CHAPTER 4

Vivian's POV

"Ouch!"

"I told you that you were weak."

I glared up at Chris from my position on the ground. He had just swept my feet out from under me, landing me flat on my back. He hadn't been kidding about 4:30am, and he hadn't been kidding about me being weak.

I was surprised when he reached a hand out to me to help me up. I wasn't surprised when he quickly took that hand away, and I fell backward. "Gotta keep you guessing, Vivid."

"Stop calling me that."

"Nope."

A howl signaled the end of training. Chris left me there, glaring at his retreating back. I still hated him, but at this point, he was all that I had. I scrambled to my feet and ran to catch up with him. "Where are we going now?"

He arched an eyebrow at me. "We?"

"Well, what does the pack do after training?"

"Breakfast, then patrol. You're just training, though. So you can play in some dirt or something. You can't go on patrol yet if it's something you can earn the right to do."

"Oh."

"What?"

"I'm just…nothing. I'll figure it out. Thanks again."

He nodded and jogged away to join his friends, leaving me alone. Again. I needed to get used to this. Without Zeke, this was going to be my new norm, especially with the pack now treating me like I had a contagious disease since my birthday. Nothing but looks of pity and whispers being spoken around me.

I still couldn't understand what happened. Just then, I saw my ex-best friend exiting the mess hall, laughing loudly, his arms around the new girl. Samantha. They both looked at each other like they couldn't get enough of one another. I froze, wanting to disappear into the ground beneath me. Maybe they didn't see me, and I could slip away and skip breakfast. I started to turn, but Zeke caught me at the last second. "Vivian!"

I froze. Why was he calling my name? I spun around. "Yes?"

"Come here."

I narrowed my eyes, moving closer to where he and Samantha stood. "Yes, Zeke?"

"I heard you've started training with the warriors this morning."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I want to make myself useful to the pack."

He nodded. "I think you'd be better suited as a maid. My maid, to be exact."

I jerked my head up. "What? No."

"Excuse me? You should be honored I allow you in my presence, mutt," Zeke sneered.

Gasping, I looked over at Samantha, who I'd never spoken to but hoped she'd see some reason for how he was treating me. But a smirk played across her lips. She didn't even know me, but it was plain that she hated me. "You shouldn't be so disrespectful towards your future Alpha."

"You'll report to my chambers every morning to serve me breakfast at 7am and will work until 7pm every day. That's how you will be useful to the pack."

"I still have time to train then. They start at 5am."

Zeke rolled his eyes. "Fine. Do what you want in your free time. Just don't burden the warriors with your bumbling around. Since I've already had breakfast this morning, run to laundry and get started."

"Can I go eat breakfast first?"

Rolling his eyes again. "Fine. Just go."

I nodded again and ran, not wanting to further annoy him. This was not the same person I grew up with. When I looked back, Samantha was whispering in his ear again. What secrets did they already share?

---

My first day as Zeke's maid had been exhausting. It was full of laundry. He had me on wash the entire pack house's laundry today, along with the curtains and the linen. It didn't need done but he had insisted. He wanted to start our professional relationship fresh, he said. Whatever that meant.

By the time I was slinking my way back home, I forgot I had needed to go grocery shopping. Our small pack town was meant to be all walking distance but it was still a distance to go everywhere. And the grocery store was the opposite direction of home. I sighed, turning around and making my way back the way I came.

Foot steps behind me had me swirling around to catch a glimpse of movement before I was on my back. "I can't believe you let me catch you off guard like that. Where are your wolf instincts?"

Chris stood over me, glaring. Ivy was silent on me since the rejection. I hadn't heard her at all. Not even during training. She was upset and confused. But at the question of her instincts, I felt her bristle inside. She was still with me.

"I've had a busy day today, Chris. Can't you just leave me alone?"

"Nope. Where you headed?"

"I need to get groceries."

"I'll come with you. You need a lesson in the proper diet of a warrior so you aren't so weak."

I stood up, ignoring the fake offer of his helping hand. "Thanks but no thanks. I can handle groceries by myself."

"It wasn't a request, Vivid."

"Shut up."

"Whatever you say, Vivid. Now let's get going. We have an early day tomorrow. You can prattle on about your day while we walk and why it was such a long day. Figure out a way to be less of a waste of space?"

We started our way towards Nelly's Grocery, as I started detailing my day, him grunting in return. "And why did he want you to be his maid?"

"To humiliate me more, I guess?"

Chris grunted in response. I grunted back. He grunted. I grunted. He paused and looked at me. "Why are you grunting?"

"I'm just doing what you're doing. All you do is grunt. It's so weird."

"I do not."

I grunted. He made the noise back, and I continued the cadence. We burst out laughing. I continued laughing, doubling over and holding my side, tears filling my eyes. Was I really here in the middle of the street laughing at grunts with my bully?

When we finally stopped, I stood up straight, and Chris was staring at me. "I got to go."

"Okay."

Without a word, he shifted and took off into the darkness. I smiled softly, maybe I could have half a friend.