Chapter 2 My Mate

Vicky's pov

I hate being here, and if given a chance, I would swap places with the painting on the wall.

I was just tired of everything, of leaving with them.

I exhaled, and my hands shook. I was already feeling so scared and sad because whenever Alicia brought her friends over, I would be the topic of discussion for hours. I could feel like fainting because I would remain standing while they mocked me till they were tired.

By then I would be feeling like a poor owl.

I knew better than to appear before Alicia and her friends without some drinks or food, or else she was going to do something worse to me, and then my stepmother would do the finishing touches by starving me for weeks, keeping me down in the basement, and making me long for food, water, and sunlight.

As I carefully balanced the silver tray in my hands, I could hear the echoes of laughter reverberating throughout the grand hall, and immediately, my heart fell, and I felt like dying already.

I was already having PTSD. My heart was heaving with a silent fear that sank into my chest. My eyes were already stinging with unshed tears, and I wished for this life of suffering to end. Every day, I questioned the moon goddess why she had left me mateless and without a wolf.

"You can do this, Victoria." I exhaled." Just go there, keep the tray gently on the table, and turn around." I said to myself." Don't say anything, avoid eye contact."

I straightened my back and quickly brushed a stray hair out of my face with my shoulder. My hand ached as I did that small, simple task.

It just reminded me of how I had been hit by the shoulder last week because I served one of the guests with a silver spoon.

My hair was also cut off making me look more like a guy than a girl.

I hated myself even more.

Serving Alicia's guests was not my responsibility but who was I to complain?

As far as I had the scraps from their leftovers and I could sleep peacefully at night, I would rather do all they asked of me gladly. I had been taught and knew better to complain or say a word.

I was carrying this burden because I was now merely a servant in my father's house, a tool at her whim as she and her mother had always desired and wished I continue to be a servant to them.

I stumbled but caught myself immediately as I pushed open the heavy oak door leading into the lounge.

The conversation became more intense, and Alicia's distinctive syrupy laugh pierced the atmosphere, irritating me like a thousand needles. She was sitting too close to someone whom I could see, but something I couldn't stop wondering was the sound of voices.

They sounded so different, not just the usual girly laughter and chatter of Alicia and her stupid friends.

But no matter who they were, I would avoid eye contact and keep my head down, no speaking whatsoever.

As soon as I stepped inside, I could feel the atmosphere shift. There was something very different about the air that I breathed, something that made me want to stick around.

Once a haven of coziness and comfort, the lounge now felt oppressive, and my chest was making it difficult for me to breathe. I kept wondering if I was the only one who felt like this.

My skin prickled from the energy that seemed to pulse through the room, and for a moment, I just stopped, staring at everyone.

And there she was, Alicia, sitting on the edge of the velvet couch with her back straight and talking animatedly, laughing and gesticulating. She looked so happy and her eyes lit up as she spoke.

A young, pretty lady I had never seen before and two men were with her.

Then, these were duff friends. Richer friends.

The first man easily held the room's attention. His dark hair was carefully combed into place and he wore a sharp suit that appeared to have been made just for him.

He had broad shoulders. He had an air of wealth and authority that was evident around him and his eyes were sharp and beautiful.

The other young woman had gorgeous features, and blond waves cascading down her shoulders and sat next to him, so close that I wondered if they were mates or something.

She held on to his arm in a possessive manner, her smile as piercing and cunning as the diamond necklace around her neck. She was prettier than Alicia.

But my heart was stopped in its tracks when I stared at the second man. He sat with a calm almost regal assurance, his icy gray eyes scanning the room.

His devastatingly handsome face had a strong jaw, high cheekbones, and lips pressed into a firm, dispassionate line. His lips were thin and sensual, those kinds of lips that could kiss you into eternity.

He looked like it was carved out of stone and his face was framed by his dark tousled hair. It was this man that held my attention.

Suddenly for no apparent reason, a weight fell on my chest. Something drifted into my nose.

I forced myself to remain composed as my hands trembled just a little bit and I tightened my grip on the tray.

" There she is ." Alicia's said, her tone brimming with false sweetness. "Please come in and meet my friend, Vicky." Then she turned again to give me a hard gaze and I flinched and felt like vanishing into thin air.

But something was wrong.

Her friends? It was unimaginable. What happened to those carefree girls who jeered at me?

Pheww

Thank the moon goddess that they weren't here because they weren't here. If not, I could have started receiving insults even before I stepped into the lounge.

These were not the people Alicia usually hung out with.

Their air of authority was evident and they were a far cry from her typical group of sycophants who always came here to make fun of me.

The second man had kept his piercing gaze fixed on me since I entered and had never looked away.

I swallowed, and I pushed my feet forward, feeling as if the room itself was trying to stop me with every step.

I could feel the pressure of everyone watching me as I got closer and the tension in the air was oppressive.

" Vicky," Alicia said sweeping her hand haphazardly toward the group.

" These are my dear friends. Lucas, his cousin Caleb, and Caleb's girlfriend Melanie ."

Lucas. His name sounded in my head like an old spell.

I put the tray on the coffee table and said

"Hello, i." in a voice that was hardly more than a breath.

"That's the maid I was telling you about," Alicia added sarcastically her words piercing the atmosphere like a sword.

My face flushed but I kept my eyes on the ground trying to maintain what little dignity I still had and avoided looking into her eyes

She would not be able to see how much her cruelty hurt me and even if she did, she cared less.

I didn't even expect her to know that she was cruel to me.

"That's enough Alicia." Lucas's voice interrupted abruptly, quietly and authoritatively, and without a shred of hesitation. I went cold.

"You shouldn't talk to her in that manner."

My gaze sprang up and met his. Then it happened. The smell. It swept over me like nothing I had ever experienced before.

It smelt with a hint of something wild and uncontrollable it was warm and earthy.

My head was spinning as it clung to the air destroying my senses. I couldn't keep up and my knees instantly felt like jelly.

The instant his eyes met mine, time seemed to pause. With the magnetic pull of his gaze, everything vanished, including the room, Alicia, and the others.

There were just the two of us

"Mate." I blurted out before I could stop myself, the sound hardly more than a whisper.

For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered across his features as his eyes widened.

His voice barely raised above a murmur softly.

"Mate ." Between us, electricity flickered, and I stood there staring at him like I was hypnotized.

"Vicky? "Alicia's voice pierced me and drew me out of my thoughts.

I blinked my eyes struggling to leave Lucas's face.

I snapped out of it and realized everyone had been staring at me.

"I-I should go." I stuttered.

" Don't be rude." Alicia yelled in a sarcastic and mocking tone." Can you imagine this omega running away from doing her duties?" she asked, turning to her friends.

"That's enough," Lucas said.

Alicia's face hardened, but she said nothing, her lips pressed in a hard, unforgiving line.

My heart was thumping in my chest I turned and left the room without saying another word.

I leaned back against the door as It clicked shut behind me, I was feeling as though I might pass out from the sudden dizziness.

What had just happened?

As I closed my eyes I could still see Lucas's intense gaze and hear his soft voice whisper mate in my mind.

It didn't make sense. Not at all. All I knew was that I was in deep trouble because Lucas was Alicia's mate.

I had heard her discuss him with her mother last night.