Chapter 5: A Fucking Maid!?

E M B E R

He lets go of me and turns around to leave. I don't intend to let my glare off him when he infuriates me further by looking over and locking eyes with me, "You brought it on yourself, so don't scowl at me."

What the heck!

Rayne swoons over his husky voice while I clench my fists at his smirk as I watch him take off, closing the door behind him.

I gape at the closed door and then move, only to kick the door hard. I lean against it and groan. Ugh! What does he think of himself? I want to rip that smirk, no, his entire existence, off from this world. I run a hand through my hair and let out a string of swear words, "What a dingbat! Dipshit! Jerk! Son of a bitch!"

I narrow my eyes and look over as I huff in annoyance, "Piss off."

How could you act like that, Ember? He is our — Rayne finds a way to slip in through my reverie, but I groan and block my wolf for the rest of the night as I move back toward the bed. I notice what a humble-looking room it is but then, who cares? I roll my eyes and scoff as I flop down on the bed, wondering what to do next.

Wait.

I sit up straight and cross-legged.

I should be connecting myself with Dex or Flora, or anyone from Crimson Shadow. I tried for hours but could feel how weak I currently am. I need to rest to regain my powers, but I am too anxious yet too pissed that I don't think I can find sleep tonight.

I flop back on the bed and stare at the ceiling, letting out a pathetic sigh. Rayne, like an annoying bee, manages to slip and swoon over that face who threatened me and apparently gave me no choice but to live here.

Ugh, why does that jerk have to be my mate, and why is my wolf already head over heels for Duke, his wolf?

With my eyes drooping, I find myself slipping in and out of consciousness before my eyes shut close and sleep comes over me.

The morning sun rays kiss me awake a few hours later, and as I grimace, I twist and turn on the other side and pull the sheets to cover me when there is a knock on the door. I groan and snuggle closer, but another sharp knock brings me back to reality, and my eyes flutter open as I groan while trying to adjust to the light in the room.

Woah! I can't believe I actually fell asleep last night.

I take a peek and turn, narrowing my eyes at the door and wondering now who would be out there this early as yesterday's events jog into my mind.

Oh, wait. What if that jerk comes back?

It would be so cool if our mate came to greet us.

I roll my eyes and grunt. Do not start this again early morning, Rayne.

With hugs and kisses... Rayne grins.

Ugh, I prefer breakfast in bed, but never from him. A groan escapes my lips as I ignore my wolf and unhurriedly drag myself out of bed. I walk toward the door to unlock the latch and open it ajar cautiously, only to find a middle-aged woman in a black dress with a white collar and a sleek, neat bun.

I raise my eyebrow in confusion while she looks blankly at me, "Yes?"

"Ms Emmy, right?"

"Uh, sure." I shrug nonchalantly when the woman brings out a bag in my sight and shoves it into my arms.

I frown. "What is this?"

"I have been informed about the new member of the housekeeping staff. Go freshen up and meet me in the kitchen in five minutes," she states.

"Housekeeping?" my frown deepens, but she doesn't answer and instead gives me a deadpan look in silence.

In fact, she doesn't answer me at all.

"Work as a slave or die." Our mate's words ring in my mind as I close the door in her face and turn around tightly, clutching the bag in my arm.

I glance down and frown.

Rayne is confused too.

I unchain the bag only to let it go and gasp at the content. What the heck is this?

Oh, no! Was our mate serious about what he was saying last night? Does he want us to work as a — I pick the dress up with two fingers in disgust and grimace. "Has he lost his mind or what? Gotta tell you, Rayne, he has some loose screws in his head."

Don't talk about our mate like that, Ember.

I scoff and roll my eyes.

Yeah, right! Our mate has threatened us and even locked us in a maid's quarters. I look up and run a hand through my hair when a sharp knock on the door interrupts me, and then the lady calls out, "Are you ready, Ms Emmy?"

Oh.

I straighten up and clear my throat, "Almost."

With that, I go to the bathroom to freshen up and change. Ugh!

Okay!

***

This is not what I signed up for. It's been more than an hour since Fiona, the head housekeeper, left me with some kitchen work. I fling the cloth and stomp on it in utter annoyance. I glance down at the sink and huff, "Why the heck am I working here? Why should I clean these dishes?"

For my entire life, ever have I done this?

Not.

Because I was busy focusing on learning how to peacefully rule and lead a pack, be ruthless with enemies and be considerate to people who seem kind. I was learning to be the strongest.

Have you ever heard of an Alpha working as a sickly human maid?

So what am I really doing here?

Wait! What the fuck is wrong with that guy? For someone who claims me as his, shouldn't he try to persuade and pamper me instead of making me work as a maid?

But you said you didn't want — I roll my eyes and scoff.

Just because I don't want to have a mate, especially not one like him, call me a hypocrite or whatever, but never have I been mistreated and insulted like this before. I humourlessly scoff and run a hand through my hair, only to snatch the headband off. Then, grimacing, I glance and crumple it in my fist.

A fucking maid!?

May I add, in a freaking maid costume?

He seems like a sick bastard like Humbert, who makes people dress like Lolita. Ugh! I groan and try to adjust the dress. The bust is a lot tighter for me. I mean, it has a freaking corset in it.

What a kinky pervert he is, and why am I even wearing something like this?

It's really sick!

I scowl and narrow my eyes, looking around at how lavishly decorated the mansion is, with carpeted hallways, large ostentatious chandeliers, and a grand staircase. I do live in a big house, but not this extravagant.

Frustratingly groaning, I huff and grab a liquid dishwasher only to pour all of it on a sponge at the same time the water gushes out of the tap when somebody startles me, "Hey!" startled, I gasp and stumble as I turn my head to find a blonde tilting her head with a pleasant smile directed at me, "Whatcha doing?"

Who is she now?

I frown. "Uh, cleaning?"

As if I am.

Ha!

"Oh." she nods and then straightens up and clicks her tongue, "Oh, wait, you must be the new girl hired by the Alpha himself, right?"

Ignoring my wolf's elatedness, I almost scowl and maintain a poker face as I answer the girl, "I guess so. Uh, yeah?"

She reacts me a cheerful expression, yet it fades as she exclaims, "Oh, my! You're beautiful."

Huh, what? I stare at her in a daze and surprise.

No, she is the pretty one with naturally wavy blonde hair, brown eyes, full lips, and pale light skin with a dusting of freckles across her cheeks and nose. She is a few inches shorter than me.

The girl nods and grins at me before her grin fades when I notice her look down, and a frown forms on her face. I frown, too and then turn to see what's up, only to watch a mountain of foam into the sink.

"Fuck!" wide-eyed, I murmur and rush to put down an empty bottle, but before I can turn off the faucet, she leans over to do it first and sighs as I embarrassingly groan under my breath.

"Have you never done this?" She asks curiously, amused with her gleaming brown eyes. I look up and calmly shrug at her, "What do you think?" before looking away. Silence takes over for a moment when I sense her move, and then there is a slight nudge, making me look up and raise my eyebrow.

She snatches the sponge from me and grins, "It's okay! I can do this for you."

"Uh, but Fiona assigned me—" I mumble, and she waves a hand, "Ha, don't worry about that! She won't say anything to me."

Privileged much?

I frown and clear my throat, asking, "But why would you?"

She flips her hair into a bun and looks at me, "Because I can see us becoming friends."

Excuse me? I raise my eyebrows when she continues, "Also, I like to do the chores."

"Uh, okay!" I mumble. It's weird but cool. I mean, who cares, right? I don't have to do the dishes then. I almost grin and thank her when she coughs up, "Oh, how about you go and work upstairs instead? First floor? Left hallway?"

Huh? I blink and thoughtfully gape at her energetic self.

Well, I can do that, at least, right?

"Okay!"

Ugh!

She calls me out of my reverie, "Anyway, I'm Ivory. What are you called?" I frown for a moment as she coughs up again, "What's your name, I mean?"

Oh.

I blurt out, "Uh, Emmy."

"Wow! That's a pretty name! she exclaims, and I slowly nod as she states, "I really hope that we become great friends, Emmy." the name makes me cringe.

I turn to her and scratch my head with a wary smile, "Uh, thanks!?"

Ivory beams and turns around to do the dishes while I take some cleaning supplies from the closet and excuse myself from the kitchen, only to halt when his scent blows past my nose. I frown and take a look around before my eyes land on him.

Mate.

Rayne begins to act lovestruck, which annoys me further.

I clench the bucket handle in my fist and grit, glaring in disgust.