ASYA.

After cleaning the whole place and saw it was best enough for her mother's likeness, I further proceeded to the kitchen to make meals

On my way, I saw two strangers riding on a horse and being ushered into the pack. I stood to see if I had seen them before but I haven't. Beta Rio welcomed them and exchanged pleasantries after they came down from the horse. I repacked my blonde hair in a ponytail and continue my way to the kitchen.

I was told that my father Alpha Caleb had inherited this pack from his father. It was said that Alpha Caleb was so smart from a little age and even fought and won many battles as young as fourteen years. Being the daughter of such a noble man, wasn't I supposed to be adore by all, but yet I was ridiculed by all. Even the girls in the pack who were not up to my standards abused and bullied me. Certainly my name must have meant bad luck or something seeing it was my mother that gave me.

Whatever it is, I hope the moon goddess had better plans for my life because I have suffered way too much. I just wanted to be in a place where I could have peace and live happily.

The way the pack was built was very nice. With a first glance into the pack, one was meant to love it. Flowers surrounded the whole pack beautifying it. And each room in the pack was decorated beautifully too except my own because as you know I was deemed a slave and had to live in a very dirty and unkept place. Even the Beta who were not biological related to my parents room were better then mine.

I didn't mind the fact that I was made to stay in a dirty room, I was contented and grateful because there was a place I could rest my head after each day's stressful work.

After entertaining the kitchen, I saw the whole kitchen was dirty with dirty plates all over the place. Gathering the plates together, I began to wash them. I was fast with the washing and further proceeded to cooking the meal.

We weren't much in the pack so that means I could make meals on time. I bought out all the necessary Ingredients and began to make the meal. Before long, the food was almost over.

I opened the pot of food and perceived the odour, and truth be told it was a very delicious aroma coming out. Despite the fact that I was maltreated, I was grateful that I was able to learn how to make better meal and did other chores at the young age. Something girls of my age could not achieve.

Just after covering back the pot of food, I began to hear voices coming not far from the kitchen.

"What could those people be talking about?

**

“Four million dollars is an awful lot of money for only a few months’ worth of work.”

Quiet voices filter into my ears from the kitchen where I was making meal. The kitchen was closed to my mother's room so I could hear any conversations coming from the living room.

I did not know why I had the courage to pause in my cooking listen to the conversations, hoping that my parents are not discussing about me.

Then… I hear my name, and I know that they are talking about me. Again. It was my mother's voice.

Was I in trouble again as usual.

“Asya is a fine young woman,” my mother is saying. “Any Alpha would be happy to have her.

“I know, I know,” my father agrees. “I definitely think it’s worth it for us to send her.”

An Alpha having me? I don’t know what this is about, but at least it’s not about a job.

The last time I caught my parents talking about me was right before I found out that they’d gotten me a job at the sewage treatment plant of the pack neighboring ours.

Not exactly the glamorous job the daughter of an Alpha would expect. But I’d taken it and worked there for a few years to help my family with their enormous debt.

“I know that it would be the answer to all of our prayers, Dorathy,” my father adds, before confessing, “But I’m worried she won’t be able to do what they want her to do. After all, our little Asya isn’t that bright. She can be a real idiot sometimes. She might not even know which hole to put it in.”

My father’s harsh words sting as I try to figure out what they are talking about. Do what?! I couldn’t help but think about all of the times he had called me names. Idiot isn’t that bad compared to some of the other things he’s called me. Still… It hurts, and I realize that tears are stinging my eyes.

Why can’t my parents just love me like the other kids I know who have parents that love them unconditionally?

My father, Alpha Caleb, and my mother, Luna Dorathy, are not very good at keeping the books up to date for the pack. That’s because the money isn’t there. And everyone knows they’ve dipped their hands into the coffers to pay for projects at home.

When our natural resources began to dry up a few years ago, my parents were no longer able to hide the fact that the pack was in massive debt–and that they’ve been the ones spending most of the money.

So… I’d done what I could to help them, and I would do it again now if I had to. My pack means so much to me, despite how awful my parents can be, someone has to take responsibility for saving the pack.

I kept listening, pretty confident that I wouldn’t get sent to a sewage treatment plant. I’d ended up getting fired for throwing up on the job too many times…. Go figure.

“This is different than last time!” My mother sounds annoyed, and even though I can’t see them through the crack in the doors where I am listening, I can practically see her rolling her eyes.

“She’s not going to throw up all over the Alphas!”

“You hope,” my dad says, and that catches me off guard. Before I can think too much my dad continues, “But there will surely be daughters of Alphas and Betas from all over the kingdom trying to get this position. Why in the world would they ever choose Asya? She’s hopeless!”

So this is about a job. I try not to frown at my father’s lack of faith in me. Even though I don’t even know exactly what they’re talking about.

Maybe he’s right to feel that way. Maybe I’m not capable of doing whatever it is they are talking about.

The idea that I’m about to embark on another awful job makes my stomach twist into knots. As unbearable as it is to live with my cruel parents, at least here, I know what to expect.

It’s not as if I can just leave. I am the Alpha’s daughter. If I left my home before I married, it would make everyone question what was going on here and destroy the pack’s reputation; my parents would never allow it.

But the way they are talking at the moment makes my palms sweaty and my head feel dizzy.

I wish I could’ve left a long time ago.

I need to know what it is before I form an opinion, but I’m too scared to move forward because I know I will be punished for eavesdropping.

I adjust slightly on my feet, and the floorboards squeak, which should’ve let them know that I was there, but they keep talking.

Our house is so old and rundown, they don’t even notice that I’m the one making the noise and not just the foundation settling–again.