Chapter Two

It was time to get cooking, pun intended. I ignited the gas burners on both stoves, lowering the griddle tops down over the burners and then turned to preheat the oversized double wall oven behind me. I lived and worked in the pack manor, which since I was the sole cook here I was thankful for. I cooked for Alpha Andrew and Luna Nora, Beta Ethan and his mate Bethany, Gamma Levi and his mate Christine, Delta Jake and his mate Faith and their son Matheau. Theo and Dean also usually ate in the pack manor. They were the future Alpha and Beta, both sons of Andrew and Nora. 

Thankfully Jewel, the daughter of the Beta, usually ate at the pack house; she was convinced I would spit in her food. Since I cooked buffet style I’m not sure how I would target just her food, but whatever. It kept her away from me for longer. She was my biggest tormentor. I had thought about leaving the pack more than once to get away from her. Sure I could take her in a fight without breaking a sweat, but then my secret would come out. The only reason I hadn’t already left was because I would not survive as a rogue when I couldn’t shift. It wouldn’t be long though, and then I would be gone.

If I was lucky I might even meet my mate once I leave, if not maybe I will take a chosen mate. If he belongs to this pack, I will reject him on sight. I don’t care who he is. The only person I would even remotely consider would be Matheau, but he likes boys and he was basically my brother, so that wasn’t happening anyway. I really needed to find a time to talk to him and let him know my plans. I couldn’t just run away and leave him in the dark. Would he understand? Yes, but not before skinning me alive. I’m sure I would make a lovely rug.

Then there was Vincent. He was the Gamma’s son. I tried my best to avoid him. He creeped me out and I was pretty sure he was as twisted as Beta Ethan was. He was always watching me, looking at me like I was some kind of last meal that he was entitled to. I shuddered and pushed the thoughts from my head, which Aramyth was happy to replace with thoughts of her tearing him apart, which made me giggle.

I set to work making breakfast. I may cook for fewer people, but they were still wolves and ate like them and there was only one of me. Today was fruit and creme filled crepes, bacon, eggs, home fries, biscuits, gravy and toast. I spent a couple hours working, making sure everything came together and finished about the same time. 

I lifted my head as I heard footsteps thudding down the stairs, “Theo and Dean.” I thought. My suspicions confirmed as they came running into the kitchen, always the first to arrive ahead of the others. They were never mean to me at least. They weren’t particularly nice, preferring to pretend like I was invisible, but they weren’t mean and cruel like the others either. I was fine with this. The less attention on me, the better.

I lowered my head and my gaze as was expected of an Omega to the ranked members of the pack. A sign of submission. This made Aramyth’s fur bristle, *We should not submit like a wolf of no rank. We are not an Omega. We are an Alpha!*

*I know. We know that; they do not. They cannot. Female Alphas are unheard of. We would be in serious danger if they find out before we are able to get our pack back. I’m sorry Aramyth. I know this is hard for you - the submitting, the disrespect, the secrets. I wish things were different. Just a few more weeks, ok?* I frowned and mentally hugged her. I wished dearly that things were different for us.

*I know. I’ll try my best.* Aramyth huffed and nodded before she settled into the back of my mind.

I usually managed to get out of the kitchen before everyone arrived, but today I was not so lucky. I was just placing the last of the food in the buffet warmer and turning to make my exit before the others could show up but I wasn’t looking where I was going and I ran right into a wall. I growled as I landed on my ass, “Fuck!” I muttered to myself. I soon realized that ‘the wall’ was actually Theo who was headed to fill his plate. 

I could feel his annoyed gaze on me. I gave a hasty, “Sorry” as I stood up in front of him. Suddenly I heard a high pitched, nerve grating voice that I had been hoping to avoid this morning.

“Get away from Theo you pathetic whore!” Jewel had walked in as I stood, still within Theo’s personal space as I hadn’t had a chance to move away from him. 

Theo was 19, almost 20 and he still hadn’t found his mate. Jewel had spent the last 6 months trying to saddle up to him and earn his favor in the hopes that he would take her as a chosen mate. True mate or chosen mate it didn’t matter, all Alpha’s needed a Luna.

I rolled my eyes as I turned towards Jewel, my patience growing thin this morning, “Don’t get your panties in a twist. It’s not like he’s your mate.”.

“How dare you! How dare you disrespect me! I am the daughter of a Beta and you… You are just some useless Omega whore!” Jewel’s face grew redder with every word as she charged me, swinging her fists repeatedly into my ribs. I went down, curling into myself to protect my soft spots, she kept kicking me and I took the blows like a champ.

I would have bruises later but at least I wouldn’t have cracked ribs like the last time when she caught me off guard. While I certainly could have taken her, I had never once laid a finger on any of the pack members, not even in my own defense. I refused to stoop to their level, or take more punishment than I already would because I swung back. My mouth regularly got me into trouble, but they would have found a reason to punish me regardless, and my Alpha blood made saying nothing damn near impossible, so I used the unavoidable punishment as an outlet which helped keep Aramyth amused and even a bit content in our situation.

“I am many, many things, a whore is not one of them. I have zero desire for any of the members in this pack. Ever. You simply view everyone as a threat because deep down you know you’ll never be anything more than a spoiled daughter of a beta.”

Jewel was livid, nearly foaming at the mouth. I watched her raise her foot in preparation of bringing it down into my ribs with all her might, but her attention was drawn elsewhere as Dean came to stand by his brother, “Leave it alone Jewel, she isn’t worth the effort.” 

“He's right Jewel, let’s just get some breakfast.” Theo agreed and grabbed Jewel by the waist before she could stomp me full force. She still landed a blow but I was pretty sure nothing cracked. She was clawing and growling to get to me as Theo dragged her away.

“ENOUGH!” I heard Alpha Andrew bellow, his power rolling through the kitchen like a wave; it caused everyone else to bare their necks in submission. As I was an Alpha myself it didn’t affect me. I was 12 when I realized it, but I continued to act as though it did, baring my own neck in submission. Alpha Andrew growled, “What is the meaning of this? Why are you in here, acting like a bunch of animals?” 

I said nothing, trying not to snicker as Aramyth once again ran her mouth, *We are a bunch of animals, what does he think wolves are?*

Jewel was the first to speak up, “Alpha Andrew, I was just teaching Alyce her place, and some manners. She had the audacity to speak back to me, even insulting me when I caught her trying to warm up to Alpha Theo.” I watched her turn on the pout and let crocodile tears well up in her eyes.

I continued to say nothing, making no efforts to defend myself as Alpha Andrew gazed at her and then the rest of the group, his mate Nora slipping her arm through his. I knew he wasn’t fond of me and if he believed that I was trying to charm Theo then I was already in enough trouble without running my mouth further. A group was starting to gather behind the Alpha. Jewel's parents were there, and the Gamma, with his family, had come down for breakfast. I could hear Jake, Faith and Matheau coming up the path, as they lived in their own home near the manor. Other Omegas had also started arriving, but they were here to attend to other chores.