POV: Maya
CRASH!
The heavy tray slipped from my wet hands, sending dirty dishes flying across the kitchen floor. Broken pieces spread everywhere, mixing with leftover food scraps in a disgusting mess.
"Maya!" Beta Karen's words cut through the air like a whip. "Look what you've done now!"
My heart pounded as I dropped to my knees, hurriedly picking up the sharp pieces. Blood dripped from my fingers where the broken glass cut me, but I didn't dare stop cleaning. Not with Beta Karen staring down at me like I was garbage.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I'll clean it up right away."
"You better believe you will," she snapped. "And you'll pay for those dishes from your food budget. Clumsy omega."
The other kitchen workers claimed not to see what happened. They never helped me. Nobody ever helped me. That's what happens when you're at the bottom of the pack. You're unseen until you mess up, and then everyone sees you just long enough to make you feel terrible.
I kept my head down, scrubbing the floor until my knees hurt. Through the window, I could see them. The people who mattered. The people who got to laugh and smile and live real lives.
Sophia Torres stood in the middle of the courtyard like a golden princess. Her long hair caught the sunlight as she threw her head back, laughing at something funny. Everyone around her smiled too, wanting to be part of her perfect world.
But it wasn't just anyone making her laugh. It was them. The three most important boys in our pack.
Ethan, Ryan, and Logan Blackwood. The Alpha's triplet kids.
Even from far away, I could tell them apart. Ethan stood highest, his shoulders straight like he was already practicing to be Alpha. Ryan had his arms crossed, muscles showing through his shirt as he grinned at his brother's joke. Logan sat on the pond edge, quieter than the others but still smiling.
All three of them looked at Sophia like she was the most amazing thing they'd ever seen. And why wouldn't they? She was beautiful, smart, and born to be important. Her father was the Beta, which meant she'd grown up knowing she would mate with one of those boys someday. Everyone said so.
Sophia would become the Luna. The pack's female boss. She'd live in the big house, make important choices, and have everyone's respect.
Meanwhile, I'd spend my whole life cleaning floors and washing dishes.
"Stop staring and get back to work," Beta Karen ordered, making me jump.
I looked down quickly, my cheeks burning hot. But I couldn't stop my eyes from moving back to the window. Back to them. Back to the life I could never have.
Ryan said something that made Logan laugh out loud. The sound carried across the courtyard, making my heart do strange things in my chest. I'd never heard Logan laugh before. He was always so quiet and serious.
"Maya Chen!"
I spun around so fast I almost fell over. Gamma Rose stood behind me, her kind eyes worried.
"Yes, ma'am?" I stammered.
"Come with me, child. Now."
My stomach dropped. Had she seen me watching the window? Was I in more trouble?
Rose led me to the supply closet and closed the door behind us. In the small area, she looked at me carefully, like she was seeing something new.
"How old are you today, Maya?" she asked softly.
My throat got tight. She remembered. After eighteen years of being forgotten by everyone, Gamma Rose remembered my birthday.
"Eighteen," I whispered.
She nodded slowly. "I thought so. There's something different about you today. Something... changing."
"I don't understand."
Rose reached into her apron and pulled out a small wrapped package. "Happy birthday, dear one."
I stared at the gift, shocked. Nobody had ever given me a birthday present before. Ever.
"Open it," she pushed.
Inside was a small silver chain with a moon charm. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
"Rose, I can't take this. It's too much."
"Nonsense." She tied it around my neck with gentle fingers. "Every girl deserves something special on her eighteenth birthday. Especially girls who are about to discover their fate."
"My destiny?" I touched the moon charm. It felt warm against my skin. "I'm just an omega. My fate is to mate with another omega and have omega babies and work in kitchens forever."
Rose's eyes got a strange look. "Is it now? Are you so sure about that?"
Before I could ask what she meant, the supply room door burst open.
"There you are!" Beta Karen's angry voice filled the small space. "The Alpha's boys are coming to the kitchen, and I need every omega working. Move!"
My heart stopped. The triplets were coming here? Why?
Rose squeezed my hand. "Remember, Maya. Sometimes the moon has bigger plans than we can imagine."
I stumbled out of the closet, my mind spinning. The moon pendant felt like it was getting warmer against my chest, but that had to be my mind.
Beta Karen shoved a serving tray into my hands. "Take this to the Alpha's kids when they arrive. And try not to drop it this time."
I nodded, too nervous to speak. My hands shook as I held the tray. The triplets were coming here. I was going to have to face them up close.
Through the kitchen window, I saw them walking toward the building. Ethan led the way, Ryan and Logan beside him. They looked so cocky, so sure of themselves.
The kitchen door opened.
"Good afternoon," Ethan's voice was smooth and polite. "We're here to discuss the festival preparations."
I couldn't move. They were really here. In the same room as me.
"Of course, Alpha heir," Beta Karen said, her voice suddenly sweet. "Maya will serve you refreshments."
Three pairs of eyes turned toward me. Three pairs of the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen.
And that's when it happened.
The moon charm around my neck burst into blazing silver light.
Pain shot through my left wrist like lightning. I screamed, dropping the tray as I grabbed my arm. But the pain wasn't the worst part.
The worst part was the mark appearing on my face. Glowing. Pulsing. Impossible.
A mate mark.
And it was pointing straight at the Alpha's three sons.