Thirteen Years Later,
The large clock mounted by the fireplace loudly struck twelve. Maya jerked as she set the table. She had barely made it in time. Any moment now, Father and Maelle would march up the stairs ready to eat lunch.
She adjusted her dress as she pulled away the apron and wiped the sweat from her forehead; nothing must be out of place. She looked around the dining table, making sure every utensil was placed in its appropriate place.
She nodded at the servants and they stepped back almost immediately, standing in their respective corners of the dining room. She turned to Margaret, her personal maid, gave her the apron and with another nod, she signaled that she might leave.
Margaret bowed and withdrew from the dining room, exiting through the side entrance just as loud footsteps could be heard marching up the stairs. Maya's stomach knotted and she checked the table one last time to make sure nothing was out of place.
A large jug of wine rested on the table next to the grilled and garnished lamb on the platter. Father had to have freshly made lamb for lunch every day.
Maelle often ate the same thing but today she had specifically requested tender chicken. Maya had to make sure the chicken was as tender as possible, lest there be consequences to bear.
The table was big enough to fit six chairs but it only held four. She moved quickly to her side of the table, which was by Father's right hand, but she knew better than to take a seat. Rather, she stood with her back straight and her head held high.
Her position was in direct view of the door so when he walked through, his dark eyes immediately rested on her. Vilhelm was a middle-aged man with streaks of grey hair and a beard. He was slightly above average height and he carried a cane.
"Father," Maya said with a bow.
Clack!
Maya jumped as he slammed his cane against the wooden floor. Heat prickled her scalp. Her stomach twisted. Every nerve in her body screamed that she had done something wrong, though she had no idea what.
"I am sorry, Father," she blurted out instinctively, keeping her head bowed and bracing herself for an outburst.
"How many times must I tell you to greet me properly?!"
He hit the cane on the floor again and Maya felt sweat break out on her back. She was equally afraid of greeting him properly and the consequences of what would happen if she didn't.
"I am sorry, Father. I-I forgot," she lied.
Maya couldn't lift her head; she could feel his gaze on her and it made her skin crawl but it wasn't as repulsive as the smell she could pick up from him. It made her nauseous and she wanted nothing more than to turn her head to the side and empty her breakfast.
"Perhaps, I shall give you something so you may never forget."
At the threat, Maya was walking towards him before she even thought about it. Gritting her teeth, she wrapped her arms around him. "Welcome, Father. I am glad we can eat together."
It was hard to speak with his scent invading her nostrils. No matter how many times she smelled it, it didn't get easier. She fought the urge to cough as she waited for him to tap her back. She couldn't dare pull away until then.
He lifted his large hand and tapped her back with a firm press, holding her against his frame. Maya bit the inside of her cheeks as she fought back tears.
"Father!" An excited voice called from the doorway. "We have a letter."
Vilhelm pulled his hand away and Maya jumped away but it was too late. From the glare Maya received, her younger sister had seen the exchange.
Maelle shot forward as though launched by a catapult and wrapped her arms around her father's neck. Vilhelm received the impact without staggering, the cane held in one hand, slightly lifted off the floor.
"Maelle," he called as he easily pulled her arms from around his neck. "I told you to act more ladylike."
Maelle pouted. "I am allowed to hug you too. I am your daughter."
Maya winced as though she had been struck across the face. She knew exactly what Maelle was saying. She was his daughter and Maya was not.
"That you are," Vilhelm said and smiled coldly at Maelle. "Now, what is this letter you speak of?" Vilhelm took his seat, placing the cane carefully by his side.
Maya wished she hadn't noticed the way Maelle's expression fell or how she bit the right corner of her lip. Her sister only did that when she was sad.
Maelle hated her, and she showed Maya in every way, but it was hard not to take pity on her when Father was dismissive about everything that concerned her.
"I-I don't recognize the seal," she said as she tried to compose herself. "But it looks very important."
"Give it," he said and Maelle nodded.
Vilhelm opened the envelope, ripping the seal without looking at it. Before reading the contents, he brought the letter to his nose; whoever wrote it was bound to leave a scent.
His gaze darkened and he tossed it to Maya, harder than he needed to, hitting her square in the face. "You read it."
Maya couldn't catch it before it hit the ground and as she scrambled, Maelle laughed. Maya brushed Maelle's reaction off and picked up the letter.
As soon as she lifted it, Maya knew who it was from. His familiar comforting scent filled her nostrils. She could hear the loud beating of her heart as it fell to her stomach.
Her hands shook against the letter. The last time she heard anything about him was six months ago, after the recent war.
He had been honored by the Alpha King and elevated to Alpha status because of his contributions in the war. This had never been done before—a commoner didn't become an Alpha.
"To High Alpha Vilhelm Olsten. I, Alpha Keenan, have decided to honor you by choosing my mate from your household—"
Clack, clack, clack!
Maya jerked as Vilhelm smacked his cane on the floor with enough gusto to break the wood. "What is the meaning of this?! That vermin dares to insult me. Honor me! Simply because my brother favors him, he thinks we are on the same level!"
Dread pulsed through Maya's entire body, both from the contents of the letter and Father's reaction, but it was nothing compared to the horror on Maelle's face as she sped from her side of the table to Maya, snatching the letter out of her hand.
Her eyes scanned the pages and found where Maya stopped reading. "…It matters not to me which of your daughters you give up." Maelle crumpled the letter, a little smirk on her face. "Father, it can't be me. It must be Maya. I am not even of marriageable age yet. Besides, she has relations with the vermin." Maelle glared at Maya with disappointment as she spoke. "It's only fitting that she shou—"
"Shut up!" Vilhelm scolded. His eyes were dark and his anger palpable.
Maelle jerked and her eyes swelled with tears. "You don't expect me to marry him instead. Are you going to pick her over me—"
"Quiet, Maelle. Now is not the time for your tantrums. Sit down and eat your lunch. I have matters to take care of."
Vilhelm stood up and exited the dining room, his cane loudly hitting the floor even though he didn't need it to walk.
"You should marry him! You don't even belong here," Maelle yelled bitterly.
Maya didn't reply to her remarks. It was pointles. Besides, she hasn't recovered from what she read. The Alpha King gave him the right to pick any woman he wanted. He could pick the Alpha King's daughter; everyone thought he would.
Yet…
She looked at the crumpled letter on the ground.