Scarlett

Chapter One

 I gripped my bucket tightly in my hands, the soapy water leaking from the sides. My hands and feet ached, but I was finally done. My brown waves had fallen out of my bun, hanging limply on my forehead.

"I'm done, sir," I said, placing the bucket down in front of his desk. Mr. William was a large man, with rough weathered skin and greying hair. He was one of the most gigantic werewolves I had ever seen and one of the cruellest.

"Excellent, Scarlett. Here is your pay." He leaned back from his chair and grabbed a handful of coins from his pocket, placing them in front of me. 

It was barely anything, just enough for a hot meal and some water. After all, measly humans didn't deserve good or fair pay. That was for the wolves. Humans were at the bottom of the food chain, with werewolves commanding at the top. Before werewolves made themselves known, humans used to rule the world. That sounded like a fairy tale.

"Thank you, sir." I grabbed the coins and shoved them in my apron. I couldn't wait to go back home to bed. Right before I left his office, he cleared his throat.

"Oh, and Scarlett? Next time work faster." He said, leaning back in his chair, smiling.

My hands clenched my bucket so hard, my knuckles turned white. "Certainly, sir." Damn wolves!

I walked the long path back home. Only wolves could afford nice houses in the town's square. The humans were forced to live on the outskirts, living in broken-down houses. If a wolf was really important, however, they lived on one of the houses on the Alpha's massive estate. I had never met Alpha Theo and didn't want to. There were only a few Alphas in the world, and each one ruled their respective packs. Alphas were the kings and humans like me? The peasants.

I spotted my house, a small yellow building covered in overgrown ivy. A stone path led it's way to the house, with wildflowers filling the lawn. 

 I opened the door to Elsa and Amber, arguing.

"Elsa! Give me back my brush." Amber yelled, chasing Elsa around our small living room. Our house was really only two rooms. A small fireplace was lit in the corner with our huddles of cushions and blankets on the wooden floors. A table and chairs were off in the corner by the small window looking over our front yard. Our bathroom was the only other room in the house. It wasn't much, but we were lucky. For humans, this wasn't bad.

"Hold on, I'm almost finished." Elsa was brushing out her black curls, jumping around to escape Amber's clutches. Amber's face seemed to glow as red as the fire, her blonde hair tied back in a long golden braid.

"I'm home!" I said, placing the bucket on the ground and sitting on my blankets in front of the fire. I let my hair down from its bun, my hair so long now it reached my waist. It desperately needed to be cut. I rubbed my sore feet and let the fire warm me.

"Scarlett," Elsa said, coming to sit next to me. "How was work? How bad was Mr. Williams today?" She asked.

"Oh, just the usual. Terrible." I said, sighing. Amber came up behind Elsa, grabbing the brush back and whacking her on the head with it.

"Ouch!" Elsa said, rubbing her head. I laughed, Amber and Elsa were idiots, but they were my best friends. Also, my only ones.

"How much money did he give you this time?" Amber asked, sitting on my other side. I dug the coins out of my apron and showed her.

"Better than nothing," Amber said. I nodded. Only the wolves could make good money; after all, they had the best jobs. Humans were forced to do the jobs no one else wanted. I spent my days scrubbing and cleaning after them.

"Well, then! Here I made vegetable soup for dinner." Elsa said, grabbing a small bowl and filling it up with the steaming soup from the fire. She passed it to me with a spoon. "You need to eat; you look exhausted." I dug in. It was hot and bitter. It filled me up, though, and that is all that mattered.

"Did you hear the news about Alpha Carson?" Elsa asked. I shook my head, no. "He met his mate, and she's a human!" Elsa had a starry look in her eyes that I didn't like. Alpha Carson lived far from us, but word travels fast. It wasn't uncommon for a werewolves mate to be a human. I was pretty sure the only reason they didn't kill us all off was because of that. Being a werewolves' mate meant protection, money, and the loss of your freedom. I'm sure some humans would argue that latter, some like Elsa. Wolves already commanded our existence and the thought of being permanently tied to one was my worst nightmare.

"Someone should rescue her," I muttered.

"Scarlett! First of all, have you seen Alpha Carson? He's gorgeous." Amber rolled her eyes. "Second of all, imagine being a wolf's mate? Or better yet, an Alphas? No more vegetable soup! You would never go hungry and live in one of their giant houses. They would love and care for you. Isn't it so-"

"Nauseating?" I cut her off. Amber laughed at Elsa's enraged face.

Elsa glared, "Romantic!"

"Do you truly believe that those monsters can love and care for their mates?" I asked.

"Of course! I heard when Alpha Carson saw his mate, he stopped everything he was doing and ran to her. He swooped her up in his arms and took her to his packhouse. He was like a knight in shining armour."

"I'm pretty sure knights don't have fur." I deadpanned.

"Scarlett, you are just cynical." Elsa huffed. I felt a pang of guilt. I should let Elsa have her fantasies, no matter how much I didn't believe in them. I have heard the love stories and songs about mates, and just because I wasn't so sure they were true didn't mean I should drag Elsa down with me.

"Maybe your right, Elsa. I'm just tired and grumpy." I said, sighing. Amber caught my eye, giving me a small smile.

I made my way to our small bathroom, the green-tiled floors cold against my feet. I rubbed some soap on my face, scrubbing away the grease and grime of the day. Rinsing the cool water off I glanced at my reflection in the small cracked mirror. My eyes had deep bags underneath, and my lips were cracked. I looked exhausted. I made my way to my favourite part of the house, the window still. The window overlooked the back of the house, where a small river flowed through with willow trees scattered among it. I sat grabbing the book I had forgotten there, tucking my knees to my chest. I only had one book that I had read more times than I could count. 

The book was about aliens in space and I often wished I could be like them, travelling among the stars. The pages were weathered and stained but between these pages was another world. I desperately wanted another book, but they were expensive. There was only one bookstore in town, a small crumbling building that housed more books than I had ever seen before. Maybe tomorrow I would go and just visit it. Just glancing at the shiny covers and fresh ink would make me feel better. Smiling with the thought of possibly getting a new book, I settled into chapter one.