The Twin Alphas Broken Mate

Freezing

*Hope POV*

As soon as I got back to my quarters, I lay on my bed and tried to relax. My face hurt, my body hurt, and I felt sick to my stomach. I just wanted this day to end.

“Hope? When did you get back?” Holly asked when she came into our little room. I tried to ignore her, but my sniffling from crying only made her insist on me answering her.

“Ten or fifteen minutes ago. Please, Holly, I just need to be left alone. It’s been a bad night,” I replied without looking at her.

She took my shoulder, and forced me to roll over and face her. When she saw my face, she gasped.

“Who in the hell did this to you? Have you told Juliet?” she asked. I shook my head, and told her that I hadn’t seen her, and I was afraid to tell anyone.

“I just want to forget what happened. It doesn’t matter who did it to me, because the way most people see it, I deserve what I get. I just want to get my time over with. If I have to take this, then I will,” I replied.

I finally got her to back off, and she laid in her bed to read. I rolled back over to face the wall, and was nearly asleep when I was jerked out of bed.

Once again, I was pulled out of my bed, and dragged to a familiar hallway. When I saw the guard open the door to the closet, my heart fell. I didn't want to go through that again.

I was pushed back into the familiar space, and the door was shut and locked behind me. I banged on the door, pleading for them to let me out, but just like last time, no one came back.

I retreated to the corner of the closet, and pulled my knees to my chest. I thought if I held my body tightly, I might be able to stay semi-warm. I was wrong. It was still unbearably cold.

“Goddess, I don’t know what the purpose of this test is, but I’m already growing weary of it. I’m not strong enough to get through this. I’ll surely freeze to death if this keeps happening. Please, if you can hear me, help me,” I whispered.

I laid my head on my knees, and after what seemed like hours, I drifted off, and hoped that I didn’t die from the cold.

“Get up!” a guard yelled as he kicked me. I fell over from the force, and I was so cold, I wasn’t even sure if I could stand.

When I didn’t move fast enough for him, he jerked me up, and made me walk. I couldn’t feel my feet or legs, so the task proved difficult.

I thought I would be taken back to my room to get ready for the day's duties, but I wasn’t. I was instead taken into an office and was told to wait. I didn’t complain, because at least this room was warm.

I tried not to look around, because whoever wanted to see me now, may come in at any moment. Instead, I looked at my uniform. I hadn’t had a chance to change into anything else, and I had to look a mess. Especially since I knew I had bled on this one.

I released a sigh, and closed my eyes. That’s when the door flung open, and the twins walked in.

Noah sat at the desk, and Nick sat in the chair next to mine. I didn’t make eye contact with either of them, and the emotions I was feeling were strange.

“How long before you turn eighteen?” Noah asked. I was taken aback by the question, because I wasn’t sure why he wanted to know. I hadn’t expected that to be the first thing I was asked.

“Six months. I will turn eighteen on April 21st,” I replied, still not making eye contact.

Noah leaned back in his chair, and glared at me so hard, that it felt as if he wished I was dead too. At this point, so did I.

I finally raised my head, and watched as he ran his hand over his beard. For a brief moment, I thought he was very handsome. Something I shouldn’t be thinking about right now.

“Six months. That’s longer than I had thought. I’m going to be honest with you, Hope. If I had my way, you would be banished. I don’t want to have to see you, or any reminder of your family. Especially Jon. My dad’s death was not called for. Jon could have gone about it another way. He could have gone to the elders to have it handled. Anyway, I want to make something clear with you. Until you turn eighteen, I need you to stay away from me. Otherwise, I can’t be held responsible for what I do to you. You will remain working with the other Omega staff, and I have advised Juliet to make sure that someone is always with you. There is no negotiating that order,” he stated.

He wasn’t angry, but he wasn’t kind either. He was stern and uncompromising. He had just lost his father, so I couldn't blame him for feeling the way he was.

“Yes, sir. I will do as you ask,” I replied. Arguing or pleading with him wouldn’t have done me any good.

“Nick, do you have anything you want to say?” Noah asked his brother. Nick shook his head, but did tell me that he wanted to have a one on one conversation at some point. I wasn’t sure what that was about, but I had to admit the thought scared me.

Noah slid a package across the table to me, and demanded I open it. I tore open the box, and pulled out two uniforms in my size. There were also some undergarments, socks and leggings. If they were so angry with me, why would they do this for me?

“Keep the uniforms clean. If you outgrow them, let someone know to get a message to me or Nick. If you need any necessities, we are to be notified. Alright?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you. I appreciate you doing this for me,” I replied. He took a deep breath, and released it aggressively.

“I’m not doing it for you per se, but I think the less you have to see Jeffery for, the better. I may not be a big fan of yours right now, but I don’t think you deserve what happened yesterday. I want you to take the day off today. If you choose to help in the kitchen, so be it. However, until you are healed, stay in the kitchen or laundry,” he replied.

I was instructed to leave, to check in with Nick in two days for that discussion. It wasn’t up for debate. It was going to happen. I had just had to prepare myself for it.