CORA
"Have you heard?" Ava said, leaning over the dirty sink in the pack house. She turned, gave it a disgusting stare, then moved away, focusing her gaze back on me."Heard what?" I could hear the slight frustration in my voice, but it seemed to be a normal thing for Ava from her lack of a response to it."Well, the Alpha and his son are coming today, just in time for the ceremony. That means, we will see the Alpha and Beta on the day of our coming of age in three days!" She gave a small squeal, but I only rolled my eyes."Are they rich?""Does everything have to do with money for you? I know you are angry about being the literal butt of the entire pack house with no money and all, but..tone it down a little. There is more to life than just money."I sighed. "Easy for you to say."I started to walk away from the sink, rubbing my hands on my apron. It was my normal routine. Wake up before everyone else in the morning, and wash up the plates of over four hundred other inhabitants of the large pack house. I wasn't really obligated to do it, but as an omega born into a family of omegas with no special allowances from the pack like most other wolf families had due to the fact that someone in their lineage had gone rogue, I have to do something to earn a bit.Especially if I want to live in Midnight Sun. Easily the largest and most developed pack in all of Las Vegas, money was the way to go around. If a human ever stumbled upon us, he was sure to think it was some high tech city invaded by aliens.The pack house itself was a four story building with each story added over the span of two years. There were special caretakers for the pups, and they lived in the large nursery. The nursery itself was a large loft apartment, equipped with everything anyone would need.Boutiques, shopping marts, they even held concerts sometimes. It was a whole city on its own, so it sometimes came as a shock that the alpha left the gamma in charge and decided to live with humans in the heart of Las Vegas instead.I sighed and wiped my blonde hair away from my forehead. What use was it being beautiful? The men here, no matter how rich never went past the friendship stage with a woman. Especially not with an omega like me. Pretty shameless to try climbing the ladder using my body, but my ancestors left me with no choice.They believed strongly in finding their mates, the one destined for them. No amount of seduction could change that, and I am not quite ready to be named the pack's whore. That is why I took as many jobs as I could, as many as there was to give me money.Ava walked around to me, her hand on her waist. "You know, I also heard...that the alpha's only son is yet to find his mate. Judging from his wolf's age, it is most likely that his mate is amongst us." She gave a foolish giggle, and I rolled my eyes again."I thought he was illegitimate?"Being the illegitimate child of a powerful and rich alpha guaranteed nothing in my opinion, and my expression probably said that, from the way Ava looked at me.Ava sighed and plopped down on a rocking chair situated in the middle of the kitchen. I had brought it for when I felt extremely lazy, or tired to my bones, which I knew I would be once I was done with these plates."Look at this pack, Cora. Who do you think owns all of it? The alpha's family of course. They are a long line of extremely rich people, people who walk around with money dripping from their pockets. How can you be a wolf, live in a pack and not even know who you potentially belong to?"I found my interest a little piqued, and I turned to Ava. "They...own this pack?""Not exactly like they founded it, but the huge development you see when you step out of this, the reason we became the biggest pack of werewolves in Las Vegas and arguably even the world, is because of the alpha's family. Legitimate or not, the alpha's son is a very big part of that. Probably even bigger than the alpha himself, but I won't be saying more about that. Now, better scratch up whatever change you have and let's pick a dress for the coming of age ceremony."I gave a slow nod, assimilating the information. If I ever got her hands on money like that, it would change my life as an omega. I don’t even care for being a high ranking wolf, just enough to wake up not having to be butted around by everyone in the pack because I am right at the bottom of the food chain.I swallowed and started to remove the apron when a tall, dark haired girl came, dumping a stack of plates into the sink."Hey, Omega. Here is your five wolf shillings. Bring it up to room 340 when you finish."I swallowed, then gave Ava a small apologetic smile and put the apron back on. Slowly, I walked back to the sink. It was now filled with plates of half eaten food, all thrown around the previously washed sink.I swallowed down whatever pride would compel me to not do it and started to wash them. Once I finished, I walked up the tall stairs towards the room, then knocked on it. There was no answer, and I balanced the plates, then strained my hand to open the door.Before I could do it, however, the door suddenly opened, causing me to jump back. The plates tilted dangerously to the left, and before I could do anything to stop it, the entire stack crashed to the floor in a deafening sound."What the hell is wrong with this omega? Do you know how much those plates cost? Can you even afford to repay them?"I bit down on my lip, then turned to the girl again, recognizing from the customized hoodie she wore that her name was Ann."I am so so sorry. So sorry. I was...you opened the door so suddenly and....""Are you blaming it on me now?" Ann yelled, and before I could say a word, I was on the floor, my hand pressed into the shards of broken glass with three girls above me, howling, shouting and throwing punches.By the time they were done, my clothes were torn around me, my hand bloodied with numerous cuts, and my bottom lip carried a cut. I didn't want to think of the condition of the rest of my face as I lay there, curled up, my hands shielding my head, my hair falling around me, the band I had used to pack it thrown aside.Slowly, I peeled myself off the floor, and without bothering to pack up the plates, or take care of my bleeding hand, I walked away, my hands around me to cover up the torn parts of my clothes.KEANNEI occupied the back seat of the limo, my head rested backwards. I wasn't sure what to expect of a sudden trip to my origins, but one thing I was sure of was how much I would miss my life here. I knew enough to know the girls there were untouchable, waiting on the red string of fate to appear and lead them to their mates.I, of course do not believe in any of that. Soulmates, mate bonds, they all seemed like a far fetched dream, especially since I fell in love with the little vixen Kiara and she ran off with my former best friend.And even worse, how I watched my father and my mother."Is dad out yet?" My voice was gruff, and I stalled, my fingers caressing my throat. The hangover hurt a lot less today. I am used to how surprised people were when they saw how efficient I am in keeping my position as the president of the Stone Corporation. I did it so effortlessly well, that my habit of picking up women and partying every other night was easily over looked."Not yet. He is on hi
CORA I let out a small breath as I stood just behind the pack house, in a small garden I trimmed after washing plates every morning. It was one of the aesthetics of the pack, and the only place I could even remotely let myself cry.I sat down on the grassy floor, folding my legs under me, barely able to keep the shirt from falling off my bloodied arm. I had to take all the money I had to pay for those plates, and still had some left to pay. That meant I would have no clothes for the coming of age, and also no money till I finished paying. I gave a small sigh as the tears started to trickle down my face, my eyes closing."Am I intruding?"I looked up, my eyes wide, and stood immediately. No one ever came here, so it came as a surprise that there was even anyone around.He stood tall, way above me, probably a little over six feet three. He looked different, way different. Hair so black it looked almost blue in the sunlight. He had brushed it back into a laid back style, a few strands c
"Keanne," I said, then smiled, lowering my head a little.I loved how his name felt on my lips, and even more so, the satisfied look on his face, like he loved it too. He smiled, then gave a slow nod."Yes. Make sure to return it."I nodded immediately. Without another word, he turned away, his steps heavy.I watched his back, feeling my heart beat rapidly increase. His leaving was just as beautiful as the way he had come, and I found myself murmuring his name again, enjoying the feel of it on my lips."What happened to you, Cora? You are bleeding!" Ava yelled, removing the towel she had tied on her head to dry it off. Even though her family was rich, she did not live with them, and spent most of her time in the pack house with me.At first, I didn't like it. Now, I keep an extra toothbrush."I think I am okay. Even more than okay." I smiled, biting down on my lips a little.Ava scanned me suspiciously. "I am not quite sure what is wrong with you, but I think you should get out of t
My eyes widened, and I felt the surge of familiar heat to my legs and cheeks. It weakened my knees, and I held my breath as he stepped forward to me, his hand touching my shoulder, and he moved behind me.There was a mirror on the right, and he moved me slowly to it, leaning his face so it was right beside mine. He made sure his skin teased mine, and I closed my eyes a little, my lips parting."Imagine it," he said, bringing up the dress to my body, then holding down the waist, his thumb lightly grazing my waist.I swallowed. "I really can't...""Add this to my bill," he said. He wasn't talking to me anymore, but to the attendant who nodded immediately.He moved his face into my neck, so when he spoke, the movement of his lips teased my neck. I swallowed, feeling my chest heaving, and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.His scent filled me as I hoped mine did him, and I made a mental note to find out if scent was a huge part of wolf attraction. I couldn't even remember the scent of
My eyes widened, my fingers clenching into the shards of already broken glass settled in my palm. "Don't be a hypocrite, dad. Have you forgotten about the mate bonds?"He laughed. "I definitely haven't, and that is part of it, really. She is an omega. Not just any omega, but the Crawford's omega." He gave a small, dark chuckle as his eyes fell on her again. She had her back to us, and she was talking to someone, her tone low.I swallowed as I followed my father's line of sight, feeling bile rise up my throat. I didn't think I was possessive about her, or we even had anything I ought to feel possessive about.But for some reason, reasons I didn't want to acknowledge or think about right now, I found the vile throes of anger clenching on my heart. It wasn't near as feral as when I had caught Kiara cheating on me, but right now all I wanted was to see blood. On the floor, in my hands. I wanted to paint the pack with blood and it didn't matter whose. It would be great if it is the blood
KEANNEI watched the flowers as they lit up under the moonlight and the combined lights of the pack. My hand bled, but I still held a cup of whiskey wrapped in my fingers, the glass stained with long lines of my blood. I watched the flowers, anger brewing at the back of my mind, my body running cold. I hated what this anger was doing to me.She was just a girl. One of so many I had to choose from. Normally, if I didn't get a girl, which happened very, very rarely, I wouldn't even remember her face within twenty minutes.But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cora in that dress, her body fitting the silk like it was made with her in mind, her hair tumbling down in those gorgeous waves....I bit down hard on my lips, closing my eyes. And to think she would belong to my father, and occupy the space my mother wanted till she took her last breath. The space that giving birth to me had taken away from her because my father simply could not accept me. To think that it had to be Cora.Sudden
I closed my eyes as the Whiskey burned down my throat, my chest feeling slightly constricted. My heart felt on fire, and the Whiskey seemed to only add to it. I cussed under my breath, my eyes closing again. I needed to forget her now. And push my father to the back of my mind.This is what he wants, and I was dead set on not giving it to him.After a few minutes, however, I found my eyes opening again, the agitation filling me up. I grabbed the cup of Whiskey, flinging it across the room to the wall where it shattered with an ungraceful sound, the pieces bouncing off the wall and landing everywhere.I swallowed hard, bringing my hands to cover my face. It was a foul attempt, as her dress was still tightly clasped around my hand.I swallowed hard, watching it for a moment, her eyes under that moonlight, ladden with tears and looking up to me that helplessly...weirldy it haunted me. It haunted my soul and I hated her for that too.I unwrapped the dress, then let it fall to the ground.
KEANNEI put a hand on the right sode of my neck, my chest slightly heaving from the exertion. The punching bag in front of me was still swinging around from the last punch, the one where I had chaneled all of the anger I felt inside into it.It did feel much better now.Pushing my shirt, a black vest more precisely, to peel it away from my skin, I walked back to the small table to grab the bottle of water I had set there earlier.I would need the relief to go about the rest of my day. Just before I reached out however, someone else grabbed, then pulled it away from my reach.I gave a small sigh, then extended my hand to my father, urging him to give it back."Someone doesn't seem too happy."I grabbed the water, then opened the cap, pouring some over my hair. I shook my head to get rod of the extra, then pushed my fingers through the strands to peel it back."The childish antic does not look good on you."He chuckled, adjusting his sitting position on the table I started to walk back