"That's right Hazel, you've been chosen to warm the bed of the alpha, congratulations."
...
Hazel had tried to escape as soon as she heard of her fate tonight, but she quickly got caught.
"Let go...let go of me!" Hazel struggled against the guard's grip.
Sleep with the alpha? No, she would rather die.
Why would she spend the night with someone who had killed her parents and ruined her life? She could barely stand the sight of him, and it took all she had to hold back her killing intent, to avoid the pain of the seal.
"Let go!" Hazel yelled as she struggled to free herself from the guard's hold, but her measly omega strength was nothing compared to that of trained male wolves. They threw her forcefully into the room and turned away. Hazel rose to her feet, ignoring the pain from hitting the ground, as she charged to the exit. Then, Kayle walked in and shoved her backward, furious at Hazel's brazen attempt to run. How stupid was she? Such offense was punishable by death.
"What do you think you're doing right now? Are you seriously trying to disobey a direct order from the alpha?"
"Please, Kayle, don't make me go through with this," Hazel, now on her knees, pleaded, her hands trembling with fear. Kayle's frown then transformed into a cruel smile as she took pleasure in Hazel's suffering. Hazel didn't care about this, as she had no choice and would beg anyone to avoid the alpha's advances.
Madame Helena stomped into the room, her face scrunched up in anger. "Kayle, what's this I'm hearing about one of my girls trying to escape?"
Kayle sighed, "Mum...it's her again."
Helena turned towards her and placed her palm on her forehead as if having a headache. Hazel, realizing it was better to beg Helen than her daughter, crawled away from Kayle to her boss.
"Ma, please, I'll do anything, anything else, please...don't send me to him." Hazel cried, but Helen heartlessly slapped her on the face. She then bent low to meet Hazel's eyes, holding her face by the chin, her nail poking into Hazel skin prompting tears to fill her eyes.
"You listen to me and listen to me good. The only reason they haven't thrown you into prison for your silly act is because of the alpha's request. Fortunately for you, he doesn't know of your stunt. If he did, he would degrade right in front of your fellow omega and then kill you."
"Degrade me?" Hazel repeated, staring directly at Helen. "I'd bite my tongue before I let that happen."
Helen's mouth fell open, shocked at Hazel's guts and the defiant look in her eyes. The latter was why she hated her, though it was subtle, she always saw pride while looking at her eyes, which she thought was Hazel holding on to her former status when it was all actually gone.
Helen then scoffed, finding her act silly. After alpha Levi was finished with her, she would most certainly come to her senses and accept her role in this world; she had seen it happen all the time.
"It will be much easier if you didn't resist. Your fate tonight has already been decided, and there's nothing you can do about it," Helen said.
"But why? Why me?" Hazel asked, grabbing a fistful of her hair and letting go. Killing her family wasn't enough; now he wanted her dignity.
"Don't take it personally," Kayle said with a sigh. "It's just your turn. You should be happy it's the alpha you're spending the night with, and you're not given to some random male as a gift."
A random male? That would be more preferable. At least they didn't know each other. Letting the one who took everything and everyone she had, grab the one thing she valued was worse than death.
"The alpha pretty much thinks of omegas as slaves or sex toys, and though that fucking sucks, it is what it is. It wouldn't be the first time he's made such a call and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Eventually, he'll notice me too, and I'll be the next Hazel," Kayle said, her tone becoming more worried towards the end.
"What are you saying, that would never happen," Helen yelled.
"You don't know that?"
"Yes, I do, trust your mother?" Helen said reassuringly.
Hazel, watching this, was suddenly reminded her mother. Loving, kind, stern, with a voice that had an unnatural calming effect. She wished she could go back to the past, where she didn't have to cry every day.
How did it all come to this? How did she get to this point? She had never once pictured a future like this. Her suffering and pain just came like a dark storm, sweeping away all the good in her life. Now things were about to get worse, all for what? What was her offense? Why was the moon goddess treating her this way?
"Beta!"
"Beta!"
Helena and Kayle's voices interrupted thought, as she saw them bowing their heads in reference towards a built figure, Malcolm, the beta of the Nightshade pack. Sharp cheekbones, piercing gaze, with an eerie presence the hummed power but was skillfully hidden.
Like it should be?
Showing off his power would be declaring a challenge to the alpha, and there could only be one leader in a pack.
"What's this I'm hearing about a slave trying to escape?" He asked with authority in his voice.
"Oh, it's nothing beta. Pay it no heed," Helen replied.
"No, it's not nothing beta," Kaylee retorted and pointed to Hazel, "The slave that is to serve the alpha tonight tried to flee."
Malcolm's eyes followed her hands to Hazel, who hurriedly averted her gaze. She was confused as to why Malcolm was here, as his rank was too high to be getting involved in this.
He walked towards Hazel, his presence overwhelming. Reaching her, he released his aura which made Hazel freeze, her heart pounding, threatening to rip out of her chest.
"Are you the filth that tried to escape?" He asked with a sneer.
'Filth?' What was she supposed to say, "Yes, I am that filth, sir"?
Hazel didn't reply, only looking downwards, and this seemed to piss off Malcolm, who all of a sudden, clasped her neck with his rough hands, and raised her off her feet.
Hazel's hand gripped his arm in an attempt to get it off her throat, but it wouldn't budge. The difference in strength was just too much. She stared at Malcolm, wondering if he wanted to kill her, as his hold didn't seem to be easing. Her body was starting to go limp and her sight black.
"Beta, if you go any further, you'll kill her," Helena warned, in a worried tone, though she didn't care if Hazel died; she was more afraid of the consequences that came with the alpha not getting what he wanted.
"Hmph...she just needs to know her life isn't in her hands," He said without emotion, tightening his grip on her neck. "But the alpha requested her," Helena added carefully, not wanting to provoke him.
As soon as Helena said that, Malcolm let her go, and she fell to the ground holding her throat, as she coughed. The beta then crouched and held Hazel hair tightly causing her to wince.
"Listen to me and listen closely... Here's what you're going to do: you're going to let them dress you up. And you let them escort you to the alpha residence like you're someone important, and you're going to do whatever the alpha tells you. Do you understand?" He said, and Hazel glanced at him, but the beta gripped her hair even tighter, and she moaned painfully.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Beta," Hazel said, wanting the torment to end.
Malcolm let her go and rose to his feet before turning to Helena. "Get everything prepared. She should be in his quarter by nine."
"Yes, beta," Helena bowed.
He then faced Kayle, who was staring at him with steady eyes, her lips parting. Malcolm paused briefly, looking at her, and then walked away.
"Did you see that? He noticed me," Kayle squealed. She did her best to act seductively around the beta, all so he could take an interest in her, take her as a mate, which would eliminate Kayle's status as an omega.
"Indeed, it seems like he's starting to take interest in you," her mother said with a hearty grin and then turned towards Hazel. Noting her eyes looked devoid of life, seemingly shaken by the Beta threatening her.
It seemed like she's leaned a lesson, which pleased Helen. She then told Kayle to handle the rest before leaving the room.
"We told you it's pointless to resist," Kayle said shaking her head, "Follow me; you need to take a bath. You reek of filth,"
"Yes miss Kayle," Hazel said in a submissive tone, trembling as she rose to her feet.
The beta was foolish if he thought he could intimidate her into doing whatever he wanted. Yes, she was shaken, but was far from defeated.
Her mind was busy running gears as to how she could escape her dire situation, and the only solution she could think of was to kill.
That's right, she was thinking of how to kill the alpha. She would get all close and personal with him tonight, which would leave him vulnerable. Surely there was going to be a chance for her to strike then. Hazel wasn't too concerned about whether or not her plan would fail, as it really didn't matter.
One of them was going to die tonight, and at this point, she didn't care who.