Katherine ran after me and soon caught up with me.
"Is there something you are hiding from me?" she asked.
"No," I muttered.
"I don't think so. You seem worked up when I asked you why you left the Lycan Pack"
"I wasn't worked up. I was not just interested in the conversation"
"Really?"
I ignored her and hurried up. We were close to the meeting ground already. The meeting was to take place in the dining hall and most of the girls were in the hall already.
Katherine held my hand. "You..."
"Hurry up," Helen told us. She was standing by the door. "Bella is becoming impatient"
We hurried into the hall and joined the rest quietly. There was silence as we waited for Bella to speak. She stared at us, saying nothing. My heart suddenly began to pant hard. Bella's lips curved into a smile. 
"Good news" she muttered and there was a loud clapping across the hall. 
I couldn't clap like the rest, but could only tap my feet impatiently. All I wanted was a quick word from Bella so we can all return to work. They stopped clapping and silence returned.
"As we all have heard, the Alpha's wedding is coming up so soon. Are we all happy about that?"
"Yes!!!" Everyone muttered in unison, except me.
"No" I muttered quietly.
"Though there is no date yet. The council of elders will be having a meeting before the week runs out to pick a date"
I scoffed slightly. I did not see any connection between the two of them. What sort of marriage are they going into? I wondered. 
"Because of this, a few of you here, will be promoted," Bella said and shouts erupted.
"What does that mean?" I asked Katherine.
"Those promoted will get to work in better places" she answered happily.
"And they won't be slaves anymore?"
She sighed. "It's only a promotion, not an amnesty"
I sighed. Then why is everyone happy about it?
"You are not happy?"
"I am not sad either"
"Well, you seem to be the only one not happy about the news"
"Because that is nothing compared to good news. It's just a slave upgrade, nothing more"
"Xavia, I think you should learn to be appreciative. You are just being too bitter" she said but I ignored her. 
"Attention everyone!" Bella said and silence returned.
"Those promoted get to leave the dormitory and live with the other servants at their respective places of work. Isn't that a piece of good news?" Bella asked.
"It is" they all replied while I rolled my eyes.
Katherine chuckled. "Is that not good news?"
I groaned. "Maybe it is"
"I have written out the names of those who have been promoted. So you all should check the board for your names and resume at your respective work post immediately"
"Yes, ma'am" we all answered.
"What will you say to the Alpha and the Luna who made this possible?" Bella asked.
"We are grateful to them" they answered and I sighed.
"That will be all for now. You can all go" Bella said, dismissing us.
We left the hall and headed to the notice board. There were so many girls checking out their names, making it difficult for Katherine and me to get closer. We find a place to sit while waiting for the right time to move closer.
"Do you think we both get promoted?" Katherine asked.
"I do not wish that" I replied nonchalantly. 
"But I do. I wish we could get a better place to work and a better place to sleep. Did you not hear when Bella said we get to leave the dorm? Do you not want to leave the dorm?"
"I want to. I also do not want to remain a slave who gets promoted. I want freedom!". Katherine placed her hand over my mouth but I pushed her hand away and frowned. "What are you doing?"
"What are you saying? I know you yearn for freedom but you can't say it out loud"
"Why can't I?"
"You..."
"Xavia, you got promoted," a girl said and I stared at her.
"You said what?"
"I saw your name on the list. Your name comes first"
I stood up promptly. "My-my name?"
She nodded and I moved forward quickly. "Pave way, please. Sorry," I muttered as I pushed people slightly aside.
I was soon standing in front of the board. I placed my hand on it and gasped. Just like the girl said, my name came first.
"You have been promoted to the kitchen," Katherine said. "I think that is goodbye"
"That can't be" I muttered. "Your name should be there," I said, roaming my hand through the white paper placed on the board.
"You don't have to do that. My name is..." 
"Your name is on the list too. I saw it. You are working in the kitchen with Xavia" Helen said.
We turned to face her. "Are you serious about this?" I asked, my eyes filled with longing.
Helen nodded. "Yes. Her name should be on... Yes. That's it. I have seen it" she said pointing at the name.
I breathed a sigh of relief. "This is what I call good news" I muttered.
Katherine pulled me into a hug. "I thought I would have to tell you goodbye"
I hugged her. "I thought so too"
"Enough of the emotions. We need to get to work" Helen said.
"Are you also going to work in the kitchen?" I asked and Helen nodded.
"Yes"
**
We were asked to stand in a straight line. About twenty of us were appointed to the kitchen. Three women were standing in front of us with about twenty other girls, dressed in a uniform I presumed to be for the kitchen.
One of the women spoke up. I assumed her to be the head of the kitchen maids. She also seems older than the rest of the women. She explained how fortunate we are to work in the kitchen and how hard we should try to work. After her short words of encouragement, she left with one of the two other women who I presumed to be her assistant.
I had thought they would introduce themselves to us but they never did. The last woman stared meanly at us. I could tell working with her will be a problem.
"Which of you is Xavia?" she asked and my heart skipped a beat.
Why is she suddenly asking of me and how did she know my name? I wondered. 
I stared at Katherine who stared at me.
"You will not want me to repeat myself" she yelled, her voice sounding like thunder and I quickly raised my hand.
I wondered how her voice could sound so loud and fearful.
"You?" she muttered in a more calm and low voice.
That caught me by surprise.
"Yes, ma'am" I muttered.
"Come over here," she said and I moved closer to her. "You will be working with me, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am"
"Pick five girls you will like to work with"
I stared at Katherine and she smiled. Helen smiled too.
"Katherine, Helen" I called. A girl slightly raised her hand and I pointed at her. I pointed at two other random girls who stared at me disapprovingly but still came out anyway.
"Good" she muttered. "The rest of the girls not chosen will be working in the Alpha and Luna's kitchen. You know what that means"
I stared at the faces of the other girls. While some showed fear and disapproval others seemed happy to work there.
"Sarah" she called and a girl wearing the kitchen uniform moved forward. "Take the rest of the girls to the Alpha and Luna's kitchen head and join us immediately"
Sarah bowed. "Yes, ma'am"
She gestured to the girls and they followed her out. After they left, the older woman faced us.
"So you are the girls who will be joining us?" she said, folding her arms. "Well, let me introduce myself. I am Luella, one of the heads of the general kitchen. When I say general kitchen, I mean every kitchen in the Packhouse, including the Alpha and Luna's kitchen. Now, there are three segments of the kitchen. The cooking segment, the cleaning segment, and the washing segment. Work is carried out, according to the names of the segments. We belong to the cleaning segment. Every segment has two sets of workers. The general workers and those that work for the Alpha and Luna. They are called special workers. Those girls taken away a few minutes ago are the special workers while you are the general workers, ok. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am" we chorused.
"Is there any question before I move on?"
"No, ma'am" we muttered.
"Good. All you have to do is clean, mop, and sweep. And that will be done before cooking and after cooking. Foods are made three times a day, which means cleaning, mopping, and sweeping will be done three times a day. Xavia, you will work in the morning. You and you" she pointed at Katherine and another girl. "You will start with the afternoon shift. The rest of you will work in the evening. You get to change shifts, every two weeks. But that does not include Xavia. You clean only in the morning and go back to the garden for the rest of the day" she said and I blinked. 
Why do I get to work in two places?
"Ma'am, do we get to work at other places too?" a girl asked.
"No"
"Can we help out at other places if we do not have anything else to do?" Katherine asked.
"No" she muttered and I sighed.