It was time to get cooking, pun intended. I ignited the gas burners on both stoves, lowering the griddle tops down over the burners and then turned to preheat the oversized double wall oven behind me. I lived and worked in the pack manor, which since I was the sole cook here I was thankful for. I cooked for Alpha Andrew and Luna Nora, Beta Ethan and his mate Bethany, Gamma Levi and his mate Christine, Delta Jake and his mate Faith and their son Matheau. Theo and Dean also usually ate in the pack manor. They were the future Alpha and Beta, both sons of Andrew and Nora.
Thankfully Jewel, the daughter of the Beta, usually ate at the pack house; she was convinced I would spit in her food. Since I cooked buffet style I’m not sure how I would target just her food, but whatever. It kept her away from me for longer. She was my biggest tormentor. I had thought about leaving the pack more than once to get away from her. Sure I could take her in a fight without breaking a sweat, but then my secret would come out. The only reason I hadn’t already left was because I would not survive as a rogue when I couldn’t shift. It wouldn’t be long though, and then I would be gone.
If I was lucky I might even meet my mate once I leave, if not maybe I will take a chosen mate. If he belongs to this pack, I will reject him on sight. I don’t care who he is. The only person I would even remotely consider would be Matheau, but he likes boys and he was basically my brother, so that wasn’t happening anyway. I really needed to find a time to talk to him and let him know my plans. I couldn’t just run away and leave him in the dark. Would he understand? Yes, but not before skinning me alive. I’m sure I would make a lovely rug.
Then there was Vincent. He was the Gamma’s son. I tried my best to avoid him. He creeped me out and I was pretty sure he was as twisted as Beta Ethan was. He was always watching me, looking at me like I was some kind of last meal that he was entitled to. I shuddered and pushed the thoughts from my head, which Aramyth was happy to replace with thoughts of her tearing him apart, which made me giggle.
I set to work making breakfast. I may cook for fewer people, but they were still wolves and ate like them and there was only one of me. Today was fruit and creme filled crepes, bacon, eggs, home fries, biscuits, gravy and toast. I spent a couple hours working, making sure everything came together and finished about the same time.
I lifted my head as I heard footsteps thudding down the stairs, “Theo and Dean.” I thought. My suspicions confirmed as they came running into the kitchen, always the first to arrive ahead of the others. They were never mean to me at least. They weren’t particularly nice, preferring to pretend like I was invisible, but they weren’t mean and cruel like the others either. I was fine with this. The less attention on me, the better.
I lowered my head and my gaze as was expected of an Omega to the ranked members of the pack. A sign of submission. This made Aramyth’s fur bristle, *We should not submit like a wolf of no rank. We are not an Omega. We are an Alpha!*
*I know. We know that; they do not. They cannot. Female Alphas are unheard of. We would be in serious danger if they find out before we are able to get our pack back. I’m sorry Aramyth. I know this is hard for you - the submitting, the disrespect, the secrets. I wish things were different. Just a few more weeks, ok?* I frowned and mentally hugged her. I wished dearly that things were different for us.
*I know. I’ll try my best.* Aramyth huffed and nodded before she settled into the back of my mind.
I usually managed to get out of the kitchen before everyone arrived, but today I was not so lucky. I was just placing the last of the food in the buffet warmer and turning to make my exit before the others could show up but I wasn’t looking where I was going and I ran right into a wall. I growled as I landed on my ass, “Fuck!” I muttered to myself. I soon realized that ‘the wall’ was actually Theo who was headed to fill his plate.
I could feel his annoyed gaze on me. I gave a hasty, “Sorry” as I stood up in front of him. Suddenly I heard a high pitched, nerve grating voice that I had been hoping to avoid this morning.
“Get away from Theo you pathetic whore!” Jewel had walked in as I stood, still within Theo’s personal space as I hadn’t had a chance to move away from him.
Theo was 19, almost 20 and he still hadn’t found his mate. Jewel had spent the last 6 months trying to saddle up to him and earn his favor in the hopes that he would take her as a chosen mate. True mate or chosen mate it didn’t matter, all Alpha’s needed a Luna.
I rolled my eyes as I turned towards Jewel, my patience growing thin this morning, “Don’t get your panties in a twist. It’s not like he’s your mate.”.
“How dare you! How dare you disrespect me! I am the daughter of a Beta and you… You are just some useless Omega whore!” Jewel’s face grew redder with every word as she charged me, swinging her fists repeatedly into my ribs. I went down, curling into myself to protect my soft spots, she kept kicking me and I took the blows like a champ.
I would have bruises later but at least I wouldn’t have cracked ribs like the last time when she caught me off guard. While I certainly could have taken her, I had never once laid a finger on any of the pack members, not even in my own defense. I refused to stoop to their level, or take more punishment than I already would because I swung back. My mouth regularly got me into trouble, but they would have found a reason to punish me regardless, and my Alpha blood made saying nothing damn near impossible, so I used the unavoidable punishment as an outlet which helped keep Aramyth amused and even a bit content in our situation.
“I am many, many things, a whore is not one of them. I have zero desire for any of the members in this pack. Ever. You simply view everyone as a threat because deep down you know you’ll never be anything more than a spoiled daughter of a beta.”
Jewel was livid, nearly foaming at the mouth. I watched her raise her foot in preparation of bringing it down into my ribs with all her might, but her attention was drawn elsewhere as Dean came to stand by his brother, “Leave it alone Jewel, she isn’t worth the effort.”
“He's right Jewel, let’s just get some breakfast.” Theo agreed and grabbed Jewel by the waist before she could stomp me full force. She still landed a blow but I was pretty sure nothing cracked. She was clawing and growling to get to me as Theo dragged her away.
“ENOUGH!” I heard Alpha Andrew bellow, his power rolling through the kitchen like a wave; it caused everyone else to bare their necks in submission. As I was an Alpha myself it didn’t affect me. I was 12 when I realized it, but I continued to act as though it did, baring my own neck in submission. Alpha Andrew growled, “What is the meaning of this? Why are you in here, acting like a bunch of animals?”
I said nothing, trying not to snicker as Aramyth once again ran her mouth, *We are a bunch of animals, what does he think wolves are?*
Jewel was the first to speak up, “Alpha Andrew, I was just teaching Alyce her place, and some manners. She had the audacity to speak back to me, even insulting me when I caught her trying to warm up to Alpha Theo.” I watched her turn on the pout and let crocodile tears well up in her eyes.
I continued to say nothing, making no efforts to defend myself as Alpha Andrew gazed at her and then the rest of the group, his mate Nora slipping her arm through his. I knew he wasn’t fond of me and if he believed that I was trying to charm Theo then I was already in enough trouble without running my mouth further. A group was starting to gather behind the Alpha. Jewel's parents were there, and the Gamma, with his family, had come down for breakfast. I could hear Jake, Faith and Matheau coming up the path, as they lived in their own home near the manor. Other Omegas had also started arriving, but they were here to attend to other chores.
~Andrew~ I could feel the muscles in my jaw tick, it was too early in the morning for this shit. Nora slipped her arm into mine and I calmed a little and my muscles relaxed. I didn’t like Alyce. She was forever a thorn in my side. Her stubborn streak and hard headed attitude were constantly forcing me to deal with petty squabbles amongst the younger wolves in my pack, usually brought about by her actions. I could feel my wolf, Oscar’s, annoyance as he paced in the back of my mind. He was as fed up as I was with this, *Let’s just put an end to this. I would like to have some peace and quiet today.* He growled at me. *Agreed.* I responded. I had never wanted to bring her into the pack when the trader brou
**WARNING: Following chapter contains sexual assault and description of abuse. You can skip this chapter if needed.** I had spent two weeks down in the isolation hole and while I had been prepared for the torture they inflicted. I had not been prepared for the surprise guest that showed up and their actions. Whether they were planned or not I will never know and it makes no difference. My visitor had made it onto a particularly specific list of mine and that was not a list anyone wanted to be on. Nor was it really one I wanted to add to, there was only one way off it and that was death. I shuddered a bit as memories of my time in the isolation hole flooded my mind. **Flashback** Ethan and Levi had carried me into the isolation hole with no resistance from me, even when they stretched my arms above my head and secured my wrists in the shackles that hung from a thick ceil
I had endured another three days of torture before Ethan had finally released me, throwing clothes at me, “Get dressed and go get cleaned up. We have a 3rd pack joining the banquet and the Alpha wants to see you about the additional preparations. Do not keep him waiting, and do not open your mouth about Vincent’s visit.” He snarled at me. I glared at him as I dropped to the floor. My legs were shaking and my muscles were too sore to take my sudden weight. I summoned all the physical strength I had left and got to my feet, putting on the sweats and t-shirt that he had thrown at me. I was drowning in the clothing that was far too big for me and it reeked of Vincent. I began to wonder if they had planned this. Everyone knew of Vincent’s infatuation with me over the last couple of years. Had Vincent planned to do this all along? To take what he couldn’t get willingly, while I wasn’t able to fight back, while
~Matheau~ I heard my mother shout Alyce’s name and went running down the stairs. Alyce had been my best friend since she arrived in our pack. She hadn’t always been so mistreated. Overworked and treated like trash, yes, but the physical abuse hadn’t started until she was about 12 or 13 and her personality really started to shine through. Thankfully Aramyth came on her 13th birthday and has been able to help keep her strong the last 4, almost 5 years through it all. I jumped the last 3 stairs and growled as I watched Alyce pass out in my father’s arms, “I’m going to kill them one of these days, I swear it!” “Calm down Matheau, she’s safe. She will be ok, she is the strongest person we know. Outbursts like that will only make things harder for her than they already are.” My mother spoke softly, sorrow in her eyes, “Let’s get supplies ready.”
~Alyce/Faelyn~ I groaned, my entire body was so sore it felt like it was on fire. My eyes fluttered open, squinting against the sudden assault of light coming through the kitchen window. Slowly I lifted my head, looking around to get my bearings. I remembered leaving the Alpha’s office. I remembered making it to Matheau’s and then it was just blank. I blinked a couple times as everything came into focus, I was laying on their kitchen table, various medical supplies both new and used were laying about. Matheau was slumped over the table, head on his arm and drool on his cheek. I grinned a bit at the sight wishing I had a way to take a picture of it for later. I shifted my head so I could look towards the living room, Faith and Jake were on the couch, sleeping propped up on each other. They must have all been with me throughout the night. They truly were amazing people. “Matti
It wasn’t too long before I caught a familiar and comforting scent. Matheau was nearby. He had been helping me in the kitchen, if you could call pinching tastes from the various bowls helping. I saw his mop of blonde hair around the edge of the kitchen doorway, soon followed by his piercing blue eyes as he peeked in at me, “Is it safe to come in? Are you going to thwack me with utensils again?” He asked cautiously. “I don’t know. Are you going to keep your fingers out of the bowls this time?” He ventured further into the kitchen, coming to stand across the counter from me and saluting me, “I will try my best, Sir! Eer, Ma’am!” I laughed and motioned to a tray of pastries that were waiting for an icing drizzle, “I’ll make you a deal, you help me with desserts today and I’ll send you home with your very own snack p
~Theo~ I was in my father’s office, half listening to him drone on about pack duties and what was expected of me when I took over the Alpha position. I had heard it all before, a thousand times it seemed like, but I feigned interest, nodding my head when appropriate and answering his questions absentmindedly. “Theo, are you even listening to me?” I heard my father ask while giving me a pointedly annoyed look. “Of course I am, but how many times are we going to have the same conversation?” I sighed, rubbing my temples as I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “It’s an important one, son. It’s my job, my responsibility to make sure you’re prepared to take over once you’ve found your Luna. Speaking of Lunas, when are you going to decide on one?”
~Alyce/Faelyn~ I had showered and changed into my nicest outfit for dinner with Matheau and his parents. A pair of black yoga pants, a pleated lavender skirt, and an oversized black sweater. I even put on a pair of lavender ballet flats that Faith had given me last Christmas. I pulled part of my hair up, securing it with a simple silver colored barrette, leaving it to hang down my back in loose waves. I glanced briefly at myself in my mirror and then headed up into the kitchen and made a stack of sandwiches, which I then wrapped and put in the fridge for grab and go options. I was told to focus on the banquet and let the other Omega’s worry about cooking for the pack, but I still tried to do small things when I had the time. I knew most of the other Omegas were barely passable cooks. No one would die, or get sick, but it wasn’t great either. Glancing at the clock on the wall and s