Chapter 3. Abducted

“Are you sure you don’t want to wear anything better than that? ”

“What? It’s fine. I don’t need to be well-dressed tonight since we’re just going to offer drinks to the people. There is no use in looking pretty if you’re just going to serve them.”

Marie sneered at me and wrinkled her nose. She grimaced at the plain dress I chose to wear for the event tonight. We’re both in our maid’s quarters, preparing ourselves because old maid Marina wanted us to at least look presentable in the eyes of the royal visitors of Master Ralph, especially since Alpha Edison chose our master’s place for the Night of the Choosing. It was understandable. There were so many beautiful lady nobles in this part of the pack who were excited to be chosen as King Alpha’s bride and become the Queen Luna of this whole land.

“Do you think Aaron will notice me if I wear this? ”Marie asked as she waved the dress at my face to distract me from tying the knot of the corset I was wearing. I chose not to pull it too tight and not to accentuate my figure, because who would take time to notice a servant like me?

Marie and I went straight to the kitchen and wore our aprons, so we could start serving food for the guests. I hoped I wouldn’t be a klutz tonight. But knowing that Master Ralph was at the event made me feel so happy and nervous. I wished he would notice me, even though I looked plain and simple.

The event hall was large enough for fifty people who were busy chattering and drinking their wine as they happily greeted each other. All of them were wearing expensive dresses and sparkling jewels that made me feel too intimidated to even look at their faces.

An hour passed after I served drinks to people. I caught a glimpse of Master Ralph and King Alpha Edison enjoying their brandy as they smiled from ear to ear. They approached a nobleman with his beautiful daughter beside him. It was Lady Kendra, the jewel and the sweetheart of this part of the pack's territory. All the ladies in the room looked at her with contempt, threatened by her presence. She was the first candidate to be a Luna, and her beauty was incomparable to any lady in the hall. Her dark, long, straight hair hung loosely on her back as she talked gracefully to the King Alpha and his Beta.

I had no idea why I suddenly stopped and gazed at Alpha Edison. There was something in him that was magnetic to the eyes. He had an amazing smile and kissable lips that moved smoothly as he talked. I thought it was strange, so I just ignored the feeling.

But what bothered me more was the feeling that someone was also watching me. I scanned through the crowd and caught the stranger's eyes. He then averted his eyes and left, the second I frowned at him.

The red lights in my head warned me. He suddenly walked out of the hall and went somewhere outside the mansion. I didn't know if somebody noticed it, but it was clear to my senses. Someone uninvited came here, which scared me because I had no idea if it was just me or if those people were just ignoring the rotting scent coming from that stranger.

"Goddess!" I yelled, baffled, after someone touched me on the shoulder. I almost dropped the serving tray from my hands!

"Marie! Don't you ever do—"

"Are you okay, Emory?"

I sighed heavily and placed the tray on a table. It was Jeff, one of the male servants in the mansion, whom I grew up with and who helped me a lot when I was new and still adjusting to this place. He and Marie were my friends. Sadly, something changed about him a few weeks ago when he became too distant after he found out that Master Ralph and I were secretly meeting in his room or the garden.

He warned me before that it wouldn't do any good to me. But, of course, I didn't listen. I was so in love with Master Ralph that I was willing to take any risk. My heart was stronger than my head, and my blood seemed to crave danger. I liked the thrill of being with Master Ralph. The excitement was addicting.

One thing I loved most about it was the idea that I could be with Master Ralph. To feel him and share my thoughts with him. That was all I wanted. That was what my heart needed.

"Jeff!" I blurted, a little surprised that he was finally talking to me. The people were now focused because one of the Alpha's advisors had finally started the ceremony.

I didn't pay much attention to what the speaker was saying. Jeff blocked my way toward the kitchen, and he was starting to piss me off. "What?!" I hissed at him, careful not to distract someone's attention from the event.

"I saw you again last night, Emory. You shouldn't keep on doing it! You'll get yourself into trouble!"

"I'll be in trouble if old Marina sees me idling here with you! Now go, Jeff. It's not the right place to talk about that," I eyed and replied to him in a whisper. I tried not to shove him out of the way.

When I glanced back at Jeff, his face looked so down and his shoulders drooped, which made me feel bad that I had to pretend I never cared about him. I just didn't want to entertain his feelings for me because, one, I didn't want to destroy our friendship. Two: I was in love with only one person, and that was Master Ralph.

With a heavy heart, I walked towards the hall's exit door and got some fresh air. I was starting to feel suffocated inside that hall full of rich, arrogant people. I was tired, feeling sorry for myself for being just a slave.

A bunch of red roses looked so enticing in my eyes, so I thought of picking some to lift my adoptive mother's mood. After I took a few steps, a silhouette appeared between me and the flowers, and the next thing I remembered was the rough hands snatching me from behind.

The whole place was filled with my screams.