BEYOND WHISPERS

CHAPTER 3: Beyond whispers

GREECE

455BC

DECEMBRE,

ALTHEA'S POV

 Pain shot through me as my wolf whimpered in pain. She had suffered way too much for this.

 The pain of rejection hurt me because I felt my life was going to change after this. 

But I should never have doubted my instincts...the instincts that said I should never have hoped anyone would accept me.

"My King..."

"Lord Alexios." Kathryn walked up giving the beta a puppy eyes like she had not bullied me an hour ago. Lord Alexios turned but said nothing to her, he didn't seem interested...

"She's not fit to be a Queen." The King stated, referring to me. My face fell at his words. 

Feeling like a deer in headlights, I was frozen and unable to move. 

 I heard her Kathryn giggle a little before turning it into a cough. 

Nobody paid mind to her. 

The tension in the air was palpable, while my wolf continued to whimper in my head. 

I wanted to run, hide, just to be anywhere else but here. 

"You're not fit to be my Luna." He repeated, causing tears to roll down my cheeks. Lord Alexios stood there, staring at me with pity in his eyes but helplessly. The King had made his choice. "You're too weak to be my Luna." His voice cold and hard. "Sometimes I feel the goddess wants to play tricks on me. I never asked her for a weak mate. I need someone who is strong and capable, someone who can lead the pack alongside with me. You don't come across to me as that person. And I don't need someone who's the lowest of the lowest in ranks. You obviously can't stand up for yourself even if you're in trouble, so why should I accept you?"

He was right, there was no reason to accept me. I hung my head, making my hair fall to my face as I tried to hide my shame.

 I knew beauty mattered but for someone of kingly status, status was more important. 

"Look at me when I'm addressing you." He commanded while I sobbed silently. 

I slowly looked up at him. His words cut deep as I felt my heart break into a million pieces. 

I thought....I at least hoped it would all change for me, but this was how I was discarded, like trash. 

I felt ashamed and humiliated. More humiliated because I even had hope only for it to be treaded upon.

After, he walked away leaving the other omegas with me.

 The moment he was gone, another round of laughter started while Kathryn approached me slowly.

"What a pity. I knew it was going to end this way. Did you really have any hope that he was going to accept you with your reputation?" She questioned while I tried hard not to smile.

 None of them cared. I wasn't worthy of their care or respect. 

What was I supposed to do now? Where was my escape route? 

I'd have to endure more than I thought here. I watched as they all retreated back to their rooms. 

The rain had stopped, but still trickled down.

 I gently rose up, seeing that the ache in my rib had reduced.

'I'm sorry, I can't even protect you.' Medicine stated and I shook my head.

'It's fine, you're going through a lot.' I said.

'And so are you.' She mentioned. 

'Do you really need a mate to feel better though?' I asked and she shook her head.

'Its part, but not the major reason. I would have been better if you had time to take care of yourself. Our mate arriving gave me hope for a better future. I had no idea we were going to be rejected just as fast as he saw us. I woke up with hope, and nothing else. I guess I was wrong.'

'Would you rather go back to sleep then?' I asked and she shook her head.

'No. I can't stay here anymore. You can handle the clothes but we need to run. It's been so long since we went for a run.'

'A run to where? Where are we going?' 

'I don't know. But it's better to be a rogue than to live here.' She said while I spread the clothes one by one. Then I noticed someone behind me.

"You saw everything." I said and she nodded.

"I'm sorry that happened. No one deserves to be rejected like that. I wish he hadn't rejected you so you'll be out of this place." Dionne stated.

"What can I do? What's done is done." I adjusted the last one of the cloths before turning to her. "I guess I'll have to undergo the pain in the days to come." I packed the bowls and walked past her before dropping them next to the other basins. My heart was till broken, and it hurt more because I could do nothing about it.

I didn't say anything, all I did was enter the room, coughing. 

The cold had really gotten to me and I was shivering.

 I took a kettle and boiled some hot water for myself so I'd feel better.

 Then I shrugged my clothes off and rushed into the bathroom feeling sick. 

Everything that I'd had to go through today was enough to make me sick.

 I vomited into the toilet nearly pouring the hot water on my skin.

 I dropped the kettle beside me, careful not to graze my skin on the iron.

 Then I gently took the kettle and poured it into cold water so it would hurt my skin like the other day. 

Then I took a bowl of the content before pouring it on my skin. 

I couldn't afford to get sick if I wanted to run away from this place.

 I hurried up and bathed myself before wearing a drier cloth.

 I closed all the windows before I got into bed, covering myself with my blanket to evade the chill in the room.

Shivering, I closed my eyes to get some sleep. 

When it's night, I'll be ready to leave.

 I could hear the rain splattering against the window before I drifted off to sleep.

The sound of the bell woke me up.

 At this time, the maidens were supposed to be dressing up. I rose up gently, my head pounding so hard. When I looked out, it was already night.

 Surprising to see that no one looked for me when I was asleep. I was the one responsible to go call the Alpha from his chambers. 

Feeling a bit scared to do so, I stepped down from my bed and walked out of the room because no one else would. 

"You there, take the trays and get ready. I must be the most beautiful tonight. And what the fuck are you doing there?! You, take this away." Kathryn barked orders at the omegas. "And where the fuck is that bitch?!" I knew she was referring to me and slipped into somewhere she wouldn't see me. "Go get her for me! She's going to suffer the penalty for her lateness!"

'Do you really want to get the King?' My wolf questioned. 

'I just want to see him one last time.'

'You're only going to hurt yourself.'

'I know.' I said as sprinted towards the building. I walked up the stairs towards his chambers. 

"My King!" I heard a familiar voice follow ined by a moan. "Don't stop, please...oh my..."

 Was that...Dionne?

Did she not that I was his mate? Or had she been lying to me all these while?

'I told you, you were only going to hurt yourself.' My wolf said. 

How could...she knew he was supposed to be my mate and yet... she's sleeping with him as though she did not know his obsession with Thaleia.

 I felt do dumb for not seeing it in the ways of her approach.

 I gently sobbed, looking up to see Lord Alexios standing in front of me. I didn't even wait for him to speak. 

I ran.

I fled from the building without caring if anyone saw me. 

My wolf tugged at me the moment she felt a little bit freer. 

She wanted to be released.

 I ran as fast as I could and even beyond the gates not caring to guard myself. 

"Who's there?! Someone is escaping! Get her!" A guard yelled.

 I was doomed, but I didn't stop running.

 I gave my wolf the opportunity and instantly shifted before landing on all fours. 

I ran into the forest hearing the hurried steps behind me.

I was faster this way and felt freer while the breeze brushed against my skin. 

I was panting desperately, fleeing from my tormentors when a strong force sent me sprawling to the ground.

I groaned. It hit me...hard. My wolf whimpered at the impact and it was then I heard a snarl. 

Stunned, I gently looked up to see a shadow looming over me.

Was that...

He snarled. "And where do you think you're going?"