Trasholes

Amelia

I startled awake after what felt like only a few hours of sleep later, getting screamed at by Bianca. "Get your lazy ass up! Father is looking everywhere for you, and you are hiding in the dungeon! Alpha Landon will be here soon, and you are to be available for anything we need. I want Landon as my mate, and I won't have you screwing this up." Bianca growls and tries to pull me up from the cot.

I can't believe she is down here in her fancy clothes, looking ridiculous. Alpha Randall must be pretty pissed off to have everyone out looking for me. I stood up and jerked my arm out of her hold.

“Get your hands off me. I am coming." I glance over to the cell next to me and Bianca catches my gaze.

"Oh, let me guess? You whored yourself out to the dungeon rat? Doesn't surprise me."

I give her nothing in response. It would be a waste of my time and despite waking up, I am too tired to deal with her. I trudge up the stairs and toward the pack house.

"No, go to your place and wash up. You stink. Seriously, you would poison Landon with your stench." Creative.

I don't bother to argue with her that my filth is their fault. Instead, I take the much-wanted opportunity to go home and wash up.

My shoulder is starting to feel better; it still hurts but it is an improvement. If I can sneak some food, I will keep improving. Maybe I should ask for meals today? Surely, they wouldn't deny me in the presence of their guest. I would pay for it later, but it would be worth it for a full meal.

I hobble home and remove my clothing. I make the shower as hot as possible and wash away my weeks' worth of filth. They watch my water usage somehow out here, so I must be careful. That or they just made it up to keep me under control. Either way it worked.

I have to use the same soap on my clothes that I use in my hair. It is not meant for hair, and I smell like a walking mop bucket. It feels like it takes me hours to get my hair detangled because of it. My scalp is on fire from the constant pulling.

I hate it.

I quickly rummage around and find a black, servant’s dress and put it on. It isn't clean, but it's not noticeably dirty either.

I smooth it out and gather my wet hair to the back of my head, securing it in a tight bun before putting on black flats and heading out the door. I hate wearing dresses. It is too convenient for disgusting Alphas to get their hands under.

Hopefully, Bianca can keep Alpha Landon busy in case he is one of the disgusting types. I have managed to get myself out of most shitty situations and I hope to keep that streak up.

I walk back to the pack house, deciding to make a pit stop along the way. Well two. One, to the kitchens to sneak food, then to the dungeon. I cut through Ruth's the old, bitter hag’s backyard. She was one that took turns ‘raising me’. That is how I know that she should have apples on her tree right now. I hide out in the bushes and wait until I no longer see or hear anyone. I carefully creep into her backyard and look around several times before plucking a couple of apples and sticking them down my dress.

Bras are good for something.

Despite being malnourished, I still have a reason to wear a bra, and nobody pays attention to me closely anyway. I keep my head down and hide out in enclaves and hallways until the coasts are clear to get to the kitchens.

Successful attempts at stealing food give me false confidence that I can get away with attempting to escape. That is one reason I don't try to break the rules often.

The second is the punishment for getting caught.

I wait until Floris turns her back and I sneak into the kitchen hunched over and use the island to hide my small frame. I peek up and see nobody, so I steal two plates of roast and potatoes off the island. I wait a few moments until I hear Floris shuffle toward the back freezer, then I make my break for it. I dart as quickly as I can out of the kitchen and toward the mess hall exit.

Once I leave, I keep my head down and leave the house out the back where the servant's rooms are kept. I am not allowed in there either, but my uniform today helps me blend in.

I make it down the servant's hall and out the back doors. I take the long way through the forest to come up to the back side of the dungeon shed. I lean against the building for a while trying to use whatever is left of my shifter hearing to listen for any others around. I hear and see nobody.

They are all probably busy putting the last touches on everything while awaiting this Alphas arrival.

Big freaking who cares.

I open the door, putting one plate carefully across the other, doubting the stranger will complain there are potatoes on the bottom of his plate, and I quickly close it behind me. There is hardly any light from the sconce that someone lit on the wall. The stranger is still against the back wall, hidden by shadows. I can see more of him today though. He has a square jaw and high cheek bones. The whites of his eyes are easier to see, and his eyes glow red, a sign of a dangerous, powerful wolf.

I remember reading about it. I also find them faintly familiar.

"Little Warrior cleans up well," he says, and I roll my eyes.

"Shut up. I brought you some food." I put the plates down and push them into his cell through the small gap underneath his bars and push them further back with a stick. I don't want to force him out of the shadows if he doesn't want to be out of them.

I am not stupid enough to get on his bad side.

"Scared Little Warrior?" he asks, and I answer truthfully.

"No. Now save me one of the potatoes. You take the rest, so you have the strength to get out of here." I tell him. I also really want potatoes, so he better have been paying attention.

He laughs before scooping all the potatoes onto one plate with and removes the meat, minus a few pieces, and slides it back to me with a stick. I see a little more of his face come out from the shadows.

A short, stubbled beard covers his face. He has a firm jaw line. I see him smile and catch the view of his beautiful, straight teeth. I can't remember how long it has been since I noticed something attractive about a different sex.

Any shifters I found attractive growing up ruined it with their hate filled words.

I eat the potatoes and a few pieces of meat fast, taking the plates back to use as cover to get back into the kitchens. "I will try and get that collar remote for you." I tell him and mean it.

"Be careful little warrior. If all else fails, I will rip it off." he says, and I head up the stairs.