Chapter 1 – Claudia
The beating of my heart skyrockets as I watch him from the shadows. Hiding like a stalker is how low I’ve succumbed over the years.
The sight of my drool-worthy mate standing firm in a crowded room full of hungry female piranhas brings forth a rage I continuously have to battle with. The beautifully tailored clothes accentuate his well-built frame, leaving nothing to my imagination. Dark forest green eyes pierce the soul of every single female vying for his attention.
If they are lucky enough to be one of his dance partners, the over-exaggerated swooning makes me grit my teeth and roll my eyes at the same time.
How dare they brush their fingers along his sharp, chiseled jaw when I’m unable to do so?
Claws extend from my fingernails at the sight of a female trailing her hand down Caden’s tone chest. The boiling rage surges inside my heart and soul. Anabelle snarls her hatred for our mate and the female.
If only he could scent us and know we disapprove of his actions. Not surprisingly, Anabelle is the one who craves to rip the throat out of the female touching what is supposed to be ours.
Shaking my head at the ridiculous thought of me confronting one of Caden’s conquests, I retract my claws and bang my forehead against the stone pillar. There is no point when Caden doesn’t know who I am.
One appalling mistake nearly eight agonizing years ago not only turned my life upside down but also the whole Kingdom.
The coldness of the stone pillar does nothing to ease the burning heat of jealousy as it slithers its ugly hands down my spine.
Why can’t I be the one dancing with him? It should be me!
At the age of seventeen, my body and soul yearn for his touch. I’ve wondered how his calloused fingers tracing my arm, or lips trailing a line down my neck, would feel after a night of lovemaking. My dreams turn into nightmares. Instead of me being the one in his arms, it’s Jessica Lawerence, his current lover.
A single tear escapes, sliding down my cheek before a hand swipes along my skin to wipe it away. “Go to him, Claudia. Tell Caden who you are and how unbelievably remorseful you feel for running off all those years ago,” my brother Taylor whispers into my ear. He rests his head against mine as he’s done so many times since we were children.
“I can’t, Tay,” it’s a choked sob.
“He will forgive you in time, Claudia, you know this. We both know how dead his eyes look when he isn’t in the public’s eyes. He craves you just as much as you do him. Stop tormenting yourself with the past. It’s done and over with. Go to him.” Squeezing my shoulder, Taylor gives my temple a kiss before turning away, leaving me to my miserable thoughts.
The two years Taylor has on me definitely prove who the older sibling is. Not only does he protect me from self-destruction, but he also keeps bullies away.
Being born a servant isn’t as harsh as it once used to be, but it does have its demands. A kingdom fails if its servants disobey and disrupt the daily routine.
The King has never brought his cruel hand down upon my family’s heads, but I’ve seen it happen to others who’ve dared to betray King Luca and Queen Shantell.
On planet Zendar, we’ve been through plenty of wars. King’s love to start them when their egos have been bruised. It’s the reason why we aren’t thriving as much as we should be right now. King Luca’s great-grandfather whipped out the last reigning werewolf King beside himself. For over two hundred years, our kingdom has been rebuilding, breeding, and enjoying life.
I’ve only been alive for seventeen of those years, which means I haven’t seen any massive battles, only small squabbles between town folk and warriors. There was one attack that landed my best friend in the hospital from blood loss and the death of his mate, Anna.
Nikolai got his revenge on the wolves who killed his love at such a young age. The Savage Kingdom believes in an eye for an eye punishment. If you slaughter your mate, her family has the choice of either doing it themselves or having another exact revenge on the male.
Some believe it is an ugly form of justice, but it seems to work most of the time. Public killings usually make everyone squeamish to the point that they think twice about harming another.
Sighing, I pull away from the pillar and try to find Caden once more. It isn’t hard when every single female is vying for his attention. They believe that since he hasn’t mated and claimed me, he will be able to reproduce with them. Though they know the actual truth that I’m the only living female to carry his heirs, it doesn’t deter their thirsty mouths and greedy eyes.
I’m surprised no one has told me to bugger off from stalking their Prince tonight. It’s not like my family has to be royal servants. It’s an honor, or so says, my parents. For generations, my family has loyally served the Savages.
We make decent money, have room and board, and have our own doctors in case we become injured. Can’t have a sick werewolf serving food.
I’ve thought about leaving the castle and trying my hand at different jobs in town, but the thought of never seeing Caden ever again in person screws my plans over every single time.
Luckily, we can switch jobs if we ever get bored and there is an opening in another area. I’ve worked in the kitchen for a few years, preparing and serving meals. At the moment, my mother and I clean the royal bedchambers with a few other ladies. Mother and I have the disgusting honor of cleaning Caden’s plus his three guest rooms. When I asked to join a cleaning crew, I didn’t think I’d be sent here. Thankfully mother joined me; otherwise, I don’t know how I’d survive, as it’s a two-year minimum obligation.
The worst isn’t Caden’s bedchamber. It’s his three guest rooms. I don’t think I’ve ever had to actually make his bed since cleaning his rooms, because he physically sleeps in them. We change them so that dust doesn’t accumulate on top.
This means that when I step into his guest rooms, I have to lock my emotions away and think of the room as belonging to a random male of the court. It’s the only way I’ve survived and will until we can switch positions again.
I think the most challenging part of cleaning is taking the cum splattered bedsheets and tossing them down the laundry chute. The scent of Caden’s cum mixed with Jessica’s brings nightmares to me every night. It’s why I’m usually a broken mess by the time my brother, his best friend Theo, and my best friend Nik go for a run at night.
The first time I walked into one of the three guest rooms, I broke down sobbing in my mother’s arms. We sat for an ungodly amount of time as she cooed to me. I had heard he spent his nights with high-ranking women, but seeing the aftermath of those actions destroyed me. Nothing could have prepared what would happen to my soul.
Thankfully, I have an amazing family to help out when time is tight. Father and Taylor, even Theo, came to our rescue and helped finish up the room before Mother and I were caught taking too long.
After that first encounter, I made sure to lock every single emotion far within my mind. Only letting them out once I’ve finished my day’s workload. Mother isn’t offended when I put my headphones in and listen to music. She is just thankful I’m not trying to kill myself.
That is what my mornings have consisted of for the past year and a half: emptiness.
Afternoons are a bit livelier as I get to hang out with my best friend, Nikolai. Ten wonderful years of friendship have solidified our souls together. There isn’t a reason in the world where we will ever lie to each other. He knows my deadly secret, one that can possibly place him in jail for the rest of his life once my eighteenth birthday comes and goes.
Given that Nik is the royal commander of the world's largest military, his betrayal of the crown won't look good. It’s the reason why I told Nik when he first found out that I’d run away and not cause him any problems, but he swore he’d protect me and hold my secret until the time came that I found the courage to confront Caden.
I secretly pray Caden will not kill or sentence Nik to prison. I don’t think I’d ever be able to trust him if he did that.
Shifting my weight, I maneuver to a chair hidden by a plant. No one can see me unless they are staring directly at me.
Flashes of that horrible night come flying my way. It’s been nearly eight years since I felt the spark along my fingers. I can still picture everything that happened until I passed out in my brother’s arms from exhaustion.
Closing my eyes, my mind automatically takes me back to that night, the one that changed my life forever.
