4- Do or Die

Rayna’s POV:

I started cutting the grilled chicken breast to complete the Caesar salad. After that, I was supposed to set up the taco bar for the guests.

“Can you move it a little faster?” the kitchen head, Nadia asked me in a shrill voice, “Lycan King’s delegation is here and soon they will assemble for the lunch.”

All the Omegas were silent after I returned to my duties. After all, they all served me for a good two weeks because I was going to be their Luna.

I nodded quietly and started giving a good toss to all the ingredients in the salad bowl. The absence of my wolf didn’t let my head injury heal.

Did I tell you that my father was the one who hit me with his iron fist? He was a great father indeed. Huh!

Thanks to the painkiller injections that saved the day. Now I was back to the kitchen as a cook who was supposed to serve the pack along with the VIP guests.

After the insult Eric had asked the guards to throw me in the dungeons, but his parents opposed it strongly. They didn’t want to give the wrong impression to the Lycans.

The Lycans were royals. They ruled the humans and werewolves. Nobody could dare to go against the rules set by them.

The Lycans had the authority to withhold the funds.

As long as those Lycans were present in my pack, I was safe. However, once they would leave, there wouldn't be anyone who could save me from Eric's wrath.

“Can you taste the soup? I think it needs more vinegar.” Zara stirred the wooden spatula in the pot and then tilted her head sideways, “How are you coping?”

She had concern in her eyes. I just shrugged and took the spatula from her hand, “I’ll come around it.” I said and tasted the soup, “It’s perfect, Zara.”

I could feel her eyes roaming across my face, “I don’t know if I should tell you this…” When I heard the hesitancy in her voice, I looked up,

“Rayna… I overheard them… I mean the alphas were talking about making you a slave. Like the ones that used to be there in old times. Without… without a piece of cloth…” Her voice trailed off and she shuddered a little, “Rayna. I think Lola is the one who put this idea in their heads,” she mumbled and started stirring the pot a little aggressively.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“Your stepmother wants to secure her sister’s future that’s why she is playing these games. I think… Rayna … I think… You need to … l…leave.”

“What do you mean?”

I felt her hand on my shoulders, “You need to run before Lycans leave the pack.”

Run? But where? No matter where I run, they’ll follow me and kill me.

Everyone would think that a commoner and a filthy slave got killed. Nobody would hold the alphas accountable.

Both of us jumped when heard Nadia’s shrill voice.

 “Rayna. Go to the dining hall and start setting the table. Lycans are resting in their rooms and will arrive for lunch right after one hour.” I heard the order and didn’t respond.

I knew how to perform my duties. I had been serving this pack from childhood. I turned on my heels to leave the kitchen when I felt a shooting pain in my lower belly.

“Fu*ck!” I grunted and kneeled on the floor. What was happening?

“Rayna!” Zara shrieked in panic, “Nadia! Something is happening to her!”

The kitchen head came running and crouched near me, “Rayna! Tell me. What are you feeling?” Nadia shook me a little.

Before I could answer her, another pain shot up from my lower belly to the chest. I couldn’t decide if I needed to clutch my belly or my chest.

And then it dawned on me. 

My mates!

They didn’t even reject me and were now busy making love to Violet.

I tried to muffle my screams by clamping my mouth tightly with my fist. The fresh ripples of intense pain were a telltale sign that they were entering her one by one.

I fell to the kitchen floor and curled into a ball.

The pain was taking over my senses and was making me sweat. My teeth felt as if they would crush while gritting. It seemed to take a long endless hour when the pain started to diminish. Nadia had gotten busy with the dining hall arrangements while Zara stayed with me.

I could still feel slight discomfort in my belly. Just then I heard the heels clicking against the floor. Someone was coming to the kitchen.

“Hello, my stepdaughter.” I closed my eyes when I heard Lola’s wicked voice. What was she doing here? Wasn’t she supposed to stay with those Lycan guests as the pack beta’s mate?

“I know you are awake. I am in no mood for any drama. Believe me, you are going to face a lot more in the upcoming days.” I still didn’t respond.

What could be more damaging than snatching away my fated mates for a crime I never committed? 

“Ms. Lola. She is not well.” I heard Zara’s weak voice, “I can perform her duties today.”

Oh, Zara. You are too sweet. They don’t deserve you, love.

“Everyone! Out!” Lola gave the superior command to the Omega staff in the kitchen, and I felt Zara walking away with a little hesitation.

“What did I do to you?” I asked Lola in a weak voice. My cheek which was resting on the kitchen floor had gone numb.

“Nothing! It's just your existence,” I felt her crouching down near my almost dead body, “it was just a game of power, Rayna. Violet and I have been hungry for power. Rumors were right, sweetheart. I did have a Lycan mate who loved me like crazy. He was dead gorgeous. But I rejected him just to be with your father. I wanted a mate with a prestigious position. He used to work in the Royal palace as a warrior. But for me, being a warrior’s wife was not enough, though I still miss him. Violet always had her eyes on Eric. But now she is the Luna of the triplet alphas.”

I didn’t want to hear any of this. All my life I knew nothing but how to be a good Omega. Those two weeks were the best weeks of my life.

I was treated like a queen during that time. Alas! It was short-lived. 

“Now Violet is enjoying the intimacy with her chosen mates. Soon she will give birth to an alpha heir and…”

“I don’t want to hear any of this, Lola,” I managed through gritted teeth, “I don’t want those douchebags as my mates. Violet can keep them.”

I let out a scream when she held my hair where I was hit. It was still tender.

“Don’t you know how to address your alphas, honey? They have already thought of a perfect punishment for you.” She hissed in my ear, “Let the Lycans leave and then I’ll tell you the real meaning of the word torture.”

I closed my eyes and didn’t bother to give any response. 

“My sweet Rayna,” Lola muttered near my ear, “You won't be an Omega anymore. You’ll be treated as a slave.” She chuckled and straightened, “You won't be needing any clothes after that. What were you even thinking when you pulled down Alpha Eric’s pants? Do you think he will let you roam around with a single piece of clothing on your body?”

So, Zara was right. After stealing away my designation and my wolf now they were after my self-respect.

Violet wanted alpha triplets and now she had them. 

Those alpha boys who were expected to run the Black Stone pack didn’t even bother to let me explain myself.

I hated them. I hated this pack, and I hated my father.

“So, my dear, Rayna. Serve the Lycans for three days. Once they will leave then just get rid of these clothes and parade around nak*ed. Ha-ha.”

Her sinister laughter was a pain to my ears.

Well! My dear stepmom. Keep dreaming.

I leaned my forehead on the floor and giggled sarcastically.

Lycans won't be the only ones who would leave the packhouse. I’d accompany them. Ever heard the word ‘Asylum’?

***

“What are you up to, Rayna?” Zara asked me curiously when I freed my waist-length silver hair from the elastic band and gave it a wild shake.

We were standing outside the closed door of the Alpha Magnus office. An unexpected meeting was going on inside about some random contract and pack rules.

The lunch was supposed to start after the meeting and all the Omegas were busy carrying loaded trays of food into the dining hall. 

Zara inhaled sharply when she saw me peeling my clothes off outside the office door, one by one, “What the fu*ck, Rayna! For Goddess sake…”

I didn’t stop, “If I won’t do it today, they’ll be doing it after a few days. I need those Royal Lycans on my side, Zara.” I straightened after getting rid of my denim trousers.

Now I was only wearing a skin-colored skimpy Bra and matching panties.

“Girl! What has gotten into you? You were never that daring before. Is it about becoming a Luna?” Zara asked worriedly and squatted down to collect my clothes. 

“No, Zara. It’s not about Luna. It’s a struggle for my survival… to maintain my dignity. Like everyone else in the pack, we also deserve respect. They snatched my right to become a Luna by telling lies and stole my wolf.” 

“I …. I hope you know what you are doing?” her voice trembled, and I gave her a shaky grin.

I had never been this confident in my life.

What could be the worst? They might kill me. There was nothing to lose. Right?

I reached behind to unclasp the hook of my bra.

“R…Rayna!”

“Go away, my friend. It’s my fight. Just hold these for me and get busy in the kitchen. Place it on my bunk.” I folded my undergarments and handed them to her, “Pass me that tray.” I tilted my head towards the tray placed on the floor that had drinks for the guests.

Zara didn’t move for several seconds.

“Give me that damn tray and leave, Zara. I don’t want them to blame you for this. Now go.” I muttered giving her a little shove and then focused my attention on the door trying to balance the tray.

Inhaling a long breath, I prepared myself for what I was about to face and twisted the handle. It was a Do or Die situation for me.

“Here I come, my alphas! It’s the payback time. Let this Omega slave turn the tables on you.”