Chapter 1 – Human at the Gate
Cold wind rushed through the tall trees as Hallia Delan stood before the massive iron gates of Mayari pack.Shepulled her thin coat tighter around her body. Her hands tightened around the worn strap of her bag as she stared up at the towering iron gates. Beyond them stood the infamous Mayari Manor – home to the most powerful Alpha in the region.
Hallia swallowed hard and spoke to herself.
" This it! This is your last chance."
Her savings were gone. The small town she came from had nothing left to offer except people who she thought her persons. Hers - she chuckled. Yeah her friends who just drop her like a hot potato. Though am a very sweet potato, a very broke hot potato humoring herself.
Behind those gates lived creatures most humans only whispered about – wolves who ruled their territory with power and loyalty. And at the top of them all was one man.
Alpha Orion Rigel – the most feared Alpha next to their King.
A name spoken with equal part fear and respect.
She had heard the rumors. The Alpha whose Luna betrayed and cheated on him. The man whose rage had nearly torn apart an entire rival pack. A wolf who is nearly feral. And she was about to ask for a job in his home.
"You need this," she reminded herself.
After months of struggling to survive, this was the only opportunity left.
When she heard Mayari pack was hiring staff for the manor – cleaners, cooks, maids, - she didn't hesitate. Even if t meant working for wolves. Humans rarely entered pack territory willingly. And wolves rarely trusted human. But desperation had a way of silencing fear.Hallia lifted her hand and pressed the intercom beside the gate. A loud buzz echoed. Seconds later the iron gates slowly opened.
A tall guard stepped forward, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the fading light.
" State your business" he said
" HalliaDelan,"she said softly, trying not to stare at his unnatural eyes. " I'm here to apply for the maid position."
The guard studied her for a moment.
" Human,"
It wasn't a question.
Hallia nodded quietly. The wolf studied her like she was a strange creature that had wandered into the wrong forest. Most human would have turned and run under that stare. But she stayed still. Finally, he stepped aside.
" Follow me."
_ _ _ _ _ _
The moment they stepped past the gates, she felt it. A strange pressure in the air. Like the Manor itself was watching her.
Mayari Manor looked less like less a home and more like a fortress.Dark stone walls rose three stories highand imposing. Large windows glowed warmly against the night sky. Hallia's boots echoed softly on the gravel floor surface as she was led inside.
The manor doors opened, revealing polished marble floors, towering ceilings, and the quiet movements of wolves – some are walking, others are mingling through the halls.
Every pair of eyes turned toward her as the wind brings her scent in.
Curious.
Suspicious.
Some openly hostile.
" Why is there a human here?" someone pretended to whisper but loudly spoken." She reeks of weakness."
Every one laughed." Oh is she's planning to work here? Probably won't last a week." A man says.
Hallia kept her stare ahead, never looking directly to anyone.
" Just get the job" she whispered to herself.
The guard stopped in front of large wooden doors.
" Wait here," he said and she nodded.
When the doors closed, silence swallowed the room. Her heart beat faster. Hallia clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking.A job, food, a roof over your head.That what she all needed...for now.
The doors suddenly_______ again.
It seemed the air grow colder. She felt a powerful presence. Creaking of a chair, someone standing up and footfalls.
Her heart beat faster and she slightly bowed down to show respect.Scuffed brown leather boots with thick iron-ringed soles that clicked firmly against the marble floors stop a few feet from her.
Hallia looked up….. and froze.
Tall.Broad-shouldered.Powerful. An Alpha.
Alpha Orion Rigel
He was over six feet, with commanding presence that seemed to dominate. His dark hair was slightly messy,as if he had run his hand through it many times. Eyes – glowing, flecks of gold within a brown iris, surrounded by a dark limbal ring but slightly red-toned.
A russet whiskey pair of eyes that were now fixed directly on her. Her brows furrowed.
" Is it because he is nearly feral?" she thought.
Those eye held something deeper than power and authority.
Pain
Rage
And a loneliness so heavy it filled the room.
Halliacan't stop but stare.
This was the Alpha whose Luna cheated on him, not just betrayed their mate bond but also sold the very foundation of every werewolf pack –the loyalty and the responsibility a Luna should have– to protect, nurture and embrace her pack like their mother.
Everyone had heard the story.
His mate had cheated with another Alpha from another pack and ran away with the money just after a day of their mating ceremony. Since then, Alpha Orion had broken the bond and refuse to choose another Luna.
The bitterness around him was almost visible.
His knitted his brows and I finally felt how his gaze was so cold and unreadable.
" So." he said. " You're the human asking to work in my manor." His deep voice carried quiet authority.
Hallianodded quickly and straightened slightly.
" Yes Alpha."
His gaze sharpened slightly at the title and studied her like a puzzle. He had expected many things when the guard's told him a human had arrived and applying to work in his pack. Most humans would trembled under that stare. He expected for fear but thishuman – this woman standing in front of him looked calm, his nostril flared and he scentedher.His wolf stirred faintly beneath his skin.
Nervous, yes.
Amarok, his wolf looked at her and says " She's curious too."
Strange.
Very strange for his wolf to partake in a conversation him as human do. " Why do you seem this human interests you?"he said to his wolf. Amarok just stared and said " Her scent awakened me."
Alpha Orion slowly walk around her, observing.
" Human's don't usually seek work inside the pack territory." He said.
" I need the job."Her answer was simple. Honest. Something about the answer caught his attention.One of his eyebrows lifted slightly.
No begging.
No flattery.
Interesting.
"You understand where you are?"
She nodded.
"And you still want to work here? What makes you think you can work among wolves." He asked. She hesitated a second then nodded before answering.
" Yes, Alpha."" I clean well,"she said softly." And I mind my own business."
The Alpha stopped in front of her again. His eyes narrowed slightly. Most women tried to impress him. She- wolves or human women tried to charm him. But this human simply stood there. Quiet. Steady. His wolf shifted again. Annoyed but interested.He shifted restlessly. Not recognition, not exactly. Which was impossible. She's a Human.
" You're impossible." He said to Amarok, who only huffed.. He pushed the feeling away. After what his ex-mate had done to him. Alpha Orion had made a promise to himself. He would never trust a woman again. Especially not a fragile human woman.
Finally he spoke. " You're hired. You startstomorrow "
She blinked in surprise. " R- really?"
For a brief moment,something almost like amusement crossed Alpha Orion's face.
Then it disappeared. He spoke again coldly.
" You understand this." He said stepping closer.The power radiating from him made the air feel thick." My pack comes first. My rules are absolute. If you cause trouble, you leave."
" I won't cause trouble but I expect to have the right to defend myself if I was attacked physically or verbally?"Hallia asked.
"Of course. You have the same rights just like my pack members as long as you worked here."
The Alpha turned away as if the decision meant nothing. He nodded to the guard and spoke to her again " Marco here will assist you tomorrow. Give him you're documents and he also will guide you to your quarters." He looked to the guard and told him to bring me to the Head Housekeeper.
Alpha Orion turned toward the doorand paused. He looked back. "I apologize I didn't get your name."
" Hallia, Alpha. Hallia Delan," she bowed and said " Thank you for hiring me, you literally save me. I am grateful Alpha Orion." I looked up and saw him stiffened to what she said. He nodded and added coldly. " Stay out of trouble. Marco assist her until you transferred her to the Housekeeper." The door closed behind him.
" Yes Alpha." He replied and bow his head, then Marco led her outside the gate.
Once outside, Hallia exhaled the breath she had been holding, and smiled. She looked up the sky and saw that the moon is a waning crescent. She blew a kiss and says her thanks.
She had a job and promise herself that she will survive. Everyone she knew abandoned her. This is her start over.
What she didn't know – was that her arrival had already disturbed something deep within the pack. Was that her presence had just awakened something inside the Alpha that had been silent since his mate's betrayal.
And wolves were terrible at ignoring their instincts.
Far away, in the oldest chamber of Mayari Manor, an ancient prophecy had just begun to awaken.
And it spoke of one thing.
A human who will softened the blackened heart of an Alpha.
A human who would become Luna.