More than an omega

His return

“Hazel! Hazel! Hazel!”

Angela’s voice trembled with terror as she desperately tried to pull her friend out of the nightmare.

She gently smacked Hazel’s cheek.

“Hazel, wake up!”

Nothing.

Hazel tossed restlessly on the bed, her brows knitted tightly together. Tears streamed continuously down her cheeks as broken words escaped her lips.

“Papa…”

Angela’s heart clenched.

“Hazel!”

She tapped her cheek again, this time a little harder.

“Wake up!”

“Hazel—”

Hazel suddenly shot upright with a gasp.

She struggled to breathe, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Sweat covered her fair skin, and strands of damp hair clung to her face.

Her hands immediately flew to her chest.

It was something she had unconsciously learned to do whenever she woke from the nightmares.

Breathe.

Calm down.

Remind herself that she was no longer thirteen.

That she was safe.

At least…

As safe as she could ever be in this pack.

Angela immediately placed a gentle hand on her back.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “You’re fine. You’re here with me.”

Hazel stared ahead, her eyes filled with terror.

“Angela…”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“I killed him.”

The words came out barely above a whisper.

Hazel covered her mouth with her fist as a sob threatened to escape.

Angela’s heart broke.

“You didn’t kill anyone.”

“But he died because of me.”

Hazel’s voice cracked.

“I saw him… I saw Papa…”

Her tears came faster.

“He died because of me.”

“No, Hazel.”

Angela gently pulled her head onto her shoulder.

“You didn’t do anything.”

“But—”

“You didn’t.”

Angela’s voice became firmer.

“Don’t let them make you believe that.”

Hazel fell silent.

She knew exactly who Angela meant.

For years, Luna Katherine had fed her guilt.

Every cruel word.

Every punishment.

Every reminder that she was supposedly responsible for Alpha Raymond’s death.

Eventually, Hazel had started believing it herself.

“I…”

Hazel tried to speak again.

Angela gave her a stern look.

“Enough.”

Hazel stared at her.

“Sleep. It’s still early.”

Angela lay beside her and gently ran her fingers through Hazel’s tangled hair.

Hazel slowly closed her eyes.

“Angel?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

Angela’s eyes glistened with emotions she couldn’t put into words.

“Sleep, Haze.”

And this time, Hazel did.

Morning

“Hazel.”

Angela gently tapped her cheek.

“Wake up.”

Hazel slowly opened her eyes, confusion clouding them before her vision finally focused.

“Angel?”

She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“It’s time to wake up. The first bell will be rung soon.”

Angela stood and walked toward the bathroom.

Hazel remained seated for a moment before waiting for her friend.

A few minutes later, Angela emerged wrapped in a pale pink towel.

“Go and clean up,” she instructed. “But don’t let water touch your wound. You don’t want it getting infected.”

“Okay.”

Hazel stood and grabbed her clothes.

Angela’s eyes immediately fell on the ugly whip wounds covering Hazel’s back.

“Or should I come and help you?”

“Don’t bother.”

Hazel quickly grabbed her towel and hurried into the bathroom.

Angela sighed.

That girl was far too stubborn for her own good.

“You need to hurry!” she called.

“I’m coming!”

A few minutes later, Hazel emerged with her hair dripping wet.

“Alright,” she said.

Angela was already dressed.

Hazel quickly dried herself and changed.

Angela disinfected the wounds on her back before carefully applying antiseptic and wrapping fresh bandages around them.

“Thank you.”

Hazel gave her a small smile.

They slipped on their shoes.

Angela then helped Hazel dry her hair properly.

Just as she finished—

GONG!

The first bell rang throughout the castle.

They exchanged a quick glance.

“Let’s go.”

They stepped outside their room and joined the other Omegas.

Madam Harper soon appeared.

She took attendance before turning toward Hazel.

“How are you now?”

“Fi-ne, Ma.”

Hazel’s voice trembled slightly.

“Good.”

Madam Harper didn’t seem particularly interested in her condition.

She assigned Hazel, Angela, and four other girls to clean the castle hallways.

“Let’s go,” Angela said, supporting Hazel as they walked toward their assigned area.

One of the Omegas rolled her eyes.

“Hope she won’t slow us down, Angela?”

Her voice was filled with irritation.

Angela immediately snapped.

“No, she won’t, Kate.”

They entered the tool room.

Angela picked up two mops, handed one to Hazel, and grabbed the buckets and cleaning cloths.

They made their way into the vast hallway and began cleaning.

For a while, everything was quiet.

Then—

“Attention!”

A guard’s voice echoed through the hallway.

Everyone stopped.

“The Alpha-to-be is here! All lowlives are to gather outside immediately to welcome him!”

He turned and hurried away.

The word lowlives hung heavily in the air.

That was what Omegas and slaves were called in the pack.

Lowlives.

People without status.

People who were expected to bow their heads and obey.

And whenever Liam returned to the castle, every one of them was required to welcome him.

It was an old tradition enforced by the Alpha family.

Hazel’s hands suddenly went cold.

“Liam…”

The name escaped her lips in a frightened whisper.

Her fingers tightened around her gown.

Angela immediately noticed the change in her expression.

“Hazel?”

Hazel looked pale.

Her breathing became shallow.

“Hazel!”

Angela grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently.

“Come back to me.”

Hazel blinked.

“We have to go. Now.”

The emergency bell suddenly rang.

GONG! GONG! GONG!

Every Omega immediately abandoned whatever they were doing and hurried outside.

Anyone caught loitering after the emergency bell was considered a traitor.

And traitors were executed.

“Come on!”

Angela grabbed Hazel’s hand and pulled her along.

They gathered outside the castle in organized lines.

Nobody dared speak.

Nobody dared move unnecessarily.

Then—

TOOOOT!

The Herald sounded the trumpet.

Everyone lowered their heads.

The Alpha-to-be was approaching.

Liam entered the castle grounds surrounded by heavily armed mercenaries.

There were guards in front of him.

Guards behind him.

Guards on either side.

Ever since Alpha Raymond’s death, the Alpha family had increased Liam’s protection.

They would never allow history to repeat itself.

Hazel kept her head lowered.

She could feel him.

Even without looking.

She could feel his presence.

Then she felt it.

His eyes.

Burning into her.

Her entire body stiffened.

The hatred radiating from his gaze was suffocating.

It wasn’t like Rose’s hatred.

It wasn’t like Luna Katherine’s.

This was different.

Deeper.

Colder.

More personal.

Hazel’s fingers trembled.

She desperately fought the urge to look up.

She knew better.

Looking directly at the Alpha-to-be without permission could get her punished.

“He… he’s looking over here,” she whispered.

Angela didn’t move her head.

“Act oblivious.”

“But—”

“Don’t look at him.”

Hazel swallowed.

“Okay.”

She kept her gaze fixed on the floor.

But she could still feel him.

Watching.

Judging.

Hating.

The Herald finally stopped blowing the trumpet as Liam entered the castle.

“Return to your duties!” one of the guards ordered.

Everyone immediately dispersed.

Hazel released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Back in the hallway, she continued cleaning beside Angela.

But her mind wasn’t on the floor.

“I felt his eyes on me.”

Angela continued mopping.

“He hates you, of course.”

“No.”

Angela glanced at her.

Hazel shook her head.

“It was different.”

“Different how?”

Hazel swallowed.

“I don’t know.”

She struggled to find the right words.

“It felt like…”

Her voice became quieter.

“Like I ruined his entire life.”

Angela stopped.

Hazel continued.

“It wasn’t the kind of hatred I feel from Rose or Luna Katherine. It was stronger.”

She looked troubled.

“Almost like he blames me for something.”

Angela frowned.

“Maybe you’re thinking too much.”

“Maybe.”

Hazel lowered her eyes.

Then she whispered,

“And there’s something else.”

“What?”

“I feel…”

She hesitated.

“Pulled toward him.”

Angela’s brows furrowed.

“Pulled?”

“Yes.”

Hazel nodded.

“I can’t explain it. Whenever he’s near me, I feel like something inside me is trying to make me look at him.”

Angela stared at her thoughtfully.

That was strange.

Very strange.

But before she could say anything, Hazel spoke again.

“We’ll figure it out.”

She picked up her mop.

“But first, let’s finish cleaning.”

Angela sighed.

“Fine.”

They returned to work.

For a few minutes, neither spoke.

Then—

“Oops.”

A female voice suddenly echoed down the hallway.

Hazel and Angela turned.

Their eyes widened.

Amelia.

Liam’s girlfriend.

The moment they recognized her, both girls immediately bowed.

“Good morning, ma.”

Amelia smiled.

“My bad, girls.”

She lifted the glass of Chapman in her hand.

Then, deliberately—

SPLASH!

She poured the entire drink onto the freshly cleaned floor.

Hazel’s eyes widened.

Amelia covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked.

“Oh my goodness.”

She laughed.

“I accidentally spilled my drink.”

Angela’s jaw tightened.

Amelia looked at the two girls.

“You’ll forgive me, right?”

Neither answered.

Amelia stepped forward.

Then she deliberately dragged her shoe through the spilled drink, spreading it across the floor.

Hazel’s eyes burned with tears.

Why?

Why did they keep doing this?

Why did everyone hate them so much?

Amelia smiled.

“You girls aren’t going to take this personally, are you?”

“Yes, ma,” Hazel and Angela replied quietly.

Their voices carried submission.

Their hearts carried anger.

“Good.”

Amelia laughed and sauntered away.

Hazel watched her leave.

“Why?”

Her voice cracked.

“Why do they keep doing this to us?”

Angela immediately picked up the mop.

“It’s okay, Haze.”

She returned to cleaning the mess.

“Don’t let them see you cry.”

Hazel quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and picked up her mop.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing at the far end of the hallway.

Watching.

Listening.

Later That Night

The castle had finally fallen silent.

Moonlight streamed through the small window of their room.

Hazel was fast asleep when—

“Haze.”

Nothing.

Angela gently shook her.

“Hazel.”

Hazel groaned.

“Wake up.”

Angela shook her again.

“Haze!”

Hazel’s eyes fluttered open.

“What…”

Angela leaned closer.

“I need to show you something.”

Hazel frowned sleepily.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Angela’s expression was strangely serious.

Hazel slowly sat up.

“What happened?”

Angela glanced toward the door.

Then back at Hazel.

“Just come with me.”

Something in her voice made Hazel’s sleep disappear instantly.

She climbed out of bed.

“Where are we going?”

Angela didn’t answer.

She simply reached for her hand.

And together, they stepped silently into the dark hallway.