—What insolence! Towards me, Xavier? Have you forgotten who you're talking to?

I hated his arrogance. I huffed as I got up from the floor.

—Yes, you. You, Prince Xavier. I don't mean to disrespect you, but enough of my father and all this hatred.

Her gaze was threatening, but also full of surprise. She wouldn't have expected such audacity from me. I myself was more surprised by my outburst.

"Just keep in mind that you've bitten off more than you can chew. If you only knew what you were playing with..." he growled.

As she turned to walk away, I wasn't finished yet.