This is the first book I published, the first chapter is free to read in the link below, however the next 6 chapters will be paywalled. The book is available to purchase HERE . I’d be incredibly grateful should you decide to buy my book or become a paid Subscriber, and read it here. You can read the free chapter 1 below:

Chapter 1

Stella’s mouth watered, as she watched Lord Rufus fill a bowl of food for her. Rufus was always the one to give her warm meals.

It was a hearty beef and vegetable stew. Stella grabbed the bowl and scurried off into a dirty corner by the hearth. She felt safe there. She usually ate, crouching on all fours above the bowl.

Lord Rufus gave a low laughter.

“Do not forget the hands that feed you, Stella,” he said before leaving the kitchen.

The maids and servants were sitting by the table. Stella was about to tuck into the stew, but she felt their eyes on her. She lifted her sight and stared back from underneath her black, furrowed brows. All of them were using wooden spoons to eat, but no one offered her one, not to mention a seat at the table. Stella slowly sat up. She felt their eyes judging her. Though she didn’t have a spoon, this time she used her fingers to eat.

“Why wouldn’t Lord Rufus leave her in the woods? He’d show more mercy to her if he’d let her freeze in the snows,” the old cook pondered.

Stella crawled deeper into the dark corner, turning her back on them and gobbled up the food savagely. She licked the bowl clean, put it on the floor and slowly dozed off, with her belly full of warm food and her back leaning against the hot stone wall near the hearth.