THE SUBJECT OF HIS POSSESION

Chapter One Phemelia's POV “Move your ass before you get beat by another stroke of the cane.” I looked up from the floor I was cleaning to see Ashley being shoved forward. It was another day of torture and I just hoped to go through it without getting whipped to death, as was the usual treatment for Omegas. The Alpha and Beta females were the nastiest you could've ever encountered. The previous day, they arrested an omega female for admiring their jewelry and planned theft she hadn't carried out, they didn't need evidence, such was the life of an omega in RavageClaw Pack. She was beaten to stupor, her hair ripped from her head and she was made to crawl on all fours, during the birthday party of one of the alpha females who accused her. They jeered at her, even went as far as demanding she barked. A shiver ran through me at the thought. A reminder of when madame Zolix, the head cleaner, broke a vase made from laminated glass on my head. My lips trembled as I recalled the immense pain I'd felt, the blood pouring from my skull like a wrecked fountain without repair. I'd thought I was going to die but fate had always been cruel to me. I survived by the hands of the pack’s healer whom madame Zolix called. Though I kept to myself and obeyed all rules, that never excluded me from the torture Omegas faced. “Did you hear?” One of the beta females announced, her legs crossed as she held a ceramic mug to her lips. “Avolio MarKane is looking for a mate.” “Alpha Avolio MarKane?!” A collective gasp erupted in their midst. It was obvious what everyone thought at the announcement. They all wanted him for themselves, greed and determination flashed across their faces. The ones that sat casually suddenly sat upright, the ones that were drunk on alcohol suddenly requested their omega slaves to bring them tea. “And where did you hear this news?” An Alpha female asked, her eyes beamed with curiosity under her poised façade. “I overheard my dad speaking to Elder Collin yesterday. He is to arrive by moonrise tonight.” Her answer sparked a multitude of leg shuffling, the Alpha and Beta females scrambled to their feet quickly, trying their best to appear poised and unrushed. “I can't believe you're just saying this now!” Another Alpha female with thin eyes and lips glared down at the Beta who broke the news. Still seated pretty, the Beta glanced up at her sharply. “At least I told you. There's no need for such uncouth behavior to someone who hasn't made any preparations too.” “Not everyone has little accessories and minimal clothes like you, I have to go through a lot of clothes before I prepare.” The Alpha female’s eyes thinned further as her lips stretched in a malicious smile, ignoring the glare shot her way from the Beta female. “Oh, what am I still doing talking here? I ought to go prepare. Ashley!” She called out to the omega girl that was earlier scolded. “I also need to prepare.” Another said, rising swiftly, she turned sharply toward her quarters. “I can't wait to meet the most powerful and hottest bachelor in all the lands.” Another chipped in, already on her way to her quarters, another omega on her trail. “Miserable wenches.” The Beta female muttered under her breath. “Alpha Avolio MarKane is mine.” She smirked. My heart stumbled. I didn't know why but my vision went hazy at the sound of his name. The chairs surrounding the table were almost empty, everyone had rushed to their quarters to prepare. An elder stepped closer to the empty table, he had been watching and waited for the right moment to approach. He was well known as the nosy elder, but that never stopped him from inserting his nose into businesses that were of no concern to him. “He doesn’t tolerate failure,” the elder started as he stopped to sit on one of the vacated seats. “Or disrespect. If he is displeased… there will be consequences.” My chest tightened. The air felt thinner. I felt a splitting headache as memories threatened to arise. Blurred. I toppled slightly but caught myself mid-way, my free hand lifted to pinch the wrinkle that arose across my forehead. Does such a man truly exist? I removed my ears from the discussion and focused on my work, on my breathing. In. Out. Be invisible. A shadow fell over me to my horror. A trickle of wine poured down on my head, slowly, the red color glared at me from the ground. “Careful,” the Beta female snapped, nudging my shoulder with her heel. “You missed a spot.” “I’m sorry,” I whispered immediately, dropping lower, scrubbing harder until my knuckles burned. She crouched, her nails tilted my chin up enough for her to look at me, I didn't dare look her in the eye. “You omegas forget yourselves too easily,” she said softly, her voice dripped with malice. “Your job is to serve. To disappear. If an Alpha or Beta notices you, you’ve already failed.” she hissed. “The next time you fail to escape my notice. I will have you butchered and dragged across the lawn like the b***h you are.” Her fingers released me quickly as if I were unclean. I nodded. Of course I knew this. Still, my wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, restless. I returned to my work, polishing the ground, I shrunk further into myself. If Avolio MarKane truly was as monstrous as they said, then I would have to become more invisible, being seen would not only be the worst of mistakes. It would be a death sentence.