Chapter 2 ASHLY: SEVEN YEARS AGO

The documents that I am well aware of lie on the termite-eaten wood table.

Though I'm just eighteen, still in my teen years, though I didn't get to attend high school, and though I am tagged as a dumb and useless omega by my parents, I can guess the contents of the letter signed by the adults.

I am being sold.

I had a bad feeling the moment my father sent me to my room on the visit of that old man.

The excitement from my parents was unusual, and I found it strange that they had bought me an expensive dress to wear.

I have never been gifted such a beautiful dress by my parents. We are poor and it's impossible to afford such luxury.

The visit of this old man isn't ordinary and there's only one reason for a prestigious Alpha like him to be here.

He is the famous Alpha ruler of our great Lotus pack–Alpha Stewart Robertson.

The air seems to thicken, my chest tightening as I await to be called upon, brought forth, and presented as an item to be traded for money.

My stomach churns with nervousness as I watch the old man roam his eyes around, I'm scared he will catch me staring but I'm rooted to the spot, my whole body feels heavy as I can barely move.

I watch Alpha Stewart stand to his feet beckoning to me with his hands to come to me. My parents too are now on their feet staring at me and urging me to go to him.

"Ashly dear, your husband is here to get you" Mother says, her voice grating my ears like nails on a chalkboard.

The word husband echoes in my ears.

Though I had guessed this, I had known what this old man was here for.

News has been flying around that he's in search of a new wife, so it's expected for him to be all around the pack, but his presence here to get the wife he needs is a hard pill to swallow.

I oblige, stepping out of my room with my head ducked as I try to calm my racing heart by counting my steps.

This is not what I want. I don't want to be married to someone I don't love. But my Beta father and omega mother will not give me a listening ear.

They both find me useless and my mother will always preach to me about omegas like she and I will never have a choice in this world.

We are to follow the commands of the superior, which are the Betas, Alphas and dominant Alphas.

With those preaches engraved in my head, I can't bring myself to refuse this marriage, I can't bring myself to voice out my thoughts and disapproval on this.

"She's a pretty one" The deep and gravelly voice that certainly belongs to our fifty-year old pack ruler remarks.

I don't feel complimented instead I feel disgusted by myself, I feel betrayed, I feel belittled. Alphas are never betrothed, Alphas are always given choices, Alphas cannot be easily intimidated.

But here I am suffering because of my nature. Not only is my mouth sealed by nature, but also my emotions which are invalid in this society.

"I appreciate your compliment" I lower my head to a bow, an excuse to not meet Alpha Stewart's gaze.

"A sweet omega, I must say, you both have done a great job raising her" Alpha Stewart states as my parents laughs out, appreciating his remarks.

They are both oblivious to my feelings, not caring if I want this or not.

"You don't have to be too formal with me, love" The old man says.

"We will be getting married tomorrow and you will be returning to the royal pack house with me.

Soon you will be known as one of the Robertson's, the Luna of Lotus pack" He continues.

My gaze is still fixed to the wooden floors not daring to look at the Alpha ruler while he speaks.

"You can take her now Alpha" Father says with a cheeky laughter, flinging his hands in the process as he gestures for him to leave with me.

Hearing my biological father say those words makes my heart break further, betrayal hitting hard than ever.

Father and mother have hurt me so much since I was little, they never treated me like their biological child.

But I love them, I love them despite all they've put me through and I won't like to fail them which is another reason as to why I have my hands on his as he leads me out of the house I stayed in for eighteen years, the house I was born in and the house I grew up in.

This is not the first time I'm making sacrifices for them, I had once given all my part time pay to my father for his gambling game, I had sacrificed continuing my education and giving all my savings to my mum to pay her hospital bills but instead of getting a hug from my mother, I got beaten up for not paying her hospital bills earlier.

Now I'm giving up on my whole life for them, so they can live a wealthy and comfortable life, while I live mine in never-ending pain and sorrow.

***

Just like I expected, the royal pack is massive with sophisticated decorations. I can't help but admire the exquisite art pieces as I stroll down the hallway, almost forgetting the presence of Alpha Stewart by my side.

"You seem to love them" Alpha Stewarts states, his voice pulling me back to my harsh reality.

"Y-yes sir" I stammer, still unable to meet his gaze.

"You will be living here with me, and so this will become an eyesore soon" He says, though I think he's wrong I don't say a word about my disapproval with his words.

"That's by the way. Today is going to be a busy day" Alpha Stewart states as he wraps his arm around my waist.

"You will be working with the maids in preparation for our wedding tomorrow. And this is the head maid, Isabella" He points at an elderly lady standing before us in a maid outfit.

"She will teach you all you need to know, my likes and dislikes, that way you can please me better" Alpha Stewart says, even without looking at him, I can guess there's a smile on his face.

"I'll hand you over to her, I've got some unfinished business, but first I need you to look at me Ashly" Alpha Stewart demands and my heart drops.

I can't, but I don't have a choice, I have to obey. That is how I was trained, to always oblige to the Alphas, to always respect them even though you are not respected. And so I oblige as I meet with his dark shade sleepy eyes.

His lips stretch into a smile as he strokes my hair and leaves a peck on my cheek causing my eyes to widen in shock and my skin to crawl with uneasiness.

"Such a whore."

Those three words stuns me more than the peck Alpha Stewart had left on my cheek before he left. I lift my gaze to meet with the head maid.

Her arms are across her breast as she stares me down with disgust. I'm unable to keep my head up on hearing such insults.

"I heard you are an omega" The head maid laughs, followed by the rest of the maids behind me.

The laughter begins as a ripple, gentle at first but quickly swelled into a wave of mocking mirth. My heart pounds against my chest, I begin to peel my thumb cuticle, trying to focus on the pain instead of the humiliation.

"You must have used your heat to capture the Alpha." One of the maids from behind me accuses and I shrink in embarrassment, peeling my flesh harder, blood dripping from my thumb.

But it's not enough, it can't be enough when the pain in me is heightening every second, when I know the people that are going to be living under the same roof with me sees me as a whore and a disgusting omega.

They hate me, they clearly do. This is not the first time I'm getting bullied, I was bullied throughout my elementary school and I know how it starts. This. This is how it all starts.

It happens so fast, the head maid reaching out to me abruptly, her hand closing around my cheek with a firm and unyielding grip. Her fingers dig into the skin of both sides of my cheek as she squeezes it, the pressure so intense, I feel my teeth crushing.

My stomach churns with anxiety as I shut my eyes tightly, unable to meet the frightening gaze of the head maid.

I try to beg them to let me go, but words are unable to make their way past my lips.

"As expected from an omega, you are weak and should be sent out of this world"

The head maid growls and I begin to choke, my head spinning as I reach out to hold her hands to plead with her.

However, a deep voice resounds throughout the hallway, causing the laughter to cease and the rough hands squeezing my cheek to pull away.

"What are you all standing here for?" The deep voice almost yells.

"Alpha Arthur"

I hear one of the maids' mumble before I fall to my knees, unable to stand anymore.

My vision blurs as I try to catch a breath.

I clutch my chest, trying to steady my breath but it doesn't work.

The scolding from behind me begins to fade as I feel consciousness slipping away, but I try to hold on. I try to stay awake to not fall on my sides.

"Hey, are you- "

The aromatic scent of patchouli mixed with citrus washes over me like a powerful wave.

My eyes splutter open as I meet an unfamiliar pair of green eyes.

My lungs suddenly opened up to take in more of the intoxicating fragrance.

We both stay still for a while, just staring at each other.

The world fades as the male kneeling in front of me seems to be the only one to exist.

My heart flutters at the proximity between us.

He's alluring, so charming, words are not enough to describe his enigmatic and attractive look.

And there's his scent-

His scent.

Why do I find his scent irresistible and comforting?

My brows furrow and same with him.

The question doesn't linger for long as he announces.

"Mate, you are my mate," he says under his breath.

However, I'm unable to dwell on his last words as I slip into unconsciousness, darkness taking over.