Caught Between Two Alphas

"The moon goddess has a twisted sense of humor," I muttered angrily, scrubbing Alpha Matthew's floor while on my hands and knees. The scent of another woman's perfume burnt my nostrils. As I cleaned, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a broken liquor bottle. Dull brown hair, plain features, nothing unique or exciting - no wonder Matthew never looked at me twice. But it wasn't just my appearance that made me unworthy. Being an omega in this pack was like having a target on your back. I was five years old when I heard those hurtful words for the first time. Playing with friends on the field, chasing a ball that rolled towards the other kids. But I didn't understand why we were treated differently. Why were our parents servants while theirs were treated better? One person called me a "low-life." Another said I was a "worthless Omega." It didn't take me long to understand these mean words. And soon, the label "Omega" started to define my life in the pack. "Hurry up, Ava!" Alpha Matthew's voice boomed from down the hall, snapping me back to the present. "The High Priestess will be here any minute to perform the mate revelation ceremony. I can't have my room looking like a pigsty when I bring my destined Luna here later." My heart clenched. Tonight, Matthew would find his true mate. And despite years of foolish hope, I knew it wouldn't be me. I stood, wincing at the ache in my knees. My gaze fell on Matthew's discarded shirt, and before I could stop myself, I brought it to my nose. His scent - pine and musk - made my wolf whine with longing. Disgusted with my weakness, I tossed the shirt into the laundry basket. "Get it together, Ava," I whispered. "He'll never see you as anything more than a servant." As I finished cleaning, a chill ran down my spine. For a moment, I could have sworn I heard a wolf howl in the distance - one I'd never heard before. Powerful. Commanding. Almost... familiar. I shook off the feeling. I had more pressing concerns. Like surviving the heartbreak that was sure to come when Matthew found his mate tonight. I gathered my cleaning supplies, preparing to leave the room. Just then, Matthew burst in, shirtless and reeking of alcohol. Behind him stumbled Milly, giggling and barely covered by a thin sheet. "Oh, you're still here," Matthew slurred, his eyes unfocused. "Be a good little omega and fetch us some breakfast, will you?" Milly sneered from the bed. "Does she ever do anything right? You should just get rid of her, Matt." I bit my tongue, fighting back tears as I nodded and hurried out. My name was Ava Cooper, but I didn't like it. It was a name that marked me as an outsider. The Cooper name had been looked down upon for generations. It was the name I had when I was bullied. The name I had when a mean boy stole my first kiss. And it was the name I had when I fell in love with Alpha Matthew. My name reminded me that someone like me could never be with someone like him. As I made my way to the kitchen, the excitement in the pack house was palpable. Everyone was buzzing about the mate revelation ceremony. I overheard snippets of conversation: "I heard the High Priestess herself is performing the ceremony!" "Do you think Alpha Matthew's mate will be from our pack?" "Whoever she is, she'd better be worthy of our Alpha." I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the ache in my chest. Tonight would change everything. As I entered the kitchen, the bustling activity hit me like a wave. Pack members were rushing about, preparing for the evening's festivities. The air was thick with the aroma of roasting meats and sweet pastries. "Ava! There you are," Beta Sarah called out, her voice sharp. "I need you to help with the table settings in the great hall. And for Moon's sake, try not to break anything this time." I nodded meekly, grabbing a stack of pristine white tablecloths. As I made my way to the great hall, I couldn't help but overhear two younger wolves whispering excitedly. "I heard Alpha Matthew's brother is coming back for the ceremony," one girl giggled. "They say he's even more handsome than our Alpha." "Shh!" her friend hushed. "You know we're not supposed to talk about him. He left the pack years ago." My curiosity piqued, but I didn't dare ask questions. An omega asking about pack politics is just asking for trouble. The hours flew by in a flurry of preparations. Before I knew it, the sun had set, and the full moon hung heavy in the sky. Pack members filed into the great hall, their excitement palpable. I stood in the corner, trying to make myself invisible as Alpha Matthew took his place at the center of the room. The High Priestess, a wizened old wolf with piercing silver eyes, raised her hands for silence. "Tonight," she intoned, her voice carrying to every corner of the hall, "the Moon Goddess will reveal Alpha Matthew's true mate." My heart pounded as the priestess began to chant in the ancient language of our kind. A soft glow emanated from her hands, growing brighter with each passing moment. Suddenly, the light shot out, enveloping the room in a blinding flash. When the light faded, I blinked, trying to clear the spots from my vision. That's when I realized everyone was staring at me. The High Priestess's eyes were wide with shock. "Impossible," Matthew muttered, his face contorted in disgust. The High Priestess cleared her throat. "The Moon Goddess has spoken. Ava Cooper is Alpha Matthew's true mate." For a moment, joy bloomed in my chest. But it withered just as quickly when I saw the look on Matthew's face. "Not her!" he spoke, voice broken. "She's hideous." Eyes turned to me, his words plunging knives into my chest. "You cannot be my mate!" he roared, his voice soaring through the vicinity as the room silenced. "I... I know I'm just an Omega, but..." My voice broke, unable to say anything more. He hated me. My own mate hated me. He straightened his suit, fingers dancing on the collars as he stepped forward. "Kneel!" His command took over me like a spell. Forcing my body into action. Everyone watched as I fell to my knees, I knew what was about to happen, yet I had not prepared myself for the blow that came when he uttered the words without a care in the world. "Ava Cooper, as opposed to the sham of this union and the ridiculous joke of a mate you are, I, Alpha Matthew Bourne, reject you as my mate." The room erupted in shocked whispers. I remained on my knees, too stunned to move. The rejection burned through me like acid, leaving me hollow. Matthew turned to the crowd, his voice cold. "The ceremony is over. Everyone out. Now." As the pack members filed out, throwing pitying glances my way, Matthew's gaze fell on me once more. A cruel smile twisted his lips. "Ava," he said, his voice deceptively soft. "Come to my office. We need to talk." Numb, I followed him. What more could he possibly have to say? In his office, Matthew poured himself a drink, not bothering to offer me one. He leaned against his desk, eyeing me with a mixture of disgust and... something else. Something that made my skin crawl. "Here's the deal," he said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "I can't have you as my Luna. It would be an embarrassment to the pack. But..." His eyes raked over me, making me feel naked and exposed. "I'm willing to offer you a... position." I frowned, not understanding. "What do you mean?" Matthew's smile widened. "You can stay in the pack, Ava. As my personal puppet... servant. No one else would want you anyway. I'm doing you a favor." The implication of his words hit me like a physical blow. He wanted to make me his slave, his dirty little secret. Bile rose in my throat. "No," I whispered, then louder, "No! I won't do it!" Matthew's face contorted with rage. He hurled his glass against the wall, making me flinch as it shattered. "Fine!" he roared. "Then get out! You're banished, Ava Cooper. If you're found on pack grounds by sunrise, you'll be executed. Now get out of my sight!" Tears blurring my vision, I fled from his office, from the pack house, from everything I'd ever known. As I ran into the dark forest, Matthew's words echoed in my head. Rejected. Banished. Alone.