CHAPTER 2

Before the next day, my body underwent its complete healing. Amy was back to life too and her cheerful greeting woke me up from my slumber.

As I prepared for work that morning, I glanced at my already packed luggage seated in front of my wardrobe. I had arranged it just yesterday in preparation for my escape, not wanting anything to delay Natalie's and I movement. 

Our plan was simple and I had no doubt that we would be successfully. It was something we both anticipated for ages. 

 Grabbing my work bag, I slung it across my shoulder and head out of the house to work. 

Natalie and I worked at the pack's hotel. Although the pay was meager and nothing compared to the tedious tasks we performed daily, it was better than having no decent job or money. It enabled us to save up for our departure from the Crimson Pack and so far, I could say we've gathered enough to take us out of the city and pay for an apartment. 

"Hey, I'm tired," Natalie stood up with a sigh, nudging me to do the same. 

We'd been working all morning and evening was slowly drawing in, yet we were only halfway through the task. 

Thanks to the Alpha handover ceremony tomorrow, work was even more demanding today, and we had barely covered it.

"Come, let's take a break." She beckoned. 

Feeling tired myself, I followed her without any argument to the last compartment of the bathroom, where we usually hide to rest whenever we get tired from work. 

"I brought some food." 

Natalie had this look on her face that she usually wore whenever she had done something wrong and mischievous, so I waited in anticipation. I watched as she reached into her pant pocket and pulled out a mushed-up brownie from it. 

"I took it from the kitchen," she smiled proudly at me. 

"Stole," I corrected. 

"Yeah whatever," she shrugged, giving me a share of the pastry. 

"You know you'd be in so much trouble if Paula finds out, right?" I reminded. 

Paula was our direct observer and one of the top housekeepers in the hotel. 

Natalie waved my words off with her palm, "eagle eyes?" She raised a brow, addressing Paula by the name she secretly gave her due to her sharp eyesight. "she wouldn't. I was careful." 

I was hungry so I didn't mind the state of the brownie nor the fact that we were eating in a bathroom, I munched happily on the food. 

"How is your body? Does it still ache from yesterday?" She asked with a mouthful of brownie.

"No, I healed just fine," I said, smacking my lips. 

"This is so good," I hummed, taking more bites. 

"Right?" Natalie licked her lips hurriedly, "it was worth every effort. Damn the royals who thinks they're the only one who gets to eat tasty food like this," she huffed. "I should do this more often, right El?" 

"No, please don't. You might not be so lucky next time. If she catches you, you'd undergo the seven punishment and get whipped. I don't want you to pass through that hell, Nat."

"Geez, relax! I'm just kidding, nerd." she laughed at my over seriousness. 

When we were done, we wiped our lips and washed our hands, getting rid of any evidence that could get us in trouble. 

"We should join the others, there's still so much to do," I told her. 

"Yeah," she huffed, "thanks to that jackass Derek, we get to do double the usual work. I'm so glad we won't be here to experience his reign. By this time tomorrow, we will both be far away from the pack, probably in another city already," she smiled in excitement. 

I nodded, the thoughts causing my stomach to bubble in joy. 

Suddenly, the door was thrown open and Brittany Stones, the Alpha's daughter stood in front of us with a burning glare. 

"Why are you both here when there's still so much work to do?" She snapped at us. 

I was dumbfounded for a moment. 

"We've been working all day, we just paused for a minute to rest." Natalie started to explain to her. 

"Oh spare me that! I've been in the hotel for hours and you both were not among the workers. Do you have an idea how important tomorrow is? Well, I bet you don't because you both are nothing but slaves! Cursed fellows that hang around one another!" She spat at us.

When we said nothing, she continued. 

"Who gave you the right to rest? Did you forget your place so soon? You are meant to serve for eternity because you are lowlifes! You are meant to be trampled upon and work hard until your limbs start to fall apart and your eyes start to pull out. Until your death, you are meant to serve non-stop. That is exactly why you were born in the first place, you bitches!"

"Okay, that's enough now, Brittany. We heard you the first time, you don't have to go on," Natalie countered her. 

"Or else what?" Brittany snapped at her. 

I noticed Natalie starting to get up to possibly fight her, so I quickly acted. 

"We're sorry. It would never happen again--

Like a sting from the deadliest insect, Brittany's hit landed on my left cheek. My face moved due to the force and I instantly tasted blood. 

"We worked all morning non-stop, we only took a break to rest. Why is it such a big deal?" My voice went a bit high as I spoke, tears already gathering in my eyes. 

Seeing that a weak Omega dared to talk back at her, Brittany slapped me again and this time, the force sent me to the ground. 

As she started to grab my hair to slap me again, Natalie started to growl. 

She was ready to attack Brittany as she couldn't stand her ceaselessly abusing me. 

"Natalie, ignore her. You don't have to fight, please." 

I began pleading with Natalie. If a fight should break out between them, she would most likely be at the losing end because even though Brittany was not as strong as her, she was the Alpha's daughter. 

Natalie was always ready to defend and fight for me. In the past, she suffered a lot because of me. Aside from bearing the cursed tag just for hanging out with me, she also partook in some of my punishments for standing up for me.

I didn't want anything to hinder our departure from the pack tomorrow, so I despairingly held Natalie back, seeing that my words were not pacifying her. 

Her growls increased and even though Brittany tried so hard to hide it, fear was written all over her demeanor. 

Reluctantly, she grabbed a handful of my hair and started to pull me up, raising her hand to hit me again.

At this point, Natalie couldn't stand it anymore as she tore free from my grip and charged at Brittany with the speed of lightning, dragging her off me and slamming her into the wall. 

"Natalie, no!" I screamed, trying to stop the fight. 

Brittany stretched her hand to scratch her but Natalie slapped it away and held her head, running her face sharply through the wall. 

Brittany's face instantly reddened but she charged toward Natalie again, trying to grip her hair. Natalie caught her hand this time and twisted it backward until her cries filled the compartment, she forcefully tilt her head and sunk her fangs deep into Brittany neck flesh before letting her go. 

Brittany dropped to the ground, her cries unending as the strong smell of her blood occupied the atmosphere. 

She started screaming for help and kicking Natalie at the same time, causing Natalie to get angry all over and charge at her again. 

"Natalie, we have to get out of here!" I tried to separate the two, when the sound of approaching footsteps drove sharply into my ears.

I froze. Recognition hitting me like a wave. Fear enveloping me. 

He's here.