Chapter 1 You must appear before the alpha!

Lyra's POV.

My hands held the rag tight as I wiped the tiles clean. My back hurts as I crouched down, scrubbing the floor like the world was ending.

Sweat beaded on my forehead, dripping to the floor.

“You can do this!” I paused for a while to catch my breath and wipe the sweat on my face.

That's how it had been for years. I had lived in the Alpha's estate, working endlessly as a maid.

Other maids moved around the house, talking and gossiping like they've always done.

“Did you hear?” Someone whispered. “There will be a mating ceremony for the Alpha tomorrow”

I paused, tilting my head just enough to see their faces and hear them clearly.

“Of course.” The other replied. “The kitchen won't stop making preparations. Everywhere is getting decorated as we speak”

I turned my gaze back to the floor to continue the cleaning but what they said still bothered me.

Who was the alpha mating? He had stayed alone for years after the death of his wife and after his son left to live abroad. But he will be mating tomorrow?

I stood up and straightened my back. Then I took the rag and the bowl I was cleaning with then walked out to the laundry corner of the estate.

I changed the water and washed the rag, ready to go clean the rooms up the stairs.

Many others were gossiping outside, talking about the mating ceremony nonstop.

“I heard the Alpha heir would also arrive tomorrow!” One said.

They were all so excited to hear about the mating ceremony and the arrival of the Alpha heir.

The evening was filled with gossip and the news of the mating ceremony circulating round the estate.

I needed to be done quickly. I had received a message that my mother wanted to see me.

The head maid came to me, her gaze darkened. “Prepare the Alpha heir's room. The heir will be back to take his place” Then she left.

I had never seen him before but the people who had stayed here longer knew him. Every girl here crushes on him even when they've never set their eyes on him before. Every girl except me.

A few moments later, I was done with cleaning. I changed my dress and headed to my mother's place.

As I headed to the house, walking with my slightly tattered clothes and worn out shoes, I recalled when Mother told me I'd have to stop living with her. She sent me away to go work as a maid in the estate but I couldn't bring myself to hate her.

“Mother, I'm here” I entered the house and walked through the sitting room, walking through the hallway that led to her room.

She sat in front of a mirror, a small smile on her face.

I blinked my eyes, seeing everything that surrounded her. There were jewelry in gold and silvers, dresses made with silk. Every damn thing, expensive and luxurious things I had never seen before in this house ever since I was born.

My lips parted in surprise. “Where did you get all these?” My voice was raised, slightly in panic.

Mother didn't turn to look at me. Instead, our gazes locked in the mirror.

“I'll be getting mated tomorrow,” she said.

I blinked at her words and found myself laughing. “What?”

She didn't repeat the words but only grabbed a hairpin from the box of pins on the table and checked it out on her head.

I tried to process her words and my gaze snapped to her once again, the shock in my face much more visible.

“Don't tell me…..” I trailed off.

Her voice rose immediately. “Yes. I'll be getting mated to the Alpha of Dovereign pack.”

No! That's not possible. Why would she get mated to the Alpha? And why am I just hearing about it today?

“How did it happen? How did you manage to seduce him?” I asked, almost yelling at her.

She stood up and turned to me, her hands landing on my shoulder.

“Everything is tactics, sweetheart. If I become the Luna of Dovereign pack, then our lives changes forever” she said.

I scoffed at her words.

She continued. “Look at all these, just to prepare for the mating ceremony”

I stared at her in disbelief. I had never thought of my Mom to be such a materialistic person.

“You are going to mate with him for his money?” I asked. “Or there's another reason behind it?”

She didn't give a straight response. Instead, she took in a deep breath and paced round the room, walking so elegantly and further leaving me in confusion.

“I'll be getting mated to the Alpha because I'm trying to change our lives, your life” she said, putting emphasis on the last two words.

I scoffed. I didn't know why but tears suddenly started forming in my eyes.

“My life? Are you doing this for me?” I laughed bitterly. “What good have you ever done for me? You made me a maid when I could have lived a normal life!”

“You made me look like a homeless helpless Omega when I wasn't!” I cried. “You made me suppress my scent for no reason for as long as I could recall and you say you are doing this for me?”

“Tell me” I swallowed my tears. “When have you ever let me decide things on my own? What have I ever decided on my own?!”

“Now you want to get married into the Alpha's estate? Why? So they would stop seeing me as a lowly maid but the daughter of a Luna who's nothing but a gold digger?”

Mother's gaze flared in anger when I said that. She moved closer, landing a slap on my face.

“You dare call me a gold digger?” She roared.

I wasn't scared of her, I won't be, not today. She had done enough. “Yes! Because that's what you are!”

“I won't come to that mating ceremony! You won't see me around there at all!” I spat and moved to leave the house but her voice stopped me.

“You won't dare, Lyra. Tomorrow, you shall show your face to the Alpha of the pack as my daughter!” She said.

And that's it. I will never have an option and I will never be able to disobey her words.