Chapter 4

Hiding in the hallway closet tending to my burn, I can’t help but replay Riker’s words in my mind. For three years I have pined for him as my Mate. Had happily rushed to his side when called like a love-sick wolf in heat. I had cooked his favorite meals and did everything I could to make him smile. Yet all he ever saw me was as a slut, a woman to sleep with and fulfill his own needs. 

Tears sting my eyes as I slowly slather a burn ointment onto the red wound. I can tell just by the appearance that it will take a few days for it to heal even with what little werewolf power I inherited and decide to slip a tin of ointment into my pocket. This will tide me over until the wound can heal.

“Did you hear about the fight in the staff lunch room between your brother and Cassandra?” A woman’s voice sounds from outside the closet door. Shocked, I finish bandaging my burnt arm and creep closer to the exit, opening the door just a crack to hear what is being said about me.

“Oh, I heard all about it. Especially how that slut asked my brother what she was to him as she cried. What a pathetic whore she is.” Serena cackled back. I try my best to calm my breathing as I listen in to three other girls laughing at her remark, noticing Anna’s voice in particular.

“I heard he told her she was just a slutty bed warmer. How pathetic of her when Riker clearly has Miss Darcia.” Anna retorts with a scoff. Her vicious words surprised me as this was not the sweet young woman I was training who smiled at me while training her. This is a woman who would fit in with those she deems better than her to climb the social ladder. 

“Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me that she would be this shameless. Cassandra has always clung to my brother since they went off to college together.” Serena says, the other women around her gasping with shock.

“Goddess, you would think that my pack taking care of an Orphan was a good thing, but Cassandra was always an attention-seeking she-wolf. No one cared for her but she somehow managed to become the Theta to the Solar Wraith Pack.” Riker’s sister continues. Her tone is that of mocking anger and I can feel her hatred for me from here. I stifle back the tears that want to flow once again. I always knew Serena hated me. Always felt her dislike and disdain for me. But I never thought she would speak about me like this to others in the company. Yes, she is an Alpha wolf, but she holds no power other than being the Alpha’s sister. In the hierarchy of the pack, I am her superior as the Theta – the third in command. 

“Wasn’t it because she was adopted by one of the Warriors in the pack?” Someone asks.

“Yes, but even they abandoned her.” Serena laughs out. Shame engulfs me but she isn’t wrong. I have no idea where my adoptive parents are.

“Anyways, I heard Darcia barely got a mark on her from what happened but Cassandra was left with a severe burn. I wonder if it will leave a scar.” Leah – another she-wolf from the pack – says with laughter, causing Serena, Anna, and Sally – an Omega – to giggle with her. Hanging my head in shame, I listen as their footsteps walk away, wondering if those four full-blooded wolves knew I was in the closet. I doubt it though. This closet is where we keep any and all medical supplies. Even with my slightly enhanced sense of smell, I can only scent the medicine here. 

Leaning against the wall beside the door, I close my eyes to keep from crying. It seems my pack does not respect me like I thought they did. To them, I am just the half-wolf Orphan the pack took in when my birth mother begged for help. Unfortunately, she passed due to the strain of a human birthing a werewolf’s child. That left me alone and abandoned in the pack’s orphanage. A human-wolf hybrid with no inner wolf to help me. 

A sudden sharp pain in my stomach causes me to double over in pain. Today has been too much for me to handle. Too much for me to be able to think and function clearly. But this pain is something that worries me. Deciding that I have been through enough, I send a text to Riker stating I am going to the pack hospital to get my burn treated. Before silently making my way to my desk and gathering my things. Riker has his sister and Darcia to wait on him for the rest of the day. I only have myself to look out for me.

Making my way down the elevator towards the underground parking lot, I keep a hand on my stomach to help ease the sudden ache. I am concerned that something might be wrong. That maybe all this stress from working for Riker for seven years has caused damage to my health. 

With a ding, the elevator opens and I wobble towards my car only making it a few steps before I turn towards the trash can and puke into it. The retching sound echoes in the underground car park and I pray that no other person or wolf is here to witness this sight of me. It’s bad enough the office is talking about the incident earlier, I don’t need them to know about me being sick. 

Once my stomach is empty and I am left dry heaving I continue towards my 2015 Hyundai Sonata and climb inside. It takes another minute for me to focus and when I do, I turn my car on and drive away. Riker’s number flashes across the touch screen of my car once the Bluetooth has connected but I ignore it. 

He told me I was nothing to him, so that’s what I will be right now.