Chapter Two

Laura's pov

My bare feet slapped against the cold wooden floors, the sting barely registering over the ache tearing me apart inside.

The moment I reached the farthest wing of the pack house, the part reserved for us Omegas, I burst into the tiny quarters.

The chatters suddenly came to a cease, as I slowed to a halt, standing there, wishing the floor could swallow me up as everyone's eyes fell on me.

And the snickers started, slow at first, before they noticed the markings on my naked body, and then the whole place was thrown into a rampage of mocking laughters.

I ignored them, defiant, heading for my bed space at the inner, damp corner, but I was suddenly dragged back.

Tracy, her eyes scourged every inch of me with satisfied mockery before her scornful gaze fell on mine. Growling, I forcefully pull my arm off hers, but not before I was shoved from the side by another.

“Well, well, look who came crawling back. The Alpha's chosen mate. What happened Laura, he thought your clothes were much more valuable than you so he claimed those instead?”

I ignored them, persistently trying to push past the circle trying to gather around me, but I gasped in shock as I was roughly pulled back again, this time by my hair.

“Let go of me!” I violently shrugged, feeling my scalp burn before I was shoved again, this time to a group of Omegas who instantly pushed me back before I dropped limply to the ground.

Another round of laughter filled the room, and my heart sank seeing the hate and satisfaction burning in their gazes. I wished I could remain on the floor, never have to rise, never have to meet their faces again.

“She actually thought the Alpha would accept her. Isn't she pathetic?” One said as I slowly rose, wiping the blood off the side of my lips from the bad fall.

“The sight of her parading herself around yesterday disgusted me. So what if he took her in last night, what was she expecting?”

“Maybe her happily ever after ending. She's Cinderella and we're the ugly step sisters set to watch her climb the ladder to being Luna over us.”

I ignored their sharp laughter as I slowly rose again. Several Omegas lounged neer the door their smirks cutting deeper than knives.

Mara, sauntered closer, her eyes glinting with cruel amusement. “Did you feel special Laura,” She grabbed my hair again. I didn't scream despite the pain, I didn't struggle, only looked her in the eyes, face stone cold, lips trembling. “Everyone one of us has been in his bed. I, like the lucky others, more than once. You're just another warm body he used to pass the time.”

A hot flush burned my cheeks. Throat tightening, I spat on her, relishing the shock on her face, the sight of my blood mixed spittle running down her face before she slapped me hard against the cheek.

I choked, gasping for air as she shoved me hard before I hit the wall.

“Not even your own parents wanted you, I'm not surprised he didn't!”

“Maybe you should save us all the trouble and take yourself out of the Moon Goddess’s sight for good.”

Their words stung even more than the shove or the hot stinging pain on my cheek. I'd heard them many times before, been hit more than this, but tonight, their words seemed to burn into my skin a different kind of pain. My parents’ abandonment had always been the stain I could never scrub away. But now it really hit me that I was truly unlovable, worse, unwanted.

Their laughter grew louder as I slid down, hugging my knees, my bare naked back against the cold wall as I tried to hold in the sobs, but no matter how strong I always tried to be, the tears came rolling in anyways. They always did.

There was no one to stand up for me. No one to stand between me and the cruelty. It's always been like this.

The door suddenly banged open, and to my relief, everyone's attention was on the Omega who ran in, her eyes seemingly wide with excitement. “She's here! She's here!”

Silence stilled in the room for a moment before chaos suddenly erupted. All at once, the Omegas rushed through the narrow door, excited giggles and chatter as they ran out.

Tracy glanced back at me with a mocking smirk as I blinked through my tears in confusion.

“Oh, you weren't informed last night, I forgot you were in the company of your mate.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Alpha Lucian’s bride,” my heart clenched, and a huge part of me hoped she was messing with me, but Tracy would never lie. All she has ever said to me were truths. Bitter ones. But she didn't care. “Alpha Unni. They've courted for years.”

“You're lying,” I spring up the floor, shaking. “Then where has she been all these times? I don't believe you.”

She chuckled, the mirth in her eyes obvious to us both that I knew she was telling the truth.

“While you were scrubbing floors and fantasizing about being Luna, she's been at the Alpha's training camp and just last month, she earned her badge. Our future Queen is not just a Luna, she's an Alpha too. And she's back, for good, to complete the mating ritual.”

With that, she left, letting her words dig deep into me.

Immediately, I dressed up, instantly following them out, my feet moving without permission, in earnest to see who this woman was.

Outside, the air buzzed with anticipation and excitement. Whispers and gasps rippled through the crowd of Omegas gathered at the corner gates of the Alpha's mansion as everyone literally clawed over each other to get a glimpse.

I dug my elbows through the crowd, frantic, bold from determination and desperation, wanting everything to be a bad dream.

The deep purr of distant engines grew louder until a sleep black limousine, followed by a convoy of quality luxurious ones, pulled up the drive.

The woman who stepped out of the lead car made my breath catch.

She was… beautiful was not a word to describe her. She looked divine- striking in a way that made everyone hold their breaths without even meaning to. Her dark hair, although cut short to the nape of her neck, framed a face that was both fierce and flawless. In a white suit, with badges scattered around, she moved with the confident grace of a warrior, her posture straight, her shoulders strong.

I'd heard of the Alpha training camp. One anyone, even a lowly Omega could join at their own peril, but out of 10,000 applications they got yearly, barely 100 made it to the finals alive, usually not sane, but they graduated strong willed powerful, Alphas.

And then they had the choice to compete for a final death battle to produce an Alpha King. One majority didn't partake in except the daring ones, willing to loose nothing.

It seemed she didn't compete, but being an Alpha- she earned every praise and story I've heard about her. Alpha Unni.

But standing there, in the midst of the Omegas fawning over her, what hurt me most wasn't her beauty or strength or the fact that she looked like everything I was not.

It was him.

Lucian was at the gates, and moved towards her in a welcoming stance, smiling. A real warm one I’d never seen before. They hugged, and he held her like she was the missing piece of his soul, his arms lingering on her waist as if it belonged there.

The same ones that had held mine possessively as he thrusted into me, as he cupped my face lovingly before he kissed me.

Suddenly my heart sank. Amongst the crowd which erputed in cheers, he bent his head kissing her with those fingers tangling in her hair.

They looked so perfect together it made My chest tighten. Someone shoved past me and the press of bodies forced my numb, frozen body back, farther and farther until I couldn't see them anymore.

I stumbled away, back towards the quarters with my heart aching with every step I took.

In silence, I crumpled in my bed, not sure for how long I cried, but it became dusk soon enough. No one had come in. I hadn't even been called to start my usual morning chores. I was forgotten, as usual.

Maybe he was marrying her for an alliance. It was very common these days. Maybe what happened this morning was him lashing out. Maybe.. maybe he'd change his mind if I could just talk to him.

The door was flung open, and I sat up in fear, only to tense even more seeing an Omega step inside, carrying a silver tray.

On it sat…

My breath hitched to my chest as I slowly shook my head, feeling hot tears roll down my cheeks again.

No.

“This is from the Alpha,” her voice was cold, her eyes judging me with disgust. I was going to be the Omega known to seduce the Alpha and sleep with him the day before Alpha Unni’s arrival. “You know what to do.”

My stomach sank watching the white pill seated perfectly on the tray, next to a glass of water. I knew the pill. Every Omega, every woman who'd warmed his bed had been given one afterward.

I stared at it, my hands shaking. This seemed like the last straw. I truly meant nothing to him.

The Omega stood there, already getting impatient. Rules demanded I take it in front of her.

I picked the pill, smiling bitterly from acceptance as I swallowed it with a gulp of water. My throat burned as I set the cup down on the tray, but I didn't trust myself to speak without crying again.

She left without a word and the silence in the room became deafening.

For hours I sat on the bed, staring at the wall until the tears blurred my vision again. My chest hurts so badly I could hardly breathe.

Nightfall came as quickly as I wanted, and the pack house became quiet, everyone asleep. I made my move finally, grabbing the little I had which I had hidden under my bed, along with some money I had stolen from my roommates, then I left.

I left without looking back.