Prophecies and Lies

Chapter 31

Ariana's Pov

I put my hair into a tight bun as I look at the mirror. Getting frustrated when it opens the second I move my hands away. My hair was cut in half, now only reaching my shoulder blades. I hate the way it looks. It makes my cheeks look bonier than they are. I huff in annoyance as I grab a rubber band and tie it back. It was a requirement that all females of the palace staff have their hair shoulder length.

Will was more than happy to fulfill that requirement when he dragged the sharp ends of his claws through it, leaving me with a revolting balance of uneven strands.

I try smoothing down my cotton dress, but the dress is so frail that it doesn't work. Whoever wore it last did not do the fabric any justice.

I turn to look at the door of my cottage. I swallow hard, knowing what's to come. The second I step out, I'll face the new day again. I'll have to face their whispers and crude words. I'll have to face their dirty looks, and I'll have to do whatever they say because that is what a good omega is.

I step out of the cottage and make my way to the palace kitchens. It's where I spend most of my time. I'm the palace cook's assistant, which means I get to avoid the King and the soon-to-be Queen ( my dear sister), which I am grateful for. I don't think I can watch them together, knowing that it would hurt. I have tried to leave the past as it is, and I have tried to accept that Will is not my mate but my sisters, but every time I think of that a painful spasm awakes in my chest. I don't know what it is, but with every passing day, it's getting worse. I try not to think about it. I usually don't, not till late at night.

I push the door to the kitchen open, my mouth watering at the smell of freshly baked bread and something sweet. I spot Mr. Pablo, the head chef, stirring something in a pot. I stand beside him to see what it is, "what are you making?" I ask when I don't recognize the food he's making.

"Nothing that concerns you," Mr. Pablo bites out, " go and fetch me two baskets of cherries and plums, I need to start making pies for the Royal couple. I also want you to get me water from the well before brunch."

I feel a lump build in my throat at the mention of my sister and the King but I ignore it as I give Mr Pablo a curt nod and walk passed him to leave.

Mr Pablo is a nice man, probably the nicest out of all the other omegas working in the palace. He's kind enough to never ask me questions about my past or how I became an Omega, our conversations are usually short and he even gives me a free meal at the end of the day if I complete all my tasks.

I find my way to the cherry trees in the palace courtyard, the heat of the day already starting to take its toll on me as I feel my forehead break into a sweat. It's starting to get hotter with every passing day, the summer weather finally reaching its peak, by the time I reach the trees I'm ready to bring out my water flask, but I stop myself knowing that's all the water I have for the rest of the day.

Picking the cherries and the plums takes less time than I expected, and before I know it, I am back standing next to Mr Pablo, watching him cook another one of his marvelous creations, "What should I do next?" I ask.

I hear Mr. Pablo huff in annoyance before glaring at me from the side, " I already bloody told you, stupid girl! Fetch me water from the well. Three months as a kitchen maid has honestly taught you nothing!" He screams.

I know what I should be doing. I just can't help but ask he's the only person working at the palace who acknowledges me and talks to me, the rest of the wolves either ignore my presence or don't talk to me. I guess it's what I get for hurting their beloved Queen.

"Well... It's the buckets then, I guess," I whispered, earning a curt nod from Mr Pablo.

The buckets, meaning I have to collect water from the well. The palace has its network of pipes that bring it water, but Mr Pablo prefers me to get water from the well. I guess it's his way of letting me know that he doesn't like me very much. Collecting water from the well is easier said than done, especially without having all of my wolf's strength.

I drag myself to the well that sits on a small hill, the sun feeling like a scorching torch lit against my skin as I finally pull out a bucket of water and then another. By the time I had gotten both buckets filled, I could feel my back and chest breaking out into a sweat, making me curse out loud, I still had to make another six rounds too well before I could call it a day.

The thin handles of the buckets dig into the flesh of my skin, making carrying them almost unbearable as my arms strain with their weight. The water in the buckets sways side to side with every step I take, making me take extra caution so that it doesn't spill. I barely make it to the kitchens without spilling all the water.

I go back to the well to make my second round, my arms enjoying the short rest they get from the small journey back. Filling the buckets to the brim again, I go back, the scorching sun making the task feel unbearable.

My head begins to spin by the time I make it down the small hill, forcing me to let go of the buckets to give my arms a small break as I stand and look at the looming sun up ahead. The gleaming light of the sun makes it almost impossible to see anything ahead of me till I feel a cold shadow look over me.

Looking behind me I spot one of the other maids, making me step aside as her doubtful eyes scan my figure. I rarely ever encounter the other maids in the palace, and whenever I do, the encounters are short, with most of them trying their best to avoid me.

Before I can say anything, she's grabbed a hold of my buckets, the muscles in her arms straining as she begins to take hurried steps. I'm astounded. Most maids only have enough energy to do the work allotted to them, yet here she was.

I run after, " You..you don't have to..." I say, I try grabbing a hold of one of the buckets in her hold, which only earns me a deadly glare that has the thin hairs on my arms standing to attention.

I look at her perplexed, not understanding her, " Don't worry about it, you were struggling anyway. "

"But...but," I am about to ask her how she could ever help me when I had once tried harming the Queen, but I don't. I instead turn away when she gives me a questioning glance.

When I spot Andria riding a horse with the King right behind her, the two look like a fairy tale King and Queen.

Read full book on my patreon, link can be found on my profile.