Chapter Three

Every day we are tasked to do our own chores. Most times we three are separated for the whole day and will meet up only when our duty ends, and because we are overworked, we can only wave at each other goodbye and fall face first on the bed without having the energy to change our clothes. 

And when we don't have any more chores to do which is impossible, we wait for any of the higher-ranked to order us to do anything. We tend to their needs and requests, no matter how difficult and ridiculous it maybe. I can pretty much say that I have done every kind of orders from them. 

Some will just order you to cook or buy something for them. Some will ask you to do their assignments. Some will have their rooms or anything they have cleaned, but sometimes, some will order us some things that is a bit extreme and I dare say... offensive. 

I have been ordered to dance, sing, or just entertain them. I was asked to look after their kid and be their nanny of the day. I have been asked to buy things that should be considered as... illegal. And the list goes on.

And today, I was tasked to run a warm bath, clean the training equipments and send food to tge Gamma's office. All which I already did. 

And now the Omegas and I gather on the dirty kitchen while we await for anyone to order us anything. Lunch was long done, dishes are clean. The floor is shining, laundry bags are almost halfway again even though we just finished washing mountains of dirty clothes yesterday. Their clothes that are full of muds, some even gave blood on them. It's almost evening when we finished and Sofia and I quite literally dragged our tired body to our room and was knocked out within a few seconds. 

I pulled out the half-eaten apple Josef gave me yesterday from my apron and took it out if the plastic before munching on it. 

We are forbidden to eat while we are on duty, so everyone treasures our breaktime like this to eat anything we have. And it's not really much because we can only eat what the higher-ranks can't eat. Leftovers as everyone calls it. So it is no wonder that I, along with a few are malnourished. 

Sofia is with the Delta's housewife and doing grocery shopping while Josef is tasked to be an errand boy in the training area outside to tend to everyone's need. And so I am by myself while I converse with my fellow Omegas. Some of them are orphans like me, some has a higher-ranked werewolves as parents, but did not escape the fate of an Omega. 

"I wonder what it feels like to be outside." Juris, a female sitting three chairs away from my left said outloud and we all turned to her. 

Pauline who was sitting in front of her snorted."We are often outside though, what are you saying, Ris? Have you never been outside?"

"No, I mean... to be out there."

Realization of what she meant hit me almost instantly and I stared outside the window before continuing to munch on my apple. 

"Oh." I heard Pauline exclaimed. "Scary probably. You heard what the Alpha and the others said. Rogues are killed and hunted. And the safest place for us is here."

"Is it?" I couldn't help but blurt out without taking my eyes off outside.

At the tremble of her tone, I took my eyes off the window to stare at Juris again. She now gave glossy eyes and I can see everyone symphatizing with her including me. 

"Are we really safe here? What if they are just saying that to prevent us from escaping. To.. To continue to abuse and use us." She added in a low voice that I almost didn't catch her. Whispering to prevent the higher-ranks to hear us. 

Luckily, the mansion is huge and the walls are actually thick, and the dirty kitchen is located at the back of the mansion. They rarely ever really went here and will only ring the bells or shout for us. 

Everyone on the table now shares so many things. Status, weakness, and fear. And maybe that's why they are taking advantage of us, because they know they have scared us enough to stay.

This time, the oldest of us, Martha, was the one who talked. "Why will you risk your life, really? Life here is bad and feels like hell, but I still wouldn't trade that to an unknown life outside. Even if we somehow manage to leave, where will we go? I heard that not every pack is welcoming."

"I just hate that I am unfortunate enough to be born as an Omega and in Northridge pack at that. Why didn't Goddess choose a domestic pack for me? Those packs who actually sees everyone as their equal." Juris continued to whisper while crying. 

"We have to face our fate. Staying is hard, but attempting to leave will only have us killed."

And staying is better than death? I couldn't help but say in my head. 

I watched as everyone stiffened, their nose sniffing the air and color fading from their faces. Juris was quick to wipe her face and almost simultaneously, everyone stood up and pretended to do something. 

And I was left wondering what happened and still munching on my apple. I tried sniffing the air, but found no scent. Unveknownst to everyone but Sofia and Josef, my senses are not.. normal. I can't smell someone's scent until they are near enough, my super hearing only works for a few meters unlike others and I prevent myself from having any injury because I heal slower than most. They are my weakness that I won't just tell anyone I don't trust.

And my soul left my body when I heard a shrill voice outside and felt something in me dying. I did not have the time to take action before Zella came around the corner and now standing outside the opened door.

"What do you mean it looked bad? No! Girl, you looked amazing with your new hairstyle! You are totally rocking it! I am totally envious of how beautiful it looked on you, Jenna." Zella's obnoxious voice filled the corners of the dirty kitchen, making the tension in the air even thicker. 

Even with my still body, my mind still process that it's the Delta's daughter she's complimenting and talking to, but by the look in her eyes, none of her words were sincere.  Everyone might think Zella is nice, but I can still see through her facàde. She is nothing but nice. 

Our eyes connected, and I felt cold shiver running down my spine. 

"Yeah, I need to do something, Jenna. Bye." She said to the Delta's daughter through her mobile phone without taking her eyes off me.

She let out a smile that made my heart stop. "I want you to come to my room later in the afternoon, Klaire."

With that, she left with a smile, but a warning is clear in her eyes. I know that look, I know those eyes all too well, and my whole body starts to shake at the thought of what she'll do this time. 

Not wanting to be late, I was already on my way to Zella's room before four in the afternoon. I took a long way, a path that will make me see the beautiful scenery outside the fence.

Today, however, I was surprised to see a man standing a few meters away from the fence. He's standing right there and staring straight at me. The kind of stare that looks familiar but feels unfamiliar at the same time. There were tons of emotions on his face, and he looked troubled or having a fight with himself. 

I tilted my head when I saw him clenching and unclenching his hands like he wanted to do something. 

The man appears to be tall and muscular. He possesses a face that women will surely go gaga over. And I know just by looking at him that he's an Alpha. 

Before I can think about saying anything, the strange man turned around and was gone with just a blink of my eyes. 

What just happened? Who is he and why was he staring at me like... like he wants me, but hates me at the same time?