The Beta Gallows

Fifteen girls were sleeping in my room. It was an entirely different experience. I slept on the top bunk with Emery on the bottom. The boys slept in the same building but on the other side. A huge living room where social gatherings were held sort of divided the building.

In the morning, Blair told me to be careful with my things. The omegas weren’t monitored, and thefts occurred a lot. There wasn’t even room for my stuff in the lockers. I had to settle with stuffing my things under the bed. I carried my phone in my skirt pocket that was something I could not afford to lose. I had to hold on to it for as long as I could. It was only a matter of time before it was confiscated.

I sent Mom a text before I went to bed the previous night to let her know I made it through my first day okay. She hadn’t responded yet the next morning. I brushed it aside. Who knew what she had done with her phone? The morning mist covered most of the field, and I had no choice but to shower in freezing cold water.

You guessed it. Hot water didn’t run this side of the world. Didn’t have time to blow dry my hair either so I had to run with the curls. At least they were all even.  I slipped the extra small brown shirt over my head and then a long cardigan with the flowy skirt. It was a few inches too short, but it would have to do.

We didn’t have breakfast with everyone else in the cafeteria at school. We had our little shithole not far from the castle. Blair had already left. Good thing she showed me where it was. Everyone had left already I was the only one slugging out of the quarters. I hoped there would be something left for me.

I sighed, kicking the stones in my path. Punctuality had never been my strongest suit. It had to be now if I wanted to survive.

“Decided to skip breakfast?”

Alex’s voice came from in front of me. Why didn’t he get to wear a uniform? He wore a grey tracksuit instead.

“I was just heading there.”

He pulled his wrist out of his hoodie pocket and glanced at his silver watch.

“You’re thirty minutes late. What are you going to eat? Crumbs?”

I groaned. “On second thought, I’m just going to chill with my friends.”

He barked out a laugh. He fell in line with me and draped his arm around my shoulder.

“Come on,” he said.

I looked up. Gosh, had he always been this much taller than me? And bigger?

“Where are you taking me, Alex?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“To eat obviously. You don’t want to run your first day on an empty stomach. Break’s only at two.”

“Two?” I blasted. How would I make it out alive?

“Exactly, but I got your back.” He smiled.

Perhaps things would be like old times, but I doubted it. However, we could still be close even though I was ranked beneath him. I brushed my hair out of my face. I didn’t want to think about that.

“I guess I should say thanks… your majesty.” I bounced away from him.

He scowled. “You forgot to bow.”

“Oh, that will never happen.”

“You know most wolves take punishments seriously.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not yours.”

“You are going to be serious trouble, Gabbie.”

I laughed. He forgot how much trouble he used to get us in. We got to the cafeteria. A massive building behind the castle. Chatter came from inside, where hundreds of wolves ranked higher than me were. I looked at my shirt and then at the tiny building where the rest of the Omegas ate whatever leftovers were thrown at them.

Back at the cafeteria, I took a step back. They’d see right through me! I didn’t belong there.

“You know what, it’s worth a shot just checking what’s left. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Alex grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him.

“No, let’s go.”

“No, Alex. I’m fine. I’m suddenly not hungry.” Stomach, please don’t growl. I sucked it in just in case.

He pulled his face. “I can tell you’re lying!”

I sulked. “You know I can’t go in there. I’ll be totally out of place.”

“So, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat.”

My face fell. He was so sweet, but I doubted that would help me much against a room of a thousand bloodthirsty eyes that shared a common goal of throwing the omega out.

Sensing my unease, he stripped himself out of his grey hoodie and handed it to me.

“Here. No shirt in sight.”

I pulled the massive hoodie over my head. I could fit three other arms in the sleeves! I groaned, but it could actually work. I could have breakfast in peace. Hopefully.

We walked in together, yes I lingered behind. So much for going unnoticed. Everyone had their eyes on me. Some had their teeth on me. I lowered my head and stuck close to Alex. The chatter turned to whispers. Alex’s hands landed on my shoulders, stopping me by a table and shoving me down.

“Shouldn’t I get breakfast now?”

He sat across from me. Someone gasped. Oh, real dramatic. “We’re served here, sweetheart.”

“Oh, you have it real good, don’t you?”

He flashed his perfect white teeth at me. “This is nothing.”

I dipped my head to the side, my strawberry hair falling down my shoulder.

“Why am I not surprised?”

Before he could respond, a guy in a black shirt with a dark blue slash on it popped up by his side. One of the gammas. He bowed. I frowned. Did wolves really do that?

“Alpha, Mr. Stable’s asking for you. He says it’s urgent.”

Alpha Alex. I blinked back a few times. I can’t believe that came to mind. But it had a nice ring to it. Anyway, Alex groaned, getting up from the table. The little gamma guy scurried off. He had to be a freshman.  

“Are you really—”

He leaned over my shoulder and spoke close to my ear. Someone gasped again. What’s next? Is someone going to faint?

“Do not react.” His breath was hot against my cheek. I had to hold back the shiver.

“What?” I whispered, completely subdued.

“I mean it, Gabbie. Don’t react to anything until I’m back. I won’t be long.”

I nodded. I still didn’t get what he meant. I wrapped my arms around myself and waited for my food. Maybe I could take it to go and catch up with Alex later. Now that I was alone, I was the star of the show. I didn’t need hyper senses to hear a girl from another table say to her friend.

“Who the hell does she think she is, sitting with Alpha Alex?”

“What is she?” Someone else asked.

“I haven’t seen her around.”

Breakfast wasn’t really that important; leaving felt vital. Then, I saw a woman carrying a tray of various meats and eggs. My stomach chose that moment to grow,l and I had to obey its demands. The elderly lady in a blue uniform was almost at my table when she was intercepted.

By Leiah!

Leiah spoke for several seconds, and the woman turned back with the tray.

“Crud,” I muttered.

Then she proceeded to my table. But she wasn’t alone, she had support. I should have bolted out of there, but I wasn’t scared of her. I hated being the centre of attention, especially for the wrong reasons, but I carried zero fear for her.

I lifted my chin. Deep down, I knew this couldn’t be good.

“Look what the cat dragged in. Lost?”

Her friends snickered. One of them was even more gorgeous than Leiah. Crystal blue eyes, pale pink lips and snow-white hair that ran down her back. She didn’t seem to like me either.

I offered Leiah and her squad a pressed smile, “You know I came with Alex.”

A surge of energy hit me like a load of bricks to the head three times continuously. What the heck?

“Well, he should know that omegas like you are worthless little pieces of garbage, and you don’t belong here!” She yelled, and another blow of power went to my head.

Ouch. I cradled my head and glared at her. Her outburst brought the room to a total standstill. She managed to get rid of my breakfast and give me a headache for three weeks. I might as well leave. I wobbled to my feet.

“I wouldn’t want to eat here anyway. I’m leaving.” I said, assuming I made it to the door without fainting.

“Wait, Leiah, doesn’t that hoodie look familiar?” The girl with white hair asked, casually.

Oh, screw her.

“No, why would it—” She let out an overly dramatic gasp. “Take it off right now!”

No, why in the middle of the cafeteria? I fisted the edge of the hoodie and ground my teeth.

“You want me to strip?”

Her eyes flashed the colours of hell. Literally. Then came another blow to the head. I stumbled back and nearly hit the floor.

“Take it off, omega.” She said through clenched teeth. “Or do you want some more?”

“Fine, alright.” I pulled the oversized thing over my head and tossed it at her feet.

Gasps filled the cafeteria, along with assaults and barks. Geez, I was just an omega. I half-expected someone to throw a tomato at me. Leiah marched over to me, her eyes still blazing the colour of hell. She grabbed my jaw and dug her fingers into my skin. I lost feeling in my legs and knelt on the marble floor.

“Disrespectful little slut. You’re going to the beta gallows.”

***

“What? What did they feed these guys?!” I groaned.

Leiah dragged me all the way to a shithole called the beta gallows. A place with fur, rotten food and it smelt like feet and farts. This was the place the betas came to train and do other dumb stuff. Leiah ordered me to make the place sparkle like that was possible.

The betas mocking me wasn't helping either.

“It helps if you bend over nice and low.” Someone laughed.

“In your dreams jackass.” I dragged the rickety broom along the ground. A rake would have been better.

“Oh, this one has an attitude.” A tall, lean fellow with jet-black hair and bronze skin circled me like a hawk. “Where did you get that?”

He beckoned his friends for his actions. There had to be less than ten of them training, but they wanted to pick on me. A bulkier guy with dirty blond hair gave me a dirty grin. What, did he want a kiss? Gross.

“Listen, guys, the faster I get this done, the sooner I get out of your hair. So, can we all pretend like I’m not here? Thanks, that would be great.” I went back to hauling up trash, but the deep laughter told me my plan had not worked.

“Fresh meat. It’s been a while since I broke a newbie in.”

I recoiled.

“She’s all yours, Baxter.” The lean guy backed up. Jackass.

Baxter cracked his knuckles and grinned. “I’m going to teach you some manners, pretty thing.”

His meaty hand landed on my shoulder, and I flicked it off like a fly.

“Don’t touch me, you pig!”

“Pig? You don’t know who you’re talking to bitch.”

His friends snickered. He flashed his wolf at me. If I learned anything from my mom, it was how to defend myself from anything, and I had a weapon in my hands. Bring it.

“What are you going to do about it? Pig.”

He growled. I gripped the broomstick. Before he could raise his hands, I bashed the end of the broom on both of his ears. Shattering his senses. His nose would have been worse. He howled, pressed his palms against his ears, and backed up. He tripped on rubbish and landed on his ass.

Score one for me, but now I’d done it. The nine other betas glared at me like raw meat. I swallowed.

“Little bitch.” The lean one growled, flashing his wolf at me.

I stumbled back, holding onto my only weapon.

‘Don’t… don’t come any closer.”

Baxter stopped howling. I hadn’t even realized, but I heard him in time to turn and duck in time before he could pin me to the ground. I couldn’t escape his claws. He sliced my arm, and it burned like hell. I raised my broom and bashed his nose. Then his friend grabbed my broom and snapped it like a twig.

“Oh shit.” I’m toast.

They advanced.

“Stop. Leave the omega alone.”