Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Samantha’s POV

Omega Muriel froze when Tyler swept into the room. “Y–Young Alpha Tyler,” she stammered, curtsying timidly,” I wasn’t expecting you-”

Tyler came to stop in front of us and planted his hands on his hips. “Muriel, why are you making Elena clean the toilets all by herself on her first day?”

“It’s a standard task for a pack member,” Muriel replied matter–of–factly.

The young Alpha’s eyebrows lifted at that. “One that’s rotated amongst all of the pack members. And yet you’re making Elena do it all alone on her very first day as if she’s our new indentured servant.”

The Omega supervisor’s throat bobbed. Suddenly feeling bad for causing conflict in a pack I had only just joined, I stepped forward and forced a smile. “It’s okay. In my previous pack-”

“See? I told you!” Natasha’s voice suddenly cut through the tension like a knife. We all turned to see that she had just walked in through the bathroom door, and had her arms folded across her chest with a sour look on her face. She wore an elegant blue gown today and had her golden hair pulled back into a severe bun.

“I thought you said you were a rogue, girl,” Natasha said, pointing at me. “And now you’re saying you were once part of a pack? Were you lying, or did you hit your head so hard you forgot?!!

My heart stuttered to a stop in my chest. I looked at Tyler, but even he was looking at me with surprise.

Dammit, I thought, chiding myself inwardly for my blunder. If Ava were here, she would have stopped me from saying something so stupid. But she wasn’t, and now I was facing the consequences of my loose tongue.

I had no choice but to admit the truth. Or part of it, at least.

“I was falsely accused for a crime I didn’t commit and was taken as a pack slave nearly four years ago,” I admitted. “I spent several years under that pack’s control, and lost my wolf. But I escaped.”

Tyler drew in a sharp breath. “You were… a slave?”

I nodded. “For almost four years. So that’s why I don’t mind doing some extra chores around here; it’s a lot better than what I had to do as a slave.”

Natasha’s lips twisted into a cruel sneer. “No one is taken in as a slave by any pack unless there’s a good reason. You must have done something horrible, like commit a heinous crime or steal habitually.”

Before I could answer, she turned to Tyler. “Now you understand why I didn’t want her here. It’s best if we send her away now, before she has a chance to cause trouble.”

I wrung my hands behind my back nervously, staring at the floor. I could feel Tyler’s gaze on me, making the tips of my ears redden.

Surely he was going to kick me out, and then I’d really be screwed–penniless, wolfless, and with nowhere to go except the rogue–infested forests between packs. I’d be back in the Moon Goddess’s domain by the end of the day, and somehow I had a feeling she wouldn’t send me back for a third life.

But Tyler finally shook his head. “No, Mother. I believe Elena.”

I jerked my head up, expecting him to laugh or sneer at me, but saw only gentle understanding on his face. “No matter the reason,” he said softly, “making someone live as a slave for years is unjustifiable. How young were you

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when you were sentenced?”

“Sixteen.”

Tyler’s face fell. “That’s far too young. I doubt whatever you did was that bad. If you weren’t falsely accused as you said, that is.”

His words warmed me from the inside out. That was the first time anyone had said anything like that to me; everyone else accused me of lying or ignored me completely.

It was nice to have someone on my side. I wanted to hold onto this feeling and savor it just in case it was fleeting, even if only for a little while.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

Tyler’s smile returned. “No need to thank me. In Nightshade, there’s a saying: ‘Don’t judge a person based on the past or the future, but rather the present. The present is all that matters.“”

“That’s a nice saying,” I replied. I wished more people would give that philosophy a try.

Just then, Natasha cleared her throat, drawing our attention again. She strode slowly over to me, heels clicking on the tiled floors. Beneath her trailing blue gown, she almost appeared not to be walking at all, but rather floating.

“My son seems to have a soft spot for you already,” she sighed, then glanced sidelong at Tyler. Her gaze hardened once more when it returned to me and flicked disdainfully over me. “I’ll discuss the matter with my husband.”

With that, Natasha turned to leave. At a nod from Tyler, Muriel left, too. Once we were alone, Tyler looked at me.

“You don’t have to worry,” he said warmly. “My father will let you stay. And what’s more: I spoke to him last night and we plan to help you regain your wolf.”

My mouth dropped open. No one cared about me enough to do anything like that for as long as I could remember. I’d always been a burden, and then Serena had caused the rogue attack and everything after it… And then there was Kade, who had quite literally killed me.

No one from my past life was kind enough to me to care this much. I’d only just met Tyler, and already he was doing more than my family or mate ever had.

For the first time in years, I wanted to cry. Not out of sadness, but out of joy.

“You’d really help me do that?” I asked, turning to face him fully. “We’ve only just met.”

Tyler shrugged and nodded at the same time. “You’re a member of Nightshade pack now. As the future Alpha, it’s my duty to help anyone in my pack.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“I think I have an inkling. Come on, let’s get some breakfast.” Still smiling, Tyler hooked his arm with mine and led me out of the bathroom.

The Nightshade pack house was bustling at this hour, servants in black and gray uniforms bustling about while finely–dressed members of the pack’s upper classes made their way to and fro. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief when no one looked my way, except maybe to nod or curtsy at Tyler.

It was nice being anonymous. And not the pack’s personal punching bag.

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