•~Chapter 2~•

RONAN'S POV:

I opened my eyes only to close them against the assault of the lights that peered through my window.

'Stupid sun.'

I'm not a morning person and maybe like half of the Earth's population probably aren't either. Why would you ever want to wake up so early and leave the comfort of your bed? But I do have a healthy respect for those people who have the strength and manage to wake up before their alarms blare their eras off.

I was about to return to my slumber when I smelled bacon.

'Hm~' Zannicus must be done cooking. I gotta say, his food are the best, second to my mom of course.

Of course, I'd never tell him that or anyone. I hate the guy and I don't even know why. I bullied him since we were children because of what my dad said to me; "He's filthy, an omega and gay! So don't you dare try and befriend him or associate with him in anyway as he is beneath you! Put him in his place whenever he speaks or do things out of turn."

And that's what I did. My friends and I would torment him daily yet he always put up a fight and I guess that's one thing I admire about him.

But if Zannicus openly shows defiance in front of my father, my father would hurt hi to the extent that he almost bled to death until my mom stopped him while I just stood and watched. 

He was only 12 at that time and I felt really bad for him but it was also the time that fear for my father developed within me. I wanted to help, but my father saw that and would challenge me with his eyes. I think he's been noticing how different I've been treating Zannicus lately.

Mom and dad began sleeping in separate rooms when I turned 13.

Until now, I sometimes take part in beating him, only when Dad is present but most of the times, I leave him be. These past several years, I've been having mixed feelings about Zannicus. I just don't know what to think of him anymore. Though, I think I might have an idea why I 'hate' him but I refuse to come to terms with it, I don't want to accept it since I personally witnessed the consequences had I made it known.

I tipped my chin up higher to smell more of that delicious aroma but it was ruined by a certain she-wolf, who has an unhealthy addiction to strong colognes, that passed by my room. You'd think her perfume was sprayed on by a bunch of skunks.

'Ugh, Stacy,' I hate that she was given a room up here by my father. I wanted to be the first to wake up before her as I couldn't stand that clingy girl and her annoying voice that has the ability to no doubt shatter all the windows here in the house if she tried to sing.

She's like a damn koala, no, a leech is more befitting and she keeps coming to me for sex.

'What am I? A booty call?'

Of course I refused her advances after the second time we had sex. She just gets some from another poor, unfortunate soul somewhere from our pack. 

I want to smack her into oblivion but I can't do that. She keeps mentioning about the topic of being Luna. What she will do, how everyone will live her, how we will rule together, blah, blah, blah. Bitch, everyone hates you!! Except for my father which is questioning.

She even wanted me to mark her!

'Huh! As if!' I rather bite into a poison apple rather than place my lips anywhere near her. Good Goddess, good thing I didn't kiss her. At least I'll share my first kiss with my mate. If they want anything to do with me, that is.

I will never mark her, I'll only do that to my mate. I know what you're thinking, if I'm so disgusted of her, then why be with her? Why defend her?

It's not like I want to. And it's because, ladies and gentlemen, my father wants me to. He's the only one who wants Stacy to be Luna. The rest of us? Hell. No.

My father's crazy. I'd rather pitch myself off of the roof of our house but if I don't make her my Luna, he'll never give me the title. I sighed, rubbing my face at the fact I'm already stressed this early in the morning.

I mean, what the heck dad?! What does he even see in her? All I see is an annoying, broken scissor that slept with half of my pack yet had the audacity to come back to me.

Of all the wolves in my pack, I had the unfortunate luck to sleep with Stacy for my first time. I'm sure I was the 1, 234th man she slept with. I feel sorry for whoever my mate is, I wanted my first to be special but Stacy-.....

I regret everything.

After debating whether I should get up or not, I rolled out of bed and stretched. I did my business, 'I'll shower after breakfast.'

I was tempted to jump out of my window to escape the dreaded breakfast time with my dad and that cake-faced skunk but my dad would scold me for missing breakfast. I huffed, rubbing the back of my neck.

I was preparing myself, slowly walking into the kitchen in time to hear Stacy, "Show some respect dog."

"Hmph! You don't deserve respect." My wolf agreed with a nod as he crosses his legs. Zannicus' snarky reply had me smiling on the inside as I watched from the archway of the kitchen.

I was about to let it be and just ignore whatever Stacy would say when I sensed my dad, mom and pack members coming down the stairs. I sighed before easily slipping on my usual expression, "Watch the way you speak to her omega!"

He jumped and turned, his eyes immediately locking with my own. Another thing I noticed is whenever he looks at me with those striking orange eyes of his, I get lost and sometimes I hate that feeling because I couldn't control it but other times, I don't really mind. But his effect on me is seriously concerning and completely baffling.

Especially when that strange feeling become more prominent over the years. We continued to stare at each other until Stacy spoke. Internally groaning, I looked away and instead gave her a fake smile as I tried not to grimace at her make-up.

"Hi sweetie~! Glad you're here. Can you teach this filthy dog a lesson~? He hasn't shown respect to me since I arrived and my head hurts."

I was looking down at my feet but both of our- Zannicus and mine -heads whipped towards her. I don't know why but what she said sparked anger within me.

"Filthy?! Speak for yourself dog in heat," Logan, my wolf, growled in my head.

I was going to let it go because a headache has made its appearance but then my dad appeared in my peripheral vision and I know he's heard everything. I turned to find Zannicus glaring venomously at Stacy.

I sighed, frowning when my head throbbed, 'Showtime, yay.'

I strode towards Zannicus still glaring at Stacy who flinched but smirked happily when I hit him. I guess he was too busy glaring, he failed to notice my dad walking in. The sudden sight of blood from his lips had me wincing inwardly.

'Shit! I hit him too hard. There's that feeling of regret again.'

I said what I needed, what I'm expected to say and to our surprise, he stared back at me and once again, I'm lost in those fiery eyes of his. I wonder, what if there was something else in his eyes aside from anger, looking up at me maybe? What about when he's lying under me and-.......

'Wait.' My thoughts skidded to a halt, 'WHOA! WHOA! Where did that come from?!'

I quickly regained my composure and levelled his glare. I'm not sure how long we stared at each other because it felt like years when in reality it must only be a few minutes.

My father brought us out of it. Even if I'm an alpha myself, I don't have the full power yet. Not until either I turn eighteen, the current Alpha passes the title or the current Alpha dies. So I still flinched a bit and slightly bowed my head along with everyone else except for one.

Zannicus responded, unfazed as always that had us look at him in disbelief, including my father. Maybe I imagined it, or maybe I'm still sleepy but did my dad just flinch at Zannicus' tone?

'No,' I shook my head because that's impossible.

"Never. He's not my Alpha nor will I ever treat him as such." Again, maybe I imagined it but there was something about the way he emphasized on 'my alpha'.

I could feel the air change and my dad almost exploded if my mom hadn't cut in, "Enough Ryder! You too Ronan! Zannicus darling, calm down."

'What?! I already backed down!'

"Yes Luna."

"Now all of you sit down and eat. One more word and I'll rip your voiceboxes out through your noses." I saw Stacy wince and hold her nose.

Another feeling soared within me upon seeing mom's hand on Zannicus' shoulder but this, I recognize, "Mom?"

"Zip it!" I pursed my lips as she sent me a look.

As soon as they left, I moved towards the table. I guess I'm a bit jealous as my mom treats him like her own. But do I blame Zannicus? No.

I sat down and dug in but peered up from my food to see my father glaring at the direction to where my mom and Zannicus disappeared to. The fork he was holding was bent in half, 'Poor fork'.

I don't get why he hates him so much. I mean, he did tell me that omegas were the lowest of the low and to put them in their place if they ever so much as look at you wrong. Yet, out of all our omegas, Zannicus is the only exception, the one he truly hates and inflicts so much pain on. Be it emotional or physical. The other omegas are treated far better. The only thing I know, what we all know, Zannicus was found in within the borders of our pack when he was just a baby.