Maid

The Next Day – Around 10 A.M.

Black Knights Pack – Ava and Emma's Room

Ava's POV

The morning sun filtered weakly through the thin white curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Emma and I were still buried under the thick blankets, trying to steal a few more minutes of rest after a restless night filled with tossing, turning, and haunting dreams of rejection and confusion.

A sudden sharp knock on the door jolted both of us from our sleep. I groaned, pushing myself up sluggishly from the bed, my limbs heavy with sleep and dread. Emma stirred beside me, blinking against the light.

"I'll get it," I mumbled groggily, rubbing my eyes as I shuffled barefoot across the cold wooden floor.

When I opened the door, I was surprised to see a tall, stone-faced guard standing stiffly in the hallway, dressed in the traditional dark uniform of the Black Knights pack. His expression was unreadable, but his voice carried a coldness that made me uneasy.

"Your presence is required in the sitting room. The Alpha ordered me to call you and your friend," he said curtly.

I blinked in confusion, then turned my head to glance at Emma. She gave me a tired shrug and a look that said, I have no idea—just deal with it.

Facing the guard again, I replied as politely as I could, "Okay, we'll be there in a sec. Just give us a moment to freshen up and change our clothes."

"I don't think that will be necessary," he snapped. "The Alpha said you are to come down immediately."

I hesitated, frowning. "Alright… but at least give us a minute—"

"You have three minutes," he interrupted sharply. "If not, there will be consequences."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving a sense of dread hanging in the air.

I slowly closed the door and turned to Emma, folding my arms tightly across my chest. "Our mates are calling us to the sitting room. Right now."

Emma groaned and sat up in bed, tossing her messy curls out of her face. "Ugh. I don't think we should be calling them our mates. They don't treat us like mates—they treat us like nothing."

I sighed heavily, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. "I know… but we don't have a choice. They are our mates—fated, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. Whether we like it or not, we have to accept them... and hope, maybe one day, they'll accept us too."

Emma snorted and rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. She could see how much it hurt me to even say those words aloud.

"Come on," I said quietly, moving to the dresser. "We need to go down now. The guard said there would be consequences if we take longer than three minutes."

"Why didn't you tell me that first?" Emma snapped, jumping out of bed. "You know how cold and wicked they are! They'll probably throw us in the dungeons if we're late."

She grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the door, her urgency now matching my dread.

Sitting Room – Alpha Leo's POV

Rex and I sat on opposite couches, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. My arms were crossed, my gaze fixed coldly on the hallway entrance. We had been waiting for five minutes—five minutes longer than we should have.

If they'd taken another second, I would've gone upstairs and dragged them down myself.

Leo, my wolf, Leon, stirred eagerly within me. Can you smell that? That sweet scent… our beloved mate is near. Please, let me take over your body—just for a moment. I need to hold her.

Shut up, Leon, I snapped. You have your body. I have mine. Stay in your place and don't distract me right now.

I shoved his voice into the back of my mind and raised my eyes just in time to see Ava and Emma enter the sitting room, heads bowed, their steps hesitant and quiet. Ava's hand gently supported Emma's back as they stood before us.

The moment I laid eyes on Ava, a part of me—no, a part of Leon—softened. But I quickly pushed it down, replacing any hint of warmth with a sneer.

"You're two minutes late," I said coldly, my tone sharp with authority. "When I give an order, I expect it to be followed immediately. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Alpha," they both replied in unison, their voices small and obedient.

I turned my head slightly and gave Rex a subtle nod, signaling it was his turn to speak.

"As you can see," Rex said, standing up and walking lazily toward them, "we've fired every maid in the mansion. Every single one. Not a trace of them left."

Ava and Emma looked at him with growing confusion and worry.

"And now," he continued with a wicked smirk, "you two will be taking over their duties."

Emma blinked in disbelief, her expression shifting from stunned to furious. "What do we look like to you? Maids? Are you blind, or just stupid?" she snapped. "We're Alpha daughters—from the Silver Moon pack. And your mates! Do you really expect us to act like maids just because we're fated to you? What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"Emma—!" Ava hissed, trying to pull her back, but it was too late.

I barely had time to react before Rex strode across the room, his movements calm and terrifyingly slow. Then—PHAAA!

The sound of the slap echoed like thunder in the room. Emma fell to the floor, gasping, clutching her reddened cheek in shock and pain. Her eyes welled with unshed tears, but what burned brighter was the fire of rage.

I stared at Rex, my own surprise flickering behind my cold mask, but I said nothing.

"Never," Rex growled, towering over Emma, "ever speak while I'm talking. And don't you ever insult me again. Do I make myself clear?"

Emma nodded silently, her entire body trembling.

"Use your words, bitch," he snapped. "And don't forget to add Master. Because that's what you are now—a slave. A prisoner."

Emma's lips trembled as she whispered, "Yes… Master."

Rex walked back to his seat and dropped down beside me with a smug grin.

I turned my attention back to Ava, who was now kneeling beside Emma, gently helping her to her feet. Her eyes were wide with fear and sadness, but her mouth remained closed, her emotions tightly sealed.

"Do you know the duties of a maid?" I asked coldly, voice sharp as a blade.

Ava turned her head slowly, avoiding my eyes, and bowed her head. "No, Alpha," she said softly.

"The duties of a maid," I began, my voice hard and unforgiving, "include waking up early. Very early. Bathing her masters. Cooking for them. Cleaning every corner of the house. Washing the dishes. Doing laundry. And only resting when everything is spotless. That's your new job."

I leaned forward, watching her flinch under my gaze. "It may be late now, but we'll start with something simple."

I stood and walked past them both.

"Go upstairs. Freshen up quickly. Then come back down and prepare our bath. Ava, you will bathe me. Emma, you will bathe Rex. We'll be waiting in the bathtub. Don't keep us waiting."

"Understood?" I added sharply.

"Yes, Alpha," they both replied in near whispers.

Author's pov

Am writing my exams so I might not be posting that much but please comment and encourage me.