Calista hears heavy footsteps coming down the carpeted hallway. The door flings open, “CALISTA! Get up, you lazy, ungrateful b***h! The Alpha wants the pack house ready for your half-sister's birthday party. Everything must be perfect, or heads will roll.” She is screamed at by the Omega who manages housekeeping. A short, middle aged woman, her ebony hair is pulled back into a severe bun, stretching her skin a bit. Calista is startled, and cowers in the corner of the sad excuse of a mattress just thrown onto the floor. Her nightclothes resemble rags that offer her little warmth, only modesty.
With that demand, the Omega leaves and slams the heavy door shut and walks away. Calista sits still until she doesn't hear footsteps any longer.
Finally, she rises and walks to the attached bathroom. A small room, with a sink, a mirror with a large crack going diagonally through the glass, a stained toilet, and a shower stall. She looks into the broken looking glass, and sees a girl with long dull black hair, and fallow skin, pale blue eyes look from her reflection, but they contain no life in them. After washing, she pulls up her hair into a bun, and grabs her only change of clothes. A pair of faded jeans discarded by her spoiled and doted on half-sister, a t-shirt and hoodie and finally a pair of nearly worn out converse shoes.
She exits her room, and walks to the pack house. She finds it busy with contractors, and the Omegas cleaning everything in sight.
“There you are!” The Luna snarls between orders to people. “Go clean the ballroom, where the party will be. It better be perfect, or you'll go to the cells!”
Calista lowers her head, a quiet “Yes, Luna” escapes her lips and she bows and then walks away.
The Luna glares at her as she walks away. “I'll be stuck with that worthless wolfless mistake forever.
Calista gets inside the ball room, and begins by dusting every surface. Using the feather duster on glass and crystal, and furniture polish on the wood. She washes the many tall windows, climbing down from the ladder she hears, “Missed a spot, mongrel.” Calista knows better than to say anything, knowing her spoiled princess of a half-sister Miranda is just trying to make a scene. To get her punished or put in the cells, with criminals and…rogues.
“Miranda! Leave that mutt alone, she has work to do.” Luna Madeline commands.
“My dress, the seamstress, or my hairdresser hasn’t arrived yet, Mother. I’m bored.” She whines, smirking at Calista, who stands motionless and silent, bowing her head at the Luna's presence. She catches the attention of the Luna.
“Get back to work.” She hisses.
“Yes, Luna.” She meekly replies, and then moves to continue her work, and puts the ladder away into a hidden closet.
Calista sweeps and then polishes the floor, until she can nearly see her own pathetic reflection.
Looking at an enormous Grandfather Clock, as it chimes 2:00 pm.
Luna Madeline walks into the room, and smiles. “It looks perfect, mutt.” She says.
“Thank you, Luna.” She replies, keeping her head down.
“Go to the kitchen, and eat something. Then, go see the Alpha in his office. Don’t take all day either. He needs to prepare for Miranda’s party. She gets her wolf tonight, something you’d know nothing about.” Madeline says cruelly, dismissing Calista.
After making a sandwich and cleaning up after herself, she exhales and leaves the kitchen. She walks down a long hallway, and finds the Alpha’s door. She meekly knocks. Half terrified of what he might do.
“Enter.” Says a confident voice.
Calista enters and bows, then bares her neck. ‘Have a seat.” He says, indicating the one in front of his large oak desk. She nervously takes a seat. “Don’t worry, you aren’t in trouble. I smell your fear. As you know, my daughter, Miranda, is turning 15 and getting her wolf.” He says smiling, knowing he hurt her.
“Yes, Alpha.” She replies, knowing to never call him father. That ended the day he found his second chance mate after her mother was killed by rogues. The day Luna Madeline became pregnant, she was shunned to the Omega house…forgotten. Used as a slave, and bullied.
“You have the weekend off. I don’t care what you do or where you go. But, be unseen by the party guests. It will go on all weekend. There will be important Alphas, and even royalty here all weekend. I don’t want to see you, until Monday. Maybe the rogues that slaughtered your mother will come and finish the job. Now leave!” He commands.
“Yes, Alpha.” Calista says before getting up out of the chair, she bows her head, and then leaves.
‘You hear that Onyx? We get the whole weekend…away.’ She tells her wolf, who dances gleefully in her head.
“Callie…come in here for a minute.” One of the cooks says as she gets to the kitchen door. “We heard, and packed you some food. There is a cabin on the northern border, it has a wood stove inside. Be safe.” Sarah, the head cook, and one of the few who isn’t cruel to her says putting a canvas backpack on her. “There is a blanket and a few clothes in there too.” She then sends Calista on her way.