Chapter 2

Rose POV

By the time I finished getting everything cleaned up and put away, it was around 2 am and I am completely drained. I don't know how much more my body can take of this. The only good thing that happened today was I wasn't beaten. It is only because other alphas are visiting and most of them do not believe in abusing and enslaving other pack members. It's almost like their visit is giving me a break my body very much needs.

About 70 years ago, the views and opinions of alphas started to change regarding the treatment and enslavement of lower rank pack members. With each new generation of alphas, the lower-ranking pack members started to gain more rights and freedom. Now they are almost as equally respected as the high-ranking members. My pack was changing until Maximus became alpha. The omegas of the pack don't get treated as badly as I do, but they still get treated pretty badly like, being shoved around, called names, and a few beatings here and there.

Walking sent a hot, stabbing pain into all of my bones as I walked to my bedroom to get a little sleep before I had to get up at 4 am. I was counting the steps to my room to lay down when I was hit with the most mouthwatering smell I have ever smelt, pine trees, and freshwater from a creek. Maybe the luna got a new spray to impress the visitors, but I don't care, I just want to go to bed. My eyelids are too heavy to keep open let alone investigate this delicious smell.

When the door to my room came into sight I couldn't help but run the best I could to the door. All I wanted was to be locked in my safe space for the next few hours. I quickly run my fingers through my hair, as I don't have a hairbrush, and changed into the sack that I have made into PJs and laid down. That's when I heard the sound of a lock being secured. Alpha Maximus is afraid that I will run away in the middle of the night so he had a padlock put on my door so once I'm in for the night I can't get out. But nothing is worse than being a rogue, you will be killed on sight if another pack sees you.

You become a rogue once you are banished from your pack. You can ask another pack to become a member, but it has to be within two weeks of being banished. After two weeks your wolf starts to become weak and go mad from not being a part of a pack. Your wolf is at its strongest when in a pack. After two months you can no longer form a thought. Your wolf will be fur and bones with matted, dirty fur. You will no longer be able to shift back into your human form and will attack everything you come in contact with. The aggression will get worse until someone puts you down and sets you free.

I laid in bed that night waiting for sleep to consume me, but it never did. All I kept thinking about was the scent that I came across coming to my room. When I looked at the old alarm clock in my room and saw the time, I knew it was my birthday and that only meant one thing. The scent I picked up was that of my mates. I never thought this moment would come.

What if he rejects me? I don't think my body would be able to handle being rejected, I believe it will kill me. I would rather be dead than live with the fact of knowing my mate didn't want someone as worthless and pathetic as me. I can't be the person he wants me to be. My mate has to be someone from another pack, pack members have been in and out of the packhouse all day and their lingering scent isn't the mouthwatering scent I picked up on. My alpha and pack will definitely talk him into rejecting me.

I know I'm not the picture-perfect mate, I'm too thin and pale. I'm scared of everything and I learned a long time ago to never speak. With my lack of education, my whole body including my face riddled with scars. My back is the worst, I have raised, angry scars all over my back. There is not one clear spot on my back, or on the back of my thighs and butt cheeks. Now I'm laying here preparing myself for death tomorrow as sleep finally consumed me. I woke up the next morning before my alarm to being kicked in the stomach and punched in the face by alpha Maximus. He gripped my jaw really tight while keeping my mouth shut just in case I cried out but I won't give him the satisfaction of knowing how much pain he caused.

"Your duties start early today and you are late. I will be punishing you tonight for making our guest wait on your pathetic existence. They better not be disappointed in their meals today or your punishment when everyone leaves will result in a long and extremely painful death. Do I make myself clear?" He asked as he stared me in the eyes with a deadly glint in his eyes. 

I nodded my head yes and he released my face and left my room. Once I knew he was far from my room, I very quickly got out of bed and put on my normal, brown, and itchy potato sack of a dress and ran to the kitchen to start breakfast, and quickly got to work. By 6:30 am I had eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, and sausage cooked and set out like a buffet. Next, I went into the pantry to retrieve the different types of juice we had and started putting them into pitchers when the scent I caught last night hit me and made my heart stop for a split second. My hands began to sweat as a felt a presence behind me, too scared to turn around.

"How long have you been awake and cooking? By the looks of it, it looks like you started at 3 in the morning." The mystery man spoke with evidence in his voice he was trying to break the ice.

I knew better and knew I had to watch what I say or else I would pay the price for even the smallest slip-up. I'm not even supposed to talk to anyone, especially guests.

"Not long" Was all I said to him and afraid it was too much already. But I could feel the alpha aura pouring off of him and started praying I wasn't being rude.

"Playing hard to get I see?" He chuckled.

I ignored him and went back to getting the juice set out. Thankfully last night I went already and got almost everything set out so I wouldn't be running around like a made man this morning trying to get everything done. The smell was making my stomach growl, I hope he doesn't hear it. Once I have everything set out, I figured it was safe to speak.

"Sir, breakfast is ready, would you like me to make your plate for you?" I asked in the most polite way I could.

"I can make my own plate but thank you. Is that what you wear when you cook or is that the only clothing you own?" He asked with a look in his eyes to not lie to him but I had to, I didn't want to die even though my life is so horrible.

"No sir." Was all I could manage to get out of my mouth.

"You're lying to me. They smell like they haven't been properly washed and it is obvious that was made from the sack that potatoes come in, actually that's the company I get them from." The tone in his voice made me shiver with fear. Not of him but what my alpha was going to do if he brought this up to him.

"I have to go get ready for the day sir if you'll excuse me." I spoke softly and with respect bowed to him and took my leave.

Once I was out of the kitchen, I let out the breath that I hadn't realized I was holding. What just happened in there? Everyone is cruel to me but yet he had a softness towards me. It's probably the mate bond it's impossible to fight. Who am I kidding, he would never accept me. Just as I was about to open my bedroom door, a large and grabbed my arm and spun me around and pushed me against the wall and I instantly covered my head. The puzzled look on his face did not go unnoticed by me.

"Is there something wrong with breakfast sir? I can made you something else if you would like?" I was praying to the moon goddess that he wouldn't say anything to how i reacted to him.

"No, it was fantastic! I wanted to thank you and talk to you. I know you feel the mate bond, and I…" I cut him off before he could finish and ran straight to my room. I could not face the fact that he was going to reject me so I hid in my room until I could no longer smell his scent. I know at some point I am going to have to face the rejection but not today, not the day of my birthday.