The Omega Mate He Despised

Chapter 1

Iris

"I swear I didn't take the money," I argued tiredly as the crowd thickened with each passing second. "I'm sure if you search properly you'll find it, or maybe someone else took it," I added in my defense.

If I'd known that today would turn out this way with me being accused of being a thief, I would have listened to my instincts and stayed back at home. But then, there was no food in the house, no money, and my lazy sister wasn't keen on doing anything to provide food or other supplies that we had run out of.

"It's a lie, you wretched hag!" Giga, my boss, snapped. "You took the money. I purposely left it there to test you and you just showed me that you can't be trusted!" He accused me vehemently.

I go by the name Iris, but no one remembers that because I'm an omega without a wolf, and very unattractive as well.

Maybe if I'd obliged my boss's wishes and had a good night with him as he demanded, I wouldn't be in the middle of the market, surrounded by little children and other jobless omegas like me, who turned me into a dumpsite of rotten eggs, tomatoes and every perishable item they could lay their filthy hands on.

"Stupid people!" I cursed under my breath.

They couldn't even afford good food, yet they were wasting the ones they could find on me.

Knowing that arguing my case wouldn't get me out of there, I proceeded to plead with him. I rarely showed my vulnerability, but I had to leave this place before the pack's police came for an investigation.

They already hated me so they wouldn't even spare a minute in arresting me.

"Please, Giga, you know I didn't do it..." My voice trailed off as tears slowly gathered in my eyes with the memories of my past rushing into my mind. "I'll find a way to refund the money. Just tell these people to stop doing this to me." I pleaded, my voice shaky even though I tried to sound firm.

Giga snickered and crouched on the ground, and immediately they stopped throwing things at me.

His eyes roved over my body condescendingly, his nostrils flaring as he palmed them because of the stench oozing from my body.

"You could have avoided this, you know." He lowered his voice.

Anger worked its way through me as I tried to hold back my glare. "How?" I bellowed.

"You're not even beautiful and I would have given you everything; a better position in my store, and I'd have sorted out your bills. You wouldn't have to live in that hell hole you call a house, but your obstinance overshadowed your sense of judgment and once again, you're being made the laughing stock of the pack." He taunted me, his tone low and degrading. "And the sweetest part of it all is that you can't run away because you are both weak and sluggish." He chuckled.

I shook my head and crawled backward. "So you set me up?" My angry tone was accompanied by disgust.

"You figured that out fast." He spared a glance at his wristwatch and his evil smirk widened. "The pack's police should be here anytime from..."

He didn't need to complete his statement as heavy footsteps approached us, and a glance at their mean faces told me that there would be no room for mercy.

I'd fallen deeply into his trap and no one could save me. Not even May, my sister, who was the most nonchalant person I'd ever known. Calling her for help would be a waste of time.

"Is she the one?" One of them, whom I presumed to be their leader asked.

Giga quickly nodded. "She stole half of my earnings from today's sales after trying to seduce me. She's not just wretched, she's got no morals at all." He scoffed while I gulped, trying to rise to my feet.

At least, they had stopped throwing the rotten items at me, but even my stench irked me. Bile rose in my throat and I was seconds away from throwing up.

"That's how they all behave." Their leader gave me a once-over. "Don't worry, we'll deal with her appropriately." He assured Giga.

He didn't need to say more as they swung into action, grabbing my wrists roughly as their tight grips caused a stab of pain in my hands.

Though I was weak, I wouldn't let them drag me out like a common criminal. "I'd rather die than have you treat me this way," I yelled at the top of my voice, kicking into the air as they pulled me forward with less hassle since my weight could be likened to that of an ordinary paper.

Seeing that my efforts had no effect, I did the only thing that came to my mind and bit one of them on their arms, yanking off his flesh forcefully as I retracted my teeth.

His grip on my arm loosened as his face turned red. As a trained guard, he couldn't show pain and that made me realise that I'd just taken the wrong decision.

My eyes saw several stars when his palm connected to my cheek, causing me to stagger backward. A heavy kick followed, landing on my back as I slumped to the ground and shielded my face with my hands.

My body ached, and my eyes hurt as I writhed on the stony ground while expecting more punches, but they didn't come, instead, the street became quiet and a woody scent, powerful and mesmerizing wafted into my nose and neutralized the stench that saturated the atmosphere.

My curiosity was piqued, and even though my heart was pounding hard against my chest I still managed to take a peek at the cause of the silence.

My body shivered and I nearly scrambled away as I met with the coldest glassy blue eyes. His expression was stoic, his jaws clenched as he gave me a thorough scrutiny.

Our eyes were locked and suddenly, the world stopped moving around us. Glassy blue eyes met brown and I was lost already.

His bored tone jerked me from my reverie, reminding me that I was still very close to being punished for a crime I didn't commit. Then I noticed something that made my heart skip a bit.

Wasn't he the Alpha prince? The one I saw in my dreams and hoped that he would be my mate. I'd only seen him once, but the image of his gorgeous face remained imprinted in my heart, and I kept wishing that one day I'd have the opportunity to meet with him.

Had the moon goddess harkened to my wish? Was he the one?

Excitement burst through me as my lips widened. "Prince Devin-"

He peered at me with an uninterested expression. "What. Did. You. Do?" He rumbled, as the timbre of his voice aroused strange feelings within me. I didn't even know that I was capable of feeling that way.

Overwhelmed by the strange sparks that erupted within me and the most captivating set of blue orbs that peered down at me, I whispered almost drowsily. "Nothing." I inclined my head, my shoulders sagging with resignation as I realized that he wasn't even interested in me. "I did nothing." I reinstated.

Chapter 2

Iris

With those glassy blue eyes trained on me, it was hard for me to remain composed, but I figured out that any wrong answer could send me straight to the cell.

He chuckled, but his voice rang hard with disbelief and scorn. "I wasn't born yesterday, Iris. You were dragged to the market square because you stole, yet you say you did nothing?"

Something snapped inside of me at his accusation. Yes, I had a deep crush on Prince Devin, but I wouldn't be ridiculed this way.

Maybe I was a weak wolfless omega who found no better job than keeping records for a man who was interested in defiling her, but I had my self-dignity to protect.

At this point, I didn't even care about getting arrested, but if they were to arrest me, it would be for the right reasons- that I stole from Giga.

"Everything is an accusation, Prince Devin. You are not even sure that I stole from him." I shot back, fuming. I'd risen to my feet so that I could stare at his face squarely. "Yes, I was dragged out here, but with what proof? Don't you know the situation of every omega in this pack? We are treated like filth, and no one acknowledges us. Do you know how many of us are sold because we don't have mates? Because we are weak and useless?"

My body visibly quaked with a deep kind of anger I hadn't felt in a while.

I was angry at all of them-My parents who thought it was best to die and leave us without any inheritance, aside from that shit-hole I call a house, then the moon goddess who decided that the best way to punish me for being born was by becoming a wolfless omega.

My anger doubled when I realized that my crush might not even save me. But if he wasn't going to save me, why was he here, acting like my knight in shining armor?

"You have no manners, Iris... How dare you speak to the Alpha prince in such a manner?" The leader cut in, drawing closer to me.

Prince Devin's hands shot out and he quickly restricted him from getting any closer. "Don't do anything to her, I'm here now." He warned as the sleeping butterflies resurrected in my stomach. How could he make me hate him and admire him at the same time? Why was my body reacting this way, anyway? Wasn't I supposed to be working on discarding any stupid crush I had on him?

"I'm sorry, Prince Devin." He bowed and reclined.

Prince Devin darted his gaze toward me, folded his hands and took some steps closer. "You said that you didn't steal the money, huh?" He asked menacingly.

I almost cowered out of fear. His eyes weren't chill blue anymore, instead, they had switched to a darker shade and become ferocious, yet I stood my ground.

"I swear in the name of the moon goddess, I didn't steal anything from him," I said in my defense again, though I was already tired of trying to convince him.

He could do whatever he wanted at this point.

"First of all, Omega, I have a strong hatred for thieves. People that steal what doesn't belong to them without caring less about how their actions affect their victims." He intoned as his voice emitted bitterness. "Then they go about their day like they haven't robbed someone of their happiness..." He trailed off and snapped his lips shut as silence reigned over us.

His breaths became uneven and then I realised that he was speaking from a place of pain. He had been robbed, but by who? I wanted to ask.

He sucked in air and blinked, and in a fleeting moment, all the anger had disappeared as a cold mask shielded his true feelings.

I wanted to go closer to him and comfort him, but I held back, knowing that I would be further embarrassed if I made such a move.

"Let the lady go, I'll settle her debts." He said harshly.

I gasped, throwing my hands over my lips to stop myself from screaming then glanced at Giga whose eyes widened with surprise and disappointment.

"But Prince Devin, she really stole the money. I can prove it. You don't need to let people like her roam on the streets, they'll only cause issues for the pack." He argued angrily while I bit my lips to keep myself from laughing.

I never expected the twist, even the pack's police were surprised by the turn of events.

"Who are you, Giga?" He rumbled as Giga inclined his head.

"I'm... I'm just a merchant." His voice was almost inaudible. We barely heard him.

"And who am I?" Prince Devin asked with the most confident and boss-like tone I'd ever heard, drawing my full attention to him.

I studied the controlled rise and fall of his broad chest, my eyes scanning his ripped muscles that were hidden behind the black fitted button-down shirt he wore.

He was different in a not-so-odd way. He acted differently and spoke with a beautiful accent that I could spend days listening to.

And it was his distinct nature that made him stand out. It was what made the hairs on my body stand erect each time he spared a glance at me.

Giga's shrill voice disrupted my reverie as he dropped to his knees. Funny how I was earlier in that position. Next time, he wouldn't defy the prince.

"You are Prince Devin, the son of ......., and the next in line to rule Grey Rock pack. I'm so sorry for speaking to you like that..." He bellowed.

"Get out." He fired and immediately Giga dashed off without looking back. "The rest of you can leave too."

Relief washed over me as soon as they departed. Then I was alone with him, the man that sparked up erotic-no, not erotic, but feelings that made me lose my mind.

"Thank you so much, Prince Devin. I promise you won't ever find me in such a situation again..." I palmed my hands in gratitude and drew closer to him but he raised his hand sharply to stop me.

"Hold your horses, Omega. I don't even know why I saved you, but you are going to do me a favor and get lost. We can't have people like you in this pack."

My lips parted but no words came out. My palms became clammy with sweat as I realized that I'd just jumped from a frying pan to fire.

"But I have nowhere else to go,"

"I'm giving you two days to leave, if I find you around after two days, I'll escort you out of the pack myself." He threatened and stormed off, leaving me to wonder how I ended up with such bad luck.

I sank onto the ground, letting the bitter tears out. A sob rose to my throat as I buried my face in my thighs.

My heart was clouded with sadness and anger as the urge to end it all gnawed in my chest. It wouldn't be a bad idea, after all, no one would realize I was gone aside from my sister who didn't really care about me.

I stood up with a new resolution burning within me as I began to plot the perfect way to actualize my plans without having anyone interrupt them.

Moving with my mind distracted, my toe collided with a big stone, causing me to trip over.

The impact of my fall was heavier than the first, but I didn't feel any pain. Instead, I pushed the stone aside and my eyes caught the sight of a black diamond bracelet lying on the ground.

I snatched it and got to my feet, then began to examine it. The heart-shaped stones sparkled as the sun's rays hit.

"It's so beautiful..." I cooed, then began to wonder who owned it.

It was a rare precious stone that could only be owned by extremely wealthy people, and there was only one wealthy family in our pack that could afford it.

The Alpha family.

Could it be Prince Devin?

If it belonged to him, then there was no way I'd give it back to him. He already considered me to be a thief and he wanted me out of the pack, so why don't I go ahead and do the real thing?

While the mating ceremony is going on, I would look for a pawn shop, sell it and run away.

That would be my compensation for all the suffering I've gone through, I decided.

The only problem now was how to hide the treasure I'd found from my sister and inform her that I wouldn't be attending the mating ceremony like my mates.

Chapter 3

Gradel

"Prince Devin?" I chuckled silently in amusement as I fixed my gaze on the bushy path leading to the pack house.

She thought I was Prince Devin.

It wasn't her fault. Most people her age didn't know I existed since I'd just recently returned to the pack.

All thanks to my father who always saw me as the black sheep of the family because I didn't care about being his successor. Devin was more interested in being the Alpha king and that irked my father so much since I was the older twin.

Let's say I had more concerns about changing things in the human world and not here until I met this beautiful omega who was in bad shape at the market.

I knew that she didn't steal the money, but I didn't want to give her any ideas and that's why I acted like I didn't believe her.

The car stopped at the driveway so that I could get down before the chauffeur would park it properly in the garage.

Left to me, I'd have stayed longer at the market or gone for a run as my wolf was getting antsy by the minute. He wanted a meeting with Iris, but I didn't-scratch that, I slightly wanted it, but she would only serve as a distraction and nothing more.

So I'd have to stay away from her even though my wolf wanted her.

My legs refused to take further steps as I got to the front door of the pack house. This place had never felt like home ever since my mother died. The urge to leave gnawed in my chest, but I suppressed it, knowing that it wouldn't do me any good to leave without achieving what I came for.

Finally, my fingers closed on the doorknob which I twisted and the door gave way. The living room which I expected to be empty wasn't as a few of the pack's elders made themselves comfortable on the plush beige upholsters, with my father seated on a single ...... chair, his face slightly pale.

"Good day, Father." I greeted curtly with a bow while wondering why they were holding a meeting in the living room and not the courtroom.

There could be only one reason and that was the fact that the meeting wasn't an official one as not all the elders were present.

"Good day, Gradel, where have you been?" He croaked, letting out a painful cough.

My heart clenched with pity for him even though my face didn't give off any emotion. His illness was deteriorating by the day which was the main reason for my return.

"On a stroll, why?"

"I've been searching for you. There's an important issue that we have to tackle and that is why some of the elders are here." He explained, staring at me with glints of hope in his eyes.

I almost chuckled. I was the difficult and nonchalant son that didn't care about anything, and even though he was my father he knew better than to force me to do things against my will.

"Do I have to be here? Why don't you call your other son? I'm sure he'll be glad to do your bidding." I replied sarcastically.

Embarrassment nuzzled on his face as he swallowed hard. "You...you have to be here. It's about the mating ceremony that will be taking place tomorrow..."

"And?" I cut in.

He dragged in a deep breath and shut his eyes for some minutes. "You need to get a mate tomorrow."

My eyes darted from him to the three other elders who stared at me intently, then I barked out a laughter that caught all of them by surprise. I laughed until my ribs began to ache then I wiped off a tear that strolled down my cheeks.

"A mate?" I asked in disbelief. "Are you serious?" I hollered.

"Yes, Gradel. Devin has already found his mate, and tomorrow the Epsilon will complete the mating rite between the both of them, so it is impertinent that you get a mate too. I want you to be my successor." His voice rose gradually and I could tell that he was getting pissed.

I pinched my forehead, regretting why I gave in to his persuasion and returned home. Each morning I woke up took a piece of my sanity, and hearing him talk about mates made things worse.

That was why I preferred the human world. No one would pester me about having a mate. Though girls festered around me because of my looks and my body, I didn't give them any attention because I wasn't interested in them.

A battle was raging within me-the need to yell at him and give him a piece of my mind called to me as I clenched my fists, but I held back in respect.

"I don't want to be your successor, Alpha. Once you get better, I'll return to the human world and that is final. If you don't want me to leave right now then you will stop talking about getting a mate and focus on healing." I threatened him with a harsh tone, satisfied with how well I was able to deliver my message.

He scoffed and a scowl appeared on his face as he snickered. "You are just as hot-headed as your late mother."

A knot tightened in the pit of my stomach. He had no right to speak about her after everything he did to her.

"Don't talk about her like that," I growled and cast a glance at the elders who stared at me with terror in their eyes, then let out a deep breath. "Have a good day." I stalked out of the living room and stormed into the hallway, my steps resonating loudly.

A loud chuckle reverberated behind me, causing me to hiss. Who else could it be aside from Devin who enjoyed taunting me?

I ignored him and trudged on until I heard my name.

"I wonder why father is so concerned about you when you've done nothing to reciprocate the old man's feelings. You're hurting him, you know." Devin said casually with a low drawl, one that irritated me as it only reeked of nonchalance.

"That shouldn't be your business as well, should it?" I snapped and spun around to face him, my arms folded.

He shook his head and dipped his hands into the pocket of his black slacks then strolled towards me. We were almost identical, aside from the almost unnoticeable differences in the symmetry of our noses, and the prominent color of our eyes.

Mine was blue, and his eyes were dark.

I was quite taller with a more defined physique, which according to my father, made me the most suitable choice for being an Alpha.

"You're right, twin," He placed his palm on my shoulder and feigned wiping off some invisible specks. "My business should be ensuring that you aren't interested in being Alpha. Tomorrow is the mating ceremony and since the Epsilon will be concluding the mating rites for people like us who have mates already, I'll stand a greater chance of being the Alpha of this pack. Don't ruin this for me, Gradel." His voice slid into a deeper crescendo.

"And what if I'm interested in being the Alpha of the Grey Rock pack, after all, it's my birthright, I'm the older twin?" My lips curved in a smirk as his face tightened with anger.

His jaws clenched as he glared at me, but I was unfazed as I enjoyed watching him have a taste of his medicine.

"Do not go against my wish, Gradel, You don't want to see the other side of me." He snarled, poking my chest hard with his index finger, "I won't warn you again." He walked away, while I rolled my eyes.

His threats had no impact on me as I shrugged off his words and continued my journey to my room, my mind buried in thoughts.

What was the use of coming here when the people I called my family were against me? Especially my twin who was supposed to have my back.

The reminder that I was alone caused my heart to clench. I didn't want to admit it, but I hated the loneliness.

I reached for my wrist where I usually wore my favorite bracelet, but it was bare. My heart skipped a beat as I examined my wrist and I realized that my bracelet was missing.

No. It couldn't be.

It had been on my wrist all day as I never took it off no matter what. So what could have happened to it?