No Mercy!

"It's 9:05 AM. I got to deliver the letters and that should take 10 minutes and then I will head straight to school. So, I should be reaching the examination hall ten minutes early! Not bad!" A rough yet sweet voice filled with haste said. 

The voice belonged to Skyla Creswell, one of the omegas from the Red Moon Pack. She was in her bedroom getting ready for school after fulfilling all her duties in the packhouse. Skyla was distinct from the other omegas in various ways. Her smart brain and exceptional cognitive skills were way too good that hardly any omega from her pack possessed. No doubt her brain matched that of an ideal Luna's competency and that was what got the higher-ranked pack members jealous, especially the alpha's daughter. 

Skyla's bright intellect was more of a bane than a boon. She had been bullied, abused, and tortured in seamless ways possible. All the responsibilities of the packhouse right from cleaning all the chambers, washing the clothes of all the pack members, and ironing them to cooking for the pack members were pushed on her shoulders. No matter if she was sick or had important exams coming up, she would be the one to be on duty all the time. 

Her normal time of work would be 9 AM. However, since she had her exams at 11 AM, she decided to get her duties done early, so she could leave for school without any hassle. Skyla had been up and about since 4 AM, pulling herself together and forcing her weak body to get all the work done early. 

After neatly bundling the letters, Skyla unzipped her worn-out leather bag and kept them inside. Her green beaded eyes cast a glance at the rusty round clock with a broken glass pane that might splinter anytime and fall down. She shrieked, "Oh no! I need to hurry!!" 

After keeping the bag on the shaky wooden table, she stood in front of the mirror and glanced at herself to check if she was ready to leave. She was 5 feet 7 inches tall. Her slender, bruised hands went on to straighten up her crumbled white shirt neatly tucked in the dark blue skirt that reached her knees. Her school uniform appeared dull as if Skyla had been wearing the same uniform for years now. 

Skyla went on to grab a hair comb from the dressing table and brushed her straight, brown hair. After tying her long hair into a neat ponytail, she stood in front of the mirror for a few seconds. Her eyes were lost in her reflection. Her beautiful hazel green eyes had a tinge of red color in them indicating she was tired and in need of sleep. She had no makeup on. Her fair-skinned face was red with marks and swollen owing to the punches and slaps she had last night. Her whole body was trembling due to the cold and her face was pale indicating she had a high fever. 

Skyla hated to see herself in the mirror the most. Those bruises, marks, swelling, and all sorts of wounds were like the permanent companions of her body that would not leave her at all. Seeing all those wounds brought back the painful memories of how she was bullied and tortured. Despite the hatred, she would not stop herself from standing in front of the mirror and staring at her reflection. 

Her eyes became teary. She gulped the rising bile down her throat and said, determined, "Skyla, you can get out of this! Don't lose hope! Today's entrance exam will be the game changer of your life!"

Her words slowly derailed her mind from her painful life filled with darkness and steered it through the ray of light. 

Her tender, bruised fingers went on to wipe off the tears gently and she continued, "Once you ace this exam, you will get into the top university and that would be your last day in this pack!" Her rough voice struck the highest chord of joy, "Last day of your sufferings and torment! You will be like a free bird, Skyla!" 

Her slouched body was soon standing erect owing to the dose of motivation. Skyla walked towards her tiny wardrobe and took out a handkerchief and sweater. After wiping off her nose, she wore the sweater. All that while her body was shivering. The bedroom was packed shut, not allowing the cold 

breeze to usher in. It was warm yet Skyla had goosebumps all over her body. Her body was trembling and so were her teeth. 

Pressing her chapped lips together and rubbing her arms to generate some heat, Skyla rushed to the door. She groaned in pain as she pushed her swollen feet inside a pair of torn socks and shoes. After hanging the straps of the bag on her shoulders, she opened her bedroom door. 

She hardly took a step out when her feet stumbled over something. Skyla looked down to find a mop and a bucket filled with soap water kept a few inches away from the door. Soon, her eyes caught a pair of slender feet encased in high heels. She raised her head to see the pretty figure. She was none other than Mia Creswell, one of the betas of her pack. 

Skyla bowed to her and said in her softest voice, "Greetings, Beta!" 

A few seconds of silence emerged until Mia broke in, in her curt tone, "Greetings, Beta, that's it?!" 

Mia bent her face to have a look at Skyla's lowered face. Harshly grabbing her chin and pushing it up, she said sternly, "You don't usually greet that way, right?!" Her fingers mercilessly pinched Skyla's chin causing her to groan in pain. 

Averting her fingers, Mia took a pause awaiting Skyla's reply. Skyla said in her trembling voice, "Miss Mia…" Before she could complete it, Mia stung, "Your greeting sounded a bit short! Didn't you forget to tell me: How May I Help You?!" She emphasized the last set of words. Skyla's face was at Mia's level, her gaze was low. She said gently, "Miss Mia, I have an important exam in two hours!" 

Her tone went assuring, "I need to reach the school! But I promise, once I am back, I will fulfill all your commands!" 

Mia raised her hand and Skyla took it as a cue to stop. Rolling her eyes, Mia scoffed, "Grab this bucket and mop and complete your duty first! Don't forget, you have to serve your pack first! Learn to keep the pack before yourself! Follow me!" 

Mia turned on her heel and started walking away from her. She stopped abruptly when Skyla said, "I already completed my duty, Miss Mia." Mia drew in a sharp breath before turning around. Passing a death glare to Skyla, she said, "Dare you not follow my orders? Get those feet moving if you don't want to get beaten up!" 

Skyla couldn't help herself but follow Mia's order. She quickly grabbed the bucket and the mop. Biting her lower lip, she tried to swallow all the pain her body was witnessing while carrying the heavy, wooden bucket and tried to walk faster.

She followed Mia who instructed her, "Start from the hallway, right wing, and then at last the left wing of the packhouse." Skyla grew teary. Battling her tears, she said, "I mopped the entire packhouse an hour ago! It's clean!" 

Their moving feet stopped on the arrival of the hallway and Mia turned around. Folding her hands across her chest, she said sarcastically, "Oh really?!" Skyla bobbed her head. Mia spread her left arm pointing at the hallway as she fumed, "Is this how you clean the hallway, you filthy omega?!" 

Skyla followed her arm and was shell-shocked. The entire hallway was dirty with litter all around. Her gaze passed from the dirty hallway to Mia and she said breathlessly, "I did clean it an hour ago, beta! Please believe me!" 

Tears spilled out of Skyla's eyes, unnerving Mia. She grabbed Skyla by the collar and pushed her down on the floor and snarled, "After seeing this mess, I should believe you? Get this done right away!" 

Mia was about to walk away, but Skyla grabbed her leg and pleaded, "Miss Mia, I will clean all this after I am back from school! Please, let me go! I have my exam today, please!" 

Her pleading words didn't melt Mia's stone heart. Instead, it got on her nerves and she stomped Skyla's chest, freeing her leg! She turned back and snapped, "I don't care about your exams! All I care about is you cleaning the entire packhouse in an hour!" 

Mia snapped her fingers and warned, "If you don't follow my order, I won't show mercy on you or your sister's life!" 

Skyla got thrown on the floor by Mia's pointed heel kick. Mia marched away and took a seat on the couch. Her eyes were observing Skyla who was trying to gather her bruised body and get onto her feet. Her gaze was broken by a waitress who said in her sweet voice, "Miss Mia! Would you like some coffee?!" 

Mia huffed, "Arrived at good timing! Make me strong one!" After making the coffee, the waitress handed over the mug to Mia. She grabbed it with one hand while her other hand went on to press her temples and she blew out a breath of relief as if some important task assigned to her got done. 

Seeing Mia pressing her temple prompted the waitress to ask, "May I help you?" Mia shook her head and gestured to her to leave. The waitress bowed and left. 

After sipping some warm coffee, Mia deliberately pushed out some air through her mouth and said, "Job done!" Her eyes were glued to Skyla who was doing her work and a small smirk played on her lips as her mind flashed to a conversation, she had with the future Luna this morning when she was called into her chamber. 

(FLASHBACK START) 

"All the best, future Luna!" Mia bowed her head to Whitney, the Alpha and Luna's daughter. 

Whitney didn't acknowledge Mia's sweet words and instructed her curtly, "Listen, Mia, in no way should Skyla reach the school! She shouldn't be able to give this exam!"

Mia said in her softest tone, "Yes, future Luna, you won't see her in school! Rest Assured!" 

After assuring the snobbish daughter, Mia walked out of her chamber. A pang of worry hit her when she saw everything around, right from the hallway to the chambers clean. She said to herself, "She cleaned everything already! No, no, no! I have to stop her somehow; I can't let the future Luna down!" 

Her eyes sparkled as she had an idea in her mind. She called some of the workers and instructed, "Litter the hallway! Make it so dirty that it cannot be cleaned in an hour!" 

(FLASHBACK END) 

Mia grinned as she reached the end of the flashback. She smirked, "Skyla won't be able to give the exam!" Her fingers grazed her open, black hair as she said, "No Skyla means no competition for Whitney and Whitney will be the topper!"