Chapter 1
Today was Julian's twenty-second birthday, six years without finding a mate.
He opened his eyes and immediately felt the ache of having slept all night on the cold, hard floor of his tiny room.
From the small window at the top of his wall, he could see the first rays of the sun trickling in.
Which meant... Oh no.
He was late.
His eyes widened in fear.
He quickly looked around for his clothes and put them on. They were the same old, torn, raggedy trousers and gray t-shirt he'd been wearing for years.
He wore his slippers while trying to gather his hair into a messy bun.
When he left his quarters, everywhere was still quiet, but he knew by the sun coming out that he had little time before Mistress Tonia woke up, and he hadn't even started his chores.
A shiver passed through him when he imagined how she would punish him if he didn't finish his work.
He practically ran to get his working materials and start his usual chores. He could hopefully get the work done before she awoke.
An hour later, he was diligently scrubbing the kitchen floors when he heard Mistress Tonia.
"You are quite slow today, runt?" she said. Her voice was calm, and she sounded almost amused.
But Julian shivered and his heart raced with fear.
"Maybe you've decided that..." she said, as if she were musing aloud, "you are too good to work for the hospitality that this pack offers you... no... has offered one like you."
He shook his head, even though he had his back to her. "No, Mistress, I'm so sorry," he replied to her.
"When you're done here, come meet me for your punishment," she said. "You need to do better. If not, you can just meet the fate of your wretched mother. Do you understand me?"
His voice shook, his eyes ached with tears, and his throat was painful with the way he had to control his voice to say,
"I understand, Mistress."
"Good," she replied and turned and left.
When her footsteps faded away, the brush slipped from Julian's hands and tears ran down his face.
Small sobs fought their way from his throat.
All alone, he whispered, "Why? Goddess, what did I do to deserve this?"
As usual, there was no answer.
He wiped the tears away and swallowed. He held the brush and continued to scrub.
Five hours later, Julian's hands were raw and pruny, and his muscles ached with exertion.
He walked slowly to Mistress Tonia's office. From experience, he knew it was better to deliver himself up for punishment than for her to come looking for him.
Minutes later, he knocked at the door. He took a deep breath.
"I'm here for my punishment, Miss," he said.
There was muffled laughter inside, and he suddenly felt anxiety pool in his stomach. Did he really have such bad luck?
A voice with mirth answered, "Come in," and broke off into giggles.
Yes, he really had terrible luck. So bad that he must be cursed by the Goddess herself.
He steeled himself and walked in.
Inside the big office, Miss Tonia was actually absent. There was only Vanessa, the Alpha's daughter, and her best friend Cecilia, their Beta's daughter.
"Their words can only harm me if I give them power," Julian muttered under his breath, steeling himself.
"Oh, look, look," Vanessa said. "Who do we have here?" Her voice was derisive.
"The pack runt," Cecilia answered immediately, and they burst into laughter together.
They looked at him with such disgust that he almost took a step back from the weight of their gaze.
"Can't he greet?" Cecilia said. "Runt, don't you know pack hierarchy? We are your betters, and you better respect us."
"Yes," Vanessa cut in immediately. "It seems like today the trash of the pack has no respect."
"I'm sorry," he said, even as bile rose up in his throat. "Greetings, Vanessa and Cecilia."
Vanessa stood up, her face suddenly twisting into something very malicious. Suddenly, she reached out and slapped him.
The sound of her palm hitting his cheek seemed to echo in the room.
"Kneel, runt," she said.
He kept his eyes closed as he knelt down.
"Imagine, Vanessa, he even dared address us by our real names," Cecilia said. He understood his wrong then.
"Greet again," Vanessa said slowly.
"I'm sorry," he muttered. Even though he uttered words of apology, his body language was defiant.
"Imagine, this runt dares...?"
Suddenly, they were interrupted. The door opened and Mistress Tonia burst in, looking a bit frazzled.
"Vanessa, Cecilia," she said, "you are just the people I wanted to see."
"Tonia, can you imagine what this runt just—" Vanessa was cut off by Mistress Tonia.
"Leave him, he will be punished," she said without even looking at him. "I have important news for you girls."
Her tone made interest gleam in their eyes, while Julian was just happy to be forgotten in the corner.
"The Alpha just informed me that the visit from the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack is happening today."
Julian's ear was almost damaged by the intensity of the squeal Vanessa and Cecilia's vocal cords created.
"What?" Cecilia said. "I thought that was next week!"
"I don't know," Mistress Tonia replied, "but for some reason it's gonna be today, so you guys need to be prepared. If you catch his eye then..."
She didn't need to continue.
Julian watched them, lost in their own fantasy.
He knew of the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack, the most powerful and feared pack in all the land. Their Alpha was rumored to have been mateless for an even longer time than Julian.
A lot of unmated girls fantasized about being his mate. Even with the stories of how Ruthless and wicked the Alpha was.
Rumours whispering that he was nicknamed Demon lord for very gruesome reasons.
He didn't know a lot more about this Red Moon Pack or their Alpha, except they were apparently a big deal.
He just hoped that with the distraction of this visit, he would have peace…some peace.
Vanessa and Cecilia may wish to meet this so called Alpha but he didn't. He would carefully avoid the alpha. Powerful people usually hated him.
They continued to plot and scheme regarding the new visit, while Julian ignored the pain in his knees.
Soon after, Vanessa and Cecilia left the office.
Then Mistress Tonia snarled at him.
"Thank your stars I'm busy now," she said. "Scram, I'll deal with you later."
He thanked her hastily and left.
He also whispered some thanks under his breath to that mysterious Red Moon Alpha. He had no idea this Alpha would soon change his life forever.