Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 7: Grace: Put to Work

My new life routine is simple.

Wake up every morning before the sun rises. Cook and feed everyone in the omega lodge—both male and female. Clean when everyone leaves for the day. Do the piles of laundry. Lunch, thankfully, isn't my problem—but it also means I don't get to eat. And then, of course, dinner, and more cleaning.

There are other staff who work at the omega lodge, but unlike me, they're proper omega wolves. Anything they don't feel like doing lands on my shoulders, and if I don't get them done, it's somehow my fault.

The first week of my new lifestyle ended with me being whipped five nights straight.

It isn't a normal punishment for shirking your duties. They just wanted an excuse to do it.

It wasn't a secret that many of the pack hated having a human brought in, when Alpha first adopted me. Like me, they lived in ignorance of my mother's identity. I'm sure they would have recognized her if they saw a picture, but I don't have anything like that. Only my memories.

It wasn't until the night of the Mate Hunt, when Alpha kicked me out of his home and family, that the pack learned the truth.

Mom was once mated to Alpha. Not as a proper Luna, of course. Mom, like me, was human. But she still bore his mating mark and was treated as his mate within the pack—until one day she disappeared, never to be seen again. From the gossip running rampant these days, I quickly learned that everyone thought she was dead.

My father—my real father—is also my biological father. They were killed in a house invasion gone wrong on my twelfth birthday. Three days later, I was taken in by a supposed family friend: Alpha.

His apparent care and warm home were more appealing than any foster home, even if I had to live among wolves.

If I'd known, I would have begged the foster system to keep me, but I doubt it would have made a difference. I had a home to go to, and someone willing to foot the bill. Why would they keep me in that situation?

I sigh, my hands sinking into the mountain of clean laundry before me. The scent of detergent tickles my nose as I sort through the pile, grimacing at the sheer number of boxers. Men's underwear. Great.

"At least they're clean," I mutter, folding each pair with quick, efficient movements.

My fingers brush against the soft cotton, and I can't help but think of Rafe. Did I ever fold his laundry? Of course not. That was a task reserved for the pack's domestic staff, not Alpha's daughter.

But I dreamed of being his wife. His mate. Dreamed of doing the laundry, of greeting him at the door with a home-cooked meal.

Now here I am, reduced to handling strangers' intimates.

I shake my head, banishing thoughts of my ex.

Focus on the task at hand, Grace. One pair at a time.

The basket marked 'Jason' slowly fills with neatly folded clothes. T-shirts, jeans, socks, and yes, those dreaded boxers. I smooth out a wrinkle in a shirt, wondering idly about the man who wears it. Is he kind? Cruel? Does he even know my name?

Probably not. To most of the pack, I'm just the human. The outsider. The one who doesn't belong.

last item in Jason's basket and set it aside, ready

Get up

cuts through the air, echoing

whatever new task awaits me. The linoleum floor creaks under my weight, announcing my arrival before I even

like a secretary, with a black suit and hair pulled back into a classic bun, and always with a

I was still Alpha's daughter, she

I'm dirt

her tone clipped. "You're needed at the main lodge. They're

who orders my punishments at the end of the night. I've watched as she ordered ten lashes, five nights in a row. Her expression never

woman wouldn't care if I died of exhaustion, as long as my work

lips pinched in disapproval. "Is that all you

and sweatpants—one of my three outfits these days—I can only

"You'll need to find something

these wolves care? They've been mocking me

"I'll find you something. For now, help

* * *

the main lodge is a bit

at the omega lodge buried beneath a mountain of chores had one bright side: I never

have no desire to run into him, either alone or with Ellie. My heart's still wounded and bleeding; it doesn't need to be

of serene efficiency, now buzzes with frantic activity. Wolves dart to and fro, their movements urgent and purposeful. The central garden, once a lush oasis of tranquility, lies in ruins.

What in the world...?

main lodge looms ahead,

"Grace!"

freeze, my heart leaping into my throat. That voice. No. Please,

side. From the corner of my eye, I catch a flash of golden hair. Rafe. And beside him, dark hair gleaming in the sunlight,

rushing for the front doors of the main lodge. I burst through the entrance, chest heaving in relief, only to collide with a wall of muscle. Stumbling back, I look up into Beta's

where you're going, human," he

my head and tell me everything would be okay.

in dwelling in memories of false

sorry. Margo sent

don't care what that omega wants," Beta cuts me off. His eyes narrow, sweeping over my disheveled appearance. "But

nearby wolf. "You there! I've got someone

but Beta's already shoving me toward the door. "Wait,

I'm outside again, blinking in

arm, dragging me toward the ravaged