Twelve

The kitchen was silent save for the steady hum of the fridge. Aella sat on one of the kitchen stools with her head leaning against the wall and her eyes closed. She was tired to the bone; she had been working tirelessly since the start of the day with little to no rest and food.

It had been one week since she was found unconscious at the pack's border, one week since she had been dragged from the numbing snow. It felt like ages, she thought. She'd been running from enemies, thinking she would be running towards a new and better life, only to end up as a scullery maid to a pompous alpha who was supposed to be her mate.

Well. look on the bright side. Her wolf spoke up. At least we'll get to see more of our mates.

Aella scowled in disgust and opened her eyes. "He might be my mate, but he has shown me that he's just as cruel as any other man I've ever met. You wouldn't expect his mate to be working in the kitchens, would you?"

She shook her head in disbelief as she stared down at her maid