CHAPTER 2: MY DIGNITY BELONGS TO MY MATE. 

~HERA.

With the constant darkness in my sight for as long as I couldn't remember, I concluded I was dead until a voice filtered into my hearing. 

“How is she?”.

It was a cue that I was still alive, and so I battled with my heavy eyelids to wander off the darkness. Finally fluttering them open, I felt a dull pain in my head, it was as though a sledgehammer collided with my skull. 

“She is awake". I heard another voice say and then the sound of footsteps drawing nearer. 

Frowning slightly, I tried making out the duplicated faces before me. Minutes passed before the million faces pieced together and I was able to recognize the two faces.

It was Lysander, Alpha Lucien's younger brother and the pack's healer. 

“What are you two doing here?" I confusedly asked. Shifting my gaze around the room it dawned on me, I wasn't in my room like I had imagined. 

On a closer inspection, I recognized it was Lysander's room. I shot him a suspicious look. 

"Hey, it's nothing like that. I brought you here for treatment". He quickly said, gesturing to the healer. 

Upon facing the healer, my memories reeled back to my near-death experience. I let out a groan as pain hit hard in my head. I averted my gaze to my body, checking out the bruises. 

They weren't as bad as I had imagined, but the pain I felt when I was being dragged was excruciating. Baffled, I looked up at the healer to voice out my confusion but he beat me to it, speaking up first before I could.“Fast healing process is unlike omegas like you”.

My frown deepened as he continued.“I doubt if you're actually just an omega seeing how fast you are healing with less treatment—”

“Enough with the long talk, is she fine now?" Lysander calmly cut him off.

Still curious, I wanted to hear more of what he had observed but it was too late as he redirected his attention to Lysander. 

“She is fine, Alpha. But I will have to administer some herbs to her just in case she might have suffered some internal bleeding”. 

“Alright, go get the herbs." He dismissed him. The healer turned to the door walking out. Now, it was just the two of us left in the room and the air suddenly turned gauche. 

“I need to go". I said, trying to get down from the bed but he gently pulled me back. 

“You're yet to take the herbs. Try to get some rest before he comes back".

A smile crossed his lips as he added.“And seriously, aren't you going to ask me how you made it out of the field alive?”

"I am innocent—"

“Even at that, you were almost killed—"

“That's because Alpha Lucien thought I stole it, I am actually innocent”

He drew a sharp breath and settled on the bed. 

Feeling uncomfortable, I shifted back, maintaining some space between us. I wasn't entirely comfortable as I was still in his bed.

“You and I know my brother isn't always fair in judgment when it comes to the commoners."

Raging words burn hot in my throat, I badly wanted to vent out how much of a prejudiced jackass alpha Lucien was but I chose to remain silent as he stared at me for words.

Another thing holding back my tongue from lashing out was the fear of going through another hell of punishment if someone happened to hear me. Though to some extent, I trust Lysander won't tell on me. 

Curious and wanting to break the awkward silence in the room, I asked. “So, how did you save me?"

“I found the jewelry, I actually overhead Blair ordering a servant to discard it last night—”

I huffed, cutting him off. "So she did discard the jewelry and then accused me of stealing it all because I was assigned to clean up her room last night?”

"She tried framing you." He added. I have always had a hunch that Blair was the instigator. She is so full of evil to the extent she wants me dead now. 

I scoffed, my chest swelling in anger. 

“Blair had always been on your neck for far too long, Hera. How long can you endure her?” He asked, locking eyes with mine.

His blue eyes were just as beautiful as Alpha Lucien's but unlike his brother's they looked friendly. Despite the harmless look in his eyes, I wasn't fully drawn to them like Lucien's. A feeling I was confused about.

Though I didn't mean to allow my wolf to fall for him. Lysander's reputation isn't that pleasing. But compared to Lucien, he's a saint. It's just that he is a promiscuous fellow, and rumors have it he has bedded every omega in the castle, but I think the figures are all false because he hasn't come close to me, not to mention making love with me.

However, at this moment, I'm beginning to think I'm his next target, because why would an Alpha like him suddenly care for a low-life servant like me if not him lusting after my body?

The thought made me utterly unnerved. I shifted my eyes away from him, darting them across the room in search of items to defend myself just in case he tries anything stupid.

“I asked a question, Hera?” He urged, adjusting his position closer. I reflexly moved back before he could lay a finger on me.

You know what?

I need to get out of here.

Swiftly, I came down from the bed. As if he understood I wanted to run away from him, he beat me to it quickly, grasping my hand and pulling me against the wall.

“What the hell are you doing? Let me go!” I boldly rebuked but deep down fear was eating up my guts. 

“Why don't you just answer my question and save those bold facades of yours—”

"It's none of your business” In reaction to my words, he tightened his grip on my wrist. 

I winced.“You're hurting me, Lysander. Let go!" 

Thankfully he did release his grip, but my hands remained clipped against the wall."I didn't save you just to hurt you, Hera. I'm nothing like Lucien who finds joy in people's pain–”

"If you're actually nothing like your brother then let go of me this instant.” I cut in, all ready to dash out of the room the moment he releases me.

His lips curled up in amusement. “Not yet. You're going to run away like you always do."

Exasperated, I sighed.

“What do you want from me then? Because I don't understand the meaning of this?"

The amused smile on his face dried up, replaced by a serious expression.“You're the one that needs something from me. I know you want to get back at Blair and my brother." He said as a matter of fact.

He was right though. I do want to get back at those two most especially at Blair. She is such a pain.

Flashing me a knowing smile, he let go of my hand and then said.“Then let's make a deal".

I shot my brow up, finding his words somewhat cunning. However, I asked."So what kind of deal are we talking about?”

The wide smile on his lips curled into a naughty grin. Leaning closer, he traced a finger along my arm.“Warm up my bed tonight"

The moment he spewed out those words, I impulsively pushed him back. Glaring, I half yelled. “You're out of your mind."

“This is a lifetime opportunity, Hera—"

“A lifetime opportunity for you to sleep with me?". I cut in. “Don't you have any shame–?”

He roughly clipped my neck against the wall, cutting me off. His expression turned darker as he glared at me.“How dare you speak to your Alpha that way? Huh?”

Despite the pain from his grip, I managed to maintain a mock expression as I challenged

”A responsible Alpha won't take advantage of his people.”

After my bold utterance, I was expecting a hit from him or something worse but instead, he chuckled and unclasped his hold. “You're so different from others in your rank, Hera.”

This was no news to me. I have been told that several times by different people and somehow I don't feel proud about it instead it made me confused. I'm just a damsel who hates being looked down on. 

“You're something else. And that's why I will do everything within my power to get you."

With a mock tone, I said."With all due respect, Alpha. My dignity belongs to my mate”

“That's if you actually have a mate". He snorted, his lips stretching into a mocking smile.

His words struck a nerve within me. For some years now in the pack, a handful of omegas have been having difficulties in finding their mates after clocking eighteen. I guess their mates are probably dead, that's the only reason I could think of in their case. Nevertheless, if he really thinks I will be in that unfortunate category of mate-less omegas then he must be high on something. 

I have a strong feeling I will find my mate in the upcoming mating ceremony and once I do, I will never have to see his face again. Alpha Lucien and Blair included. 

Per the pack's rule, once a maiden finds her mate in the mating ceremony, she would be automatically dismissed from serving the royal family, and with high hopes, I keep looking forward to the upcoming ceremony, just two nights away. 

I really can't wait to leave the traumatic walls of this castle and be in the protective arms of my mate. My other half.

"We see about that”. I scoffed. Just then, the healer entered and I used the opportunity to leave the room, not waiting to take the so-called herbs.