Chapter One

Oliva's pov.

“Have you discussed your parents liv?” Conrad, my boyfriend, asked for the third time this week.

I heaved a sigh. I have been avoiding this topic because I don't know how my parents would react to the news of my engagement or wedding. To other parents, it would be a blessing, but to mine, it would be another avenue to remind me of how useless I was as an omega.

"No, but I promise to tell them this evening at dinner,” I replied softly, trying to hide my uneasiness.

“Okay, if you won't be uncomfortable, I can tell them myself; at least it would spare you all their insults and shouts,” he said, trying to calm me down.

He knew how my parents maltreated me at home; in fact, I am sure the whole Oro pack knew about the Omega, whose greatest enemy were her parents.

A sad smile tugged at my lips. “Don't worry about it. I can handle them,” I assured him.

“Okay, I have to go and attend to something. I will call you back later. Bye, I love you.”

“I love you too,” I whispered back before he ended the call. I stood there, rooted on the ground, as I thought of many possible ways to tell my parents about Conrad.

Dad, I am seeing someone.

No, he would tell me to not bother; no one is interested in an omega.

Dad, I am engaged, and he wants to meet you to discuss my marriage.

No, he would tell me to ensure I did not have sex with him. I have been engaged twice and have ended up being rejected by the men or their family. No one wants to marry a cursed Omega.

My younger sister, Gwen, opened the door with a scorn on her face. “Duckling, food is ready,” she said and left before I could reply to her.

I stared at the door with tear-filled eyes. I wanted to tell her that my name was Oliva and not Duckling or Coal. It was such an annoying situation. No one ever paid attention to me. My sister called me Duckling, my father called me Coal because I was the black sheep in the family, and outsiders called me other degrading names.

It seemed as if no one truly knew me; the only two people who had managed to keep my name were Conrad and Lia.

“Coal! I believe your sister told you breakfast is ready,” he shouted, causing me to flinch.

If I was late for an activity, I would get punished. Sometimes I wash the whole family's clothes or go a day without food.

I quickly packed my hair into a bun and went to the table.

Immediately I entered, everyone glared at me, including my own mother. Sometimes I wonder if she was my mother. If she truly loved me, or maybe I was an orphan, someone they took pity on and decided to take care of only to find out that I was an omega.

I quickly took my seat beside my sister and watched as my mother served our breakfast. We were having bread, coffee, and avocado for breakfast.

We ate in silence for a while. I watched everyone's peaceful faces. Maybe this was the time to tell them, since it was still morning, they would not shout at me that much.

I cleared my throat, drawing their attention. My father glared at me while my mother and younger sister sent me a disgustful look.

“What do you want to say?” My father asked in a lethal voice.

I swallowed whatever was in my throat, took in a shaky breath, and faced them.

“Conrad. Conrad and I. Conrad and I are engaged. He proposed on Friday, and he would want to meet you to discuss my wedding arrangement,” I said.

A moment of silence passed, and everyone stared at me as if I had said something bad. Then my father broke the silence with laughter.

“You are engaged?” He asked in a mocking tone.

I swallowed hard. Why was he laughing? Was he not meant to be happy?

"Yes,” I answered curtly.

“And where is the ring? Oh, let me guess he just proposed without any ring. Told you he would marry you if you spread your legs for him, and you agreed just the same way you did when Charles and Mark proposed to you,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Thickness formed in my throat at his statement. Tears filled my eyes. I knew he was going to say this. He never missed a day without mocking me, without tearing me apart.

“He gave it to me. I decided to keep it till I told you,” I retorted.

My father paused for a while, staring at my face before he asked. “And who is this boy?”

I restricted myself from asking him if he did not hear what I said, “His name is Conrad.”

“And who is he? A rogue, an omega, has he found his mate or did they kill them because I am quite sure no man in the world would decide to settle for an omega.”

Tears stung my eyes as his words pierced into my heart. Ever since I turned eighteen and he discovered that I was an omega, his love for me vanished. He now saw me as a shame to the whole family, a black stain, and he never ceased to tell me how his mate mocked him because his daughter is an omega.

My mother turned her back against me; anytime she looked at me, her eyes filled with disdain and disgust.

My younger sister was not left out. Everyone in her class associated her with me. Her sister is a Mateless omega.

I took in painful breaths; I won't cry before them. They are not worth it.

“He is in the pack Army academy like me. Although he is taller than me. We have been dating for a while, and his parents have accepted me,” I said.

He shrugged, “Well, I don't accept him. I am sure he would reject you after a while, and besides, we don't have money to plan a wedding,” he said.

Adrenaline rushed within me as I tightened my grip around my fork. Did he just reject Conrad because of the money for the wedding? He was the Gamma of the pack. He had the money.

I was this close to shouting at him, but I restrained myself and took a deep breath. “We don't want a flashy wedding. Just the both of us, our family, and some friends.”

This time my sister dropped her cutlery and turned to me. “And who is going to be your family? Because I am sure my mother and I would not attend,” she said.

I turned to her as disbelief washed me. “But..you are my family,” I said in a breaking voice. Did they despise me so much that they won't come to my wedding?

“We are not your family, Oliva. In fact, I am sure you were switched at birth; we don't have omegas in our blood line. Your father is the gamma of the pack. All my families are full-blooded wolves, and they find their mate immediately; they clocked eighteen. They don't bring disgrace like you do, and they are not worthless like you. So do yourself a favour. Tell the so-called Conrad that I, your mother, said he should find someone else. Someone useful, not a byproduct like you,” my mother blurted out.

A byproduct like you. That was it; that was all I could take. I stood up and faced them.

“Well, I did not ask for your permission. I am telling you that I am getting married to Conrad. Your opinion can go to hell, and as for you, mother,” I turned to her.

“Newsflash, I never considered you my mother. In fact, you hold no importance to me. I don't even recall the last time you called me by name. It was either duckling, coal, or something more degrading. I don't even know my birthday, and all thanks to you. So go to hell with your opinion. I would rather die than call you my mother!” I shouted. I could feel anger welling up within me. She stared at me with disbelief. This is the first time I am shouting at her.

I turned my eyes to the last person who was sitting beside me, Gwen. She immediately bent her head.

“And as for you, little sister. What did you say again? We are not family, right? Well, I am surprised you think I consider you family. You are ashamed of me because of my nature as an omega; I am disgusted by your sight; the idea of having a whore as a sister is sickening. How many body counts do you have? Emm, ten right. And you haven't even clocked eighteen; I pity your mate. He would be mated to a used toy.”

“Oliva! If you speak again, I would

“What would you do? huh? Slap me, make me go hungry a day, or watch your filthy-smelling clothes. Well, that does not make you better than me. I am at the top of my fucking class; I am among the best in the pack. I might be weak, but I have fought wars, killed people, and done things that that dickhead you call a father won't do!” I shouted, pointing at him.

My father glared at me; everyone remained silent, watching me. Why were they silent?

I turned around to meet Lia, my best friend standing there.

I cursed under my breath before I turned to her. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

“The Alpha said I should call you. Please be fast,” she said, her voice filled with urgency

I rushed into my room and picked up my gun before walking out.

“I pray you die on your way,” my mother whispered. I walked past them without sparing a glance. They could go to hell.