Chapter 1

Jane

“Chop chop people! We don’t have all day!” the Supervisor shouts over the din, his voice loud and authoritative, with just a bit of command leaking through, making the sound of shuffling feet increase in tempo, this time in panic.

As the command washes over me, I flinch before jolting into action- my movements becoming even faster. Grabbing a dirty pot off of a stove, I nearly trip over my own feet as I rush back to the sink, having the pot join the rest of the dirty utensils waiting for me there.

The kitchen is filled with the distinct hustle and bustle that can only be found when a party is happening at the pack house. And right now, it happens that a very important one is taking place- the pack warriors had returned victorious from a battle.

And not only that, this is the first time that the Alpha’s son is following them to battle and from what I had heard, he was the one who took the head of the enemy’s Alpha, effectively bringing the battle to a glorious end. So this party is a big deal.

At this moment, the entire pack is currently celebrating this momentous occasion at the villa- which is basically where the Alpha and his family live. All pack members are dressed to the nines in the ballroom as they laugh and dance, while eating delicious food and drink to their heart’s content.

All pack members except the Omegas that is…

Which unfortunately for me, just so happens to be exactly what I am.

At the Fortes Bellatores Pack, the Omega being the only non-combatant class, are the labour force of the pack. They are the janitors, the cooks, the housekeepers, the gardeners, and the nannies. Basically, any and all forms of work considered as menial labour are performed by the Omega Class wolves.

It is no different during an event like this either. The said event being a celebration for the entire pack doesn’t change the reality.

As the rest of the pack revel in the ballroom, we the Omega are cordoned off in the kitchen to do all the background hard and definitely unappreciated labour.

The only ones among us allowed into the ballroom are those on serving during the party.

As I stoop to pick up a dirty ladle off of the floor, one of the servers weaves around me. He dressed in a pristine white shirt, black bow tie, black waist coat and black dress pants with a silver tray of hors d’oeuvre balanced precariously on his palm. At first glance, he looks very much put together, but his pallid complexion as well as the perspiration on his forehead betray his true feelings.

Though being a server might seem to be easier than working all night at the kitchens, from experience I know this couldn’t be further away from the truth. In actual fact, I would take the physical exhaustion that comes with slaving away in the kitchens anytime over serving those stuck-up and arrogant high class wolves any day. Whom at the littlest mistake and tiniest provocation would unleash the most sadistic, inhumane torture on an unsuspecting Omega.

As we make eye contact, I murmur an apology before quickly getting out of his way. He barely manages to give a nod back before darting away. He stops for a second just before the doorway for the stern appraising look the Gamma supervisor gives him, and it is only after the nod and flippant wave of approval he receives does he dare to step out the door.

I look away and carry on with my work as the minutes blur in the bustle. Somewhere along the line, I realize that I had somehow thrown off the red rubber gloves protecting my hands from the harsh chemicals of the cleaning agents and opted for bare hands instead, subconsciously choosing speed over functionality as I wash, scrub and rinse, the pile of dishes seemingly never ending.

I offer not a word of complaint, not even when my hands turn red and raw. It is nothing but a normal day at the pack after all.

About an hour later, I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder and  look behind me to find the gentle face of Marge looking at me with a soft smile.

Marge is an old Omega lady in her sixties, whom I have known my whole life. Though her life, just as that of every other Omega, has been nothing but hard, she has the kindest heart I have ever seen on any person and the most gentle of smiles.

“Jane dear, why don’t you help me take Alpha Xavier’s tray up to his room?” she implores, “I’ll take over these for you until you get back”, she adds, pointing towards the dishes.

Knowing that deviating from the assigned tasks can bring about trouble, I hesitate and glance back, only to find the stern gaze of the supervising Gamma on us; whose attention it seems we had caught. Already, I can see his face turning into a scowl.

Marge doesn’t seem to notice anything wrong as she continues,

“its these old knees of mine you know”, she adds and she thumps her lap with a fist, “they’re not what they used to be”, she sighs.

Out the side of my eye, I see the supervisor start to make his way over and my heart starts to speed up.

“Marge…” I whisper anxiously.

But she keeps going, “Oh how I dread those stairs”, she sighs again dramatically.

“It’ll be bad if anything goes wrong. You know Alpha Xavier doesn’t like to find any Omega in his room while he’s in there”, she continues, “So I think it’ll be best if someone else took the tray up”, she nods to herself.

“You’re young and sprightly, you could dash up those stairs and be back down in no time at all”, she grins innocently.

Though I can tell that she’s up to something, everything she said is technically true. The Alpha’s son, Xavier, though might not be the type to go out of his way to torture the lower-classed Omega, that doesn’t mean that he likes us either.

Alpha Xavier takes more the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach towards us. He absolutely detests having to meet with an Omega one on one though. I heard that it has something to do with how he finds the weakness of the Omega to be an insult to the strength of the werewolves.

So basically, whenever any of the Omega have any chores to do for him, the Supervisors always make sure to work it around Xavier’s timetable- be it when it comes to cleaning his room, doing his laundry, or in this case, taking up a tray of food to his room just in case he should be feeling peckish in the middle of the night after the party.

It is also equally true that Marge who is old would take much longer to get up the four flights of stairs in order to make her way up to the floor where Xavier’s room is located. And unfortunately, Omega aren't allowed to take the elevator inside the villa- that is reserved for only the Alpha and his family as well as any Beta or Gamma.

I can tell that the supervisor also understands this as he stops mid-step towards us and furrows his brows. He glowers at us for a second more before turning around and walking away. I find myself releasing the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

The moment he’s gone, Marge breaks out into a huge grin.

“Once you’ve taken the tray up, make your way out the back. You don’t have to come back to this dump”.

“Shhhh!!! Marge!” I whisper-yell, darting my eyes around to see if any of the supervisors had heard her, “Be careful!”

“Oh whatever”, she rolls her eyes before narrowing them on me, “You’re not supposed to be here tonight of all nights, are you young lady?”.

My eyes widen in surprise, “You remember?”

As an orphan who also just so happens to be a lowly Omega, I can confidently say that there isn’t a single person in this pack who has cared about me well enough to even remember when my birthday is. I think the only one who even knows is Marge, but that’s because she’s the one that found me as a baby.

She rolls her eyes again, “Of course I remember”, her smile turning down at the ends, “though I’m sorry I haven’t been able to keep track the past couple of years. But I’ll never forget something as important as your eighteenth birthday Jane”.

I don’t blame her either. The life of an Omega is hard and grueling as it is, day in-day out that birthdays celebrations aren’t luxuries that we are afforded. Most Omega don’t even remember their own birthdays when it comes around most a times so it would be ridiculous to expect another Omega to remember yours.  

As Beta Mathew once told me when I was six, “what’s to be celebrated about the birth of a failure?”

So the fact that Marge was able to remember today at all makes my heart flood with warmth.

“That’s okay Marge”, I smile back, “I really do appreciate it”.

Her grin returns, “Happy birthday Jane”, before engulfing me in a quick but warm hug. “Now have this errand out of the way so you can go find your mate”, she practically squeals. With her white hair bouncing above her collar, eyes glittering with excitement, the sight floods my heart with even more warmth.

“And he’s obviously not here, or you’ll have found him by now. So what’s keeping you, girl?” she adds.

Her excitement is infectious and I can feel mine which I had barely managed to keep a tight leash on start to bubble up, along with the nerves. A bashful flush covers my face, my fingers bunching up in my skirt.

My mate… I’m going to meet my mate today… and my excitement surges, though I still weakly try to keep some reason.

“I cant do that… I’ll get into trouble”, I try though it obvious that my voice lacks any conviction. I don’t think I care very much even if I do. As long as I get to meet my mate, everything will be worth it.

“Oh please! Its so hectic here, and there are so many of us that they wouldn’t even notice you’re gone”, she picks up a tray from a nearly counter and pushes it into my hands, “now quickly, go before sour plum over there comes back and changes his mind about letting you go”, she giggles- referring to the Gamma supervisor who always has his face set in a frown.

“You can tell me all about it tomorrow”, and she turns me around and gently pushes me towards the doorway.

I grip the tray tightly, take a deep breath before weaving my way through the bustling bodies and out through the door.

Thankfully, the staircase is out of sight of the ballroom so I’m able to make my way to them unimpeded. However, halfway up the stairs, I suddenly start to feel jittery and nervous. My pace gradually slows as I feel my heart begin to beat loudly in my ribcage and my hands start to feel clammy as my pulse rushes.

I suddenly come to a stop, not understanding what is happening. Gradually, I start to feel my usually sluggish wolf start to stir.

As an Omega, and a weak one at that, I am neither able to shift nor am I able to communicate with my wolf. At most, all I am able to do is feel some of her emotions if they’re strong enough. But for some reason, her emotions are channeling to me bright and clear right now- happiness and anticipation with of trace of anxiety.

I can also feel how anxious she is for me to walk faster up the stairs.

Whatever or whomever is up there, is something that my wolf badly wants to meet.

With a single realization, I feel my heart give an almost audible thud before it picks up speed, almost as though it were going to jump out of my chest.

Could it be… could it be that my mate is up there right now?

Who could it be?

What…what is he doing right now?

Is he a pack member?

I quickly chastise myself, well duh he’s a pack member, how else would he be here at the pack house at a time like this? We haven’t heard anything about the pack inviting any visitors for the celebration. Or did they do that and I just didn’t know?! Oh gods!!

My mind runs all over the place as I start to panic. I look down at the dust pink dress on my body and panic even more.

Oh my gosh Jane what the hell are you even wearing?!

The dress which I previously thought looked quite flattering on my skin tone now suddenly looks too plain in my eyes. Granted, these are the best clothes I own, but still…

Slowly, feet have me walking the steps again, gaining speed by the second and moments later, I am almost flying up the staircase. Though I’m a bit afraid and also very nervous, those emotions are nothing compared to the ecstasy in my heart.

I allow my instincts to guide me as I walk down a hallway, not even registering what floor I was on nor any of my surroundings for that matter.

A minute later, I find myself stopping in front of an imposing mahogany door.

It takes only a second for me to jolt out of my daze and my eyes widen to size of saucers as it dawns on me exactly whose room is I am standing in front of.

It is no other than- the door is abruptly pulled open and standing right in the doorway is none other than Alpha Xavier.

My-

“Mate!”

We both say at the same time.