The Hunters

Chapter Six - Sorrowful Sins

"You two aren't going to be doing your normal tasks today," Sasha was clearly angry and I wasn't sure why.

We were all dressed and ready to start the new day. We had our beds made before the sun even broke through the window and were quickly trying to get to our tasks before angering anyone. River was tasked with her usual cleaning and I tasked to be I'm the kitchen with Cade. It should have been a normal day as a prisoner.

One of the female omegas paused at the doorway, looking back at us. She had brown hair and hazel eyes that always seemed to sparkle. She was tenderly waiting for us as she normally did. We had gotten to know a couple of the omegas besides Cade, though most didn't talk to us.

"Go Aurora," Sasha snapped at her. Sasha did not even have to turn her head to see the omega was waiting for her friends to join her. Aurora sadly nodded and left the room behind everybody else.

I was still shaken up from yesterday's events and hid behind River. River was my safety barrier between me and Sasha.

"What are we doing today?" River asked while I remained silent.

"One of our pack members complained about Alana's behavior yesterday," Sasha began. She paused and sighed heavily. I immediately knew it was the brunette shewolf.

River looked at me puzzled and then shifted her gaze back to Sasha. I never told River about what happened yesterday. I didn't want her to worry about me. I also felt shame and embaressment over what happened to me. I was supposed to be strong. I was supposed to be a Gamma. I should never have been treated in such a way and I wanted no one to know what happened, but I had a feeling River was going to find out.

"Your silence tells me that you are guilty of these accusations," her brow furrowed.

"I don't even know what the accusations are," I whined from behind River.

"Seraphine, one of our warriors and the alpha's daughter's best friend came to me last night. She said you were trying to seduce one of our warriors," She explained. River looked at me in disbelief at Sasha's words.

"What?!" River exclaimed in surprise. Her icy blue eyes gazed at me in such confusion. I could feel my face redden and my heart beat quicken.

"I swear I wasn't!" I cried out. Tears were already forming in my eyes once again.

"It doesn't matter. You upset one of our pack members and that can't be ignored," she said.

"That isn't fair! He was forcing me! I was trying to do my work and he was forcing me!" I cried so loud that I was almost screaming.

There must have been one of the warriors waiting outside. He walked into the room at my distressed cries. He moved to stand beside Sasha. He was a large man with warm brown eyes that reminded me of Blaze.

"It doesn't matter. You are nothing, but a prisoner to do with as we please," Sasha was growing more and more impatient. Her hands were now planted on her hips. I began to panic. What were they going to do to me? Were they going to kill me? My fate was truly not my own and perhaps it never was.

"What are you going to do?" River asked what I didn't have the courage to.

"Well," Sasha began and paused for a moment. "Since she wants to be a w***e so bad, I'm going to make her one."I began to sob behind River. I was barely listening anymore.

"What do you mean?" River asked.

"Her new tasks are pleasing the unmated males. When she isn't doing that she can be back in the Kitchen. If either of you cause anymore trouble, Alpha Remus said to put you both back in the cells," she explained. I knew that being back in the cells meant that our chance to escape would be nonexistent. I stood there weeping and trembling in despair.

"There must be another way. Anything, but that," River begged. Sasha and the warrior looked at one another in silence. Their eyes hazed over as if they were mindlinking each other or someone else. After a few moments they both looked back at us again.

"You can take her place," the warrior said with a menacing smile. I already knew he wanted River. She was a beta and beautiful. To have her meant to dominate her power and have her beauty.

"Done," she said.

"No!" I cried and threw my arms around her tightly. "This is my fault, I will do it, I will do it!" I cried in her shoulder. River placed a gentle hand on my head.

"Shhhhh. It will be okay Alana," she tried to reassure me.

"One of our warriors is already requesting you," Sasha looked at the man standing beside her. She shifted her intense gaze back at us. I sobbed even harder, becoming hysterical.

"Please!" I weeped. This was all my fault.

"Stop Alana, you must stop," River's voice was now firm. I struggled to hush my sobs. She stared deep into my green eyes. "You must be strong. Stop this," she said to me, her eyes pleading. I nodded at her and took a step away.

"If you fight back or get into any trouble, both of you will be used by the unmated males and spend the rest of your time in the cells," she warned.

"Yes, I understand," River agreed. I felt as though my heart was shattering into a million peices. I wasn't sure how much more of this place I could take. This couldn't be a normal pack. This place was cruel and twisted.

"Alana, you will report to your usual post in the garden and the kitchen," she said. I stiffly nodded still sniffling and trying to stop the tears from falling. "Now!" She snapped at me and I slowly made my way to the door. I looked over my shoulder at the warrior grinning at River. I swallowed hard at the thought of what was about to happen to her. Then, I left the room and sprinted towards the kitchen.

"Cade!" I cried as soon as I entered it. He looked up from cooking breakfast as I came running towards him.

"Alana, what's going on?" He asked. I ran towards him and threw my arms around him in a hug. The other omega beside him tossed me dirty glares, but I didn't care.

"It's River," I said still fighting back tears. He returned the hug, but then peeled me off of him.

"Tell me about it while you help me make breakfast. We can't afford anymore trouble," he said then went back to pulling out ingredients and cooking supplies from the cabinets.

"Sasha said she's going to be the pack w***e," I said with my voice trembling as much as my hands were. I struggled to open the bag of flour we used to make pancakes.

"I'm sorry, Alana," he said sadly.

"And it's my fault," I sniffled more as I started cracking eggs.

"How?" Cade asked shooting a nasty glare at the other omeg that was in the kitchen with us. I knew it was a warning to mind your own business. Most of the omegas here seemed to get along at least reasonably well, but besides Aurora and Cade, they didn't like me or River. I assumed it was because of our natural ranks. Yet we were technically lower than them now. We were nothing but prisoners.

"The warrior that escorted me to the garden.... he tried to.... to force himself..." I choked out and wiped away a couple of tears that escaped my eyes. "His girlfriend saw and got mad. She told Sasha I was trying to seduce him. Sasha was going to make me the pack w***e, but River took my place," I explained.

"You are lucky to River, but none of this is your fault. You can't control what others do," he said starting to make some pancakes. "I'm so sorry Alana. This pack is..." he paused long enough for the other omega to speak up.

"Brutal," she whispered. We both turned and looked at her while she was focused on making biscuits.

"It can be," he agreed with a sigh and returned to cooking the pancakes. We remained silent while we finished making breakfast.

Many of the pack members arrived as it was fresh off the stove. As usual, Cade was the one who served them their food and I was in the back with the other omega washing dishes. Both of us were silent, but listening closely to everyone at the table. They were all gossiping about how the Alpha was searching for a chosen mate since he had not found his true mate in years. They said it was about time the pack had a Luna.

Not all werewolves found their true mate. Their true mate is their mate decided by the moon goddess herself. It's their destined mate. Their chosen mate is a mate they chose when they cannot find their true mate. I started to think that neither River nor I had a true mate. Neither in our birth pack or here had we yet to find him. Maybe that was a good thing. If he was here, he may be as cruel as the other werewolves here.

Once we finished cleaning the dishes we cleaned the kitchen were everyone had finished eating. We cleaned in-between meals and helped the other omegas with their tasks. The rest of the day I tried to stay as busy as I could. I tried not to think of where River was or what was happening to her.

By the time Cade and I returned to the omegas' quarters for the night, River was already there. My eyes searched for her bed and found her laying in it beneath its covers. I sat on my bed and looked over at her laying there defeated.

"River," I whispered while the other omegas in the room were getting ready for bed. She remained completely silent and unmoving. I could only tell she was alive from the slow rise and fall of her body which showed she was still breathing.

I sighed and got ready for bed, trying not to push her. My chest ached for her. For what had happened to her. Once I was dressed for bed and the other omegas were settled into their beds, I sat on the edge of hers.

"River," I whispered softly. Once again, she said nothing. She didn't even stir. Yet I saw her eyes fluttered open, gazing out into nothing. She was awake, but unresponsive.

"I promise you River, I will get us out of here. We will be free," I whispered to her. I placed my hand on her head as she had done to me many times before to offer comfort. However, she cringed beneath my touch and shrinked away.

"It is my turn to be strong for us. It's my turn to get us out of trouble," I told her and got back into my own bed. It took ages for me to eventually fall asleep. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Both hurting for my friend and trying to figure out how we were going to get out of this awful place.