Omega

Omega
Leiah POV
The safer bet would have been to remain in Gareth’s bedroom. I wanted to explore, though. The last time I was here, I didn’t get the chance to see the castle for how magnificent it was. During the time Gareth was curse we didn't come here at all. The guys made sure the pack was protected and provided for, but that's where it stopped.
“I was a different person back then,” I murmured as I roamed the halls.
Gareth’s pack house was unlike any pack house I’d seen. He housed a lot of highly ranked wolves here and a few omegas.
I stopped in front of a huge portrait of Eva hanging on the wall. She smiled back at me, her eyes twinkling with life and joy.
Tears sprang to my eyes. I blinked the back.
“Now’s not the time,” I whispered.
“She would have been the Queen Luna,” a young woman said.
The young woman spotted a low bun, and long skirt and a grey long-sleeve shirt.
“She never set foot in this castle, but her legacy hangs heavy on this place.”
I didn’t know who she was, but she said pretty compelling things.
“How?”
She stood beside and stared at the portrait, too.
“The King’s been gone a long time, but even before that, a dark cloud hung over his head. He never went out with any women aside from the ones he slept with. Even those women admitted he was cold and distant.”
“Losing a fated mate is like losing a part of yourself.”
“I think that’s what happened to him. His council wouldn’t dare push him to take a mate. Everyone’s been talking about it, though. Being Queen Luna is an incredible honour.”
“What about his curse? Aren’t women scared of that?”
She chuckled. “Doesn’t seem like it. Alpha Gareth’s one of the last single power Alphas. The Dale pack is quite the catch.”
That was true. I must have matured because this would have been a great opportunity for me. An opportunity to make my parents proud, to gain all the power and influence in the world. Queen Luna was the highest position out there.
I was ready to give that up. I wouldn’t force Gareth to be with me.
I’m stuck in limbo because there was a part of me that liked the way he looked at me. I liked the banter and the feeling I got when I was beneath him.
“What are you two doing lingering around here like statues?” A woman snapped.
“Excuse me?” I frowned.
The woman wearing a fitted dark purple dress glared at us both.
“We have visitors and this place must be in top shape!”
“Sorry, Mrs Cracker, we’ll go,” the young woman beside me bowed and said.
“I’m not a cleaner.”
“You filthy omega! Who are you trying to fool?”
“Please don’t make her mad,” the young woman whimpered.
“Down to the kitchen, both of you!” She ordered.
I knew I shouldn’t have left the room, I thought.
“There’s been a mistake. I’m not even from here,” I said.
She stepped forward, hands on her hips. “I’ve seen women like you come from far and wide just to get a glance at the Alpha King.”
Her eyes glowed with a ferocious power.
“You’re going to work today!” She threw bolt after bolt of Alpha power at me.
I stumbled backwards after each blow.
“Go!” Mrs Cracker bellowed.
She continued to send waves of her superior power at me. I couldn’t fight it off, despite throwing my arms in the air. My brain melted, blood pooled out of my nose, and my body felt like it was being hammered on each minute.
“You snivelling little fool!” Cracker bellowed.
I missed a step and slipped. I waited for a mild fall that never came. I rolled down a flight of stairs. My body kept going, being hurt by the edge of the stairs, until my body came to a painful stop.
“Ouch,” I moaned.
I heard footsteps rush down the stairs and another step that was less urgent.
“Are you okay?” My new friend asked.
“Move aside!” Cracker ordered.
“But madam—”
Another blast of Alpha power came from Cracker and hit my new friend. I felt it bounce off her and brush me.
“Y-You can’t do that?” I whimpered.
“Says who?” She challenged. “Guards!” She called.
Minutes later, three guards appeared.
“Take the broken on to the kitchen. There’s lots of work to do and we’re short-staffed.”
I couldn’t believe this! They carried me from the bottom of the staircase. Cracker was right. I was broken. I couldn’t even fight them off.
“On second thought, the kitchen is too important. Take her to the courtyard and make sure she scrubs the floor.”
“Yes, Mrs Cracker,” the guards responded.
I couldn’t protest. The Alpha power put me down. Not long after that, the guards dropped me on the concrete.
“Make sure the ground sparkles,” the guards laughed.
“It’s made of concrete!”
“Make sure it shines, omega!”
A bucket, a sponge and a brush were bumped in front of me. The guards didn’t leave. They lingered to ensure I did the work. The courtyard they took me to was small. It could be a private area.
“Work!” The guard barked.
I grabbed the brush and soaked it in soapy water, and scrubbed the floor. I remained in the courtyard for hours. The sun had set by the time I moved the moss-covered fountain.
“Make sure that fountain shines!” The guard laughed.
“It’s getting dark,” I said.
A breeze went through me.
“You’re not leaving until it’s done,” one of them spat.
My fingernails were broken, my hands were sore and wrinkly, and my knees were almost numb.
“Leiah!” Gareth called.
His voice was distant. I dropped the brush.
“I’m here!”
“Hey! Shut up and work.” A hand came down on me, sending me to the floor.
“STOP!”
I cradled my cheek and turned to see Gareth burn with rage.
His veins turned purple, and his entire eyeball turned black.
Oh no.