Chapter 2

Scarlet's POV

"Oh, shit shit shit" I whispered in horror as I realized I woke up late. I ran to wear my sandal and didn't bother to have my bath because any second wasted would cost me a lot.

I ran out of my room and headed towards the pack house. I entered through the back door and navigated my way to the kitchen. 

I was about to enter the kitchen when I fell. Pain pierced through my body and I struggled to stand up. I had to muffle my screams as I didn't want to draw any attention to myself.

Unknown to me, some omegas were around and were already laughing at me. Most of them were always happy to see me in pain. 

I stood up, raised my head, and headed straight for the kitchen.

They threw vile words at me, calling me all sort of names. But over the years I've learnt to ignore them. They are not worth my peace of mind.

 I tried not to pay attention to the words. I heard them almost every day and I had gotten used to them over time. 

They were all I heard as I made my way through their midst. Each time I heard these words I was pained.

I was mentally and emotionally drained to talk back or defend myself because I would get punished at the end of the day. 

On some nights I would cry to the moon goddess to help me. After crying my eyes out I actually feel fine. There's always this zeal to pick myself up and keep moving.

Listening to them won't do me any good and letting them have control over my emotions will be the worst thing ever. 

I long for days when I'll be free from all these. It may look like it won't happen but I still believe I'll be free. 

So I entered the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. I decided to make quesadillas because that was simple to make. 

I opened the fridge to bring the tortillas out and to my dismay, there was nothing like that in the fridge.

Just last week I made close to one hundred and eighty pieces of tortillas because of these kinds of days when I might wake up late. 

That meant some of the pack members ate it. 

Suddenly, I started panicking. I didn't have many options. so I started making the dough for the tortillas. I had just an hour to prepare breakfast.

I knew I had to be very careful because any single mistake could set me back. I measured the ingredients needed for the dough carefully and added them to the mixer. 

I'm grateful for these machines because they help a lot. I can't imagine myself making tortilla wraps for over a hundred people with just my hands.

Mind you I was going to make chicken quesadillas, so I was already marinating the chicken. 

In twenty-five minutes I was done with making eighty tortilla wraps. I was sure I won't be able to finish before time so my anxiety was almost as high as the roof.

I kept going and when it was already one hour, the omegas on duty came in to start serving. By that time I had already made one hundred and eighty quesadillas. 

Some of the omegas started taunting me because they knew I was already in trouble. They were waiting for the food so that they can serve the pack members.

"Common Scarlet you can do it." I encouraged myself. I kept going at it and in 25 minutes, I had just twenty quesadillas left to do.

Suddenly, the kitchen door was flung open and the beta's wife Sharon came in fuming.

I stood back against the counter as she came near me looking at me as if she was about to devour me. 

"Why are the warriors not fed? I was told that there is no food on the ground for them" she fumed. 

"I-I-I am so sorry," I stuttered.

Behind her, I saw the other omegas snickering and they gave me evil smirks They planned it. The warriors were to be served after the Alpha, beta, and gamma. 

"You will be punished for this. You are slacking and becoming lazy. I will teach you a lesson today." She seethed. 

"Take her to the basement now" she screamed and before I could do anything I was dragged to the basement. 

While in the basement, I suddenly remembered that there were some tortillas on the pan. 

I chuckled to myself. Hopefully, I don't get roasted like them today, because it seems like the whole pack is mad at me today.

"Will this ever end?" I thought to myself. 

I stayed in the basement till evening. Let me tell you one thing about this place. It has many cells. Rogues were in some. There were people in their wolf form who couldn't shift back because their human side was dead.

These wolves were used on the training ground to train pups who just shifted. I don't know the reason for that. What I know is, that is sick. 

Some pups get scared to attack the wolves but they are forced to do it nevertheless. Any pup that doesn't obey is punished seriously by the warriors. Some of them go home wounded and their parents weren't strong enough to challenge the Alpha. 

My eyes landed on the cell opposite mine. There was a wolf there but he always stayed in the dark part of his cell. The only reason I know he's alive is because of the sound of little movement.

I once heard from the warriors that he was a mysterious wolf as they couldn't trace its bloodline and he had powers. 

I heard the warriors say the Alpha was keeping him for the future. 

"Why would he even do that?" I had thought. 

I guess I may never know. 

But one thing I occasionally saw in the dark part of that cell was the golden eyes. Whenever I was thrown into my cell, (oh yeah I had my cell cause I frequent the basement a lot.) I would see those eyes. 

Those eyes were always on me and at some point I got bothered about it but after a while, I got used to it. I mean I had other things to worry about. 

Suddenly the basement door was flung open. A guard came to the front of the cell I was in and opened my door. He dragged me out and pushed me forward. He told me to keep moving.

"Where are you taking me to?" I questioned. 

"Shut up and keep moving" he seethed. 

"Go straight to the Alpha's room."

The Alpha's room? Why do I have to go to his room? 

And so we walked through the hallways and ascended more steps making our way to his room.

When we got to his door we stopped. "Wait here." The guard ordered. Then he went in. 

A few minutes later he came out and told me to go in.

I entered, not sure about what I was going to face. 

"Be fast, scarlet, I don't have all day." I heard Alpha Adam's voice.

I bowed in submission as I felt his Alpha aura overcome me. I moved closer to his bed because he was on it.

"You know, I heard about the little drama you did this morning and I have decided to put an end to everything."

"What do you mean," I asked him because I was baffled by his weird demeanor. 

"Don't you dare question me." He seethed. "For the past few weeks, it seems you have forgotten the rules I gave you. I seriously want to punish you but I know your weak body can't handle any purnishment right now. We don't want you dead anytime soon." He smirked devilishly. 

"So this is what will happen. You will stop working in the kitchen henceforth." 

"What in the goddess name is this guy trying to play at?" I thought in my head.

"Your new job is to clean all the rooms on this floor every day. I assume you know the number.

After that, you are to clean the hallways and take food to the prisoners in the cells."

First of all, this job is not better than the cooking I do. Do you know why? It means I'm going to come across the beta and gamma and these people don't just dislike me they 'hate' me.

Ever since they got to know that I was the Alpha's mate, their hate for me was a hundred times higher. 

Thinking about it alone was already giving me anxiety.

"Did you hear what I just said?" Adam shouted, bringing me out of my thoughts. 

"Yes-s-s sir!"

"Now get out of here. You are to start tomorrow." 

I walked out of his room hastily and headed down the stairs. I left the pack house and went to my room. 

As I sat on my little bed, I started thinking about everything he said.

It might seem like a change of chore but it was one of the worst punishments I would ever receive in my life. One thing was sure, I was going to starve. 

I chuckled bitterly to myself. He planned this so well because he knew I easily got food from the kitchen. The new people he has appointed to work in the kitchen will not give me food. 

To survive, I either have to steal any little food I could lay my hands on or check the trash. 

"This is no way to live," I mumbled to myself.

This punishment isn't fair and no one should have to go through this.

Another thing is that I have to be very careful when cleaning the rooms that have been assigned to me. The beta's mate Sharon is someone I don't want to have problems with. I like to stay far away from her as I can.

I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard a knock on my door. I stood up to answer it. I opened the door and saw Lily.

"Hey, Scar! I haven't seen you since like forever!" She dramatically said and hugged me.

"We saw each other yesterday." I hugged her back and smiled.

"Same thing." She deadpanned 

I don't know what Lily saw in me that made her befriend me. She has become a sister to me. A sweet beautiful soul. 

"I didn't see you in the kitchen this afternoon. That is so unlike you. Did something happen?" She looked at me worried.

So I explained everything that happened to her. Explained to her how I was thrown into the cell in the basement and she started crying. I also told her about the change of chores. 

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry Scar! I wish I could help you." She sniffed as she flung her arms around me and hugged me. 

"Don't cry. I'll be fine." I told her.

"How are you so calm about this?" She asked me.

.

"Well, there is nothing I can do to change what has happened. I just have to face it."

"I don't know how you are so strong Scar, but I admire you. If I were you, I'd run away." She told me.

"And go where? I asked, "I don't want to be a rogue yet." I told her.

"Ughhh this is so complicated." She complained. 

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. 

" Alright alright. Take care of yourself okay? I have to go back to my room now. It is late already." She told me.

"Oh before I forget." She said and brought a pack of cookies out of her pocket and gave it to me. "I forgot to give you earlier."

"Thank you so much, Lily, but please be careful I don't want to cause any problem for you," I told her. 

"Don't worry. I'll be careful. Good night, Scar!"

"Good night, thanks for today." 

"See you tomorrow." And with that, she was gone. 

I'm so grateful for these cookies because I haven't eaten anything today. When I was done, I went to the lake to take my bath. I don't have a bathroom, so I use the lake not too far from my room.

I went back to my room and prepared for bed. When I was done, I retired to my bed and slept off.