Sophia! your entire life cannot pay for this suit! those were the words spoken to me by the guest at my step sister's melindas' engagement party where I served as a maid. Orphaned! wolfless! mateless! at age nineteen, what happens when I discover my step sisters' fiancé is my fated mate? How will I navigate the shocking revelation, when I discover Melinda is pregnant for my husband? with the discovery of other secrets, leaving a sting of betrayal that led to my death, causing me to reborn into the body of a powerful warrior-Luna Valerie.
Chapter one: The Engagement
"Sophia wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, sitting just outside the kitchen after finishing her chores. The cold tile floor pressed against her legs, but it was a sensation she was used to like everything else in this house, she had grown accustomed to discomfort."
"Sophia, are you done plating the desserts? The head maid called out to me with her commanding
voice as my head bowed looking at the floor, shifting my weight on both legs.
Yes! ma'am Morticia, I responded with a low voice.
"Good," Morticia barked, addressing the other maids.
"Everyone, listen up! Tonight, we are serving the guests of the Blue Crescent Pack. If any of you make the madam or the guests angry, you all will feel my wrath."
Her eyes, cold and judging, landed squarely on Sophia.
"I'll spare no one. Especially you, she snapped!"
Sophia bit her lip and nodded, hiding the wave of hurt that threatened to surface. She had become the family's servant after her father's death, and the maids made it their duty to remind her of it daily.
"Sophia, you'll be in charge of serving the guests and clearing the dishes. Don't mess up. Eunice and Martha will assist you. Yes, I understand.
Ruth you will be in charge of washing the plates and cleaning the kitchen, Grace and Jade ensure the guest are served tea before they retire to their homes!
Yes madam, they all chorused after nodding! As they returned back to their work gossiping and giggling by the side."
At nineteen, I am an orphan with no mate or wolf, her mind wandering. If only my father were still alive... I thought. longing for those brief years of happiness after my mother died giving birth to me. I closed my eyes, letting the noise of the bustling kitchen fade.
I just want to feel a small moment of peace, but the sharp voice of my stepmother broke through my thoughts.
"So-phi-a get down here!" It was my stepmother, a woman whose very presence filled the air with tension.
Sophia winced, feeling the familiar pang of dread. She didn't even have to see her to know that her stepmother was likely frowning, ready to unleash wrath.
"I am coming, she responded! taking a deep breath, as I stepped carefully down the creaky stairs, each step felt like a countdown, leading me closer to doom.
The laughter and chatter from the hall grew louder as I approached. The engagement party was in full swing, celebrating my stepsister Melinda's upcoming marriage to Alpha Alexandro, the most powerful and desired Alpha in the realm.
That should've been my life, Sophia thought, a lump forming in her throat. She was supposed to be the first daughter of the family, the one everyone adored. Instead, she is nothing but an outcast.
Serve everyone! My stepmother commanded as soon as I came in sight.
I noticed my stepsister glowing in a stunning black dress that accentuated her every curve, red lipstick and a matching red heeled stilettoes.
Why does she get everything? Sophia thought, bitterness creeping into her heart. Her fingers trembled as she carried the refreshments, trying to remain invisible.
"Move faster!" my stepmother snapped, her voice slicing through Sophia's thoughts. Yes mother, Sophia muttered.
Hey you! How many times will I tell you? stop calling me mother, you cursed child!"
Sophia's heart tightened at the word cursed. It wasn't the first time she'd heard it, but it never failed to sting.
Cursed! That was the label that followed her since birth. No matter what she did, she couldn't change her fate.
As she placed the plates of refreshments down, her mind raced.
Hey! she heard Melinda call to her, bring me fresh juice now! Don't you have hands? I responded, daring her, you just wait when I am Luna, I'll teach you a lesson she said through gritted teeth while I walked past her.
I couldn't help but notice how the guests whispered, their eyes following my every move.
"Who is she? One of the guest asked whispering to his partner, oh! you don't know her?
"No, he responded looking confused, she is the cursed daughter of late Alpha Dimitris," said another beside them. "Killed her own mother during childbirth. Oh! She is actually beautiful."
The words felt like blows to her chest, swallowing the lump in my throat, I kept my head down and pushed forward.
But just as I was about to set down the final plate, my foot caught on the edge of the rug.
Before I could react, the tray of soup tumbled from my hands, splashing across the floor and onto one of the guests.
Gasps! echoed through the room.
"Oh no, no, no!" Sophia whispered, horror flooding her as she dropped to her knees, please sir, let me clean up the mess, she said holding a napkin.
The man she had spilled on had horror etched on his face as he looked from his suit to her.
"Do you know how much this suit cost?" he screamed. "Your entire life wouldn't even pay for it!"
Sophia's face flushed in embarrassment as she fumbled for a napkin, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm so sorry, sir, please-"
"Enough!"my stepmother's voice vibrated as she walked to the scene.
Smack! As her hands landed across my face, it came hard with the effect exploding across my cheek.
"You worthless girl! Do you want to ruin my daughter's big day? Is it my fault that you can't find a mate?"
As I held my face, tears trickling down my face, unable to defend myself as I stood helplessly, leave here already! She barked as I turned to leave, the tears blurring my vision.
Suddenly, amidst the humiliation and chaos it hit my nose like rose petals mixed with lavender, where's that coming from?
I thought in my head, as I turned to see him striding with careful steps, towering heights and dark hair, he was the kind of man who could steal any woman's breath away.
Wow! I felt my heart race as our eyes met across the room. For a fleeting moment, the noise around me faded, and it was just the two of us, caught in an unspoken connection.
Mate! I muttered under my breath.
"My breath caught in my throat. How could this be happening? Alpha Alexandro was supposed to marry Melinda. It was all arranged. How could the Moon Goddess pair me, the cursed one, with him?
"Sophia, what are you doing, stirring lost like that?" my stepmother's voice snapped me out of the trance.
"Get back to work! she ordered."
I still couldn't move, I remained rooted to the spot, my mind filled with so much disbelief. How can I be mated to him?
My eyes flickered to Alexandro again, who had just taken his place near the head of the table. His gaze had not left me.
As I turned on my heel, fleeing to my room, with my mind spinning. No, no, no. This isn't happening. He's Melinda's husband. It's all wrong.I muttered, holding my head.
Eunice, my only friend in the house, rushed over. "Sophia, are you okay?" her voice filled with concern as she touched me from behind.
"No, I am not! Sophia replied, shaking her head sideways, what do I do? Tell me what happened to you, Eunice nudged.
"Alpha Alexandro... she started to say stuttering, what happened to the alpha? Eunice, asked impatiently...He's my mate!"
Eunice's eyes widened in shock as she closed her mouth with both hands before whispering.
"What?! How is that possible?"
"I don't know. But I felt it," Sophia whispered, fear creeping in. "I want him... but Melinda... she'll kill me if she finds out."
Eunice's face paled. "You can't tell anyone, Sophia. You need to stay away from him.
Yes, I know! she said looking away from her friend.
"it's the right thing to do, Sophia murmured."
"Come! Holding her hands, let's go back to serving the guest before Madam Morticia notices we are missing; else we will be finished! "
"Eunice said to her while damping her eyes with a napkin."
"Good! now wear a smile across your face."
"Before Sophia could respond, Eunice already dragged her out of the room as they made their way to the hall, occasionally giving her a glare to behave herself."
Just as they began packing plates, the clinking of a spoon against a wine glass drew everyone's attention.
"Alpha Alexandro stood, his tall figure commanding the space as all eyes turned to him."
"Before we conclude the evening, I have an announcement," he began, his voice deep, vibrating the room.
"Sophia's heart pounded in her chest, feeling the weight of the room shift as everyone waited for his words. Melinda smiled confidently, clearly expecting him to reaffirm their engagement."
But then Alexandro's gaze flicked back to Sophia, and a shiver ran down her spine.
"I, Alpha Alexandro of the Green crescent pack, declare that the Moon Goddess has chosen my mate."
The room fell silent.
Melinda's smile faltered.
"And it is not who you think."
Sophia's breath hitched in her throat.
"My mate is Sophia Dimitris."
The room erupted into chaos.
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