A week had passed, and I had thankfully avoided conflict. Today was a cleaning day and so I got busy cleaning the vast majority of hallways and rooms in my designated area. Which is the Alpha floor and the Beta rooms, as well as all the offices downstairs.

I could hear shouting and doors slamming from Steven's office. Steven came storming out and barely glanced at me as he passed. I watched him go into the forest through the foyer window. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. But soon Sophie came out after him. Her eyes were wild with anger and she immediately spotted me.

Oh no.

Marching over, her hand came flying to my hair, and she pushed me against the wall, her canines extended. Her free hand quickly slapped me across the face so hard and unexpected that I bit down on my lip and the metallic warmth of my blood filled my mouth.

"It's all your fault!" She shrieked.

I expected something else, but she quickly dismissed me with a growl and chased after Steven in her stupid high heels.

I spat out the blood and slumped to the floor. I was just damn mopping. What have I done? I sat for a while just to get my bearings around what just happened.

There were sounds of footsteps scuffling, and I looked up to see everyone running down the stairs and halls, wiping hands on their aprons and fixing their hair.

Another downside to not shifting was not being able to mind link my fellow pack mates, so I could only assume the word was out for a meeting or something had happened since everyone was going towards the grand hall.

I cursed, not having time to sort my face out, but got up and followed a group of people, wiping at the blood that dripped down my cheek. The grand hall was brightly lit and the only place where we could all fit. Luckily, I got there just in time. Most wolves already stood facing a podium where both Alpha blood stood.

Alpha Steven was the one who was talking tonight. I noticed he was doing a lot more instead of his father, Damien. No doubt he would be in complete control soon. Rosie had already left to live with her mate in his pack, so the family numbers were dwindling.

"Thank you for coming when I know so many of you are busy." The room was hushed to silence. "I received a phone call with the orders from the King."

Murmurs sounded across the room, and people jostled nervously. I huddled into myself at the back of the crowd, glad for the cover from the people in front.

"The King is sending one of his packs and their Alpha to come and do a welfare check on us!" He cleared his throat to quieten the room. "And it happens to be Alpha of the Blood Moon pack."

People shrieked amongst the crowd; this pack obviously created uncertainty within them. This was the pack I heard him speak to Sophie about...

I was blissfully unaware of why it was such a bad thing, so made a note in my mind to ask Mother later. This was the second time I heard Steven talk about them. This was the pack that was at the party. Yet I didn't sense an Alpha as strong as that there.

Wiping blood again with my sleeve, I grimaced at the staining. I really liked this jumper...

Glancing up, I saw Steven surveying the room as people voiced their opinions at once. His gaze met mine from way across the room and I sucked in my lips before dropping my head so my hair would cover my face. I felt weirdly...guilty.

He cleared his throat. "This Alpha will expect the most from all of you! Keep up appearances and be ready. I will see you all later!"

People chattered as they flooded out of the building. From the corner of my eye, I saw Steven watch me as I slipped into the stream of people. I kept myself hidden and made my way to my room in the packhouse.

I took it upon myself to wash my face and hands before continuing with the rest of my chores. There were only a few hours left, anyway.

***

I shut the cleaning cupboard with a sigh. I had hoped to finish two hours prior, but Sophie had caught me and demanded that I scrub her room from top to bottom in case the new pack saw. Even though she was betrothed to Steven, I found it quite humorous.

She caught me as I was finishing her hallway, her face immediately turning sour. "It's all your fault you know."

"W-w-

"Don't what-what me. You know what you did. You purposely parade around like a slut and got the attention of the Beta of Blood Moon when you spilt your crap on him! I don't know why Steven insists on you being a server when you can't even talk." She laughed. "You are useless and pathetic. And now we all have to suffer because of you, as though your very being isn't enough torture for us."

My bottom lip wobbled, and I kept my eyes on her shoes. Was I really that useless?

"Oh what, gonna cry now? How pathetic, just like I said. Now go get out of my sight." She scoffed.

I nodded furiously and turned to hurry away. However, in my haste, I missed her pointed foot and my reflexes were too slow. I came crashing down onto the wooden floors, the side of my face taking a huge part of the hit. I could hear Sophie chuckling before her bedroom door shut behind me.

I laid there alone and cried, my face absolutely on fire from pain. I could feel blood pooling from my lip again and what felt like my nose. Sitting up, I touched the side of my head to see more blood. My vision swirled, and I had trouble bringing myself to my feet. Damn tiles. Damn wolves.

When I eventually stood, everything swam, and I wobbled my way down the stairs, clutching onto the barrier for support. I found my bedroom by heart and quickly locked the door behind me. I embraced the darkness of the moon and collapsed on my bed.

I cried once again, for the feeling of not being welcome always hit me hard. I longed for wellbeing, for safety beyond my bedroom walls. To not have to worry every time that I stuttered in fear of the repercussions. I longed for freedom, for no one to judge and rule over me. I longed for my wolf, my heritage. A place in the pack.

With those thoughts in my mind, I dragged myself into my bathroom. Once again this month I was throwing back pain killers yet this time I opted for the stronger ones. My vision was steady, but the pain in my head had me cramping up and vomiting into the toilet, bringing the medication back up with my stomach contents.

Knowing I had to shower since I was covered in blood and sick, I turned on the warm water. I wasn't allowed the luxury of hot being an omega, so lukewarm had to do.

Before I could strip off my clothes, a knock sounded at my door. I practically whimpered a sob.

"Y-yes?"

"Nova."

My body slumped in fear. He couldn't see me this way. He would get suspicious.

"Yes Alpha?"

"Nova, I came to tell you about tomorrow-do I smell blood?"

My heart clenched in fear. "N-n-"

"Open this door," Steven demanded.

My eyes teared, and I trudged my way over to the door and unlocked it with my head hung down, turning off my light. If only he was ten minutes later, I could have hidden this.

"What happened? Why are you in the dark? What's the blood I smell?" He wondered.

He spoke as though he was an Alpha who cared and not one who dismissed me in public.

I risked a peek at his face to find his blue eyes darker than before, pupils blown as he harshly stared down at me. I wanted to break free of the Alpha stare, but I couldn't.

"I f-fell."

His eyes narrowed. "Interesting fall Nova. I noticed the split lip earlier."

I shrugged, fighting my mind against the command. "I honestly f-fell."

I mean - I wasn't lying.

Knowing I couldn't defy the Alpha command, he sighed and nodded. "You have got to be more careful. You're human. How is your vision?"

"B-blurry." I chewed my lip and instantly regretted it after the sharp pain.

He stood in front of me and inspected my injuries, his eyes widening once they saw my scalp.

"This will not heal in time." He mumbled, brushing my hair to the side.

In time?

"S-sorry?" I asked.

"This hurts bad, yeah?"

I mutely nodded, which made him sigh, his hand on my head letting go finally. Automatically, my arms wrapped around themselves again and I stepped away, cascading my hair across my chin.

"I need you to see the doctor. You will not heal that overnight." He sighed.

Not a doctor!

I shook my head. "I don't want my p-parents to know."

"Very well. I will not force you. I see how uncomfortable I make you. I'm sorry I had to command that, Nova. But my pack members are important to me, as are you. I will sort this out, mark my words."

I nodded mutely as he left my room, not believing a word. Numbly going to lock my door, the only sound was my shower running in the other room. I bit back tears as I thought about the problems this may have against me as I climbed into the warm water.

Blood rushes down the drain, my matted hair soaking in conditioner in hopes it would strengthen through all my body's malnutrition. Once I was washed, I dried myself gently and stared in the mirror. My left eye was swelling shut again, and my nose and lower lip no longer dripped blood, but definitely looked like I had plastic surgery gone wrong. My chest heaved in anguish at the sight, but I fought the tears back.

Getting into a nightie, I was about to climb into bed when a soft knock sounded at the door. Hating the visitor already, I cracked the door and peered my good eye through. Steven stood mutely again with a needle in his hand and a first aid kit in his other.

"Let's get that sorted."

I could've cried at his generosity, but I was all dried out... Maybe he did care after all?

He made me sit on the bed and tended to my wounds with antiseptic. A few strips were placed onto my head and he gave me an ice pack for my eye.

The needle he held was full of his own blood; it was fresh. His wolf DNA would work its magic and the swelling of my eye would vanish, I hoped. I was told Alpha blood could help heal lesser wolves. It wasn't enough for it to disappear completely, going from what I knew about transfusions, but at least I could see by morning.

When he finished, he gave me painkillers and bruise cream before standing and leaving. "It should start working as you sleep."

I curled up into my sheets, my eyes dry from tears at last. I let out a content sigh as the strong meds kicked in before dozing off into the world of sleepy comfort.

************

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