I was curled up on the cold floor after my father left. I remained in that position until dawn and the creaking of my door brought me back to full consciousness. I crawled on my stomach to stare fully at it as it cracked open and Derek sauntered in.
He was dressed in the ceremony regalia, a navy blue Armani suit, and looking all ready for the handover.I stood up while he stared at me with a mocking gaze, "I see you took my words lightly." He cackled."You put my father up to this, didn't you?" My teeth gritted as I asked.I'm pretty sure my father wouldn't want anything more in the world than my inexistence. Yes, he hates me to that extent. And I had no doubt Derek was involved in his sudden contradiction."It doesn't matter. I hope now you have accepted that you can never leave the pack under my watch?""I'm old enough to leave if I want to, I do not need even your permission." I tried to remain confident.Derek scoffed, "you can keep trying if you want, but you should know that greater punishment comes with every attempt. Worse than you can imagine.""Why exactly am I here, Derek? Why do you keep me here? No one loves me, you tell me every time how worthless I am to you but for some reason, you don't want me to leave?""I told you already, Omega. You are my pleasure slave. Do you have an idea what I went through last night because of your obstinance? It was the fucking full moon," he grumbled the last part. "I should never have left you.""How is that my fault? It was you who rejected me." I said. Knowing that he at least tasted some sort of pain or disturbance, gladdened me. Although it was nothing compared to how much pain I had endured from him, it was a little relieving to hear of his discomfort.My own little way of torturing him."Do you wish I hadn't?""Ew, never! Do you think I'd ever want to have a mate like you? I'd rather die and burn in hell!"He balled his fist hard and I perceived he was holding back from hitting me, trying to contain his anger."Liar!" He groaned, a flash of anger in his eyes."I don't care what you believe. If I ever get a second chance mate and it turns out to be you again, I would kill myself--"Stop!" He fumed. "You're just an Omega, how dare you think you have the right to reject me?""It takes two to become mate.""I see you grew a sharp tongue overnight, we should work on that first," he smirked, "guards!" He called and two guards burst through the door."Looks like Ellen here is interested in joining the servers today, make it happen and keep close supervision on her. Whip her if you have to but make sure she doesn't stop working until everyone leaves."I glared at him, refusing to give him the emotion he wanted out of me."Try to escape from me again, and I'll make you wish you had killed yourself when you had the chance."He jerk his jacket closer and stormed out.I was taken to my room and left to freshen up, and change into the servers' wear before I was escorted to the kitchen; a guard closely keeping watch on me. I was handed over to Paula and after the guard talked to her, she placed me on overnight duty as a punishment for arriving late.I wasn't surprised, knowing she felt no less about me."Don't stand there looking gormless, pick that wine tray and take it to the hall before I pluck out your eyeballs!" Paula scolded and I quickly set to work. "And you better not make any mistakes."I picked up the proffered tray as carefully as I could and sauntered out of the kitchen, down the narrow hallway, and to the staircase.Descending as carefully as I could, I arrived at the banquet hall where the ceremony was taking place. The hall was already filled, the atmosphere occupied with curt noises. I noticed Derek hadn't arrived yet, and neither had his father so I knew the event was yet to commence.The large banquet hall was exquisitely designed with marble and soft music from a live band glorified the atmosphere.The different colors and styles of ball gowns and dresses from the ladies added more brightness to the hall, while the men in designer suits and tuxes complimented them.Alphas, Betas, Lunas, and other top powerful wolves were present to grace the event, I recognized a few. Some with their mates.Ladies gathered in groups, interacting and grinning. Everyone seemed excited except me. I felt totally empty and incomplete, like a cold barren cell.Mixing with the other servers and offering the tray to whoever called, I couldn't help checking out the handwork of Natalie, me, and a few other workers in the hotel. We had spent hours making everything ready for today.If Natalie had been around, I wondered if I would even be here to witness this event."Psst!" A lady from a group signaled to me and I walked towards them."You know gamma Luke was totally checking you out!" One of the ladies said to another.I rolled my eyes when I got to them, the gossip being something I was used to but never engaged in."You think so," another, with a makeover too heavy for her face, said bashfully. Tucking an imaginary strand of hair behind her ear.I cleared my throat, announcing my presence again."Yes, I saw it too. Oh, I just wish I would find my mate among the Alphas. Alpha Drew, hopefully." The slimmest one dreamed."While you all are only interested in finding your mates, all I want to see is Alpha Ace. Oh gosh, I can't wait to meet him. I'll totally make him notice me!" The last girl fanned herself dramatically."Alpha Ace will be here?! How do you know that?""I heard my father discussing it with the elders. And I've never been more excited all my life.""Do you even know what he looks like? I heard he's mean but so hot, I doubt he's any match for Derek! Derek is the hottest!"I almost puked on myself hearing her describe Derek. Hot? That bastard? She must be blind. Anything living was hotter than that prick!Aggressively, I cleared my throat again, finally gaining their attention."I have other guests waiting to be served if you young misses do not mind." I put on my falsest smile when they simultaneously glared at me. They each picked a glass of wine and returned to their discussion.The whole event already put me off. All I wanted to do was return to my miserable room and sleep my misery off. I was on my third tray when the event fully started, the crowd got even thicker and the shadow pack leaders arrived.Seeing Derek's face and hearing his voice as he welcomed the guests, worsened my condition. I wished to be anywhere but here.Anywhere at all.My lips remained flattened into a smile as I mixed into the crowd, serving as many guests that called out to me.I glanced back and noticed the guard Derek had placed to watch me, staring squarely at me like I was his sole focus in life. I rolled my eyes and started to turn back when I bumped into someone, the wolf's dignified outfit immediately got soaked with the red liquid before the glasses came crashing to the floor.A gasp tore out of my lips, a pang of fear enveloping me when I recognized who I had bumped into and even louder when I realized I was now the center of attraction in the hall......."You cursed wench!" Mira Tate screamed at me, staring down at her white dress with a mixture of distaste and fury. I tore my gaze from the crowd of desperate stares fixated on us and started to apologize to Derek's girlfriend, Mira. Another of my worst nightmare. She was Derek's girlfriend and as you must've guessed, she was just as cruel as him. At the slightest chance she gets, she never ceased to display her cruelty. "I-I'm so sorry.." I started to say."Oh, I'll make you sorry!" She snarled and in an instant, a handful of my hair was in her fist as she pulled me back and forth, causing a burning sensation on my scalp. I cringed, as her grip tightened, trying to tear myself from her grip. "Let me go, you're hurting me!" I cried, struggling. At this point, I was sure she had successfully uprooted some strands of my hair as the pain aggravated. "You fuckin bitch, you purposely did this, didn't you?" She gritted. "To disrupt the event and ruin my dress, you piece of shit!"
A cry flew out of my mouth as the soup burnt into my skin. A pin-drop silence fell over the room and soon I was scampering for help, my eyes burned with pepper so I had to squint them. Mira had gotten out of the kitchen somehow, leaving me to fear for myself and more for the man-wolf who was supposedly my mate, standing by the doorway. Why was his scent familiar? I noticed he was still staring at me, a flash of anger resting in his eyes. I was unable to tell who the emotion was directed at but I feared it was for me. I was an Omega and this man looked extremely powerful. As he started to move, my fear heightened. I wondered where he was going because his movement was further into the kitchen. Was he going to kill me? Trample on me for daring to be his mate? My life flashed before my eyes as he made each step.While Amy jubilated about having a companion, I saw my life flash before my very eyes. "Get out of my way!" The burning pain disappeared for a moment when I realized he was ma
Lost in my world of fantasy, I didn't notice my father storming towards us until Alpha Ace stopped walking. I noticed him in front of us, his gaze flashing past me without an iota of care for my burns. "Alpha Ace, I heard what happened. I'm sorry for whatever trouble she must have caused you, I will ensure she is punished to whatever length you might desire." He apologized, his eyes blazing with fury."Allow me to take her from here." "Step away," Alpha Ace thundered. "W-what?" My father stuttered. Ace said nothing, so he continued and lowered his hands, "My daughter is irresponsible, I'll understand if you choose to punish her yourself. Please, do whatever you want with her." "Your daughter?" He glanced at me, as though seeking confirmation. I nodded once, "he's my father." "I see," he eyed him briefly, "the wolf who did this to you, do you know who she is?" I gulped before speaking. "Yes." "What's her name?" "Mira. Mira Tate. She is Alpha Derek's Luna."He turned to my fath
...I was still in Ace's embrace. His thick manly fingers stroked my hair, his eyes lovingly watching me. I felt uneasy and relaxed at the same time, the mate bond brought the latter feeling. The fact that he acknowledged me as his mate gave me a mixed feeling. I wasn't used to being loved, but this powerful Alpha seemed to have accepted me and that didn't settle well with me. It made me scared and skeptical. Was I in a dream? Or a nightmare, because I already sensed a terrible ending from this. "Are you nervous?" His voice had me staring back at him unexpectedly. I started to look away but his finger caught my chin and tilted my face back up to his. I nodded, gulping again. "Don't worry, I will punish the one who hurt you. She will pay for every single tear that you shed," he vowed. His eyes held a sincerity that I couldn't bring myself to fully believe. If he was truly going to punish everyone who hurt me, then the Crimson Pack wouldn't exist anymore. His fingers stroked my ch
The tension in the room grew thicker as everyone else looked just as shocked as Derek. Derek's jaw was still dropped but he didn't say another word, he was now on his feet; continuously staring from Ace to me as though in disbelief. The desperate eyes on me kept me on my toes but Ace's warm embrace assured me. I wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially from these kinds of people. Again, I knew I had to be on guard and not be hasty in my conclusions. While I was nervous, Amy was livid that the men had to come in when Ace was about to mark me. Like me, she was scared of being rejected again. In a lifetime, a wolf only gets two mates. Her destined mate from infancy and a second chance mate, but the latter was in rare cases. If Ace was to reject me, I would be mateless for the rest of my life. This realization freaked Amy out but I was still on my toes, for someone who was used to being bullied and trampled on by other wolves her entire life, I didn't want to expect anything p
The private lobby is a restricted area in the hospital, I had been there only once and that was when I had to deliver a message to my father who gave me a scolding afterward. It was a large room but smaller than the general lobby, it was for the executive wolves who needed a place to relax while waiting for their loved one who was probably hospitalized or on quick medication. Emergency meetings were also held here; say, for instance, a gamma is hospitalized for some reason and her mate comes to look after her. Being a high-ranked wolf; he would be allowed into the private lobby and matters of concern might be brought to him while he remains in the hospital to look after his mate.Sometimes he is also allowed the chance to work from the hospital through the internet.Ace helped me to a seat, not giving me a chance to protest, and firmly fixed our intertwined palms that were falling. He flashed me a smile before the door was thrown open and Derek's father, Jeffery Stones walked into t
Ace took me back to the ward and requested that the doctor run a thorough check on me as he wanted to be sure I was completely fine, and that the burns hadn't left any underlying effect. He stepped away for the doctor to examine me, his eyes glued to me. The doctor ran his tool through the areas that were once smeared with burns, I watched his expression slowly switch to awe as he withdrew the equipment."She is perfectly fine, Alpha Ace," he revealed. Ace nodded before dismissing him, "I have to go conclude the event, Henry will be around in case of an emergency, he will attend to all of your needs in my absence. Don't hesitate to call on him for anything." I nodded, "I will." He stroked my cheeks for a while, his eyes filled with smiles and desires for me. "I'll be back," he pecked me and his huge figure slowly retreated towards the door. Once he was out, I stood up and walked to the bathroom to clean up, my cloth still had soup stains and my hair had bits of processed condimen
...Mira was grabbed by the throat and in a second she was held against the wall, being choked by Henry. His eyes were blazing with rage and in a few moments, Mira's face became red as a tomato as she gradually lost her breath. Brittany speechlessly watched in shock. Her lips shook as she struggled to speak, her feet fixated on the floor in evident awe. Mira kept struggling with him, her life slowly seeping away by the second. As soon as I regained my strength enough to walk, I immediately began pulling Henry back, not willing to cause more trouble. "Please let her go, it'll be more trouble if you hurt her!" I begged but Henry paid me no heed.Of course, the abused dejected me wouldn't bother pleading on her behalf but enjoy the sight of her being choked to death, but the current me only wanted to avoid trouble. I didn't want another reason to remain in the Crimson Pack. Mira's punishment was enough to pacify me for everything she did. "Henry please.." I continuously begged, pouri