Damaged Omega

Touch Me Not

WITH a wide smile, Mutya lifted the sack of sweet potatoes and transferred it at the rusty but reliable trolley. She released a content sigh after she tied the sack.

This is the last of the sweet potatoes from their crops. This is also the day that she will collect the p*****t from the buyer. She would finally buy the groceries and their other needs for the crops.

She waved at the old lady she passed by as she started her descent to the market.

From the small hut where she lived, Kalayaan market was fifteen minutes on foot.

Mutya lived in Kalayaan village for five years now. The first time she set foot in the said place, she was seventeen years old. She was banished from her old pack.

She was alone, scared, and abused by the person that supposed to take care of her. She was running through the woods in the middle of the night with nothing but the tattered clothes on her back.

She met a woman in her fifties that took pity on her. Desperate for help, she seized the hand of the old woman and she never regretted it since.

She has been living with an old couple from then on. Angelina and Bernardo Vasquez treated her like a daughter from the time that she lived with them in the modest hut they owned in the woods.

She learned that the area where Angelina found her as part of the small farmland that the couple owned.

Angelina and Bernardo were both humans. They were not blessed to have children of their own in their long marriage. When Mutya was strong enough, she told the couple what she went through. She expected to be pushed away but rather, the couple opens their house for her. They even asked her to be adopted since she was under the minority age. They explained that she could start anew with a new name and a family.

From then on, Mutya used their last name and she used it proudly.

Moreover, the couple put her in charge of sending the products in the local market when she finally got her bearing on living with them after several months. The products they trade in the market ranged from root crops to vegetables and fruits. Whatever is ready to be harvested.

“Is this the last of the harvest?” The retailer asked her.

She nodded at the woman. She untied the sack and placed it beside the wooden crate.

“I hope you send me more of your crops. I will take them all.” The werewolf store owner stated after she hands over the p*****t for the potatoes she delivered. “The two sacks you sent yesterday were all gone. They were good quality.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Page. I will tell my parents what you said. I’ll see you next week.”

She waved at the middle-aged woman goodbye. She lifted the folded trolley before going to the wet market.

Kalayaan village was under the protection of the Brave heart pack. It was a small portion of their territory. It was established by the former alpha, Quentin Wood.

The said alpha donated a part of his land in honor of his mate who used to be a rogue before they met. He founded Kalayaan village where rouges and non-pack werewolves, as well as humans, can live in the village as long as they will abide by one rule. They should be non-violent. Any individual that broke the rule answered according to the pack's punishment.

Every individual that entered the village will ask permission from the alpha-like what happened to Mutya five years ago. However, it is not mandated to join the pack whenever an individual seeks shelter in the village.

The trolley once again unfolded beside her feet. She bought fish and meat. She added ripe mangoes. Her father loved them.

She was on her way to the only bakery in the Kalayaan market when she was pushed by an individual on the run. She slumped on the ground together with the items she bought.

She did not bother to glance at the culprit. She gathered her things and put them back in order. She removed the dirt that sticks to her clothes.

She pulled the trolley and made her way out of the market. On the way, several vendors were on the side of the road selling more products.

“How much is this?” She asked an old lady that sells slippers.

It will look good on her mother’s feet. She noticed that her old slippers were torn on one side.

She paid the woman. With satisfaction, she walked away from the busy bazaar.

Halfway down to her walk going home, she became aware that a person was following her though it maintained a distance between them. She knew that the person was not one of the few people that live within her neighborhood. She was unafraid since the village was a peaceful place. Whatever the wrongdoing this person is planning, he will be punished by the alpha.

A year ago, a male werewolf made a malicious action against a human woman. It was witnessed by a middle-aged woman and her son. The new alpha of the Brave Heart Pack commanded a kill order against the male shifter for his mistake. Through this action, everyone in Kalayaan village has been reminded that no one is above the law and anyone who commits a grave mistake will be castigated accordingly.

She continued walking until she reached the footpath on the side of the road. She made a turned.

From the branch of the tree, Mutya watched the person who has been following her. It was a woman with long, black hair. She was unable to see her face from her position.

She kept her eyes on her as she frantically looking around.

“Where did she go?”

Mutya heard her muttered loudly before leaving. She dropped from the tree a couple of minutes later.

She removed the dry leaves from the trolley before she walked towards the service road. She made sure that she did not see the woman before she started walking in the direction of her home.

“I got you!” She was grabbed on her shoulder.

Startled, she hit the person with the trolley. Twice. The second strike was stronger than the first.

“Ouch! Hey, stop!”

She was about to hit her for the third time when she recognized the long-haired woman. She put the trolley back on the ground. She was panting at the action she executed recklessly.

The woman, the very tall woman, grimaced while holding her forearm where she was whacked by the trolley. Despite the scowl on her face, it was no use denying that she was pretty. The angular jaw did not spoil the great looks she possessed.

“Why are you following me?” She asked as she glared at the unknown woman.

Still caressing the offended arm, the tall woman stared at her with a wide smile on her lips. Mutya frowned at the cheerful expression on her face.

The tall woman’s gray eyes expressed her mischievous character. The smile plastered on her lips showed a high-spirited outlook.

“You’re mental. Stop following me.” She declared with a glare on her face.

She dragged the trolley. She walked away from the woman that appeared to have mental issues.

A smile was still pasted on the woman’s lips when she glanced back.

“Can I come with you, pretty lady?”

“Go home. You need professional help.” She retorted without looking back.

She made a few meters before her steps halted. Someone jerked the trolley from her hand.

It was the same woman. The overly cheerful woman was beaming at her.

“I’ll send you home. Kids like you need parental guidance.” The irritating smirk was present on her face. The towering woman messed with Mutya’s ponytailed hair.

“Leave me alone!”

She pulled the trolley but the gigantic woman pulled it back. Mutya glowered at the annoying woman that she released the trolley on purpose when she tugged again.

She giggled when the bothersome person sprawled on the dirt road with the trolley on top of her. She laughed out loud despite the dirty looked the tall woman sent her way.

Her chuckles halted when she found the other woman staring at her. A broad smile covered her dirt-stained face. She expects her to be annoyed.

“You’re beautiful when you smile. You have a shallow dimple in your left cheek.”

She straightened. She yanked the trolley from her but her hand grabbed her hand, instead.

Astonishment appeared on the woman who was slumped on the ground. She tightened the grip on Mutya’s palm.

“Wow!” Said by the bewildered woman. “This is what it feels like.”

Alarmed, Mutya tugged her hand before picking up the trolley.

She hit the surprised woman twice before running away from her. This time, she did not look back despite hearing her calls.