Ava's Birthday

Scents of vanilla, butter, flour and fresh baking woke Ava Winstons from her sleep.

Maybe the cook was baking a cake for my birthday!

She thought with joy as she got up from the bed and stretched. She checked her body for any new marks, none was there. She closed her eyes and listened patiently to any voice from inside, nothing. She stared at the little mirror on her bedside for ten seconds, whether her wolf would appear to her on this her special day, it did not. She sighed in disappointment as she changed into her maid uniform. She had been waiting for her wolf since she was eighteen. She adjusted her little white cap and smiled to herself in the mirror, her green eyes a little dimmed from the disappointment. She rearranged her brown curly hair, which framed her oval face. Her cheeks dimpled as she smiled.

‘Happy 21st birthday Ava. Maybe your wolf would appear later in the night today. But if she chooses not to, being wolfless is not the end of the world.’ She shrugged and got out of the room, but collided with the alpha, Colton, in her hurry.

‘Good morning my Alpha.’ She bowed her head as she greeted him and moved aside for him to pass. He nodded to her then drew her away towards his room.

‘Isn’t it your 21st birthday today?’ Ava winced under his forceful hold on her hand but nodded as she answered him.

‘Yes, it is, Alpha.’

Colton pushed Ava against the door of his room and held her in place on both sides. He looked into her eyes as he asked.

‘Did you get your wolf?’

Ava’s lips quivered and with a shaky voice filled with fear, she answered.

‘No Alpha.’

‘Not again this year? You are three years late! You are damned!’

She raised her eyes to look at Colton as a tear dropped from her right eye. Her eyes opened wide as Colton looked at his right hand pinning down her left to the door in shock. They were mated! She also saw the mate bond.

Ava’s heart leapt for joy. Colton released her and took a step back. Ava sank down as tears of joy dropped from her eyes. She was mated at last, and to her pack’s alpha. She knew her lonely life as a servant in this pack would soon come to an end. She would become a true member of the pack and have a family of her own. The joy from within extended to her face as she smiled from ear to ear, expecting Colton to lift her up from the ground and claim her as his mate.

‘I, Colton Nelson, Alpha of the Red Moon Pack, reject you Ava Winstons, wolfless Omega, as my mate.’

If Ava was not down before, she would have ended up on the floor when she heard Colton’s words. She could not believe her ears. Slowly rising to her feet, she mustered up all her courage, fought back threatening tears and asked, ‘but why?’

‘You dared to ask me why? You are a useless omega. You have no wolf, you have no parents, you have no wealth, no background… you are nothing!’

‘But …’

‘No buts Ava. I am your Alpha and you will obey me!’

Her shoulders shook in fear as she quickly nodded.

‘Accept my rejection. Now!’

‘Yes Alpha. I, Ava Winstons, accept your rejection.’

She bent double as the mate bond broke and her insides twisted. Crying out in pain, she made her way back to her room and managed to open the door before falling to the ground.

‘I need you in my room in ten minutes.’ Colton ordered.

‘Yes Alpha.’ Ava replied with gritted teeth.

She crawled to her bed and laid down for five minutes before the pain subsided and she could stand up straight. She took water from the jug on her table and saw a hurriedly written note on her bedside. She was sure that the note was not there when she left her room earlier. She finished her water and read the note. Her insides froze up instantly, her eyes became dizzy, a splitting headache slashed across her skull. She staggered as she reread the short note.

No one can help you now, prepare for the worst.

Ava wondered if the note was put in the wrong room. Why would she need help? She had grown up among the pack members who had lovingly taken care of her. Although she did not have any special person among them, she had enjoyed more privileges than other servants of the alpha. She had her own room, was served food three times a day and had warm clothes. Things could have become better if her mate, the alpha had claimed her, but, she already accepted his rejection. Things should not get worse than that. She consoled herself, tucked the note into the pocket of her uniform and went to clean Colton’s room.

She knocked on the door before opening and was surprised to find him back in bed.

‘Come here.’ Colton waved her over. She obediently went over to him.

‘You will serve as my bedwarmer from today. Get on the bed’.

‘What?’ Her eyes bulged out of their sockets as Colton’s words echoed in Ava’s ears.

‘Bedwarmer?’ She pointed at the bed as Colton slipped the sheet off him, and she realized that he was not putting on shirt. Turning on her heels, Ava ran. She had not taken two steps when she was held back and dragged to the bed by the shirtless Colton.

‘Please, don’t do this Alpha. You already rejected me as your mate. Why take me when you don’t want me?’

Colton snarled at her.

‘You will show me your utmost submission at all times.’

Ava fell on her knees, put her two hands together in plea.

‘Please don’t hurt me. You are my Alpha, you are supposed to protect all members of your pack. Please…’

‘Who says you are a member of my pack?’

‘I am not?’

‘No member of my pack is useless like you. You don’t even have a wolf. How are you different from humans?’

He tore the apron she was wearing and proceeded to remove her remaining clothes. Ava bit his hand and shouted for help.

The door suddenly burst open and Sarah Simpson cat-walked into the room. Colton released Ava, and checked his bitten hand. Ava scrambled away from the bed and picked up her ripped apron. She started to run out of the room but was drawn back by Sarah.

‘Thank you Princess. I mean, Sorry Princess.’ With a pale face and quivering lips, Ava bowed to Sarah.

‘Not so fast maid. Here, take this.’ She slapped Ava.