Chapter 1 “Be My Mistress"

• Yuri’s Point of View
• "Keep your gaze low," I whispered the same old mantra I recited every time I stood before the study door. I adjusted my uniform: a worn gray frock and a crisp white apron. With the silver tray trembling in my grip, I rapped on the door and called out, “Coffees are here.”
• A voice from within replied, “Come in.”
• I inhaled deeply and pushed the door open. With each step I took, the porcelain cups chimed against the metal tray. When I dared to lift my eyes, I caught sight of Julius, the Elder of the Cubic Pack, settled in his usual spot by the window. Opposite him sat Rose, the Luna of the pack and the Alpha’s mother. She perched elegantly in the velvet armchair, her back impossibly straight, oozing an air of authority.
• These are the people I, a lowly omega wolf and a maid, had to win over.
• "At long last, I've been waiting for this," Rose said, motioning for me to draw near.
• I edged closer, careful not to catch their gaze as I balanced the tray on one hand. Then, I sat a cup before each of them. "Your coffee, Elder Julius. Luna Rose."
• After years of serving the Alpha family, I had honed my skills to move with grace, not spilling a single drop. When I stood tall again, I dared to glance at Rose, hoping for… well, I wasn't quite sure. A nod? An approval? Anything to show I wasn't invisible.
• Her red-painted nails glinted as she lifted her cup. For a second, I held my breath. After taking a sip, Rose crumbled and grimaced.
• "What is this?" she barked, slamming the cup down hard on the table.
• I wasn’t foolish enough to answer her and remind her it was "coffee." Instead, I kept my mouth shut and braced myself for another round of her endless complaints.
• "This ain't coffee. This is… garbage!" The moment she spat those words, Rose flung the coffee onto the carpet!
• I stood there, jaw dropped, watching that dark brew seep into the fine carpet like a bad omen.
• “What’s wrong, darling? The coffee’s just dandy,” Elder Julius drawled.
• “Dandy? You’ve got a real knack for bad taste, sweetheart.” Then Rose shot me a glare that could cut glass and barked, “You have to be grateful I’m not in the mood to toss a peasant out. Get your ugly mug out of my sight before I make you regret it.”
• My hands itched to ball up into fists, but I kept them at my sides, biting down on my cheeks till I tasted blood. “Yes, Luna.”
• It was always the same song and dance. No matter how much I swallowed my pride or bit my tongue, it never seemed to be enough. In the eyes of Luna and Elder, I was just a lowly servant. I turned on my heel and made my way to the door.
• “So, have you wrapped up the wedding plans for Regis?" Elder Julius uttered.
• I felt my ears perk up at his question.
• "Absolutely. The Beta’s daughter is a fine choice. She’ll make a splendid Luna," Rose answered.
• I stood frozen in place, my hand dropping from the doorknob like a wilted flower.
• "Have you told Regis?" Julius inquired.
• "He’s over the moon. They’re destined for each other as mates, after all."
• Destined. Mates. Wedding. Those words clashed in my mind, like a snake and a rabbit in a standoff. It didn't feel right. It wasn’t long ago that Regis had whispered sweet promises: ‘You will be my Luna, Yuri. The one I’ll cherish forever.’
• He always swore I was the woman he’d fight for, come hell or high water. And now… now he would marry another woman. He didn't say a single word about this!
• My heart felt like it was about to burst while the chatter swirled around me. ‘You’re being foolish,’ I scolded myself. ‘Have faith in Regis! Maybe this is just what his parents want. There’s gotta be a reason, and he’ll set you straight!’
• He better.
• I gripped that tray like it was a lifeline and moved ahead, but my steps felt wobbly, like I was walking on quicksand. Once I cleared the study room, I nearly tripped my way down the hallway. My sight was all hazy with every stride, and it felt like unseen hands were trying to choke the breath right out of me.
• "He wouldn’t. He couldn’t," I repeated those words.
• By the time I hit the stairwell, I was almost running. My breaths were short and ragged, and my heart was pounding against my temples.
• “Regis,” I whispered under my breath. “I need to find Regis.”
• I didn’t bother with a knock when I got to his door. My hand gripped the handle, and I swung it open without a second thought.
• “Yuri?” he exclaimed, his eyes wide as he spotted me. He stood by the window, his broad shoulders framed by the warm afternoon light. His golden hair glowed like a halo, and those blue eyes of his were like the deep sea, a place I longed to dive into. He was the handsome man who made my heart race and kept me up all night with his texts.
• He was the one I loved more than anyone else.
• “What are you doing here? Quick, shut the door! What if someone sees us?” He hurried across the room. As soon as he clicked the door shut, Regis wrapped me in his arms. “You showed up just when I needed you. I’ve missed you, Yuri.” With those sweet words, he kissed me, so smooth, so practiced, as if the news I’d just learned about had never destroyed my world.
• “Stop,” I muttered against his lips, my hands pressing against his chest.
• “Yuri, what’s—”
• “Stop!” I pushed him back with more force, stepping out of his reach. My breathing was uneven, and my hands were shaking, but I didn’t care. “Tell me the truth, Regis.”
• His brows furrowed. “About what?”
• “I heard them,” I said, my voice cracked. “Your parents. They were talking about your wedding. To Jasmine.”
• His expression. From the way he tightened his jaw and the way he looked away with his hands running through his hair, I could tell his answer.
• I gasped, “Haa. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
• “I am sorry,” Regis uttered, unable to look back. “I have to.”
• I stepped backward and bit my lip. The emotions I’d been holding back when I was in front of his parents, began to spill over. “You promised me. You said it didn’t matter that I am an omega. That…”
• “I DO LOVE YOU!” he interrupted. He looked into my eye and leaned closer. “I still do. But I have responsibilities, Yuri. I’m the Alpha. I have to think about what’s best for the pack. And you? You’re not the Luna I need.”
• A single tear slid down my cheek, a salty trail. But I didn’t wipe it away. There was no point. Regis made his choice. He had to discard an omega wolf because she’s worthless. That’s me. The garbage.
• “I never wanted to hurt you,” he whispered. “But my parents won’t accept this. Even the members of our pack won’t accept you as their Luna.”
• This is it. He’s throwing me away.
• “But there’s another way.” Regis reached for my hand.
• With tears kept flowing down, I looked at him. Loss. Empty. Confused. What was he saying? What on earth does it mean that he found a way to solve this?
• “You don’t have to leave my side,” he said. “I’ll marry Jasmine, but… we can still be together. You’ll always have a place in my life. You’ll be my mistress.”