Never Goodbye, A Werewolf Romance - (Book 1-The Mist Series)

~Chapter 10 - Alpha Embrace~

~Louise~

As I made my way to the far side of the field, Lilly’s attention shifted back to the Omega she was training. I seized the moment to clutch at my side; the pain searing through me. But I couldn’t let it show. I had to prove to myself that I could do this.

I forced a deep, steadying breath, trying to regulate my racing heart. My stomach felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, each inhale a fresh wave of agony. I dug my fingernails into my palm, a small, sharp distraction from the throbbing in my side.

The other omegas were scattered across the field, their faces a mixture of determination and exhaustion. They were stronger than they looked, each bearing the burden of a powerful destiny. I had to be as strong as them. I have to fight this cancer!

I returned from my slow jog of the entire outside of the field. Sweat dripped from my forehead. It was a good workout to keep my pain hidden. I’m stuffed!

Commotion erupted from the centre of the field. Wiping the back of my hand over my forehead, I slid through the horde, my curiosity getting the better of me. I froze. Two men stood in the centre of the crowd—Beta-to-be Kingston White… whose white hair and fair features suited his last name, and Alpha-to-be and Jerk-in-training Joseph. The wound on his head had healed entirely, and his stitches were gone. It still amazed me how fast the wolf metabolisms worked when they were healthy.

Joseph’s gaze locked with mine, his eyes like black stone. A shiver ran down my spine, my body frozen. My breath hitched in my throat. It wasn’t just Joseph’s intimidating presence that froze me; it was the predatory glint in his eyes, as if he could see right through my carefully constructed facade of strength, right to the fear and pain I was desperately trying to conceal.

“No…” I gasped, willing my body to move. A flitter in my stomach rose through my chest.

My hand instinctively went to the corner of my lips, feeling his lips there. He had done the same, mirroring me. Not him!

The silver in his eyes intensified. I tore my gaze away, found my feet, and turned away. All my insides were aching. My head grew light, and I was feeling faint. I need to get out of here… Away from him!

As I approached the boundary of the field, the fragrant aroma of hydrangeas wafted through the air, and, as expected, as if materialising out of thin air, Matilda White, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Beta Reece, appeared. Despite our blatant dislike for each other, I couldn’t help but marvel at her uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere. Where had she come from?

Her white-blonde curls bounced over her bony shoulders as she stepped before me, blocking my path to the seats, her blue eyes narrowing on me. “If it isn’t the omega, Louise…” she drawled, placing a manicured hand on her hip. “I would say it’s nice to see you… but that would be lying…”

The last thing I needed was for Matilda to know my secret and do some kind of fantastical reveal to Alpha and Luna. And that was the kind of person she was. She lived in the packhouse with her beta family, and she had been horrible towards omegas ever since I could remember. She singled me out, finding any way she could to belittle me, trip me, or downright degrade me.

A part of me believed her issue with me was from pure jealousy—jealousy of the closeness between our parents but never us. No matter what Matilda’s excuse was, I never stood down.

“That would make two of us liars…” I mused, biting back on my lip to push the pain away.

Matilda’s perfectly porcelain face contorted into a sneer. “Oh, I’m sure. Must be difficult, being so utterly ordinary, surrounded by so much potential.” She gestured vaguely toward the training field with a dismissive flick of her wrist, her diamond bracelet catching the sunlight. “Especially with the future Alpha watching.”

I clenched my fists, fighting to keep my composure. I had wasted most of my resilience on Joseph, and I had minimal left. “Ordinary is underrated, Matilda. It means I don’t have to waste energy trying to be someone I’m not. Unlike you!”

I attempted to move past her, but again, she blocked my escape. “Naw, big words for a little omega.”

“Leave me alone, Matilda,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

Matilda tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with malicious delight. “Does Louise have to go home before the clock strikes five?” She never asked in a way that anyone would perceive as nice. Nice was not a part of her vocabulary. “Is it all too much for your tiny, weak body?”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Unlike you, Matilda, I have a life outside this place.” I was trying not to give in to my desire to push her buttons further, but it was tempting. “So, let me through.”

I attempted again to hurry past her, but she blocked my escape. “Or what, Louise? What are you going to do? Cry to your omega mummy?” Matilda’s voice dripped with condescension. “Oh wait, she’s too busy working with humans. Just like always.”

My jaw tightened. My side was screaming, and all I wanted was to get away. “Let me go…”

“Why are you in such a hurry?” She asked, tilting her sharp head to one side, pouting her glossy pink lips. “It’s not like you have anywhere important to go.”

I clamped down on the pain, worried she would see it in my eyes. “That’s enough, Matilda…”

She straightened, flashing a wicked smile. “Oh wait, that’s right, you’re an omega. I’m sure there are plenty of chores for you to do.” She hissed a laugh between her perfect white teeth. “It’s a shame you don’t have a maid to help.” Her laughter grew more obnoxious. “That’s right, you are the maid!”

Her words were usually meaningless, but I was far from my usual calm today. Joseph had seen to that.

“I don’t have time for this,” I snarled between clenched teeth.. “Just crawl back to whatever hole you climbed out of, Matilda! This field isn’t big enough to hold your ego!” I pushed her aside and headed towards the bench.

“Excuse me…” Matilda spat. She grabbed the back of my shirt and spun me around until we were face-to-face. “Don’t you ever speak to the daughter of the beta like that! You little brat!”

“Is that a challenge, Matilda?” I laughed mockingly. Stupid mouth! I was behaving far bolder than I should have in my current condition. She could push me over, and I would break. But my mouth refused to stop. “Why don’t you battle me for an apology? Or are you too high and mighty for a little sweaty skirmish in the dirt?”

“Dirt?” She scowled. “As if! I just had my hair done!” She primped her hair and then released my shirt. “There is no way I’m bringing myself down to your filthy level. Besides,” she studied me up and down. “You’re so tiny that my finger would destroy you.”

“Then let’s find out…” I readied my stance and coughed. A wave of nausea flooded my body. I dry reached as pain thrummed from my pelvis up to my chest. I couldn’t no longer hold it back. No, not now!

“Grose… are you going to throw up?” Matilda backed away, flicking the air between us as though it would protect her. “A sick werewolf! Eww… get away from me!”

“Is everything okay, Matty?” Joseph asked as he appeared behind Matilda.

“No,” she whined, facing him. “That omega was about to throw up on me!” She blinked wet blue eyes at him. How had she managed that so quickly? “Jojo… take me away from this… creature… before she makes me sick!”

“It’s okay,” Joseph soothed, patting her shoulder.

“Oh, Jojo…” she fake whimpered, placing her hand over his. “My hero…”

Now I am going to be sick! His eyes burned through me as I turned. I had to get away… Get away from the burn in my chest.

Behind me, Joseph cleared his throat. “Matty, a few packages are waiting for you at the packhouse—”

“—My dresses!” Matilda squealed, clapping her hands. Her fake sorrow was suddenly forgotten. “I’ve been waiting for them for weeks! I can’t wait to see them! Father ordered them from overseas!” She turned on her pointy heels and ran towards the packhouse.

Rolling my eyes, I continued my uncomfortable walk toward the bench, trying to hide my pain and now bottle my nausea. Once I reached it, I collapsed on it and caught my breath. Why now…?

“Louise!” Raine and Jo called from across the field. Jo held a water bottle in one hand and her sketchbook in the other, while Raine had two more small bottles in hers.

I waved weakly at them from across the field.

“Stay there!” Jo demanded firmly. She tucked her sketch pad in her pocket. “We’ll come to you…”

“I don’t plan on moving.” I snorted a laugh as they ran towards me.

They ducked and weaved around spectators and warriors, stopping at my feet. That was the most active I’ve seen them in ages.

“You overdid it… Even after I told you not to?” Raine narrowed her eyes at me. She handed me one of the bottles, then pressed the back of her hand to my forehead. “You don’t have a temperature… but you’re very sweaty…”

“That doesn’t work, Lorraine!” Jo groaned, rolling her eyes. “It’s a myth. Besides, you can’t do that to wolves. You need a thermometer.”

“You’re a myth…” Raine teased, sticking out her tongue.

Jo shook her head. “You can be such a child…”

“I’m fine…” I lied, attempting to straighten. When that didn’t work, I grabbed my side and slumped forward. “Okay, I may have pushed myself too far.”

“You think?” Raine knelt before me. “Do you want us to get some help?”

“No… I—” The thrumming ache hit my stomach. I tightened my grip on my side.

“I’m getting help,” Jo glanced around. When her eyes landed on Beta Reece, she nodded to herself. “I’ll be right back.”

“No… He can’t know…” I pleaded weakly. “Please—”

“Don’t argue!” She snapped in a final tone.

As she turned to leave, a solid figure blocked her path.

Wincing, I glanced up to see Joseph before me. Not you!

“Alpha Joseph!” my friends gasped in unison.

I clenched my teeth until my jaw ached. “Can we help you… Your Highness?”

They gasped again and backed closer to me.

Jo lowered herself to my ear. “Now’s not the time for sarcasm.”

“I can’t help it,” I seethed, fighting back the wave of bile rising from my stomach.

“You need help…” Joseph stated bluntly, his grey eyes void of any emotion.

“I’m fine… Really.” I winced as another bout of pain etched through me. Maybe I wasn’t okay, but knowing he was planning on helping me made me shudder. “You can go now…!”

“Let him help,” Jo pleaded, elbowing my arm.

“Please?” Raine pleaded at me with her eyes.

I shook my head. “I’m fine…”

“You’re not fine…” Joseph offered his hand. “I’m going to take you—”

“—Take me where?”

“To St Janie’s…” He leant down to grab me, screwing up his face in disgust at my apparent awful scent.

“No!” I hissed, pushing his hand away. I attempted to stand, but I fell into Jo.

“You need our Alpha’s help,” she grunted, trying not to fall herself.

“He’s not our alpha yet!” I defended.

“Let him take you,” Raine pleaded with teary eyes. “Please, Louise?”

“No!” I glared at the man before me, daring him to try. He wouldn’t… he couldn’t… not in front of everyone! I stood and gagged again.

This time, Joseph swept me into his arms and cradled me against his chest. “You’re going to the hospital, and that’s final!” He glared at me, daring me to argue.

And I did. Not on your life! “Put me down!” If I could muster the strength, I would have kicked out of his embrace. Instead, I wriggled, then froze as the pain became too unbearable.

“Enough!” He gripped me tighter this time, his eyes flashing a deep silver that made me quiver. “Do as I say, Omega!”

“Whatever!” I glared at him. “Let me go!”

“Settle, Omega!” He demanded again. “Now!”

His Alpha tone rang out over the entire yard and made every wolf below him drop to one knee, including Raine and Jo. It sent a shiver through me, but not enough to make me concede. This time, his eyes turned wolf-black, and I could see Zodiac looming.

“Please let him help you!” Raine and Jo pleaded in unison, peering up from their kneeling position.

“No!” I hissed over my shoulder at them before another cramp completely ripped at my insides. “Ahh…”

Suddenly, I was being carried to the packhouse steps at full speed, with Rain and Jo hurrying quickly behind me, their heads bowed low. The world blurred into a dizzying kaleidoscope of colours and sounds as Joseph’s long strides ate up the distance to the packhouse.

The air rushed past my face, carrying with it the scent of the surrounding trees. I tried to focus on something, anything, to distract myself from the agony clawing at my insides, but it was no use. Every breath was a struggle, every movement a sharp reminder of the betrayal my own body was inflicting upon me.