The Alpha's Marked Omega

Vera's POV And with a thud, the lady on the podium landed on the floor. All eyes fell on me because he already announced it. “One drink had been spiked. I saw her, but when I asked, she hit me on the head, knocking me unconscious then locked me in the cooling room.” I gulped, feeling everyone's dagger eyes all over my body while the paramedics who had been called in advance stabilized the lady and wheeled her away. No one said anything. They wouldn't dare. Not when he already shushed the Alpha who even hosted the ball. He stood up and I stepped back in fear, the broad chest I once admired looking like wings with sharp fangs decorating it. If everyone was shooting daggers at me through their eyes, he wasn't. In fact, he was calm, too calm, and his tone was even calmer. “You still want to deny it?” He asked, downing his own glass of the same drink. “Tell me, who exactly were you trying to poison? Was it me? Alpha T, or your supervisor whose handprint is plastered under all that makeup…” My hand instinctively flew to my right cheek and my pupils widened in shock. I rubbed tons of concealer on there so how exactly did he know about it? “Ladies and gentlemen, I think we know who exactly she was trying to poison.” A tear escaped my eyes as I bit my lips so hard that a metallic taste filled my mouth. I know I didn't do it, but right now, no one would believe me, not after I was framed last time for purposely hiding my supervisor's inhaler a while back. That was only supposed to be a prank because she never used the thing, but it backfired, and they all put the blame on me. The man’s gaze held me in place, his eyes piercing, cold as steel. The silence was thick as everyone stared, their expressions hungry for justice, or at least a punishment. The air was tense, charged with the expectation of retribution. One of the guests stood up to speak, breaking the silence, “Alpha, you cannot let her walk free. She deserves to be punished publicly for this. This is not the first time her actions have landed one of us in the hospital. If we pardon her, she might… kill us all!” Her statement caused the others to nod and agree, but this man just raised a hand, silencing them with just a gesture. “Id Alpha T doesn't mind, I'll handle her punishment in my own way,” he replied, his voice as smooth as ice. There was a finality to his words that none dared question. He turned to me, a slight smirk on his lips. “Tell me, Vera, do you know what they call me?” I felt my throat close up. I shook my head, unable to find my voice. One of the men in the room scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain yet bearing a ton of fear. “They call him the Alpha Keith. Broken Alpha, you know. Perfect on the outside, but broken on the inside. Sharp like an Ax.” I felt my heart stutter. I’d heard whispers about this man, rumors even... but hearing it spoken out loud in front of everyone made it feel so much more real, so much more dangerous. Keith leaned closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “They’re not wrong, Vera,” he murmured, his tone a low, menacing growl. “I am broken, yet that makes me more unpredictable. More dangerous.” His smile widened, a cold, calculated gleam in his gaze. I swallowed hard, but he wasn’t done because he leaned closer. “If you wanted my attention you didn't have to give my assistant the poison. But don't worry, I'll give you exactly what you want.” With a slight movement, he was standing upright again, but backing me. “Her life is in your hands now, Keith. Do whatever you want to her.” Alpha Keith bowed his head and said his goodbyes before yanking me by the arm and dragging me out the door. His paces were so fast I had to run to keep up and by the time he stopped, there was a car waiting. “Get in!” I wasted no time and entered and he did the same, sitting opposite me. “Tell me mate, how blind were you that you didn't notice someone switched the drinks and wanted to frame you for it?” I raised my wet face, looking at the man with no expressions whatsoever not knowing what surprised me the most. The fact that he called me mate or the fact that he knew I didn't do any of this and he didn't say a word in there? “I don't understand,” I whispered and he handed me a tablet with footage of me standing, admiring a particular someone while someone sprinkled something in one of the glasses. “Why didn't you show them this back there?” “You served the drink to my assistant. And you were admiring another man, a bloody gamma, while me, your mate, was in the same room with you. Did you really expect me to save your ass?” At this point, the tears in my eyes cleared, and I couldn't help but ask. “How am I your mate?” Keith rolled his eyes, and closed them, not giving me any answer. I really wanted to know because I was the omega who didn't even have a wolf, so how was that possible? “What are you going to do to me?” I asked again, this time hoping for an answer. Seconds passed, and just as I was about to give up on getting an answer, he replied, “According to the rumors, what do I do to my captives.” ~~~ My heart was drumming all through the ride that he had to kick me out of his personal car to ride with his guards. I knew where I was going even though I refused to believe it. The guard's silence also confirmed it. I was going to hell on earth. The famous lion's den every mother scared their little pups with. The lion den criminals were taken to if death was too easy as a punishment. I cried all throughout, and by the time the guards pushed me out of the car, it was pitch black. The harsh winds dried the tears on my cheeks in seconds and I gulped. “Name?” I heard Keith's voice though I couldn't see him. “Vera.” “Vera, do you know where we are?” I heard Keith ask, his voice coming from every direction. “Yes,” I responded with a devastated sigh. This is the place I'd lose my life. “Considering the fact that I'm not a killer of innocents, I'd let you go if you can defeat one of my captives. And to be fair, it'll be your pick. But if the captive defeats you, you become one of them, and you know what they do to a wolf of your status…” In response, I nodded, unsure of whether he saw me or not. “Don't know if I should wish you luck, or wish your crush comes to save you. Till dawn, Vera.”