A Sense of Mate

Are You Awake?

    "At least I don't have to wake you up" the voice sneered.  I still couldn't see him properly, and I tried rubbing my eyes.  He was literally just a misty red shape.

   "Come on then Birthday mutt, get your ass out of bed and get dressed"  I winced at his words, but I remained where I was.

     Although she was growling fiercely Esti nudged my mind "Jessa, remember the owl". 

    "I don't think this is really the right time to talk about the glowing frickin owl Es" I answered her.

    "No Jess, how did you manage to see the owl?".  It clicked what she was on about.  I looked through the owl, fair enough it happened by accident, but if it worked on the bird it might work the same with venom guy. 

    I rubbed my eyes again and tried to concentrate on the red blob.  I tried to guess where his shoulders were and let my gaze settle looking past that point.  Slowly the venom shifted into focus.  I was able to make out that he was wearing blue jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt.  He was about five foot ten in height and he had slick backed blonde hair.  It took a little longer to make out his sharp facial feature, and my eyes strained to maintain my focus of looking past him.   Holy s**t Es, it works I thought.

    The venom guy was no longer a blob of colour, but there was still a dull red mist highlighting his form.

       "Just like your father huh? Another f*****g deaf Omega". He was stood in front of me, his arms folded across his chest.  A look of disgust written all over his face.

    "I'm not deaf" I replied sharply.  "I'm just not quite awake yet" I quickly followed, and I instantly regretted the grumpy tone I had just used.  The red mist around venom guy appeared to be pulsating, he unfolded his arms and in one swift movement, his fingers grabbed a handful of my hair, and he yanked my head back.  I cried out in pain. 

  His face was an inch away from mine, his eyes were black and his scent acrid.  "Are you awake now?" he growled,  his breath tickling my chin.  "If you're not, I can think of other ways to wake you".   He yanked the bedcovers off me.  My breathing hitched again.  My eyes never left his face as he broke contact to look down at my body beneath him.  A low growl came from the back of his throat as he licked his lips. 

I heard a gasp by the doorframe, and I stupidly darted my eyes towards the sound.

    My dad was bracing himself against the doorframe.  The right side of his face swollen, remorse and guilt etched there.  Then I saw her.  Tara.  My baby sister, her eyes wide and full of tears.

    "Jessa" she cried out.  My own eyes were fearful as she made an attempt to run to me.  My dad grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back to him.

    Venom guy glanced over at them. Then turned his eyes back to me, smirking.

    "I suggest you remove your youngest mutt Omega, otherwise I will use her to wake her sister up!"  My eyes opened wide hearing the thick intent in his voice.

    "NO!" I breathed.  Esti was pacing, her hackles raised fully.  Her growl deafening as she paced.  We needed to protect Tara, we needed venom guys attention to stay on us.  Not her, us! 

    "I will ask you one more time.  Are you awake now?", I nod my head furiously in panic.  His fingers still knotted tightly in my hair, making the nod painful.    I didn't dare look over to the door.  I stayed put, my eyes on him.  I could hear the scramble of my dad picking Tara up and hurridly carrying her down the stairs.  Her cries muffled.

    "Now, where were we?" he leaned closer, licking his lips again.  I had already done as he has asked, hadn't I?  He knew I was awake.  Was he really going to take advantage of me? 

     A tear escaped and rolled down my cheek, and with his free hand, he tracked the tear, catching it on the end of his finger.  I watched as he brought my teardrop towards his lips. He flicked his tongue out and caught the droplet, closing his eyes.  I shuddered in fear.

    My bed began to vibrate, snapping venom guy out whatever daze he was in.  He let go of my hair as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.

     "Yes Alpha I'm here" he answered.   "Sorry Alpha, the family weren't awake when I arrived".  Even with wolf hearing, I couldn't make out what the voice on the other side of the phone was saying.  But, I guess venom guy was being asked why he's taking so long.              

    "Yep, she's right in front of me" he reaches for a lock of hair resting against my neck, playing with it between his fingers.  I wince.  "Honestly, she's not much to look at" still playing with my hair his eyes move slowly down to my chest.

    "None that I've seen yet."  What is it he was supposed to have seen?  I know exactly what he's looking at right now, and the more he stares at them the more I feel self-conscious.  Even with a t-shirt covering me.

    "Yes Alpha, I'll have her there in the next twenty or so.  Yep. Bye".  He shut the phone off and shoved it back in his pocket. 

    "Shame" he sighed.  "I was looking forward to a little early morning fun" he tucked the lock of hair he'd been playing with behind my ear and stood up.  I remained in position, my eyes firmly fixed on him.

     The red mist that surrounded venom guy didn't seem to be pulsing any longer, and there looked to be some grey colour mixed in with it.  The glow, mist whatever it was was definitely confusing, but I  didn't have time to think about it, or what it meant.  I needed to keep my focus.  Just do what he wanted and my family would be safe.

    I watched as venom guy walked over to my drawers.  "Right then mutt" he opened my drawers and began fishing clothes out.  I was quite grateful when he threw a pair of black skinny jeans with ripped knees and my favourite purple gypsy top over his shoulder.  That gratefulness disappeared when he started rummaging through my underwear drawer.  I felt heat move through me as he held up a lace bralette and thongs.  His gaze came back to me, the mist around him a dull, throbbing red again.  I've never had any s****l encounter before, but I recognised the lust in the gaze he was giving me.

    He walked back over to the bed, still holding up my underwear.  I held my breath as he came closer.

    "I need you to listen carefully," he said as his thumb caressed the lace in his hand.  "When I am finished speaking you will take these clothes and go directly to the bathroom".  His tone was gravelly and controlled.

     "You may wash your hair with shampoo, but you will ONLY use water to wash your body"  he emphasized the word only.  I wanted to ask him why only water, but thought better of it, instead I exhaled the breath I had been holding in.

    "Then you will get dried and dressed.  No make-up, and no perfume.  You will keep your scent clean.  Do you understand?" I nodded.   He stepped away from the bed and motioned for me to move.  I did as I was told, gingerly manoeuvring out of the bed, and standing up.

    Venom guys five foot ten towered over my five foot four.  "How fitting," he said.  "Small in status and in height" he chuckled.  Until now I had kept my eyes on his face, but I couldn't anymore, not without having to look up at him.

    Shoving the clothes into my arms, he gestured for me to walk to the bathroom.  My steps were small and shakey as they headed out of the bedroom, and down the stairs to the family bathroom.  His presence looming closely behind my every step.

    I had just put my hand on the bathroom door handle to open it when he grabbed me by the neck, pulling my back against his chest.  My breathing quickened, and my fight or flight instinct triggered.  I wanted to run - to be anywhere but there.

    He brought his wrist out in front of my face, and his lips down to my ears.  "Do you see my watch mutt?" I tried to nod, but his grip was too tight. 

    "Y-yes," I said weakly.

    "You have exactly five minutes to get washed, dried and dressed.  If you're not out when the time runs out I WILL come in" his nose grazed against my earlobe and my entire body cringed at his touch. "Do you want that?" he asked.

    "No," I managed to whisper.

    "Then be a good girl and be out in five".  The hand in front of my face moved to the door handle and twisted it open.  I felt him inhale at my ear as he let go of my neck and pushed me into the bathroom.  "Your five minutes start now", he chuckled before closing the door.

    Alone, in the bathroom, I sank to the floor, and my hands came to my chest as if to calm my breathing down.  This can't be real, this can't be happening I tell myself.  I begin to rock back and forth, trying to make sense of my situation.  It was just a threat, he was just trying to scare me into compliance.  He wouldn't have forced himself, would he?

    "I don't hear the water mutt and time is ticking" his voice booms through the door.  It's enough to snap me out of my questioning.  s**t Jess move! I have to will my legs to get off the floor.  I turn the shower on and strip off as quick as I can.  The water is freezing, and I don't have time to wait for it to warm.  I'm not willing to see if venom guys threat was an empty one or not.

     I'm careful to remember his rules, shampoo and water only. I lather my hair in mint shampoo and use the sponge to wipe my body down as I rinse the shampoo from my hair.  I'm only using shampoo so I'm not technically breaking his rules.  Even though I don't need to I run my lady shave across my armpits and legs.  I may not be allowed to use soap but I refuse to be spikey when I don't need to be.     

       I slam the water into the off position and grab the nearest towel.  I roughly dragged the material against my skin, trying to mop up most of the water. I run the towel back over my skin, and my chest feels sore.  Looking down I can see a bruised mark above my left breast.  I run my fingers over the inflamed area, it feels like a circle.  Quickly I wipe the steam off the mirror and look at my naked body.  The mirror reflecting back to me the wolf within the full moon.   I gasp and bring my hand up to my mouth, remembering my dream.  I traced the outline of the mark with my fingers.  This can't be real, it was just a dream.

    "Two minutes left".    

  I'll have to deal with the mark later, I have no time.  With my body in a somewhat semi-dry condition, I wrapped my hair up in the towel to concentrate on clothing.  I cringed when I reached for my underwear, as I pulled on my bralette and thong that he had held I felt dirty.  Like I needed another shower to be clean again. There was no time.  I had no issues with my gypsy top, but because my skin was still a little damp I struggled getting my jeans on, pulling them up bit by bit. Swapping sides as the black denim inched its way up my thighs. The final move involved jumping to pull them over my hips.

    "One minute"

    Just my hair left to do, I can beat his stupid bloody time.  I unravelled my hair from the towel.  No way to get this thick mop to dry in the next minute.  I grab my brush and a purple hairband.  I pulled the brush through my wet hair vigorously, to add insult to injury that brush hit every knot and tatt my hair had.  When it was somewhat straight my fingers made quick work of creating a messy sideways french plait.

    I was just putting the band at the bottom of my braid when the bathroom door slammed open. 

    "Time," he said as he walked in.  He motioned with his index finger to stand in front of him.  I complied.  I looked down at the floor as he circled me. He ran his fingers down my braid.

     "Tut, tut, you didn't dry your hair".  He brought his head down to the other side of my head, my neck was exposed.  I heard him inhale deeply and then let out a sigh.

      "Well-done mutt, you kept your scent clean". My head still down I grimaced.  "Right, let's go" he instructed before placing a hand on my shoulder guiding me out of the bathroom and down the stairs.

    He opens the front door as I stop to put my Doc Martin's on.   "Omega, get your ass down here" he bellowed up at my dad.   

    "You called Delta," my dad asked when he reached the bottom step.  I chanced a quick glance over at him.  His face is solemn.

    "Someone will be by in the next hour for her clothes, make sure you have them packed and ready."

    "Yes, Delta." My dad kept his head down, but I can hear the pain in his voice.

    "We're not completely heartless Omega, you can say goodbye to her properly at the packhouse after she shifts".

    "Thank you Delta" is all my dad answers with.

    I finish lacing my boots, standing back up I look back over to my dad.  All I wanted to do was run to him and wrap my arms around him.  Delta/venom guy must have sensed this, and he firmly placed his hand back on my shoulder walking me through the open door.  Just as we step outside he stops and turns around.

"Oh, one more thing Omega" he calls to my dad.  "Tell your wife I expect your daughter's best underwear to be in there."  My stomach dropped as he turns back around, forcing me forward towards the car.  "Trust me she will need them" his laugh is almost cruel as he opens the passenger door and squeezes my shoulder blade to sit down.  Those words bring unbearable pain to my chest like my heart has been stamped on.  This pain isn't mine.  But I know who it belongs too. It's my dad's. 

    I feel the weight of the car dip a little as Delta/venom guy sits in the driver's seat.  I pay him no attention as I watch my dad's figure stand at our doorway.  I place my hand on the window, hoping that my dad can feel all of the love I have for them pouring through my open palm to them. 

    My hand was yanked away from the window and I unintentionally growled.  Delta/venom guy painfully grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him and I knew my eyes had changed colour. 

    "Oh so the mutt can growl?" his gaze was dark.  His voice took on a husky tone "You can either behave yourself and put your f*****g seatbelt on, or I can make you growl in a way you won't like, but I will".   I knew what he was implying and I backed down, my eyes returning to hazel-green.

    "Shame", he said noticing my compliance and letting go of my face.

    He started the engine and glanced over at me. "Seatbelt mutt.  I'd like to leave the Edge before the Alpha sends out a hunting pack".  I clicked the belt into place, he didn't need to ask me twice, a hunting party would put my family and every other Omega in danger.   

    "Good girl" he chuckled and put the car in gear.  As he drove the car out of the Edge sorrow howls echoed throughout the forest line.  Omega's can't fight back against higher ranks, they can't protect their loved ones from being taken.  This howl of sorrow was all they could do.  It said we're sorry, it said we love you. It said we will never forget.

    Although they couldn't hear her, I let Esti howl out in response.