Chapter 2

{AVELINE}

"AVELINE, pour some tea into my cup!" Princess Octavia commanded. I immediately followed her order. I approached the table where the three princesses were sitting. I took the tea pot and carefully poured tea into her cup. She was busy admiring herself in her handheld mirror that she always carried everywhere.

Before I could turn away, Princess Viviana grabbed my attention. "Aveline, bake us some cookies. I want to eat right now," she demanded.

"And hey— I want you to do the baking," she added before I could say anything. Nevermind.

I turned away from them. I had just taken a step when Princess Meliora tripped me with her right leg, which I didn't notice she had placed in front of mine. This caused me to lose my balance and fall to the ground. I almost cried from the pain I felt. The three princesses laughed at me as if their lives depended on it.

I tried to stand up on my own. I walked away from them without looking back. As I was totally away from them, I glanced at my elbows, which were now excessively red. My forehead also hurt because it had slightly hit the ground.

Those three bitches! I wish I could mix their cookies with lizard droppings. Just kidding. I still couldn't do that to them. I also don't want someone doing that to me. All I could do was curse them in my mind. After all, I am still human. I'm getting angry too, but I always keep it to myself.

I went straight to the palace kitchen. It was a huge one. All the professional omega chefs were busy cooking various dishes for the noble families.

I approached Jasmine, Aunt Nerissa's daughter, who I considered like a real sister. She was currently kneading the dough.

When she saw my condition, her eyes widened. "What happened to you? Did they mistreat you again? This is beyond their limits!" Jasmine almost shouted, as if she wanted everyone here to hear what she was saying.

"Lower your voice! And this was nothing new. I'm okay, I can handle it completely," I assured her. I smiled at her to ease her worry about my current situation.

"I actually have something for you to do," I added. Even though Princess Meliora told me to bake, I would still have Jasmine do it. Well, how would I know how to bake? It was already beyond my intended duties, and she wouldn't even know that I assigned someone else to bake.

After hours had passed, I was heading back to the palace veranda carrying a tray of freshly baked cookies that were still steaming. I also took one for myself secretly as I exited the kitchen and ate it with just one bite. I was getting hungry too.

After serving the three princesses with the cookies, just like before, their orders came one after another.

"Aveline, pick me some flowers," Princess Octavia said.

"Aveline, get me some romantic books from the library," Princess Meliora said.

"Aveline, comb my hair," Princess Viviana said.

"Aveline"

"Aveline"

"Aveline"

I AM very exhausted as I sit on the edge of my bed. It made a creak sound. I wiped the sweat off my face with an old rag. It's torn and very thin.

Then I got up from my bed to change my clothes. They're too dirty and slightly wet from all the work I did as an Omega slave. After changing, I went back to my bed.

I took a book from a small drawer beside my bed. It was about the fairytale love story of Cinderella. Out of all my belongings, this is the only clean and most important thing to me. Aunt Nerissa said that when she found me outside her door, I was tightly hugging this book, which, by its appearance alone, could be mistaken for the possession of an extraordinary werewolf and not just an ordinary one.

Many years have passed, yet this little book is still gorgeous and hasn't turned yellow. It doesn't have any damage or scratches. It looks very special. Sometimes, when I see the books held by the noble families in the castle, I can't help but compare them in my mind to my own book. And all I can think is that it's completely different. I even want to believe that I might be the child of a powerful person with a very high position.

But even if that were true, it's still nonsense. They left me, which simply means they didn't want me. So I'd rather spend my whole life as an Omega slave than force myself on people who don't like me.

I slowly opened the book. Before I sleep, I always read this book. Yes, I can read even though I haven't had the chance to go to school. Nicholo Hastings, the eldest son of our Luna and Alpha, taught me. We are close to each other. He secretly teaches me things that a student would learn. But of course, it's a secret. If others find out, especially the three cruel princesses, they would make my life even more difficult. They might even hurt me more.

I tried to focus on what I'm reading. I wish I could be like Cinderella. That soon a prince would come and take me away from this dirty place to his faraway castle. Nevermind. After reading this, I will go to sleep. I'm daydreaming too much again. I should wake up to the reality that a prince is only meant for a princess, not someone like me.

AT first, I was in complete darkness. I couldn't see or feel anything, and I was scared. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't make a sound. I couldn't move my feet either.

Then, after a few seconds, everything around me became bright. I was amazed by what I saw. There were white flowers blooming in different shapes and styles everywhere I looked. I was lying on the flowers, and they felt much nicer than my old worn-out bed.

I slowly got up, still wondering what was happening. Was this a dream? But everything felt so real. I picked a white flower next to me that looked like a rose. I could feel how soft it was as I touched it. I even smelled its fragrance, which was strange and new to me.

I looked around and noticed a woman not far from me. She was standing with her back facing me. She had long white hair. I realized that we looked very similar, with the same hair and posture. The only difference was that mine was black and hers was white.

"Who are you?" I asked her.

She slowly turned towards me, and my eyes widened when I saw myself in her. It was like I was looking into a mirror. However, she looked happy, as if she didn't have any problems in the world. She was also wearing a beautiful gown, like a princess.

I also noticed the white aura that surrounded her entire body, shaping her form. Her eyes were also a bright white color. She looked like a goddess version of myself.

"It's time to wake up now, myself," she softly said to me. And with a blink of my eye, everything totally disappeared from my sight.

I GOT up from my sleeping position as soon as I woke up from that dream and looked around. I was greeted by my usual surroundings, my old and dirty room. Even though it was dark and no light entered my room, I could see clearly, which is one of the normal abilities of a werewolf, seeing in the dark. But I was surprised because my vision was much clearer than usual. It felt like my eyes had an automatic light.

I reached for the lamp on top of my drawer and lit it using a match that was beside it. I still lit it even though I could see my surroundings. I just wanted to make sure that everything I was seeing was real. It was just a dream after all. I was referring to the woman who looks exactly like me. I sighed. Why was I so bothered by it?

I don't know why, but I suddenly felt the urge to check my hair. I almost dropped the lamp when I realized it. My hair had turned white, just like the woman who looked like me in my dream. I blinked my eyes many times, but I still saw my white hair. I even touched it, and it feels real.

And what is this feeling I'm experiencing? It's like something is flowing through my veins. I feel incredibly strong, as if I don't feel any fatigue or pain that I normally feel every day. What is this strange feeling?

I'm scared. I can't help but cry. I start questioning what kind of being I really am. Why did my hair change its color, and why do I feel different from my usual self? As far as I know, this doesn't happen to werewolves.

I look at the clock. It's already past midnight. I try to go back to sleep, thinking that maybe all of this is just a dream, but I can't. Sleepiness doesn't even visit my senses.

I become even more afraid. What if all of this is true? It feels like I have become a terrifying and different creature. I wait for more hours, still hoping that I will wake up from this long dream. I remained in that position, with my head stuck between my arms and knees, until the longest hand of the clock reached 4.

As I looked up at the clock again after a long while, the longest hand pointed to 8. I finally decided to get up from my bed. Even the cold sensation of the floor felt real. I grabbed my small blanket and covered my head to hide my white hair. I started walking towards the door. I opened it, and the somewhat dark hallway of the Omega's slaves quarter greeted me. It was still dim because sunlight didn't reach this place even at this hour.

I started walking with my lamp. As I moved away from where I came from, I began to feel the presence of another werewolf. It felt like I was being pulled towards him. My steps became faster. Even though I didn't understand what was happening, I let myself be carried away by this strange feeling.

I was abruptly stopped when I bumped into something hard at the end of the intersection. The strong arm of a man immediately wrapped around my waist before I completely lost my balance.

With my face so close to his chest, I could smell his enticing f. A scent of fresh forest with blooming flowers all around. My heart started pounding loudly, and I could also hear his rapid heartbeat, as if our hearts were beating in sync.

I looked up at him and was greeted by his grey eyes. He was my mate! Slowly, the blanket I had used to cover my hair slipped, revealing my long, slightly curled white hair. I saw a frown appear on his forehead upon seeing my exposed hair.

Fear quickly took over me once again. He saw my hair. I should run away from him. Who knows what he might do to me? Even though he is my mate, I don't know anything about his character. It's not the right time to acknowledge him as my mate. I'm confused with the mix of emotions I'm feeling. I don't even know what to think.

I immediately pushed him away from me. I was slightly surprised because, despite his hardness like a stone, I was able to push him away slightly using my small hands.

I didn't bother to pick up the fallen blanket from my hair. And without saying goodbye to my mate, I ran back towards my room. I quickly locked the door as soon as I entered. For now, this is the safest place I could be.