One

"Where is that crazy slut?!"

Thunderous steps echoed as Violet, the beta's sister and a spoiled brat, stormed out of her room.

I already knew I was in trouble. Unlike the Beta who was nice, Violet was a rotten egg who wanted everything done for her and always threw tantrums when things don't go her way.

I was assigned to serve her along with my normal duties, and it has been hell.

Goddess, what did I do this time?

"In the kitchen," Bruce, a fellow pack maid like me, snickered, and he and his friends laughed, reveling in the situation.

I ignored them, already used to their antics by now. It was a norm to bully me, even among us omegas.

Violet stormed into the kitchen, and the moment her eyes landed on me, I knew what was coming.

"Stupid bitch! How dare you?!" A hard slap landed on my face, the stinging pain echoing in the room. I stumbled back, my hand instinctively flying to my cheek.

Laughter and cheers erupted from the maids in the room. I didn't have time to recover as she struck me over and over.

I lost my balance and fell onto the ground. I curled into a protective ball, my arms futilely trying to shield myself from her kicks.

"Useless, pathetic omega," she spat, punctuating each word with a strike. "You think you can just exist here? You're nothing!"

Tears welled up in my eyes, but out of practice, I blinked them back, enduring the pain. I had endured this treatment for far too long. This always happened in the pack house. As the weakest and poorest rank of the pack, an omega, my duty was to serve my superiors. But unlike other omegas, I was the weakest. My father had died on the war front due to the Alpha King's rule, and since then, my life had only worsened.

The only person who loved me was my mother, who was on her deathbed.

Everyone else despised me, including my fellow omegas, and especially Violet.

She grabbed my hair tightly, and I winced at the pain in my scalp. "What do you expect me to wear to the Moon Ball tonight? You ruin everything!"

She gave me another slap, and I stifled a groan. I had forgotten she needed that gown tonight. Tonight was the annual Moon Ball, the day when all mateless wolves of eligible age gathered to find their mate, the one made for them by the Moon Goddess.

I was already of age, and tonight I was going to find my mate. And hopefully, he would save me from this hellhole.

"You know the only reason the Alpha king hasnt met his mate yet is because I wasn't of age. Now that I am, Im sure i belong to him because the moon Goddess created me for him." Violet adjusted her hair with the biggest smile on her face.

Bruce cheered her on, "No one is more perfect for him than you. A perfect stong wolf meant for a King."

"We were made for each other. How do you expect me to accept my mating to the Alpha King now?" She whined, and Bruce comforted her.

"She's just jealous she's not as beautiful as you. She doesn't want the Alpha King to accept you."

I rolled my eyes at the comment. "I don't care about that. And I'm not jealous," I spat, getting off the floor despite the agonizing pain I felt in every muscle.

Violet's eyes blazed with fury as she towered over me, her perfectly manicured nails digging into my skin. "You dare talk back to me, you worthless piece of trash? Everyone knows you are jealous."

I chuckled, "I don't need to be. I will find my own mate tonight, and finally be out of all of your lives."

Violet's eyes lit with amusement, and every other maid in the kitchen roared with laughter.

"You think the Moon Goddess made you someone's mate? Don't tell me you think that. Even if you do have a mate, he wouldn't accept a low omega slut like you." Violet taunted, her voice dripping with disdain.

I slowly got to my feet, my eyes locked onto hers with a determination I hadn't shown before. "You don't know anything about me, Violet. And you certainly don't control my fate."

Her anger flared, and she took a threatening step closer. "You're delusional if you think some prince charming is going to sweep you off your feet. Face it, you're destined to be nothing more than a servant for the rest of your pathetic life."

"No," I said strongly, maintaining eye contact with her. "I will find my mate and he will love me! I will show you, Violet. I will show all of you!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face.

Violet and Bruce snickered, "Okay then, Naomi. I can't wait to see the look on your face when you realize I was right. See you tonight." She pushed me out of the kitchen, and I landed in a bucket of dirty water.

Everyone laughed and walked past me, and no one even offered to help.

I'll prove them all wrong. My mate will love me.

I will not be a lowly slave again.

Drenched and humiliated, I pulled myself up from the bucket of dirty water, my resolve unshaken despite the jeers and laughter that echoed in the kitchen. I wiped the muck from my face and clothes, feeling a burning determination deep within me.

The annual moon ball was my chance, my one glimmer of hope that shone through the relentless darkness of my life. If there was ever a time for the fates to smile upon me, it had to be tonight. I couldn't let Violet and her cruel mockery undermine my belief in the possibility of finding love and escaping this living nightmare.

With trembling hands, I finished my chores for the day, my thoughts consumed by the upcoming ball.

We servants were not allowed to enjoy the ball but to cater to the needs of the higher ranked wolves.I wore the best dress I could find, a faded and worn garment that had once belonged to my mother. It was tattered, but it was the only dress I had for such an event.

The hall was just like I imagined, adorned with twinkling lights and beautiful decorations.

I headed to my station for the night, but I put my head up and made eye contact, expecting to feel a spark. None yet, but the night was still young.

"Naomi." The head maid called. "Refill the drinks on the Alpha king's table. Don't screw this up, wretched whore."

I nodded, getting ready to serve when I realised what was happening. I had never set my eyes on the Alpha king but he was the one person I hated the most. He was responsible for the death of my father.

There was no way I could ever respect such a person.

I took the bottle of wine and made my way to the Alpha king's table, my heart pounding with fear and anger. The room seemed to close in around me as I approached, and the chatter and laughter of the guests Alphas faded into the background. All I could focus on was the man seated at the head of the table, a crown on his head and an aura of power that was impossible to ignore.

He was the reason my father was gone, the reason my life had become a never-ending nightmare. I had heard stories of his ruthlessness, and they all painted a grim picture of the man who now sat before me.

I reached the table, I tried to keep my emotions in check, reminding myself of the consequences if I were to let my hatred show. I was just a servant, and he was the Alpha king.

"Your graces." I greeted all the Alphas present. The Alpha King turned towards me and I gasped, the bottle falling from my hand.

He was the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on, his pink full lips and piercing grey eyes. His hair silky and soft and I felt the urge to run my hands through his hair.

My heart thundered as my normally dormant wolf muttered something.

Then it became clearer.

"Mate?" I squeaked, and every Alpha’s gaze turned to me. The King's eyes were filled with disgust, and the other Alphas barked in laughter, making jest of me.

"Poor girl, must have had too much wine. Who is she calling mate."

The Alpha king sneered, "Pack the bottle you broke, Omega." His rich baritone voice was cold and empty, noting like I thought my nate would sound like.

I felt my shock wear off as I realised, the Alpha king was my mate?

Of all wolves, the Alpha king? The man I hated the most? Was this a cruel joke?

"Y-you are my mate?" I stuttered, tears falling from my eyes.

"Stop acting like a fool, omega."

"Mate?" An Alpha barked. "An omega as queen? That could never happen."

"It has never happened." The other Alphas agreed.

The Alpha's cold eyes roamed over my body and I shivered. "I would never accept a wretched omega as my mate."

I felt searing pain in my chest and I doubled over.

This was unfair. I could never live like this.

"I'm not wretched!" I screamed, getting the attention of all the Alphas.

"You don't know me!" I continued, feeling all the anger and the pain at once. The Alpha King simply stared at me with those cold eyes.

"I would rather take another wolf as my queen, not a weak omega." He declared and I realised what was coming next.

He opened his lips but before he could utter those words, I beat him to it. I would rather reject my enemy that have him reject me.

"I would rather die than be your mate!"

Then I did something I never dreamt I would do.

"I, Omega Naomi, daughter of Omega Felix and Mary, reject you, Alpha King Seth."

I rejected my mate.