Chapter 9 9
Ash's pov
The clashing of swords mingled with the sound of growls and ragged breathing as the Pack warriors commenced their usual daily training routine.
I stood on the sidelines, in charge of weapons, Lyla, the female Omega in charge of handing out water for refreshments stood beside me. If she bothered to hide the admiration and Infatuation in her eyes as she watched the shirtless, half morphed men train, she was doing a pretty bad job.
As an Omega, my only importance in a setting was for only one purpose only. It has been the same since I was young and could carry weapons , treading along, behind the pack warriors as they headed out to train. Alpha Godric had known my desire to participate, to fight, to want to enlist in the pack army and fight in wars but he insisted I was only ever going to be ready if I was patient and watched.
That was almost a decade ago. Things had changed as much as they remained the same. I still could not go into the field to train. But at night, up from the early hours before a single soul was awake, right from when I was 14 nd had gotten my wolf, I began to train myself. Relentlessly, ruthlessly, until it was all I ever wanted to do everyday.
I didn't care if it took a toll on me or initially, I thought my secret would be exposed since I struggled with fatigue when it came for my actually duties at dawn.
A loud clang speared into my thoughts and I smirked ruefully watching Rashad dodge an attack in time before tossing his sword to the side and going for a full on throttle attack with his claws put, his canines barred.
Rashad. He was the first person to know his secret, had caught him training on the fields in the dead of the night. I was 18 then and he took it up on himself to give me all the teachings he could offer to me.
So he and I harbored the secret together and he trained me as best I could. He was a great fighter, years after I would never dare meet him head on in a match, not just because I was an Omega and he a Gamma, but because I knew I was no match no matter how strong I thought I was.
That's one of his many admirable qualities as the Head Pack warrior.
And he's done a good job keeping my secret in the dark. Hands folded behind me, I tense, my vision blurring from frustration when I remember the one other person who knew.
And she wasn't here anymore.
By now, she'd have skipped onto the fields with freshly baked pie to share to everyone. Her beautiful eyes would catch the new rising sunlight, her hair flowing behind her like silk curtain. The guards, most of them couldn't take their eyes off her when she was around.
I'd feel proud because she'd always offered me the first slice before anyone else, giving me a coy knowing look to remind me she knew my secret but she's never telling though. It was a childish look that annoyed me, but Goddess how I missed it right now even though it drove me to the edge with madness.
Goddess. I missed her.
Every fucking day without seeing her, hearing her soft voice, touching her; even so much as grazing her arm with mine, or locking eyes with her and pretending like I didn't feel a thousand fireworks light up in me- or I didn't feel the urge to trap her between me, something firm and hard where I'd pin her to, it felt livid.
"If Gamma Rashad wasn't already fated to someone, I wouldn't falter to let him know how much I'd want him to take me to his bed " Lyla breaks the silence, or maybe she's been talking, but I finally decided to pay heed to her, maybe to get a certain woman out of my mind. I tried to ignore the burning rage that lit up in my chest, threatening to consume me when I reminisce on the table cloth that had beennsent to us.
That day was the last time I set my eyes on it, becausse if I had seen it again, I would have burnt it, a long with the Lycan and everything he loves for laying a finger on her.
"Ash, Ash- did you hear what I said?"
"His fated is barely of age. Before then, you and I are aware he's making good use of his few months of freedom before he officially mates with her. Don't pretend. You're only worried because he hasn't considered you in his list of conquests."
She nervously bites her bottom lip, reaching up to curl her finger around her hair. I barely pay her a glance before shifting my focus to the field watching several duels already taking place. The dust rising up in the air creates a tense atmosphere, blood splatters, painting the green red, some shift, wolves, howling into the orange sunlight casting an ambiance to the field.
Whatever was going on earlier - that had just been the warm up.
Rashad barks orders, placing duels on different sides of the field. He walks tall, towering over everyone, his piercing blue eyes glaring holes into everyone as he moves with an impeccable aura that's unable to be subdued even without him trying.
There's a reason half the women that've ever come across Gamma Rashad will settle for being his bed warmers even for a night.
Some, like Lyla are aware that in a few months though, he's to be married to Aisha, the 17 year old treasured daughter of Alpha Henry of the North.
"Don't give me false hope Ash," Lyla turns to me, I can feel her gaze on me even while staring out Into the field. "You two are close. Do you think you can talk to him-"
More than anything I wish to be spilling my blood or anyone else's onto the grass right now, instead I'm forced to play Cupid between a fellow Omega servant and my best friend.
"I don't do things like this for free Lyla."
Her gaze is on Rashad. Even as he passes by our stand, the sweat glistening off his back glinting from the light, she trails him with her eyes.
Suddenly she grabs a jute, filling her mouth with water before swallowing.
"Anything," she turns to me, almost breathless. I force back an amused smirk. "What do you want."
"Calm down Lyla," I sneered. "I'll do my best to tell him about you. It's his choice to decide if he'll share his bed with you. Although..." I intentionally let my voice trail, keeping her in suspense.
It works and she's paused to stare up at me, her gray eyes wide with expectancy and impatience.
"No, forget it."
"Ash! I agreed to do anything you want. Don't do this now."
I casually shrug, feigning ignorance. "I hear he's set his eyes on Angel instead."
Her gaze darkens and she looks down at the rows of jutes lined up before us in disbelief, like they're to blame for what she just heard.
"The mere Omega Cook who spends her time getting hot and sweaty over boiling broth," she rolls her eyes, but the jealousy and anger is palpable. After all, she couldn't deny it, Angel was much easier in the eyes than her. Lyra may be beautiful- much more than Angel was, but Angel was what the she-wolves called endowed.
It was not hard to believe the rumors that Rashad had set his sights on her.
"Ash, if you get Rashad to take me to bed, I will do anything. Absolutely anything at all. Just say-"
I turn to her, in the background, bones cracking, skin tearing, the chilling wound of a man screaming as blood gurgles from his mouth sends tingles down my spine. "The Alpha Twins haven't been heard from the past few weeks. I was informed they'd be here to discuss the latest affairs of the Lycan and his new mate, but it's a confidential meeting-"
She looks confused, but she's not ignorant of what I'm saying. "Yes- that's because the General Council of Elders will be present. Why? "
"The General Council of Elders will consist of Head Alphas from all packs from parts of the world. I want to gain access into the meeting. With your help, I need you to have an Alpha distracted, so I can take his place."
Her expression remained blank for a few moments before it twists into something like a grimace.
"Ash, are you crazy?"
"Forget it. I knew you couldn't do it?"
She grabs my arm, preventing me from giving my focus to the field again. "Wait - what you're asking of me is insane. If I'm caught, or my intentions are known, I could risk losing my head. There's no way I can distract an Alpha long enough to have you impersonate him till the meeting ends. And how would you even blend in, conceal your status as an Omega? Think about this. Is all these even worth the risk?"
Gritting my teeth, I wring my arm out of her grip.
They were going to decide the fate of the Lycan, the atrocity he had committed, Lena.
Today I stand knowing what actions to take concerning her.
"I'm going to ask one last time. Are you in or not, because this is worth every single valuable thing you've ever known worth doing anything for."