The Twin Alphas and Their Hidden Mate

The Hidden Princess

THALINA’S POV

“Damn it, Thalina! What the heck are you doing being lazy around here?! Didn’t I tell you to put these sacks of rice into the storage?!”

I jumped out from dozing off while lying on the ground when I heard Maddie’s irritated loud voice. She’s an orphan werewolf like me who has been taken in by the monastery when she lost both of her parents at a young age.

Still groggy from the nap, I slowly stood up only to be slapped hard on my head. Ever since I knew, Maddie and the other orphans liked to pick on me to do the tasks that weren’t assigned to me. They also like to bully me knowing that I would just shut up and suck it all up.

“You are really one worthless werewolf so you don’t deserve any dinner tonight!”

She lifted her hand ready to slap me again but I caught it midair making her gasp. It’s the first time I actually stood up for myself.

“I planted the crops this morning. The fields are filled with seeds because it’s my task for today and I already finished it.”

Maddie’s eyes widened in disbelief hearing that I was talking back to her. "Are you seriously f*****g complaining?!” She arched her brows and looked at the other orphans nearby waiting for what’s going to happen.

“Did we complain when our food decreased when another mouth to feed like you came in the monastery?!”

She kicked my legs and pulled her hand from mine. Being skinny that I am, she easily overpowered me and was now dragging me into the dirt.

“Do you want me to tell Sister Celine that you refused to do the chores just because you planted the crops?! Do you want to see her suffering because of your hardheadedness?”

Hearing the nun’s name, I immediately stopped struggling and simply shook my head. Sister Celine is the only ally I have in this place. She was the only one who gave me bread when I was starving from planting. She is the only one who remembered my birthday and gave me a gift when I turned 17 this year. She is the only one who understands me here.

I cannot afford to make her worried. Knowing her, she will defend me again in front of the orphans which will make them jealous and get angry at her.

Clenching my hands, I wiped my tears away and looked at Maddie’s mocking stare. "I'm sorry. I'm going to do it now."

She grinned and flicked my nose. “Good. Now f*****g do it now!”

Despite my body aching from planting the whole day, I got up and hauled the sacks into my tiny shoulders.

It’s always been like this for me. Life is harsh as I knew it ever since.

My fate has been cruel the second I was born in this world and I have no choice but to embrace it wholeheartedly.

"After that, wash the dishes in the sink. At least be worthy enough for every grain of food that you are eating! Do you understand?"

I nodded and proceeded to get her orders done even when the other orphans were just lounging around, laughing and letting me do the tasks that were meant for them to do instead.

Unlike the other orphans, no one knew where I came from. Stories have it that on a stormy night, someone had left me outside the monastery gates with only a necklace hanging around my neck that I had never once taken off.

This is the only thing connected to my origin. This is the only clue I have of my own identity if I have any.

When midnight struck, I dragged my battered body into the prayer hall for the nightly prayers. This is a daily ritual and no one should be absent or else you will be confined into a room of solitary.

Due to exhaustion, I fell asleep during the time when they were lighting the candle and dreamed of a palace in flames and a wolf so beautiful, huge, and bright that I could only gape at it in admiration.

“Child, your destiny will awaken all,” whispered a woman in my ear. “It can’t seal you forever. The time of reckoning is coming!”

“Fire! There is fire!”

I heard screams that felt more real than a dream.

“We are under siege!”

“Rogue wolves are attacking us! I repeat, rogue wolves are attacking us!”

“Quick! Put off the candles!”

I felt a hot liquid on my thigh that woke the hell out of me.

That’s when I opened my eyes and saw the chaos before me. Everyone is running and shouting around me as strangers in bonnets and masks are busy putting the temple’s gifts and offerings to the gods into their own sacks.

Rogue wolves were also growling around attacking the nuns and monks who were trying to protect the temple.

“What are you doing pillaging the house of the moon goddess? This is a holy place!” Sister Celine opened her arms to block them when they tried to take the gold statue of the moon goddess. “This is blasphemy!”

“If you do not want to meet your moon goddess now, then I suggest you step aside!” barked a man and showed her his claws.

“Sister Celine!” I wailed when a rogue wolf choked her before smacking her aside. “Sister Celine!”

I ran towards her to help her but a burning wood fell off from the ceiling blocking my way.

“Take everything you can! Food! Wine! Money and gold! Kill those on our way!” ordered a man in a red mask who seemed to be their leader.

I stood frozen in my feet just watching the fire lick the pillars of the temple. Soon, the whole place is ablaze.

Everything happened instantly. In the blink of an eye, the whole monastery has been engulfed in flames. The place that I knew since I was alive, the good and memories that I have, were now nothing but ashes and embers.

“Let’s leave now! Faster!” The nuns shouted and led the orphans to the exit.

That’s when I moved to come with the other orphans to escape but Maddie blocked me and pushed me to the ground.

“Stay here and be our distraction, Thalina. Serve your f*****g purpose!” she hissed and shut the door to my face denying me any chance of getting out.

“No!” I screamed in panic while slamming my hands on the door. “Please let me in! Please let me come with you, too! Sister Celine! Sister Celine!”

If only I could shift into my wolf, I could probably save myself but I was too weak to even tap at my wolf.

I don’t even know if I have one. I don’t feel it. There is not a single time in my life where I sense it inside me.

“Oh, look what we have here!” said a grinning n***d man fresh from his shifted form. “A pretty little token for the men’s long night.”

I gasped and ran away but he was quick to seize my arm.

“I got us a hostage! I got us a slave!” The man celebrated parading me to the other wolves who growled hungrily at me.

“No!” I screamed in my head when he picked me up like a log and threw me inside a sack together with his loot and swung me on his back taking me with them into their horses.

I kicked him as hard as I could but no matter how I tried to fight back, my small tiny body could only do so much. In the end, he successfully took me with them.

Staring at the light of the moon through the small holes of the sack, I can’t help but shed tears.

Moon goddess, when will my suffering end? Is there hope left for me?