Chapter 3

I walked limp to the garden where they will held the banquet outdoor tonight. Some people work there designing the trees with many little light bulbs that I know will look beautiful once it shine.

I braced myself to lift my chin up and widened as to see how beautiful it was around here. A long lines of table with food and drinks were prepared.

This garden was always beautiful for me. Even though, I hated this pack and some people in it, but still there were something I cherrised. I always love flowers since I was young. Long before I arrived here, my Mama and Papa used to plant some flowers in our humble back yard in our pack. They would teach me how to plant and grow it with love, so that I could see how the beauty of it when it bloom.

Strangely, I still remember how those flowers' scent in our back yard fill my nose. But I can't remember everything. My memories of my childhood looked like a scattered piece of broken glass.

That's why I still like this garden. It bloomed with different colours of flowers. In the normal day, this garden would be so quiet as the pack's members rarely came here. And the only one who would spent the time here was me. I love to sit alone, rest my back leaning on a tree, with wind blow hitting my face. I even slept here once in a while when I couldn't bear to hear the Denmir siblings had a fight and arguing in the Alpha's pack house.

Yes, I live there with them. First, I thought it was only normal I lived with them as they adopted me. But then I realized, they want to keep me close, so that they could control me.

Today, the garden that used to be my escape and safe place, was crowded with other Omegas just like me, to prepare the banquet as per the Denmir siblings' taste.

Oh, wait, there were not like me. They had better life, way better than mine. even though they were Omegas. But the Alpha and his family didn't beat and abuse them just like they did to me.

How strange. For years I questioned this. And the only answer I got was because I'm ugly, a stammering fool, shameless and I'm just a burden to this pack. At first I thought those was ridicoulus reasons. But then the longer I saw it in me, they maybe right.

As for Alpha Jordan, he told me that I need to repay their kindess. They saved me from the brink of death and now it's time for me to express my gratitude. By being their punching bag. Not only that, they even allowed their alliance to take me as their casing load...

I chuckled internally. They said I'm useless. But when I can't get up from the bed for a week after Laura beat me, they almost lost all of their money due to Laura's foolishness and couldn't make up for it. Don't talk about administration in the office. Haris and Laura couldn't even make their own food.

The only thing why I agreed with them about my own stupidity was that, I couldn't get out of here. I am a weak wolf and that made me run too slow for a werewolf. I truly am pathetic.

In my hands, I brought some beautiful plates for the fruits and a clean cloth to wipe the tables and chairs. I placed the plate on a table and took a heavy breath before continue my work. I hope it will be done soon. My body ache all over, I'm hungry, and exhausted.

I was about to wipe the table clean from dust when someone stood by my side. I flinched out of reflex and soon relief when I saw that it was another Omega. I continued my wiping the table and stopped when she suddenly took the cloth from me. A split second she seemed to pause and stared at the purpelish wound on my arms.

"Go back to the kitchen, quietly fetch some ice on the frigde and put it on your wounds." She whispered lowly without even turn to my direction.

"I can't," I whispered back. "I just got another open wound on my head, I can't bear another beating..." My voice came out hoarse and I said it truthfully.

She sighed and I could tell she was sympathize at me. She was one of the few people here in this pack that actually care about my condition. But just like the others, she was too afraid of the Alpha and his family.

Understandable....

"Don't worry, Miss Laura and Sir Haris are not here at the moment they were gone to try their new attire for tonight. You can act like you will took something from there and back here after. Now, go."

She handed me a plate, "Bring me the other fresh fruits," She said it out loud this time. Of course she did it on purpose, so that people around us could see.

"Yes, Mam." I nodded and took the plate from her. I walked limp to the kitchen, relief that I could sit for a while.

I walked with my head down, focus on the ground. I didn't use to gaze around because in the past when I did that, Haris yelled at me for it is an impolite behaviour. I tried to reason with him that I was not being impolite just because I saw around with my chin lifted normally like other people would. But then he strike me with a branch.

I remembered that as I cried and screamed for help. But Alpha Jordan, my so-called adoptive father didn't even look at me with pity. He said Haris was right and it is my punishment for against the words of the next Alpha in line.

I stopped defending myself ever since. It just made me got beaten and torture even more.

I finally arrived at the kitchen entrance from the garden. But my feet froze when I saw a pair of feet stood still in front of me.

"There you are Chloe. I was looking around for you."

His low voice made me trembled. I gulped thinking what else that I did wrong for him to look for me. I felt like running away from him. But if I did, I surely will gain more wound and injuries.

"Y-yes, Alpha..." I stammered. Just like I always did.

"You know I don't like to chit chat, I want to get straight to the point. You know why we held this banquet, right?"

I nodded my head. This pack were in the brink of bankruptcy due to Luna Fern, Laura, and Haris that like to spend on so much money from the gold mine Rock Mountain maintain. They desperately need an ally to help them with another resources and now they sent the invitation to Silver Moon Pack. And Silver Moon's Alpha seemed to be interesting in their offer.

"Then you know that we really need to gain Silver Moon's Alpha interest more at us." I gulped when he took a step closer. I got shivered when he suddenly bent over to my eye level.

"Chloe, if you work hard and help me with this banquet and gain that infamous ruthless Alpha's favor, I will grant your wish. Any wishes... Even if you meant to be free from here, like you always wanted...." He wishpered.

I flinched at his last words and my eyes widened.

"Wh-what..?" I can't form my words.

"A-Alpha, you c-can't l-lie to m-me..." My eyebrows furrowed as I felt like he was playing with me again.

"Oh no, Chloe. I mean it this time. Because when this pack ally with Silver Moon, someone like you will be no longer useful to us. You can go, anywhere you wanted to go." He grinned cunningly. I hated that expession on him so much. He was truly on to something. If I knew what kind of man he is that help me in the past, I would rather kill myself on the spot.

"Three days, this banquet will be held for three days and you will be present, doing everything that will gain that Alpha favor. Anything, you hear me? Then if you succeed, you'll be free..."

I trembled at the thought of it. The dream I was fight for. Can I really? I know what was he mean by 'I will do everything' to gain the ruthless Alpha of Silver Moon's favor. He want me to offer my body.

Just like they always want from me.

"Deal?" He grinned. "But if you fail in those three days, you will never set a foot outside the borderline. And I will never allow you to die even if you are begging. "

My heart sunk when I heard his warn.