Bella: The Beta's Daughter

3. Don't Be Late.

I felt his presence before I picked up on his scent. Not too shabby for a wolfless girl. I knew that scent anywhere. Its owner had targeted me relentlessly and had done so for as long as I can remember. It was Maddox.

“I told you I would see you later, Omega!” he spat out.

I stood still, I didn’t turn around, I just took a moment to compose myself.

“What’s the matter Omega, you scared?” He said in a mocking tone.

I took in a deep but subtle breath and turned around to face him.

“Maddox, Hi, I’m sorry I am in a rush, I have chores to do, so you will have to save your insults for another time,” I said dismissively. I didn’t want him to think that he had me scared, even though he did.

As I went to turn again to continue on my way I felt him grab my wrist aggressively.

“Don’t dare walk away from me when I’m talking to you, Omega!” He yelled.

“You don’t leave until I’m done with you, hear me?” He continued.

“Please Maddox, I have chores to do, I don’t understand what you could possibly want with me,” I pleaded with him.

“You mean nothing to me, Omega. You should know that.” He said venomously.

“Yes, Maddox, I understand that.” I agreed with him, unsure of why he was telling me this.

“I will be alpha in a matter of hours!” He declared.

“I realize that and that’s why I need to go do my chores, I am supposed to be setting up for the ceremony,” I say trying to reason with him, holding my head up high.

“You disgust me!” He blurted out, screwing up his face at me.

I don’t know what to say. I could see that he appeared to be very angry with me, and I didn’t want to antagonize him further, so I bared my neck to him voluntarily, as a sign of submission, in an effort to calm him down, and end this interaction as quickly as possible.

“That’s more like it!” He rasped out.

“Look at me, Omega!” He instructed me gruffly.

I raised my head and look at him as he requested.

“You really are just a weak omega, aren’t you?” He spat us in a taunting tone, with an amused expression on his face.

A feeling of anger instantly started to overwhelm me. I took extreme offense to what he has just uttered, but I dared not challenge a soon-to-be alpha, especially not when I was on a mission that I didn’t want to compromise.

“In a few hours I become alpha, and what I say will be law. I want you to meet me in my room after the ceremony. Do you understand?” He demanded.

Wide-eyed and taken aback by what Maddox has just said I am stunned and have no immediate response.

At that moment, Maddox plunged forward and shoves his tongue into my mouth, I tried to pull away, but he was quick and aggressive as he pulled my face forward into him holding me firmly in place. After a short struggle I managed to pull away, meanwhile, Maddox just licked his lips with a smirk on his face.

“You taste like strawberries, mmm. I bet that was your first kiss too?” Maddox said with an amused tone.

“Maddox, please, I…” I began.

“Go, do your chores, but don’t forget, my room after the ceremony, don’t make me hunt you down Omega, or I will punish you!” Maddox growled.

He didn’t need to tell me twice. I ran off as fast as my legs would carry me. I couldn’t wait to rinse my mouth out, that kiss was vile, and my whole body was screaming out in protest. Everything about what had just happened was just so wrong.

And now I had another complication to contend with. What was going on at the moment? Was there something in the water? In less than twenty-four hours I’ve gone from no one paying any attention to me to the alpha and the soon-to-be alpha asserting themselves and demanding things of me.

I needed to get out of this place as soon as possible, there were just so many ways in which this could all go wrong. My timeline was strict and left no room for error, as soon as that ceremony started I need to be out of this pack.

It was possible that when either one of them realise I am not coming as they have told me to, they might look for me. I am just thankful that neither of them thought to alpha command me because then I would have had no chance.

I reached the packhouse and made my way to the kitchen, where Mabel, the head chef, was waiting for me. The food had been cooked, it just needed to be placed in the Bain-Maree to keep warm until the ceremony had ended. I also needed to chop the fruit, organize the cheese platters, and garnish everything.

Luckily, Alpha Grayson had hired a catering company as well as some temp staff to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Some of the neighboring packs and allies would be attending this evening, so no expense had been spared to ensure that tonight was a success.

It only took just over an hour to get everything in place and ready for the guests. Party planners were putting the finishing touches on the ballroom and the foyers, and the outside entrance to the packhouse was covered in greenery and fairy lights. It all looked rather picturesque.

“Off you go Bella, you need to get changed. Everyone is expected to attend.” Mabel barked at me.

“Yes Mabel, thank you, for everything!” I said slowly. Mabel had only ever shown me kindness, she was one of the two people inside this pack that had ever given me the time of day. Mabel didn’t have pups, ad her mate had died in the rogue attacks many years ago, she came across as quite grumpy and cold, but once you got to know her she was completely the opposite.

I took my apron off and placed it in the linen skip. Then I picked up my backpack and made my way out of the packhouse. As I was about to exit the packhouse I bumped into Maddox.

“Watch it, Omega!” He with hostility in his voice.

“Apologies, Maddox, uh Alpha,” I quickly corrected myself. I did not have time to spare, I needed to end this altercation as promptly as possible.

Maddox leaned into me and took a deep breath in, he looked into my eyes and moved closer toward me. I immediately felt uncomfortable. What was going on, I wondered. We were in the middle of the packhouse, of all places. He wasn’t even trying to hide his inappropriate behavior. This could be problematic.

At that moment, I heard someone clearing their throat from behind me. I could feel the aura emanating from behind me and knew immediately it was Alpha Grayson. I stood in fear, not because I was overly fearful of the two of them but fearful that things were not going to plan and I couldn’t accommodate further complications.

I turned my body around to face the alpha, and as I did so I felt Maddox press his body against mine. I felt those goosebumps again all over my body like it was screaming out in protest.

“Maddox, leave that poor omega alone, come, son, we have a ceremony to attend. Oh and Bella, remember what we talked about earlier? Don’t be late. You wouldn’t want to anger your alpha now would you.” Alpha Grayson reminded me.

“Of course, not Alpha, I haven’t forgotten,” I replied, respectfully bowing my head in submission,

And with that Alpha Grayson led Maddox off toward his office, and I picked up my speed and left the packhouse as swiftly as possible. I needed to get to my backpack as quickly as possible, the ceremony would be starting soon, leaving me with little time to stealthily get through pack territory, towards the nearest human town, and on my way to my new life.

I made my way to Michael’s cabin and changed into my black sports bra, black hoody, and my khaki green compression tights, and I chucked on running shoes. I needed to be able to move fast and travel inconspicuously so I tried to dress appropriately.

I did a quick double-check of the contents of my bag, it looked like everything was in order. I looked at my watch, Michael should be heard by now. It was 5.45 PM and the Alpha Ceremony would start in a couple of minutes. It was unlike Michael to be late. Although perhaps he had gotten roped into doing something at the last minute. I sure hope not.

I really wanted to speak with Michael about what I had heard earlier this morning. I needed to know if he knew the truth about my real parents, who were they, he must have known them. Why were they referred to as traitors? Did Alpha Grayson really kill my biological mother, and why? What could a mother have done that is bad enough to warrant death? Does the rest of the pack know about this? Is that why no one talks to me or acknowledges my presence, other than to order me around or mock me? So many questions and it was driving me crazy.

I started pacing around the cabin. It was so quiet. No signs of anyone approaching. This was my only chance to leave. Alpha Grayson had made his intentions clear, he had unpleasant and untoward plans for me. And Maddox, goddess knows what Maddox has planned for me. I needed to get out of this place - if it was the last thing I ever did.

On a positive note, I hadn’t scented my mate today, which was a huge relief, one less thing to worry about. I couldn’t imagine that the Moon Goddess would have granted me a mate, she sure hadn’t granted me a wolf.

I wondered if I wasn’t being punished for whatever it was that my parents had supposedly done. Maybe this was my karma. It was okay though. I could live without a wolf. Pack life had not been kind to me. One thing was for sure I did not fit in here. I would live a much better life in the human world. I was sure of it.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as I heard shuffling in the bushes next to where I was standing.

B