The Omega They tried to Destroy..

Amelia's POV. “WHERE THE HECK IS SHE?!!” I heard my brother yelling from the hallway. The door shielding me from his view widened seconds after. I already knew what would follow his thundering voice but a part of me hoped Logan would spare me the chance to brace myself for his slaps. He didn't. I got on my feet, clenching my jaw as I awaited my punishment. The moment my brother’s eyes found mine, he strode over and struck me right on the eye. I stood frozen on the spot, a hand over my cheek and eye without a word. Years of experience as a slave in this pack had taught me to never make a sound unless spoken to, even if they were hurting me. “Father and I are expecting Alpha Kaden any moment from now and you haven't cleaned the living room yet!” Logan spat. A tear slipped down my eyes, I tightened the grip on my cleaning rag. It was my life's goal to swing it across his face, but I couldn't. Not if I wanted to eat this week or didn't want to spend the rest of my life in a dungeon. My sides already stung from the sharp cold of that wet floor. “Father and I are trying to make the best impression on Alpha, do you know how important he is to this deal?” I didn't dare speak. I knew his tricks to get me to speak so he could slap me again. I kept my head low, sobbing quietly. Alpha Kaden had rumours about him. Word got out that he was a ruthless alpha. He conquered every pack that sought to war with him. He was feared by all, a very cruel alpha. “Your dull brain doesn't know he is the alpha of Black moon, the biggest pack in the tribe, does it? That we need him urgently.” He doesn't tell me why and I dare not ask. Our pack had never been attacked, neither were we troublemakers, so why? Logan dipped his fingernails into the thinning skin of my shoulder blade before he smacked me towards the door. “If your incompetence makes us lose his respect, I'll skin you dead. Go be f*****g useful!!” I closed the door behind me after he left, turning to the same living room I had cleaned three times this morning. Not one spec was out of place for a meeting with a high profile alpha. Still, I obeyed. With my wet eyes, I lowered on my knees to the floor, scrubbing gently with my rag. I thought when I turned eighteen, I could escape this hell hole but three years later I was rejected by my mate and did dirty chores for my brother and my father. “Tears on the first day of being invited here, how unpleasant…” someone cleared their throat. I froze, my blood turned cold. I was supposed to be the only one here. Leaning forward, I caught the outline of a man seated, a glass with wine swarming in his hand, his knees crossed, his expression stern. My throat felt tight. My father hated me interacting with anyone, much less a very handsome and scary looking man like this. “G— good morning s-sir…” I jumped out of fright. When I took another look at him, his eyes were the color of fire, his hair short, black, and his jawline sharp like a razor blade. He blinked and his pupils widened like a monster zooming in on its prey. I shifted a step back, my heart pounding. “Did you just call me ‘sir?’ Is that how to greet an alpha in this pack?” his deep voice rumbled through the living room. I caught a hint of amusement in-between. “I-I'm sorry…” I whispered, “I— I thought I was alone.” I had no idea who he was but I could feel power radiating off him even without my wolf. He doesn't care to introduce himself either. Who would, to a lowly mai? “Come forward.” I hesitated. Being that close to him was a crime. My father, Alpha Thomas, was going to kill me but I couldn't afford to disobey an alpha. Not this scary looking one at least. I did as I was told, taking a few steps into his direction. I stopped a few feet away, pressed my eyes tight as I awaited the worst. “You smell very funny. Wolves don't smell like this, why are you different?” I nodded, unsure of if I was permitted to speak. Logan always permitted me to speak with a snap of his finger, the new alpha only stared at me. “I prefer that your mouth moves and words come out of them whenever I ask a question.” He growled, “I'm not a very patient wolf.” “Yes.” I whispered. With every word that slipped out, I already imagined the strokes of cane I would get—- or would it be starvation for a month? “Why do you smell this way? And why didn't you notice me? My scent is everywhere.” I dreaded that question. *Speak!” He took another sip of his drink. I took a deep breath, I knew why I couldn't catch his scent. I knew why I hadn't seen him but telling people about it was like sticking a steak through my heart. No one ever wanted to hear my part of the story. They wouldn't even listen to the end. “Open your eyes and speak loudly, it's rude to bow your head while speaking, has your alpha not taught you anything?” his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Slowly, I raised my head but looked in another direction, there was no way I could hold eye contact with him. “My wolf and my abilities were bound.” Three times. But I didn't add that part, no one was ever interested in that part. He slowly leaned forward, keeping his glass on the table, I could feel his gaze heavy on me. “Why would someone do that to you?” My chest tightened, I had already said too much. An idea flew by me. What if this was the alpha my father and brother were meeting? “It was punishment.” I thought of the simplest answer I could give. Something not too far from the truth but dismissive enough. His eyes twitched. I couldn't tell if he was mad that I was punished so cruelly or was he amused by it. The doors swung open, my father Alpha Thomas burst in, screeching at me. “Amelia! What are you doing here?!” He turned to the crimson man, “My apologies, Alpha Kaden, I'm sorry she is bothering you.” Crap! This was Alpha Kaden? My father spinned in the next second, his hands stretched out, ready to strike my cheek, I pressed my eyes shot. His slaps always hurt more than my brother's. “I wouldn't do that if I was you.”Alpha Kaden rumbled through the living room. Peeking through my eyelashes, I saw Alpha Kaden standing up from his seat, his hands coiled round my father's arms. He was far taller than father, more intimidating with those ripping muscles, “Amelia…” My name rolled off his tongue, “...was showing me around the room since you failed to receive me at the front door like you insisted. I was lucky she was present. At least someone here knows the importance of our deal.” My lips parted slowly. He had no reason to lie for me. I didn't even know he was here for a meeting. My father shot a deadly glare at me. I would pay for this embarrassment later, better I prepared my back for the beatings now. “Go get my beta wolf. Tell him our guest is already here.” He seethed. With a quick nod, I hurried out the door. I ran as fast as my feet could take me. The last thing I wanted was to delay this important meeting. I had enough to worry about already. I bashed the first door by the right, Logan's office. His head turned, his eyes dark. “Beta Logan, father asked me to call you. He said the guest is here.” His eyes darkened even more. I had broken the golden rule— spoken without being spoken to. “Thank the moon goddess you got away this time.” He poked his index on my forehead. “Otherwise, you would have been lying naked on that wet dungeon floor like you did before.” Pausing behind me, he still managed to yank few strands of my hair. He leaned forward, his breath hot on my skin. He said nothing, it was his way of proving he could torment me whenever he wanted. I tried to keep myself busy after Logan left, cleaning anything else I could find as I fought to suppress the rising hairs on my back. Just when my heart calmed, I heard my name echo through the hallway. Quietly, with a rehearsed smile, I walked over to the living room. “Go get us champagne and glasses. We're celebrating.” I nodded mechanically, I found the drinks my brother had asked me along with the exact glasses. Returning, I slowly lowered the tray of drinks down. Alpha Kaden was seated where I left him, his gaze heavy on me. A chill ran down my spine. No one ever noticed me like that before. No one ever cared to give me a second look if they didn't want to slap me. I poured the champagne into the glass for him when he stopped me halfway. He told me he was more than capable of pouring his own wine. My throat tightened again, my cheeks burned. Not from embarrassment. Not from giddiness. No. I would pay for his niceness. I should have been quicker, poured the drink in before coming inside. My brain froze when I caught my brother staring at me. “Amelia is your daughter, isn't she?” “Yes.” “And she's your sister?” “Yes.” Logan muttered. He tore his gaze off me to answer the man's question. “One I regret having.” “Why— why do you treat her like a piece of s**t?” Alpha Kaden was straight to the point. Logan hated answering questions not asked on his terms. Logan's expression looked like it had been taken straight out of a horror movie. No one has dared asked Logan or my father about how they treated me. They all took joy in seeing me red and wounded. Logan swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on me again. I wanted to move but I was frozen in place. I wished the ground could open so I jumped inside. If this deal got rejected because of the questions linked to me then I was better off dead. “Amelia was responsible for our mother's death.” Logan trailed after a long break. I closed my eyes battling the tears that threatened to fall into the glasses I carried. Alpha Kaden wrinkled his forehead, his gaze shifted to our father. “What does your son mean by responsible for your mate's death?” his voice rumbled, he obviously sounded angry. Father cleared his throat, he said it with pride like he always did. He glanced at me and then at Kaden. “She served my mate wolfsbane.”