IN LOVE WITH THE ALPHA

ars old when she

memory: her mother's trembling hands, her father's voice telling her

ged. Maya had no family left, no

was told she would be taken care of. At seven years old,

was

they were small-carrying dishes, folding clothes, sweeping floors, an

from sunrise until late at night. By fifteen, she had

ree, she knew exa

erv

if nobody used

ck house was the only

ay

pped the bucke

called as she hurri

ed. Selena was the Beta's daughter. She had grown up surround

t in Maya's hands. "Why ar

the west hallway

to clean the

ed the di

rd the floor. "Then

wn. There was

t again," she

rse you

ng. Selena watched her for a

e too

scrubbing. "I

ways sa

he floor. Arguing with

. "And after this,

looked up. "There are alr

at her. "Did I as

ely lowered h

what you'

walke

ed inside her. She wanted to stand up. She wanted to tell Selena that she wasn't worthles

sappeared as qui

knew

as seven. People like her didn't get t

shes, handled the laundry, cleaned rooms, carried food, and then re

last task, she leaned agains

or a m

ay

opened im

ng at the end of

ou doing?"

sti

aughed.

ed. "I've finis

n help me wi

ed quietl

pile of clothes. "

ed at the

n eyebrow. "Is

N

oo

ena turned to leave. Then she

uld be g

d at her.

g somewher

ck harder than

pack hadn't taken you in

n changed, but s

walke

ht. Maybe she should be grateful. She had no parents, no family,

s really a difference between being giv

sn't really a bedroom. It was an old storage room that had been cleared out whe

as eve

tle girl she used to be-the seven-year-old who had been scared and

e eve

the edge of

ed," she

sn't

was som

lf. Tomorrow would be another day of work, another

she th

nside the Silver Moon Pack. Something that would c

g big wa

ya wouldn't be ab