MATE

CELESTE POV

The air was thick with the scent of wood smoke, damp earth, and the metallic tang of blood from injured omegas, beaten and wounded because they failed to complete their work.

It wasn't something new in the Blood Moon Packhouse. It was a known fact that if you didn't get to finish the work that was given to you at the designated time, you'd be seeking a death sentence.

No one ever disobeys the alpha's wishes. The alpha and others were higher in status than the omega.

My name was Celeste Ravaryn, twenty-two years old, born an omega, and the daughter of a disgraced warrior who was executed for betraying the pack house. I witnessed his death at the age of fourteen. The Alpha had ordered for him to be whipped fifty times, even after being unconscious from being forced to drink five bottles of whiskey. After that, he was beheaded, and his head was placed on a wooden stake for everyone to see and mock.

Betrayal in the Blood Moon Packhouse wasn't something to be taken lightly; hence, when it happened, my father didn't get the chance to defend himself.

I didn't know who my birth mother was. I only learned about her from pictures. Also, the fact that she died while birthing was another reason I was bullied aside from being an omega.

Even though I have been an omega all my life, things started going downhill ever since my father died.

"Hey, little shit."

I heard laughter from behind me and a soft groan from Lauren, another omega who maybe had it worse like me.

I didn't need to turn to know what had been done to her. Someone must have tugged at her hair or even kicked her from behind.

"Please stop," Lauren whimpered.

I bit my lower trembling lip to block out her voice. I heard the zipper from her dress open, and from the corner of my eyes, I saw one of the gammas, Owen, a tall, dark-haired man with baby blue eyes, kneeling behind her while undoing the buckle of his belt.

I regretted looking. My eyes met with Owen and a smile tugged at his thick lip.

He said nothing.

I wasn't expecting him to keep his silence for long.

"Stay still, little shit. I didn't ask for you to be born a stupid omega. You're meant to serve every one of us whether you want to or not!" Owen grunted while Lauren's weak moan and sob filled the room.

It took about two bloody minutes for the grunting and moan to vanish, leaving only a quiet sob behind.

I pressed my aching, bruised palm on the floor, staring at the angry marks that lined my pale skin from hours of working nonstop. I swallowed hard as I sensed Owen behind me.

I stared at the floor I had been cleaning ever since he and his fellow gamma stepped into the room.

"Oh, look at Celestine Bone-picker," Owen guffawed.

The others joined in the laughter like he had said something amazingly funny.

"Celeste Ravaryn," I murmured.

Bone-picker was a name that had stuck with me ever since one gamma saw me rummaging through the dumpsters for food

We were given little food, barely enough to last all the hundreds of omegas in here for an hour. I barely have the luxury to eat three square meals a day. If I was lucky, I'd get to find scraps to eat in the evening after the small portion given to us each morning to keep us going.

Other omegas steal food, but I didn't dare do it. I was afraid. I didn't have the courage some of them had. So, it was best to go hungry rather than be caught and be punished for a week.

"Did I hear you say something, mutt?"

"No," I whispered, shaking my head.

I gasped as Owen gripped a handful of my hair, forcing me to stare into his narrowed blue eyes.

"Always respond to me whenever I ask you questions, you filthy little thing!" he snarled.

"I-I'm sorry," I whimpered, touching his hand to stop him from pulling harder on the hair.

Immediately our hands touched, Owen shoved me, causing me to lay spawl on the floor. The action made the dress I wore ride up, showing my panties.

Heat rose to my cheeks, and I hastily pushed the dress down to cover myself, but it was too late because Owen had seen it.

His eyes twinkled as he moved closer. I shifted backward, but I knew I wouldn't be able to escape whatever sick thoughts he had in mind.

"Owen," Ronan called. Tall, handsome with dark eyes and hair. The object of affection amongst many of the girls. He was even a bigger bully than Owen.

Yet, he had stood watching all that was happening. It wasn't as if he'd care if I was getting assaulted. They were all the same, looking for what to entertain them.

Owen scowled, turning to Ronan, who walked towards him.

"The Alpha had summoned her. You might need to wait to do all the dirty things you have in mind with her." Ronan said.

Owen's scowl deepened even more.

I breathed out a relieved sigh. At a time like this, I was grateful for the alpha—Alpha Kieran.

Sometimes, I wondered how he could tell I was in trouble and would save me from harm's way.

"You're lucky," Owen muttered. "The Alpha wants to see you now. Change that ugly thing you call a dress. You can keep the pants. Who knows what he might need you for?" a smile formed on his face.

"Now get out of my sight," He ordered.

I hurried to my feet, darting to the door. When I was out, I breathed out another relieved sigh.

"Thanks be to the goddess," I whispered, glancing at my dress. It was ripped in some places and had stains from months ago, and I couldn't recall the last time I had washed it.

As cruel as Owen might be, he was right about my dress. There was no way I'd appear in the presence of the alpha looking like I had been dragged through the mud and back. I needed a change of outfit.

I walked to the omega quarters, a twenty-minute walk from the alpha's estate. It was the filthiest, neglected part of the pack house territory. It had been my home for as long as I could remember, and I was only waiting for my mate to take me away from this life.

Many werewolves, including the omega, found their mate at the age of eighteen. At that age, many werewolves made their debut in society and even gained their wolves.

I didn't have a wolf, and neither do I have a mate. It seemed like a cruel joke played on me by the goddess. As if I wasn't suffering enough from being an omega and a dejected one at that, I was without the two most important things a werewolf needed to be with.

"What's your name?"

"Celeste," I answered. "Celeste Ravaryn."

"Celeste,"

"Alpha Keiran," I whispered, bowing lowly.

There was something about the way he called my name. It was different from the others. It wasn't mocking, but it wasn't loving either. I loved that his voice was soft, and he knew my correct name rather than settling on Celestine, whom Owen often referred to me as. But Celestine was a better name than bone picker, filth, and even mutt.

Alpha Keiran was in front of me, his large hand on my chin and he tilted my face to his.

My heart thumped wildly as I stared into his hazel eyes. My skin tingled from where he held it, and the feeling spread quickly.

He was the most handsome in the whole of the pack house, with golden brown hair and eyes that could thaw even the most hardened heart.

My heart.

"Look at me," he ordered and my eyes immediately flew up to look at him.

Our gaze was heated. Not only that the whole of my body was on fire. Every of my erogenous area—My nîpples, inner thighs, clîtoris, and vagina, to mention but a few.

He was only touching my chin but I could feel the tingling all over my body.

I stumbled forward as my knees buckled but Alpha Kieran caught me before I could hit the floor.

His arms wrapped around me almost immediately, and I whispered, "Mate."

Alpha Kieran's eyes widened with surprise and it soon turned into disgust.

He let me go instantly as if he was burned and he snarled, "An omega? This must be a joke."