VANESSA


In my entire existence, I had never felt shock seep through me as much as it did as I stood, listening to Alpha Axel.

I felt my blood curl and the hairs on my skin stood.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.


'Why was he suddenly declaring me his concubine?"

I could see the expression on the faces of the other maids and the few guests around them.


I was not sure what to feel.

He turned to me with what seemed like a dampened smile and said, 'stick your head in your chores and meet me after the dinner!"

His deep voice coursed through my veins and made me feel weak kneed.

I suddenly could not feel my legs anymore.

I watched him walk away and I saw Mayeli cast me a gleam glance.

She walked up to me, her head raised in a sarcastic manner.

'I was right after all," she whispered mockingly, her heavy breathing resting on my neck.

'Aren't you just the whore of the kingdom?"

She turned and walked away with a shrilling laughter that made me feel a flush of embarrassment.

'I am sorry Vanessa," Michael whispered, trying to avoid lifting his face to mine.

'It isn't your fault. You don't have to apologise."

I could tell that he was heavily laden with guilt.

I could not wait for the event to be over. I could not focus any longer.

The only thoughts racing through my mind was, what does it really mean to be his Concubine?

I couldn't help but remember the words Sandra and Emilia had said earlier about him possibly liking me and being insistent on having me around for that reason.

'Or maybe not!" I mused, 'Maybe I am simply a plaything to Alpha Axel, a pun he can move around easily on his chess board."

I played my role the rest of the evening, putting up a brave outlook to hide the embarrassment I felt deep inside.

But I could hear the whispers from the other maids who had witnessed me being named a concubine.

Before the evening ended, Emilia and Sandra found me when I was cleaning up some silverwares.

From the expression on their faces, I could tell they had heard.

'Gossip travels so fast," I muttered as they got close to me, their cheeks bubbling with smiles.

'Oh… we heard!" The two ladies giggled. 'So, our suspicions have been confirmed then! The Alpha has always had his eyes on you," Emilia smiled cheerfully.

I felt a panic cut through my chest. It seems like they knew exactly what they were saying but I did not want to accept the fact that he felt romantically inclined towards me.

'I think he is punishing me. I don't think he meant it!"

Emilia and Sandra exchanged dazed glances at each other.

'Why would he be punishing you?" Emilia asked.

I looked around, deciding if I should let them know.

'Earlier today, he saw me with Michael and this afternoon too. It seemed to put him off."

Emilia and Sandra burst into hysterical laughter again.

'So, if seeing you with Michael gets Alpha Axel irritated, you still do not understand what that means?"

I could not argue further because no matter how hard I tried to prove them wrong, I would never win that argument.

All I could think of was how to avoid visiting the Alpha as he had instructed.

I wished I could boycott that visit somehow.

Once the guests were all gone, Mayeli summoned us all for our final briefing.

'I am proud of you all and your efforts towards the success of the event today. Alpha Axel wishes to reward you with a token inside the envelopes that will be passed round."

She handed the first lady a basket full of envelopes and she picked one and kept passing it to others. I watched as they all picked and when it finally got to me, I picked mine.

I could see the smiles on their faces as they tore theirs and peeped into the content of the envelope.

'I wonder what is in there," I thought to myself as I opened mine.

I was stunned to find it stuffed with so much cash, a pay that seems above our wages as castle maids.

'Woow, such generosity," I heard one of the maids giggle and I nodded. I could not agree less.

'Also, in addition to that, there will be an evening dinner strictly for the service men and women who featured in today's events. You may all leave and change into something comfortable and reconvene at the palace hall 2 for dinner."

I felt my stomach churn with excitement. It felt good to be honoured in that form by the Alpha for joining in service during the special event.

Not just did I earn myself some extra cash, I also earned myself a special dinner.

'And a special spot in Alpha's bed," my mind reminded me and I felt my skin crawl at the thought of climbing in and out of his bed whenever he demanded it.

I shrugged off the biting thoughts of it.

Once I was through, I gathered myself and began to walk towards his chambers, hoping and praying in my heart that all he needed me for was to do a few tasks for him.

As I walked through the corridor, two of the maids who disliked me grossly passed by, their haughty gazes piercing through me.

'The newest addition to concubines," one said, heaving a sigh heavily that got me feeling dampened.

'She thinks herself so high and mighty," the other muttered, brushing my shoulder hard as she passed by.

I could feel the hatred that they had for

me as they walked past me.

I took a deep breath, walking faster to get to the Alpha's chambers.

I knocked gently and pushed open the door, already knowing that he would never ask me to come in.

'Not now Vanessa," he ordered and waved to me to go away.

I felt a rush of excitement as I turned and walked away from the door, shutting the door as gently as I could and racing down the stairs.

'I am safe for one day," I thought to myself as I walked back to my bedroom.