Chapter 35 Unmarked and Uncertain
Alyssa's POV
I was getting used to Mel following me around and so were the girls. And I think Mel herself, even though she won't admit it was secretly enjoying our conversations, especially when it involves Tristan and Aileen who could barely keep their hands away from each other when Zayne wasn't around. One moment they were enemies, the next they were trying not to eat each other.
“I think we need another girl's time." Aileen said and my head snapped to her.
"Hold that thought,” I started before Aria would agree. "I'm still nursing the embarrassment I felt the morning after, I'll definitely pass on this one.” I told them.
"Come on Luna.” Aria whined and I didn't miss the way Mel straightened her back at the mention of an outing. I wouldn't be surprised if she was already mindlinking Zayne.
"Give me time to get over the last one, then I can think about it.” I found myself saying…I really do not learn my lesson.
We spoke for a while before I told them I was going to see Zayne. Aileen also said she wanted to talk to her brother even though we both knew it was an excuse to see Tristan because according to her, he'd never looked hotter when he was problem solving.
Mel, as usual, was two feet away, her hand behind her back as we went. We'd barely gone far from the childcare when I heard voices, probably from the Omegas but against my better judgement, I stood to listen.
“I heard Alpha Zayne is finally doing the right thing and following the Elder’s decision." I heard one of the girls say and a frown formed on my face
Elder's decision? I remember Zayne having a meeting with them a few days ago but he never said anything about a decision or something he was supposed to be doing. My chest tightened, but not wanting to jump to a conclusion, I continued moving.
“I know it was only a matter of time before he discarded her." A different voice said, and I paused again. I felt Nira urging me to not pay attention to them but like they said, curiosity killed the cat.
“She’s an omega, he's just keeping her close because of his wolf.” The same voice said, “why do you think he hasn't marked her yet?"
My mind unconsciously touched my neck, where his mark was supposed to be.
“He's waiting for us to be ready." She reminded me, a conversation we've had before now.
“I can't wait to see the look on her face when she realises she's never going to be Luna." The first person said. “She's going to stop walking around like she owns the Pack, especially with that Mel, who thinks she's untouchable."
Aileen's grip on my hand tightened, "don't listen to them." She said, glaring at no one in particular since we couldn't actually see them. “Just talk to my brother first."
I hated how much it was affecting me again despite how many times Zayne had assured me that it was nothing like that. But I couldn't help the feeling in my chest when they mentioned my position…an Omega, one that didn't deserve being with an Alpha, one as powerful as Zayne.
So maybe I wanted to continue living in the fairytale I'd created for myself.
Without waiting for my response, Aileen dragged me away but their words were engraved in my mind already. She assured me that it was nothing that I had to worry about.
We continued walking, but this time around, my mood had dampened and Aileen could see that, so she didn't bring up any conversation.
“Carry my bag properly, you idiot!” A new voice commanded, glaring at the girl in front of her, causing us to stop again.
The girl was tall and beautiful, her blonde hair marched her aesthetic. She looked like she walked out of the runway and she knew that.
“Who's she?" Nira asked, as if we weren't watching the scene unfold in front of us together.
She stopped in front of us and Mel immediately came to stand in front of me protectively, causing the girl, whose identity I was still trying to process. “You must be Aileen," the girl started, "I have a feeling we're going to be best friends.”
Aileen frowned, "who the fuck are you?” She asked, not letting go of my hand even with Mel in front of me.
"I guess you haven't been informed.” She said, ignoring me. "I'm going to be your Luna…I mean, there's no one better suited than me.”
She shrugged, rolling her eyes like this was common knowledge.
I felt an alarm go off in my head, my breath caught in my throat. For a moment, I couldn’t move. I couldn't think. Her words slammed into me so hard my fingers went numb in Aileen’s grip.
“What?" I asked, and only then did she turn to look at me and a look of irritation settled on her face.
“And you must be Alyssa." She said, “I've heard about you…" her eyes roamed my body like a predator looking at its prey. “And they're quite right, maybe if you worked on your weight, you might be pretty enough to get a mark."
“But it's too late now as I'm here." She laughed, as she continued walking, yelling orders at the Omegas carrying her bags.
Even after she left, my feet remained rooted in one spot. “There has to be some sort of explanation." Aileen said, trying to assure me. “She's probably one of those girls who think they have a chance with Zayne."
“I'm sorry about her, Luna." Mel said, speaking up for the first time. "Alpha Zayne…"
I didn't let her finish, “don't tell him." I ordered.
“Come on, Ally." Aileen called. “You know he's going to find out anyway."
I would prefer he finds out later…or better still that he didn't find out at all. I took a deep breath, put on a fake smile and continued to Zayne's office but we soon stopped again and this time it was the voices coming out of his office.
“Mom, I don't know what you're planning, and I really do not care." He said sharply, his tone was clipped, irritated, the exact voice he used when someone pushed him too far.
Aileen and I exchanged a glance but didn't say anything.
There was a brief silence before he spoke again. “I don't care about that, the elders can go fuck themselves for all I care.”
His argument with whom I assumed was his mom went on for a few minutes and the more I listened, I felt my eyes tear up and before I knew what I was doing, my feet were running in the opposite direction.