Sentenced to The Ruthless Alpha

Chapter 12: Lower than Hell

Thora POV

Human or werewolf, men were never to be trusted. That was her biggest takeaway from her first month as Mrs. Valcourt (more than half of which she spent fighting to stay alive) only for Roman to have her kicked out of the bedroom and moved into the omega wing after Matilda and the pack doctor gave her a clean bill of health.

“Do I have to live there?” She almost pouted at Matilda. “I could help you around here. I already know how you like to organize things. I can brew the alpha’s tincture. I know the ingredients for most of your charms…”

She shut up when the old woman’s icy stare hit her.

“Make no mistakes, human. You were only staying here so I could monitor your treatment. Your leg has properly healed now. You have real chores waiting for you in the omega wing where you truly belong.”

She tossed something in an open flame and chanted in an unfamiliar tongue, signifying an end to the conversation.

Thora let herself out quietly. Ever since she had visited the alpha’s study, she had come to realize that she couldn’t sit still and leave her freedom in his hands.

All her life, she had never let herself be at anyone’s mercy, and she sure as hell wouldn’t start now. So, she had drawn up a plan to make lemonade out of the lemons life had given her yet again.

Making an ally out of Matilda proved harder than she thought. She did everything right, even went out of her way to please the old lady. But she probably underestimated how loyal to the pack and how set in its ways Matilda was. Everything she did was spurred from a place of alliance to the alpha, their pack laws or their people.

Matilda was still wary of her, like the rest of the pack. She was a tough shell to crack, and it took Thora getting kicked out to realize she had set her eyes on one of the hardest targets to win over.

Though she wasn’t sure what she planned to do after making an ally of Matilda (who seemed perfect because she had the alpha’s ear as a maternal figure), Thora figured she’d cross that bridge when she got there. For now, she needed at least one person who wasn’t braying for her blood.

The walk to the omega wing was a bit long. It was all the way to the east end of the mansion, tucked away from the main building. She didn’t even have to pack a bag. Her old clothes had been burned and her new uniform as an omega was all she had one. Maybe they’d let her have a spare but she didn’t count on it.

She tried to work up a plan but nothing came to mind. The omegas already hated her, and they’d been starving for an opportunity to put someone down the way they’d all been put down by the pack. Thora knew she was walking into fire and braced herself for the heat.

She passed by the training ground where most of the young men in the pack were training under the sun. Sweat glistened on their bodies. Instead of tattoos, their bodies sported deep battle scars. She could smell the manliness from a mile.

In the human world, no one would suspect them to be anything but human. She marveled at how well they could blend in society and wondered how many times she’d probably interacted with or passed by a creature like them in the city without knowing.

Two hunkered down and went head-to-head. One brandished a dagger. The other flashed his sharp claws. They tackled each other to the ground, growling like dogs, slashing flesh. Their skin tore open and repaired in seconds. Thora was so hypnotized by the sight that she accidentally bumped into someone.

“I’m so sorry.” She wasn’t sure how to address anyone since hierarchy seemed to be a huge deal in the pack. So, she bowed her head to one of Roman’s bed warmers.

“Ew, you filthy human.” The lady hissed irritably. “Now, I’ll have to take another bath.”

An omega rushed forward, apologized profusely to Thora’s surprise.

“I’m sorry, lady Varsha. I’ll make sure to set her straight.”

Then she yanked Thora’s arm and steered her towards their wing.

“Ouch, be gentle.” Thora complained.

As soon as they were inside the omega quarters, the noise died down. All the other girls and guys paused their washing and cleaning to stare at Thora and the lady who dragged her in.

Thora barely registered the bizarreness when the lady reeled a hand backwards and smacked her cheek. It hurt so bad she staggered backward. Murmurs and giggles rippled across the mini compound. Thora tossed the hair that fell over her face and turned to the lady.

“What was that for?”

“Oh, you still have the guts to talk back?” The lady squared up to her, itching for an excuse to beat her up. “You still don’t get it, do you, human? You are not one of us. You will never be one of us.”

The others cheered her.

“You can’t even sit and eat with us, and we’re omegas. Do you know how low you have to be to be unqualified to eat with omegas?”

Everyone threw their heads back and laughed.

“That’s lower than hell.” Someone piped from the background.

Thora took deep breaths and reined in her bubbling anger. It was no use giving her enemies an excuse to maim her. She was outnumbered and detested. She had to be smart now, not as reckless as she was by talking back to the alpha.

“I’m sorry.” She said meekly, tipping her head in a low bow. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Her subservience caught them off guard, exactly as she hoped. They exchanged shocked glances.

“I am sorry for missing out on my duties. I was ill. The alpha and Matilda insisted I fully recovered before resuming here.”

That last line was meant to send a message that whatever plans they had for her, the alpha wouldn’t take kindly to a fatal injury.

“I am prepared to learn from all of you and to do my work well as expected of me. Please teach me.”

The omega who hit her cleared her throat and shrugged her shoulders. “That’s more like it. Cecily!”

“Yes, Rhea.” A skinny girl emerged.

“Take her to the storage room. That’s where she’ll set up her bed. After that, read her the rulebook.” She glared at Thora. “You better memorize it every night. You step out of line, you get the whip. Everyone here will take turns flogging you.”

“Understood.” Thora replied softly.

“The duty roaster is pasted in the dining room but your name isn’t there. I will draw up a different one for you. No matter what responsibilities you have, never ignore an omega’s errand. You’re our slave too.”

“I understand.”

It chewed at her to act so slavishly but she reminded herself that survival was more important than her pride at the moment. With a subtle head nod from Rhea, Cecily steered Thora away.

***

She was panting for breath within the first four hours. Her bones ached. Her hands had blisters and her stomach grumbled with hunger.

She dabbed off her sweaty forehead, and stared at the logs of wood she was yet to chop. The sun was at its zenith. Still, she continued to hack at the logs with a conveniently blunt axe that made the work slower.

The first thing she had learnt here was to not complain. That came with a slap. So, she had to make do with what she was handed.

When she was done, she had to personally go restock the fireplaces in all the rooms. ALL THE ROOMS of the pack house. Like that wasn’t enough, she was also on duty to assist the night wolves with their baths alongside two other omegas.

By the time she was done with the wood chopping, she barely had two hours to complete the remaining tasks or her dinner would be forfeited.

She loaded as much wood as she could on her head, followed the narrow hallway treaded by omegas and began depositing to the rooms. Most of the families gave her contemptuous looks. That of the pack warriors were murderous stares. They had yet to forgive the loss of their friends.

She barely made it to the night wolf’s bath routine. When she rushed in with seconds to spare, ready to scrub a grown ass woman’s bum, she stopped cold in her tracks. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight in front of her.

Roman was butt naked in the bathtub with Lady Varsha!