Maya was seven years old when she became an orphan. She didn't remember much about that night. Only pieces remained in her memory: her mother's trembling hands, her father's voice telling her not to be afraid, the smell of smoke, and the sound of someone crying. After that night, everything changed. Maya had no family left, no home, and no one waiting for her. She was brought to the Silver Moon Pack house, where she was told she would be taken care of. At seven years old, Maya believed them. She thought someone would protect her. She was wrong. Instead of being treated like a child, she was given chores. At first, they were small-carrying dishes, folding clothes, sweeping floors, and cleaning tables. But as the years passed, the chores became heavier. By the time Maya was twelve, she was already working from sunrise until late at night. By fifteen, she had stopped expecting anyone to ask whether she was tired. Now, at twenty-three, she knew exactly what she was. A servant. A slave, even if nobody used the word aloud. And the Silver Moon Pack house was the only home she had ever known. "Maya!" She nearly dropped the bucket in her hands. "I'm coming!" Maya called as she hurried down the hallway. Selena Hart stood outside the dining room with her arms crossed. Selena was the Beta's daughter. She had grown up surrounded by comfort, while Maya had grown up serving people like her. Selena looked at the bucket in Maya's hands. "Why are you still carrying that?" "I was cleaning the west hallway," Maya replied. "I told you to clean the dining room." "I finished the dining room." Selena pointed toward the floor. "Then why is that dirty?" Maya looked down. There was barely a mark. "I'll clean it again," she said quietly. "Of course you will." Maya knelt and began scrubbing. Selena watched her for a moment before speaking again. "You're too slow." Maya continued scrubbing. "I'll be faster." "You always say that." Maya kept her eyes on the floor. Arguing with Selena never ended well. Selena turned away. "And after this, wash the dishes." Maya stopped scrubbing and looked up. "There are already people in the kitchen." Selena looked back at her. "Did I ask you to explain?" Maya immediately lowered her head. "No." "Then do what you're told." Selena walked away. Maya watched her leave, her fingers tightening around the cloth. For a second, anger burned inside her. She wanted to stand up. She wanted to tell Selena that she wasn't worthless, that she wasn't stupid, and that she was tired of being treated like she didn't matter. But the anger disappeared as quickly as it came. Maya knew better. She had learned that lesson when she was seven. People like her didn't get to complain. They survived. That was all. Hours passed as Maya moved from one chore to another. She washed dishes, handled the laundry, cleaned rooms, carried food, and then returned to cleaning again. Her hands were sore, but she didn't stop. When she finally finished the last task, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Just for a moment. "Maya." Her eyes opened immediately. Selena was standing at the end of the hallway again. "What are you doing?" Selena asked. "Resting." Selena laughed. "Resting?" Maya straightened. "I've finished everything." "Then you can help me with something." Maya sighed quietly. "What?" Selena handed her a pile of clothes. "Take these upstairs." Maya stared at them. "Now?" Selena raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?" "No." "Good." Maya took the clothes, and Selena turned to leave. Then she stopped and looked back at her. "You should be grateful." Maya looked at her. "For what?" "For having somewhere to live." The words struck harder than Maya expected. Selena continued, "If the pack hadn't taken you in, you'd probably be dead." Maya's expression changed, but she said nothing. Selena walked away. Maya looked down at the clothes in her arms. Maybe Selena was right. Maybe she should be grateful. She had no parents, no family, and no other home. The pack house had given her somewhere to sleep. But sometimes Maya wondered if there was really a difference between being given a home and being trapped inside one. That night, Maya sat alone in the tiny room she had been given years ago. It wasn't really a bedroom. It was an old storage room that had been cleared out when she was seven. There was a small bed, one wooden chair, and a cracked mirror. That was everything. Maya looked at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized the little girl she used to be-the seven-year-old who had been scared and alone, waiting for someone to tell her that everything would be okay. No one ever did. Maya touched the edge of the mirror. "I survived," she whispered. It wasn't much. But it was something. She lay down and pulled the thin blanket over herself. Tomorrow would be another day of work, another list of orders, and another day of being invisible. Or so she thought. Because the next morning, something would happen inside the Silver Moon Pack. Something that would change the routine Maya had known for sixteen years. Something big was coming. And this time, Maya wouldn't be able to hide from it.

Maya woke to the sound of footsteps. She opened her eyes slowly and stayed still for a moment, listening. People were moving quickly outside her room. Doors opened and slammed shut, someone shouted from down the hallway, and another voice answered almost immediately. Maya frowned. This was unusual. The pack house was normally quiet at this hour. She sat up and quickly fixed her hair before leaving the small room. The moment she stepped into the hallway, someone rushed past her carrying a large basket. "Sorry," the girl muttered without stopping. Maya blinked. Another servant hurried past. Then another. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. Maya looked around, confused. "What is going on?" Nobody answered. She walked toward the kitchen, and the noise became louder as she got closer. Servants carried trays back and forth while the cooks prepared more food than usual. Someone was hanging fresh curtains, and another servant was arranging decorations around the doorway. Maya stood near the entrance, watching the chaos. She noticed one of the girls she worked with carrying a pile of folded clothes. "Lena." The girl stopped and turned around. "What?" Maya pointed around them. "What's happening?" Lena looked at her as if the answer should have been obvious. "You don't know?" Maya shook her head. "No one told me anything." Lena glanced around before lowering her voice. "The Alpha is coming back." Maya stared at her. "The Alpha?" "Alpha Adrian." Maya frowned. "When?" "Today." "Today?" Lena nodded quickly. "They said he'll be here before noon." Maya looked around the kitchen again. Suddenly, everything made sense-the extra food, the decorations, the rushing servants, and the warriors preparing outside. "So that's why everyone is acting like this?" Lena laughed softly. "Of course. The Alpha has been away for weeks." Maya had heard his name before, but she had never expected his return to cause so much excitement. "Have you seen him before?" Maya asked. Lena's eyes widened. "Of course." "What is he like?" Lena lowered her voice dramatically. "Powerful." Maya smiled slightly. "That doesn't tell me anything." "He's strict. Very strict. And everyone says he's difficult to impress." Maya glanced around the busy kitchen. "Then why is everyone so excited?" Lena shrugged. "Because he's our Alpha." Before Maya could say anything else, a voice came from the kitchen. "Lena! Maya! Stop talking and get to work!" Both girls immediately straightened. "Yes, ma'am!" Lena quickly grabbed Maya's arm. "Come on." The two girls returned to work. --- The next few hours passed quickly. Maya helped carry food, clean tables, arrange dishes, and prepare the large courtyard. Everywhere she looked, people were preparing for Adrian's arrival. She had never seen the pack house this busy. Even the warriors looked different. They stood straighter, checked their uniforms repeatedly, and made sure everything around them was in perfect order. Some of the young women had clearly taken extra time with their appearance, fixing their hair and clothes whenever they passed a mirror. Maya couldn't help noticing. "Why are they all dressed like that?" she asked Lena. Lena smiled. "Some of them are hoping the Alpha notices them." Maya looked confused. "Why?" Lena stared at her. "You really don't know anything, do you?" Maya shook her head. Lena laughed softly. "Forget it." Maya returned to work. She wasn't interested in being noticed by anyone, especially not the Alpha. She had spent sixteen years learning how to stay invisible. She wasn't about to change that now. "Maya!" She turned at the sound of her name. Selena was walking toward her. "Come here." Maya approached her. "Yes?" Selena looked her up and down. "Why are you standing around?" "I was helping with the decorations." "Then help faster." Maya nodded. Selena handed her a stack of cloth. "Take these inside." Maya accepted them. "And after that, clean the main hallway." "Yes." Selena started walking away, but then she stopped. "Oh, and stay away from the courtyard when the Alpha arrives." Maya looked at her. "I wasn't planning to go there." "Good." Selena's expression softened into a satisfied smile. "People like you shouldn't be getting in the way." Maya's fingers tightened around the cloth. She said nothing. Selena walked away. Maya watched her disappear before turning back toward the hallway. She had been treated like a slave since she was seven. Orders were nothing new. Neither was being reminded of her place. She simply kept working. But as she passed the windows, something caught her attention. The warriors had gathered near the main gate. More people were arriving. Everyone was waiting. Maya slowed down and looked toward the road. She still couldn't see anything, but the entire pack seemed to be holding its breath. Lena came rushing past her. "Maya!" Maya turned. "What?" "He's almost here!" Maya's eyes widened. "So soon?" Lena nodded excitedly. "The Alpha is coming." Maya looked toward the gate again. She had spent the morning thinking of Adrian as nothing more than a name. Now, for the first time, she wondered what would happen when she finally saw him. She quickly shook the thought away. It didn't matter. She was a servant. He was the Alpha. Their paths would never cross. Or at least... Maya believed they wouldn't.

The entire Silver Moon Pack seemed to hold its breath. Maya stood near the back of the pack house, carrying a tray of empty glasses while the servants rushed around her. For the past hour, everyone had been preparing for one thing. The Alpha was coming home. Alpha Adrian Blackwood. Maya had heard his name countless times, but she had never seen him. She knew the stories. He was powerful, strict, and respected-a strong Alpha who had spent years strengthening the Silver Moon Pack and protecting its territory. But to Maya, he was still just a name. Someone important who belonged to a world far above hers. "Maya!" She nearly dropped the tray. Maya turned quickly and saw Selena standing at the end of the hallway, dressed in an elegant dark-blue dress. Her hair was perfectly styled, and two servants stood behind her carrying several boxes. "Where have you been?" Selena demanded. "I was helping in the kitchen." "I didn't ask what you were doing." Selena pointed toward the courtyard. "Take those glasses there. And don't embarrass yourself." Maya lowered her eyes. "Yes, Selena." "And Maya?" She stopped. Selena's expression hardened. "When the Alpha arrives, stay out of sight." Maya nodded. "I understand." "I mean it." Selena stepped closer. "People like you don't need to be standing around important guests." The words stung, but Maya had heard worse. She simply nodded again. "Yes, Selena." Selena walked away. Maya tightened her grip around the tray and continued toward the courtyard. Outside, the pack had gathered. Warriors stood near the entrance in their formal uniforms while members of the pack whispered excitedly among themselves. Some of the younger women kept checking their appearance, fixing their hair or smoothing their dresses. Maya didn't understand why. Then Lena appeared beside her. "Look at them," Lena whispered. Maya glanced around. "Why?" Lena stared at her. "You really don't know?" "Know what?" "The Alpha is returning." "I know that." "No, I mean look at everyone. They're acting like he's already here." Maya looked toward the main gate. A line of warriors stood there, and the large iron gates were open. Beyond them, the road disappeared into the forest. Then a distant sound reached them. Engines. The crowd immediately became quiet. Maya's fingers tightened around the tray. Several vehicles appeared through the trees. The first one entered the territory slowly, followed by another and then another. The pack members straightened as the vehicles approached. Someone whispered, "He's here." Maya looked toward the arriving vehicles. She couldn't explain why, but suddenly her heart began beating faster. Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was because everyone around her seemed nervous. Or maybe it was simply because this was the first time she had ever seen the Alpha who ruled the pack where she had spent most of her life. The first vehicle stopped. Two warriors stepped out. Then the back door opened. A man stepped onto the ground. The entire courtyard went silent. Maya froze. Alpha Adrian Blackwood stood beside the vehicle. He looked different from what she had imagined. He wasn't wearing a crown or anything that announced his position. He didn't need one. His presence alone was enough. He looked calm, but there was something intimidating about the way he carried himself. His eyes moved slowly across the gathered pack, taking in the people waiting to welcome him. Maya quickly lowered her gaze. She remembered Selena's warning. Stay out of sight. She turned slightly, hoping to disappear behind the other servants. But before she could move, Adrian's eyes stopped. His attention settled on the servants. Then on Maya. Maya didn't notice. She was already stepping backward, trying to make herself invisible as she had done for years. But Adrian suddenly became still. Something inside him had awakened. His wolf had recognized something before his mind could understand it. Mate. The word echoed through him. Adrian's eyes widened. Impossible. He had returned expecting to deal with pack matters, nothing more. Yet the moment he stepped onto Silver Moon territory, his wolf had reacted. And it was reacting to one person. A girl standing among the servants. Adrian stared at her. Maya felt someone's gaze on her. Slowly, she looked up. Their eyes met. For one strange second, everything around them seemed to disappear. Maya's breath caught. She didn't know why she couldn't look away. Adrian didn't move. Neither did she. Then Selena noticed. Her smile disappeared. She followed Adrian's gaze. And when she saw who he was looking at, her face went pale. "Maya?" Maya immediately looked away. "Yes?" Selena's voice was sharp. "Come here." Maya hurried toward her, keeping her head lowered. But Adrian's eyes followed her. His jaw tightened. There was something about that girl. Something he couldn't explain. Something his wolf seemed absolutely certain about. His Beta stepped closer. "Alpha?" Adrian didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained on Maya. Then, quietly, he asked, "Who is she?" The Beta looked toward the servants. "Maya. She's been working in the pack house since she was a child." Adrian's expression changed. "Since she was a child?" "Yes." Adrian looked at Maya again. She was standing beside Selena with her head lowered, as if she had been trained never to draw attention to herself. His wolf growled inside him. Mate. Adrian's eyes narrowed. He had no idea who Maya was. But he suddenly knew one thing. He needed to find out. And Maya had no idea that the moment she looked into the Alpha's eyes, the quiet life she had spent sixteen years surviving had already begun to change.