001

RAYLA

I hate! Hate!! Hate!!! Damien! Why do I have to be subjected to his constants torture on a daily basis? I fumed, slamming the door behind me. I took a deep breath like my mom taught me, whenever my anger got out of control.

And who do I have to blame for this entire situation? Her! If she wasn't mated to Damien's father then my life wouldn't have ended up like this. I strolled into the bathroom making sure the flour doesn't dust-drop to the floor.

The servants already hate me as it is, they think I'm too low rank to be ordering them around, despite being an Alpha step-daughter. I took off my top, exposing my black bra when a soft knock sounded on my door.

"A minute please!" I yelled out, knowing who it was from the scent.

I hurriedly took off the rest of my clothes before stepping into the shower. I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of Damien's attitude over the past week.

Everyone knows we don't get along, he hated me since the first day I came here, he called me all the names in the book and I returned all his insults with equal amounts. His Dad had been impressed, telling me no one has dared stand up to him which would explain when he spent the rest of his teenage years making life hell for me.

Somewhere along the line, he stopped and mostly just avoided me until recently when I made an announcement over dinner one night. I found my soulmate! I was so excited and bursting with it but for whatever reason Damien stormed out in anger and then resumed years of torture again.

This time, he resorted to mischievous pranks for whatever reason. I got out of the shower, freshened up then went to answer the door. Our little sister stood there with a lolly-pop in her mouth.

"I was waiting forever." She whines, walking uninvited to my room.

Almost five, she was as witty as Damien and I hated it! I wished she took after me, I was looking forward to us hanging up on his arrogant ass but I like to think there's still hope.

"How may I help you little one?"

"You are going away soon, I don't want you to." She started to cry, it felt good to know that someone other than my Mom was going to miss me.

"I'm not going anytime soon, I promise." I assured her, I still have to finish training school and being an Omega, that isn't going to be easy.

"Promise?" Her face lit up at my words.

"I promise!" I held up a finger to show how serious I was.

She nodded and left the same way she came, I watched her go with a smile on my face. As much as I would miss her, I wanted to leave the pack house forever. I was sick and tired of being treated as an outcast, not just because of my rank but because I wasn't the Alpha's daughter.

After my Father's death, Alpha Jordan became my mother's second chance mate. Like my mom, his mate also died due to cancer so, Damien and I became step siblings once they completed their mating bond.

Everyone at Moonshine pack treated me less and it became so much worse after they discovered I was Omega, even the servants didn't respect me. To them, I would never measure to their standard, I wasn't even considered royalty.

Which is another reason why I couldn't wait to complete my mate bond with Brandon. I jerked upright when my door suddenly kicked open, looking in the direction, I wasn't surprised to see it was Damien.

"If you aren't here to apologise then I don't want to hear—" I stopped talking halfway when I fully took in his appearance.

His knuckles were blistered with blood dripping from them, his wet hair indicate that he just got out of the shower but his bloody hands were making it hard for me to come to a conclusion on what might have happened to him.

He slowly raised his head to look at me, his usual icy blue eyes had darkened into a storm of grey, I have never seen him so...? What's the word for it? My anger faded and was replaced with a deep sense of concern that surprised me.

"Are you okay? What happened?" I asked fearing the worst. I didn't wait for his reply as I urged him towards the bed and then went to get my first aid kits in the bathroom.

I bent down in front of him and immediately started to dress his wounds, getting a closer look at it. I gasped because it was so much worse. What could have happened? I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on stopping the bleeding.

"Don't mate with him." The words were spoken barely past a whisper. If I wasn't paying attention, I would have missed it.

"Don't mate with who?" I asked foolishly even though a second later, I realised he was talking about Brandon.

His response was a death stare fling in my direction.

"It doesn't work like that." I pointed out even though I should be saying, never! Or asking him why, but for some reason that doesn't seem to be an option here.

He tried to snatch back his hand but I wouldn't let it go. "You don't even like him!" He snarled, now losing his cold demeanour.

"Whoa!" I let go of his hand. "Why are you suddenly interested?"

"That wasn't an answer, do you like Brandon or not?" Why does he have to sound so accusing?

"Just stay still, let me tend to your wounds, if you ask me one more question about Brandon then I'm done." I snapped at him.

"You can't mate with him! It's obvious you don't even like him." He insisted, causing me to let go of his hand and turn my back on him. "Is it because of me? Are you trying to get away from me?" Although there might be no expression on his face, I couldn't miss it in his voice.

This is all so confusing and I took a lot of steps back, putting some distance between us. "I don't know what has gotten into you but I'm going to assumed, last night's full moon effect still has an effect on you."

He stood up, stalking towards me, reminding me how much bigger he was than me and how taller. I was backed up until I bumped into the wall. Letting out a nervous laugh, I shove him by the chest, trying to push him out of my way.

"I'm going to mate with Brandon and there's nothing you can do about it. My Mom and Alpha already gave us their blessing." I was close to tears, I didn't understand where all these emotions were coming from.

He backed away a few steps. "You asked me what happened, you happened." He stated, gesturing to his knuckles.

That still didn't make sense to me, in fact nothing freaking makes sense anymore! We are supposed to be hating each other, I mean we hate each other so... Where's all this coming from?

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TBC