Property Of The Alpha

Alexandra

The very moment I felt my serving tray wobble on my hand, terror took over my body.

The sound of glass shattered against the wooden floor and pierced through the room. Water quickly began to flood my eyes, knowing my actions would quickly be met with consequences. I couldn't stop my body from jerking away when I felt Alpha Axton's rough fingertips slide across my brown ragged dress and squeeze my breast as I reached over to gather the last two plates off the long dining table.

My heart hammered in my chest when the room went deathly silent. I could feel every set of eyes sitting at the dining table during the Alpha's dinner glued onto me. They were watching intently and waiting to see what Alpha Axton's next move would be. I swallowed the lump in my throat and barred my neck in submission to Alpha Axton like a good omega before crouching down onto my knees to gather the sharp shards of glass.

"My apologies Alpha, I should have been more careful," I muttered. It was my fault, the details didn't matter. They never mattered. He was my Alpha and I was nothing short of an omega in his pack.

I belonged to him. The worst part is, I knew it too.

An aggressive tug of my hair pulled me upright abruptly, his grip never ceasing. "Worthless omega," he yelled with a bone chilling snarl. Pushing my face roughly against the dining table, I felt his other hand lift my dress. I could feel a gust of cold air brush against my skin, realizing that I was exposed for the entire room to bear witness. I shut my eyes tightly, bracing myself for what was to come.

The jingling of his belt rang into my ears and I couldn't stop the small whimper that escaped from my chest. My body shuttered from pain when the leather violently struck my backside. My skin burned from the lashing. I could hear the whip of his belt slice through the air as it struck me a second time, my entire body trembling from the impact.

Soft murmurs began to echo around me and I squeezed my eyes even tighter, the seconds to the next blow feeling like an eternity. But, the third blow never came. Instead, he released his hand from my hair and let my body fall to the floor.

"Lock her up. Get her out of my face now." My heart thundered in my chest when my gaze landed on the two guards who began stalking towards me from the doorway. Their large hands tightly wrapped against my frail arms, pulling me into the hallway and down the staircase of the pack house.

It didn't make sense to fight back because I knew it would only lead to harsher punishments. It's not as if I could take on two enforcers anyways, they were much bigger and stronger than I was. And above all, they had a wolf.

The smell of scorched skin and rotting limp bodies became more potent as I was dragged into the dark and cold basement of the packhouse. I could taste the bitter bile slowly creeping up my throat from the gruesome scent. My body thumped harshly against the cold concrete when the guards mercilessly threw me inside the cell and disappeared down the row of iron cages, retrieving back to the staircase.

Not that I was surprised at how quickly they'd left, they often joked that one day one of the pack warriors would catch fleas from the scum that Alpha Axton kept down here.

I tried to call out, my small voice echoing against the concrete walls. The silence in the dungeon quickly became near deafening. Everything was still except my mind that wouldn't stop racing a thousand miles a minute. I could very well be forgotten and left to die down here like so many other prisoners had in the past. Why did I let him get to me? I should know better by now. He often found some sick and twisted pleasure in watching me suffer at his hands.

The events recoiled in my mind on a continuous circuit. I strived to be a good servant to Alpha Axton and not anger him but no matter how hard I tried, I still found myself being punished at his mercy.

I pulled my knees against my chest and shuffled my body into the corner of the cell frantically. Fear crept up my skin, I'd be lucky if I only received a punishment from Alpha Axton for embarrassing him in front of the other Alphas during an official Alpha reception. It was the most important event of the year. I was sure this time around, my mistakes would lead to my death.

Maybe death would be an escape to the horrors that I face everyday.

Alpha Axton referred to me as his biggest regret, he never bothered to conceal his hatred for me. Instead, he made sure that it was embedded into the deepest crevasses of my mind just how much he loathed my very existence. Alpha Axton saw himself as my savior for taking me in when his warriors found me roaming alone in the dark forest near the Shadow Pack borders as a pup. He never failed to remind me that if it wasn't for him, I would have been ravaged by rogues.

Life in Shadow Pack hadn't always been this spine chillingly cruel. I would have even considered it a blessing. It wasn't until Alpha Axton's mate died from the birth of their first pup that I found my life was flipped upside down in the blink of an eye. Luna Fraya had been the closest thing to love that I had experienced since my pack was overtaken when I was eight years old.

My father was the Alpha of our pack which made me the rightful heir of Rolling Hills Pack. I can still hear my mother's screams plague my dreams every night when the Alpha from a neighboring pack ripped her throat out in one clean swipe. She was trying to protect me, they wanted me and instead they wiped out my pack when they realized the pack had hid me. I had managed to stay out of sight under a large tree log until nightfall then scurried into the forest, hopeless to find someone to help and revive my parents.

Luna Fraya was the bright shining light of Shadow Pack, she was a kind and loving soul, completely devoted to her pack. She was the perfect picture of what a Luna should be. Alpha Axton and Luna Fraya chose to take me in when I had no one left and for that, I was grateful. She was insistent that I attend the best schools and receive adequate training for my wolf. I hadn't realized it then but she had spent years grooming me to become heir of Shadow Pack since it was unlikely that they would have any children.

They had given up their dream to become pregnant after nearly a decade of trying, so it was pronounced a miracle by the Moon Goddess when Luna Fraya found out that she was expecting. The death of her and their unborn pup caused years of grief and anguish amongst the pack, especially for Alpha Axton. He blamed her love for me as to why she kept her dream alive of having their own pup, she so badly wanted to give me a sibling to grow up with like she had.

"A full packhouse filled with love and laughter for Alexandra," that's what she said her only wish was when I would overhear the two of them arguing late in the night.

I too suffered tremendous agony and eventually when the pain became too much to bear, I slit my wrists and tried to take my own life. I was convinced that my very existence was why both my parents and Luna Fraya had died. Wherever I was, death always seemed to follow.

My life slowly began to crumble from the moment that I lost her. Alpha Axton became vicious, cruel and driven by anger. He immediately relocated me into the slave chambers beside the pack house, pulling me out of school and re-ranking me to the lowest title of omega. I was expected to serve the Alpha's every request.

I clenched onto the green emerald necklace that Luna Fraya had given me before she had died, claiming that it reminded her of me every time she looked into my eyes. It was the only thing that I had left in memory of her and if Alpha Axton found out about the necklace, I was sure it would be gone too.

There was no luxuries for the bottom of the pack.

My uncontrollable sobs eventually sent me into a deep slumber, only waking to the hard stomps of footsteps coming down the wooden staircase.

I shoved my most prized possession into the pocket of my ragged servant dress, careful not to reveal it to anyone. My breath caught in my throat when Alpha Axton stood in front of the cell that I was locked inside of. He flashed me a sinister smile. His gaze intently focused on me, all while he pushed the key into the lock.

Alexandra

Alpha Axton slowly stalked towards me in the corner of the cell, like a tiger gearing up to pounce on its prey. I felt my wolf rising towards the surface, sensing the looming danger tangled within the air. As he approached closer, I caught a whiff of the stench of alcohol reeking off of him. He had been drinking again, a past time he had taken up since the death of Luna Fraya.

Alpha Axton was capable of wicked brutalities when he was drunk, making him even more cruel than when he was in his sober state. Even the high ranking wolves in Shadow Pack steered clear of him when he requested alcohol.

I pushed my wolf down, there was no use in attempting to shift. Alpha Jaxon had forbidden me from shifting into my wolf over the years, I was lucky to still have a wolf after the endless torture of not being able to let her out. He claimed I didn't deserve a wolf. She was weakened and withering away by the day, essentially nonexistent but she was somehow miraculously still there. Sometimes I could hear her pleading to be let out, promising she'd take us far away from this pack that we once considered home. I couldn't imagine the punishment I'd receive if he knew the thought of letting her out crossed my mind.

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time Alexandra," he said in a deep and low voice. A shiver ran down my spine and the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up from the wicked tone in his voice. I knew deep in my gut that something awful was about to happen so I cast my eyes downwards and barred my neck to Alpha Axton, desperately hoping not to aggravate him further.

He yanked my arm roughly, "let's go," he demanded and dragged me across the concrete floor. I mustered my strength and stood up, allowing him to escort me up the wooden staircase. We bypassed the main level of the pack house and continued further up the stairs. Confusion filled my mind as the upstairs level of the pack house was reserved for only the highest ranking members of the pack.

I caught sight of Marilyn from my peripheral view standing in the hallway beside the kitchen. Worry was stamped across her face. When I side-glanced at her without Alpha Axton noticing as he tugged my arm up the staircase, I realized she was crying. Her eyes were pooled with water and her gaze was heavy on me, filled with some sort of pity as I climbed the second set of stairs towards the bedrooms.

Marilyn had always been a sweet woman, taking up the motherly role amongst the omegas and ensuring that we were all fed. She was born an omega and never found her mate, partially because she never was allowed to venture outside. Her entire life had consisted of trips between the pack house and the slave clambers which was situated directly next door.

We proceeded to the Alpha quarters which were strictly off limits to all pack members aside from Alpha Axton and his maid. Only two people had access to this part of the house, did something happen to his maid? Was I now to become his mind as my punishment?

He pushed through the heavy double doors and lunged me across the room, he was strong enough to send my body crashing against the wall. He didn't bother to glance my way as he casually unbuttoned his dress shirt and undid his belt. My eyes widened at the sight and questions spiraled through my mind. A light knock enveloped the room and a pretty blonde girl who was slightly older than me entered. I had seen her only a couple times when the kitchen staff needed extra hands, usually during a celebration like tonight's Alpha's meeting or a pack dinner party.

"Alpha," she said quietly and bowed her head in submission. Her eyes dilated when she saw me, I could feel the panic flooding off of her in waves from the other side of Alpha Axton's bedroom. "Please Alpha. I'm sorry. I'll do better, I promise. Please don't replace me," she begged.

He belted out a dark, disturbing laugh, "Oh my dear Charlotte, she's just here to observe. Although, when she turns eighteen next week, she will be replacing you. It's time for something new. You've had an excellent run here. You should be proud to have served your Alpha."

The pretty blonde nodded, but I could see the tears swelling in her eyes. Like clockwork, she removed her brown servant dress that was identical to mine and exposed a matching lace white bra and panty set. She quickly dropped to her knees. Alpha Axton strolled towards the bar cart in his bedroom and tossed back an amber colored liquor with ease directly from the bottle. He stalked towards her and dropped his dress pants to the floor, his length flinging out in front of Charlotte's face.

"Alexandra, you better watch and learn. Soon enough, it'll be your turn to serve me and I won't be going easy on you," he taunted and pushed his sex against her lips. He thrusted roughly into her mouth causing her to gag on his length. Drool began to run down her chin but he didn't care, he kept thrusting in and out. He released a loud moan, "take it all, you dirty little slut," he demanded.

I closed my eyes, I was horrified from what I had just witnessed. He wanted me to become his sex slave, that's how badly he loathed me; not clean his quarters like I had stupidly assumed. No, that would be too easy.

When Alpha Axton noticed that I had diverted my gaze, he rushed towards me and pulled me by the legs. My back violently slammed against the wooden floor of the bedroom causing the air to be winded from my chest. He gripped my hips upwards with his hands, exposing my sex to him. I shuttered, terrified at what he was going to do next.

I didn't want to do what Charlotte had done.

He had easy access if he had planned to strip me of my innocence since I wasn't wearing underwear. He refused to buy underwear for the omegas so I only had a few pairs to wear that I saved for special occasions. He claimed that our kind would only use them to seduce other shifters into sleeping with us. He placed his nose directly in front of my hole and took a deep breath. A small moan released from his chest, "you're going to be a lot of fun, my little virgin girl."

My heart hammered in my chest, He released my hips and returned to Charlotte who was still sitting in the middle of the bedroom on her knees, heartbreak stamped across her face.

"Get up omega", he taunted. She immediately rose and proceeded to his bed, laying her body against the white crisp sheets. She spread her legs and he ripped off the lace panties, placing his longness against her hole and pushing in. He repeated the motion a few more times until a white sticky substance was sprayed all over her stomach.

He left Charlotte and I in his bedroom as he moved into the washroom, "you both better be gone by the time I get out," he growled. Charlotte rushed to pick up her clothes and threw her brown dress on over her petite frame.

I stared at her, stunned at the events that had just unfolded in front of me. I knew that he had late night lovers, but using the omegas as his sex slaves? My mind was struggling to wrap around that fact. "Are you dense?! He said, get out," she scolded. I shot up and headed for the bedroom door to exit. My mouth went dry as panic filled my chest, my virginity was supposed to be saved for my mate. Not my goddamn Alpha.

I followed Charlotte down the staircase and into the kitchen where Marilyn sprinted towards me, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. "Oh you poor child. I'm so sorry for everything," she whispered into my neck.

Alexandra

I struggled to keep myself upright, the room was violently spinning in circles. Even though Alpha Axton hadn't actually touched me; I felt violated, dirty and powerless. I would be eighteen soon and now I knew that my destiny would be sealed to become the Alpha's new whore. This was all my fault, if I had only been a more attentive slave to him and steered clear of trouble, maybe I would still be subject to my regular duties. I didn't understand why he needed a pack whore at his disposal, he went to brothels nearly every night. How could he do this so carelessly to the Luna Fraya's memory?

Marilyn had been frantic, I could feel the tears she had been concealing drip against my neck as she held onto me tightly. I knew her heart was breaking for me, I could feel the sporadic thumps echo loudly into my chest. "Oh you poor child. I'm so sorry for everything," she whispered into my neck. I breathed in her soothing scent, the smell of lilac and birch interlaced together reminding me of Luna Fraya's motherly scent.

Charlotte placed a hand on her hip, judging by the look on her face she didn't have the slightest remorse for me. "Are you always this dramatic? The Alpha just told you that you'll be satisfying his personal needs, you should be thankful that he chose you. Now I'll be the one forced to return to omega duties, this is so bullshit," she said, choking on her words and kicking a nearby garbage can in the pack house kitchen. The banging sound of her foot making contact with the metal bin rang in the kitchen like cymbals striking together.

Marilyn turned to face Charlotte with an unimpressed sigh, "Charlotte, I think it's time to leave. I need to talk to Alexandra." Charlotte's eyes darted to me, carefully scanning my face for any visible emotion then threw her hands up in defeat. "Yeah, whatever, fine," she spat out, rolling her eyes and disappearing into the hallway.

Marilyn followed her to the door and peered her head outside, only closing the door behind her when she was certain there was no trace of lingering ears nearby. She trekked towards me and gripped my hands tightly in hers, there was a mysterious glint in her hazel eyes. She took a deep breath before she spoke in a low and hushed voice, "this isn't the fate that the Moon Goddess wanted for you. You're a smart and beautiful young lady who also happens to be the heir of an Alpha and Luna. I know it's dangerous but I urge you to at least consider."

My eyes widened as I stared intently at Marilyn, I could feel my forehead wrinkling in concern. I was sure that Alpha Axton wasn't going to change his mind, certain that the only fate headed my way was the brutal acts I had just witnessed Charlotte endure. I gave Marilyn a slight nod and she continued, "Luna Sarah of Broken Ridge Pack and I have become somewhat friendly over the years whenever she and Alpha Desmond would visit. Last night at the Alpha's dinner, Alpha Desmond scolded Alpha Axton for acting so inappropriately with an omega and Alpha Axton announced he could because you were to become his next pet on your eighteenth birthday. Well my dear Alexandra, the Alpha and Luna were shocked to find out about your bloodline and have offered to take you in without Alpha Axton's knowledge. They are strongly against the barbaric act of acquiring an omega to be used for pleasure and without such dignity so you wouldn't have to worry about any of that in Broken Ridge, you would just resume the same duties you had here."

I shuddered at the mere thought of leaving Shadow Pack, this pack was all I never knew. It was familiar and comfortable. Luna Fraya's memory was here. "What about you? Will you come too?", I questioned, hopeful that she'd give me the answer I desperately desired.

She reached for my face, holding it tenderly between her palms. "Oh Alexandra, you know that I can't. There are far too many other omegas like you that need me here. I can't protect them if I abandon Shadow Pack."

"But what if I don't want to leave? What if I want to stay with you?" I asked and furrowed my eyebrows together.

"If you don't, you know what your new role will be. You'll be beaten, used and tortured, only then to one day tossed to the side like Charlotte is now. I know it's dangerous but your mate is out there somewhere waiting for you, don't become like me. Outside the pack house, I was never given the opportunity to meet my mate. Be brave my child," Marilyn explained.

I nodded and steadied my breath, a tactic to control my emotions that Luna Fraya had taught me long ago. "I'll have to think about it, I-I just don't know," I whispered to Marilyn.

Marilyn looked at me with soft and understanding eyes, "a patrol guard from Broken Ridge would meet you close to their border, you would have to shift into your wolf and escape from Shadow Pack late at night not to be noticed. Without shifting Alexandra, it would be a suicide mission with the rogues that roam freely. You have time left, however, your birthday isn't here yet. I'm begging you though, please consider."

An instant rush of panic flooded my chest, the thought of having to travel alone in the forest was unsettling. I would be traveling on no man's land the second I stepped foot outside of Shadow Pack territory. No man's land was the unclaimed area between packs and it was dangerous as it was occupied by rogues, rogues who had no loyalty to any pack. Most were traitors to their Alphas, others born into the lifestyle. They were merciless savages, unpredictable most of the time too which is what made them so reckless. I had evaded the rogues once already when I was saved by Alpha Axton and Luna Fraya, but to escape them twice? That would be nothing short of a miracle.

There was also the fact that I would have to shift into my wolf, it had been nearly eight years since I have let her out. I wasn't sure if I even knew how to shift anymore and if the shift happened to be successful, I worried that the pain of all of my bones snapping and rearranging would kill me alone. Most strong shifters couldn't survive a night in the forest on no man's land, how was I expected to? I was near wolfless.

Lastly, I thought about Alpha Axton. If someone catches me trying to escape, there was no doubt he would hang me in the town square for all to witness. I'd be made an example out of, a reminder to all of what it means to betray the Alpha. He would eventually figure out that I was gone and I wondered if he would care to search for me, he was possessive over anything Shadow Pack related after all.

I glared up to Marilyn and squeezed my lips together in a tight line, "can we talk about this tomorrow? I need to think about what I'm going to do. I just don't know right now, I mean I could die... I'm really tired right now and can't think straight." I felt guilty about lying to Marilyn, the truth was I could run a marathon right now with all the adrenaline that was pumping through me but I didn't want to continue this conversation.

By the look on her face, she was determined to get me to Broken Ridge territory, even if the cost was my life.