It was supposed to be a good day. Today was the day she turned 18. She would get her wolf today. As Jessa lay in bed a moment longer, just a moment to herself before she got up to go to the kitchens with the other omegas to start breakfast for the rest of the packhouse, she couldn't help but feel excited.

"Pst Jessa! Get up! Luna Kelly will whip you if you are late again! You know Hanny will tell!" Her friend Amelia whispered from the doorway.

"I'm up. Already dressed. Just wanted one more moment before getting to work." Jessa replied with a smile.

"Happy Birthday Jessa! I can't wait for you to finally get your wolf today! After breakfast and cleaning up the kitchen we should go to the lake and celebrate. Caleb has a present for you he's been dying to give you for weeks now! You're going to love it!" Amelia excitedly rambled on.

Jessa just sat up and tugged her worn out sneakers onto her feet and then tied her thick curly auburn hair into as neat of a bun as she could manage. Hanny would scold her for sure again this morning but she couldn't seem to care about that right now. She scanned her silvered sage eyes around the room making sure everything was in order so her bunk wouldn't be tossed again and seeing it was perfect, she turned to Amelia chewing on her lower lip as she's done for years whether she's nervous or happy.

"Let's go before Horrible Hanny comes looking for us!"

Both girls made their way into the kitchen and started pulling out pots, pans and platters, happy they managed to make it in before the head of the kitchen did.

Hanny was not noble blood though she seemed to think she was. She wasn't an omega. She was in charge of them. She was a tall woman with a severe blonde bob haircut. She may have been attractive if she ever smiled. But she had a resting b**ch face that could curdle dairy. She was at one point a warrior in the pack, but an injury to her spine took her out and left her unable to fight again. Her body was still toned to a whip. She was muscled beyond what her frame showed. The girls knew first hand just how much force she could have when being whipped. They almost preferred the Luna do it. She wasn't as strong, but she was also mean enough to use a silver whip to make up the lack of strength.

Hanny preferred to use her cane to whip them with. It's strong oak shaft was coated in enough varnish to make it exceptionally hard, and the rounded rose quartz head lended it a heaviness that made sure landing blows were extra harsh. If it weren't for its length and its use beyond holding Hanny upright with more dignity than she deserved, it might've looked like a royal scepter. But no one except Hanny herself thought of her as royalty.

As she laid biscuits on the pan one by one and prepared to slide them into the oven she heard the clicking footsteps and tap of cane tip that heralded Hanny's approach.

Jessa quickly dusted the flour off her hands and straightened her apron. She knew Hanny demanded presentable workers, even if they were lowly omegas. A fact she never failed to let the girls forget.

"Amelia! Tuck that shirt in properly! Jessa! That hair is again unruly! Don't make me cut it off!" Hanny snapped as soon as she entered the room. Her eyes narrowed in on Jessa. Something was different with her scent… she couldn't quite place it. Her eyes widened as she realized that Jessa had come of age already. And what a great amount of money she could gain by selling Jessa off to a pack member. It's forbidden to touch a woman under the age of 18, but now? Oh now she could be sold off. Well, one part of her anyways.

Hanny knew men desired the strange looking omega. She saw their glances and stares. She scented their lust. Yes, she could profit greatly from this mutt. She would speak to the beta of the pack and arrange for her to be auctioned before any of them could get to her. She turned and hurried out towards the Beta's wing of the house. She knocked and waited but received no response. She instead went to look for her him in his rooms.

Jessa saw Hanny's reaction and could guess exactly where she was headed and why. She knew from her years of watching other omegas who were unmated or rejected, that she was to have her innocence sold. She swallowed back bile that threatened to make her retch and tears she would not shed pricked her eyes. What was she to do?

Amelia also noticed the scene unfold and having turned months ago and rejected by her own mate, she was sold to the highest bidder. It was humiliating and demeaning and she nearly didn't survive. Worst of all, it cost her her wolf Luxe. she just left. She vowed to do what she could to protect Jess, but didn't know what she could do. She'd try her best, but she couldn't stop it for herself and didn't know that she could for Jess.

She leaned her thin body against the counter. Her black hair grazing her jawline and her tawny eyes misting in tears she refused. She was pretty at best, athletic of build, tanned golden skin and long legs. Yet, Jonas had rejected her. It was the hardest pain she'd ever felt. Her whole body felt as if it were being run through with swords and laid on crushed glass. Fine shards pricking her everywhere as her heart ached and burned. She accepted the rejection and smirked as Jonas's eyes betrayed the braveness he showed despite the pain within himself. For that he was extra rough with her and left her unable to walk for a day and a week without pain with each movement.

She knew what would come for Jessa. She knew she could only stand by and pick up what was left of her and help her put herself together again. If she found her mate, and he somehow accepted her, she would still have to suffer. But that never really happened. Omegas weren't usually accepted, if they were, they were merely for breeding while the males ran around with any woman they wished. It was worse in a way than flat out rejection, it was painful yes, but once accepted it was over for the most part. An unfaithful mate caused pain to their mate every time they slept with another person. And sure, the omega could reject the mate, but he would be unlikely to accept the rejection without delivering harm or death to the omega.

She could only hope her friend would get one of the least malicious males. She herself knew how ruthless they could truly be.

Jessa's heart started to beat faster. She knew she had no wolf. She discovered that at the turn of midnight. Her wolf should have made itself known. Without a wolf, damage like she'd seen done to Amelia would kill her. She would never heal. She had to leave. And fast. But where would she go? She had no family. She was found in the woods amongst a pack of rogues who had murdered her parents and stolen her.

Luna Kelly never let her forget that she's the reason her sister died that night. She ONLY used the silver whip on Jessa, never the leather like Amelia got for minor infractions. Worse was the post. She had been shackled to it more than she cared to be. Heavy silver chains would be fixed to her leg and sometimes her neck. She could go no where, there was no escape from the silver as it burned her skin. It was odd to her how regular silver couldn't hurt them, but mix silver with wolves bane and a heart black enough to imbue the curse and voila! A Werewolves worst nightmares.

Jessa didn't consider herself good nor evil, but she couldn't imagine hatred enough for her to utter such a terrible curse and shed her own blood. To her mind that would be like slapping the Moon Goddess in her face or spitting on the sacred moonstone. She couldn't fathom it.

She may deeply resent her second adopted parents and especially the insufferable so called brother of hers. The future Alpha. She shook her head in annoyance. He wasn't shaping up to be much of an alpha. He was more interested in chasing loose she-wolves despite being mates and causing her grief with his future beta Heath.

After breakfast was carefully placed in the buffet dishes and the table set, she exited the dining room and nearly ran into Heath. She couldn't believe it. He smelled incredible. Like freshly mown grass and mint. He was her mate. Oh no. What would she do now? He hated her! He turned 18 two weeks ago! She's dead.

"Out of my way you mutt!" Heath spat at her. But as he said it her scent filled his nose. She smelled like fresh strawberries and lilies. So intoxicating. His wolf Regan growled out "Mate!" Heath was disgusted that he'd be paired with such a useless mate! He'd never accept this! He turned on his heel and headed to find Lucian.

"Ah ss-sorry" she mumbled at his back and quickly ran off for her room.

Hanny witnessed this interaction from the staircase. She saw the look that passed the mutts face. Ah, so she's the future beta's mate then… She could waste no time for sure. She went straight to the Beta's office. Knocking she awaited to be let in and smoothed her shirt and hair.

"Enter Hanny" Beta Julien said with his nose stuck in a document.

"Beta, I have some distressing news…" she bowed to him.

"Out with it Hanny! I'm quite busy!" He snapped

"I've just come from the kitchens. I sought you earlier but you were busy. It seems the omega known as Jessa came of age today. She is 18. As per our tradition she will be auctioned if her mate denies her. But, I saw… well, I saw a strange interaction with her and future beta Heath. I have reason to believe she may be his mate!" Hanny stuttered and finally said.

"What?!?!" Beta Julien roared out. "How can that be? A lowly omega nobody for MY Heath? Never! Bring the worthless Trollop and my son here immediately. I'll notify the Alpha and Luna. We'll take care of this situation immediately!"

Hanny turned and left the office and headed to the servants quarters to grab Jessa and do as she was instructed. But upon reaching the girls room, she was no where to be found. Displeased at having to track her down she followed her scent down to the servant's exit and then to the lakeside. She found her with Amelia and a bastard of a tramp, Caleb. Such a pity he was born with no station, such a handsome face wasted on a nobody.

"Jessa! Come! You've been summoned by the Beta!" Hanny snapped out. "And you two! Don't you have chores to be doing? Get to them!"

"Yes Hanny!" They said in unison.

"Quicken your steps you useless mutt!" Hanny said as she grabbed a handful of Jessa's hair and yanked her forward. She knew the girl prided her hair, it was one of her favorite targets as she was also quite tender of head. This was to be a good show and she didn't wish to wait much longer for it to begin!

Whimpering Jessa quickened her steps and soon found herself outside of the alphas office. She could smell the alpha and beta inside, as well as Lucian, Heath, Luna Kelly and Beta Julien's chosen second mate Sondra. After losing Jane, he found Sondra who'd lost her own mate to a rogue attack and they decided to mate. She produced Jasmine for Beta Julien a few years later. Seems the Moon Goddess blessed their union.

Being shoved into the room and losing her balance, Jessa landed on her knees at the Beta's feet. She didn't dare look up. She knew exactly why she'd been summoned there. She held back the scream of pain as the Beta kicked her viciously in her ribs. Gasped for breath as he hauled her up to her feet by her hair.

"Get one thing straight mutt! You'll NEVER be with Heath! I won't allow it! Heath! Come! Reject this filthy thing and be done with it!" He spat at her.

"I Heath Jackson hereby reject you, Jessa Bane as my mate!" Heath said coldly

Jessa waited for the pain. But nothing came. She felt nothing but relief. She couldn't dwell on that. She needed to accept it before the pain came. Just as she opened her mouth a sharp burning sensation sent her mind reeling. He'd slapped her! He had hit her!

"I Jessa Bane accept your rejection! I Jessa Bane reject you, Heath Jackson as my mate!" She spat back.

Her eyes widened as she watched as the pain brought Heath to his knees. She wasn't sure what happened. She was supposed to be the one in pain, but he was instead. She was smug inside but her face showed no trace of emotion. What had happened?

Luna Kelly leapt forward and landed a sharp blow to Jessa's face.