The Alpha’s not-so Human Mate

20. Painful memories

Esnie’s POV

Days turned into weeks, and the tension between me, Jace, and Alpha Kaiah grew. I had been sleeping in Rowena’s room, doing my very best to avoid Jace. I spent most of my time helping out in the kitchen if it meant I got to stay far away from him and his undressing gaze. Alpha Kaiah was seldom around. I may have seen him just once, but that was because I stayed up really late. He was mostly in the woods, away from the pack, which I understand since he is not part of us. But still, I wondered why he was still here after everything he was put through by Jace and the pack members.

It also stood out to me that I haven’t seen or heard from Tremaine for so long. No one else has, except for Fiona. Whenever I asked her about him, she kept bringing up different reasons: one of them being that he returned to campus. Everyone knows that's a lie.

***

I was in the backyard planting flowers, when I looked up and saw one of the omegas walking up to me. She stood in front of me. “Luna, the Alpha would like an audience with you.”

“Sorry, Nina, but please tell him I said: ‘No’” I continued my work.

She sighed. “He knew you would say that, but he asked me to tell you that he has genuine intentions. Please don’t make me go twice.” Her pleading eyes made me feel sad. Her eye sockets were hollow, making her look slightly malnourished.

I got up and held her skinny arms. “What’s the matter, Nina, why do you look weak?”

She shrugged. “I haven’t eaten all day.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s just...” She looked down. “The alpha said omegas will only get to eat the leftovers from the upper ranked. But there are barely any leftovers. Besides, the food rations have gone down, which is why there is barely any left for us when they are done.”

A tear fell from my eye. I can’t believe Rowena didn’t tell me about this, I feel so horrible. “Why would he do such a thing?”

She shrugged. “He doesn’t think we’re important enough to feed.” Her eyes were void.

“Go find something to eat,” I ordered, and she left in shaky steps.

What the hell is wrong with Jace? I must talk to him. In anger, I marched straight to his room and entered without knocking.

He looked up from his desk and saw me. “Finally, the high and mighty Luna Esnie is here!” He exclaimed, but I sensed a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“I need to talk to you...” I started.

His eyes widened. “Oh really? You have something to tell me? If I hadn’t called for you, you would not have remembered that you had something to say?”

I heaved out a sigh and thought of how to phrase my words without getting Nina into trouble. “I want to know why you refused Omegas from eating just like everyone else.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You have no reason to worry about them, you are a Luna. By rank, you are above them all.”

“They can still kill me if they want to.” I retorted. “I may be a Luna, but I’m still human. Why should the omegas be treated less than me when they work just as hard as everyone else in this pack if not more?”

He got to his feet and made his way over to where I was standing. “Oh, but you are no ordinary human. Are you forgetting that you are a Seer?” He brought up his hands and touched my face, but I moved back.

He continued. “A lioness never mixes with rats. Those worthless omegas are rats at your feet, dear Seer.”

“I am not a Seer anymore! Can we just move past that?”

He chuckled deeply. “Our powers are never really lost, my darling. They are only locked away in a hidden place which we can only access if we believe.”

“The omegas are starving, give them food or they’ll start dying.” I pleaded.

He thought for a second. “Fine, I’ll feed them as you want, but what will you do for me in return?” His eyes sparkled with a glint of desire.

I sighed defeatedly. “What do you want?”

I could feel the urgency in his tone as he came closer. I tried to step back but he held my two arms. “You have punished me enough, my Luna. Everyone sees how you abandoned me to sleep among the omegas.” His warm breath fanned my face as he continued. “We need you.”

“Who is ‘we’?”

“My wolf and I.” He whispered.

His eyes alternated between purple and blue as he anticipated a response. His fast heartbeat was loud enough for me to hear. His dilated pupils and continuous swallowing frightened me.

It all made sense to me now. “You starved the omegas on purpose, didn't you?”

He rolled his eyes. “Why are we still talking about them?! I will fulfill my end of the deal if you fulfill yours!”

I pulled out of his hold. “I think you should give the order first so the omegas can eat—”

He groaned. “You always do this to me!” He gripped my arms tight. “You are my mate for crying out loud! How hard is it to lay on the f*****g bed and open your f*****g legs?!”

I scrunched my face in disgust at his choice of words. “Maybe it’s because I don’t feel comfortable opening my legs for you, how hard is it to grasp that f*****g concept?!”

He grabbed a fistful of my hair. “I’ll f*****g kill you if you let my wolf become weak! He needs you, don’t you understand that?!”

“Let go of me!!!” I screamed.

“Stupid b***h!” He threw me to the bed. “Jace isn’t here to save you.”

What did he mean by that?

He got on top of me but I kicked his groins. He winced and retaliated by slapping my face. He pressed my head into the mattress, suffocating me. “If I could get what I need from other girls, I wouldn’t care about your p***y!”

“Jace!” I cried out.

He laughed. “You want me to treat you the way Reginald Meyers did? I heard he used to f**k you with a rod. Is that what you want me to do too!?”

I cried as painful memories flooded my mind. The beatings, r*pes, assaults... Mr. Meyers was truly a monster, and it felt like he was back to haunt me.

“Get off me! Get off!!!” I pushed and scratched with all my strength, until his skin started bleeding. He landed a punch on my face. I kneed him again and he flinched. I took that small window and ran out of the room.

My heart beat rapidly as I ran down the stairs. I made it out the front door, pack members looked at me as though I had gone mad. I didn’t care, I fled into the woods.

When I had run a good distance, I stopped to catch my breath...

I looked up at the clouds and fell to the ground, sobbing. I thought my fate had changed for the better when Jace came into my life, but nothing made sense anymore. I see no future here.

I took a deep breath and heaved it out slowly. “I can’t endure this any longer, I need to leave this place.”

***

With my mind made up, I started looking for a way to the other side of the woods. I had never walked this long distance before, but I had no choice. I continued walking until I approached the border of the next pack.

I stood at the border, pondering on the reality of my life. The moment I cross this border, there is no coming back. Either I die in the next pack, or I survive. I was ready for either outcome.

Just then, I heard whimpering sounds coming from the bushes. What could that possibly be?

I swallowed my fear and went to see where the sound was coming from. There was someone behind the bushes, and from his cries, he was in pain.

I slowly separated the bushes to see who it was. Our eyes connected and a shocked expression came upon his face, but it was replaced by a weak smile. “Es, thank the spirits you found me.”

His face was battered, and he had scratch marks all over his skin. The blood on his body had turned black, I would guess that he had been out here for far too long.

I went closer to the familiar man...

“Tremaine, what happened to you?”