THE ALPHA'S DEFIANT MATE

His Shadow

I battled with the pain for about two days before it suddenly relieved me. The two days were hell, even with the physical exhaustion I pushed myself into. Once I wake up from sleep, the pain starts all over.

It got to a point where I almost crawled to the alpha’s door for mercy but my stubbornness superseded the pain. I fell sick the third day; my body was broken beyond repair, and I couldn’t lift a finger.

“This is you getting punished by the bond. The more you resist, the harder it becomes,” the attending doctor said to me

“Just give me something to ease the pain, I will bear it.” my resolve was stronger than anyone could believe

“Unfortunately, there is no cure unless you accept or the alpha closes the bond link from his end,” he responded with pity and concern all over his face

Sweat dripped down my face, adding to the soaked sheet beneath me. My eyes closed in pain as another wave hit me from nowhere. It was so painful that I had to clutch my hand to my chest.

“Should I send for the alpha?” one of the maids suggested and my eyes flew open instantly, “Don’t you dare!”

The sharpness of my voice startled them so much that they shut their mouths immediately. I didn’t know when I fell asleep, thanks to the doctor’s concoction. Then, I woke up with absolutely no pain, as if it never existed.

That confused me for a bit but I was happy that it was over at least.

****

The training continued over the days and the Beta excused himself from the training sessions because he had other things to attend to. I never knew that would be the beginning of my peril. He had left the pack with the Alpha for about two weeks, leaving me with the strange people in the pack.

In all I did, I tried my best to avoid the alpha’s mother, Selene. I moved cautiously and was training with the other soldiers.

That evening, I had picked up my wooden sword and was practicing the defense I had learned from Orion when a group of the female warriors led by Selene’s favorite guard came to the training center.

“You should train properly if you want to be the Luna; what’s with the tacky moves?” she mocked, her full black lips curling into a smirk.

I stood tall, my hands clenched into fists as I faced the warrior and the other female warriors. “I am training just fine,” my voice steady

“Who are you, by the way? With the look of things, are you not below my rank?” I lashed back at her

One of my maids moved closer and whispered, “Her name is Naomi and she’s the captain of all female guards. She serves the Alpha’s mother directly and has the rank right below the Beta.”

A scoff escaped my lips at the introduction, “Oh oh Naomi..”

“At least, I have a rank here but you don’t belong anywhere. You are not even considered a potential mate yet,” Naomi sneered. “This is not training. You are playing at being a warrior. You are an omega, so you will never be strong, fast, or fierce enough.”

At her words, the other fighters closed in, their eyes filled with mockery. “Yes, you are just a weak little omega. You will never be worthy of the alpha.”

My face burned with anger and humiliation but I refused to back down. I launched myself at Naomi, determined to prove myself but she was too strong and skilled. She easily parried my blow and landed a series of swift kicks and punches that sent me crashing to the ground.

As I struggled to get back to my feet, she stood over me with a sneer. “This is why omegas are not worth the throne. You are weak, feeble and pathetic.”

My eyes stung with tears but I refused to cry. I knew it would give them the ammunition they would use against me but I would never forget the disrespect.

She leaned closer to the ground and whispered, “brace yourself; there is no one to save you in the Alpha’s absence.”

With that she left with her crew and I tightened my grip in anger.

****

I walked down the hallway in the evening with my head held high even though my heart was racing with anxiety. The fear of being left alone in the midst of my enemies tugged at my chest. The event that occurred the following day was still stuck in my brain, giving me a new and fresh anger anytime I remembered.

As I turned a corner, I was confronted by a group of female pack members; their faces were twisted with scorn immediately they saw me, but I pretended as if I didn’t see them.

“Look at the little omega,” one of them sneered. “She thinks she’s so special just because the alpha chose her.”

I was shocked at the amount of people that actually hated my presence. The alpha’s absence was really an eye-opener; I was being protected by him all this while.

I tried walking past them but they blocked my way. “You are nothing without the alpha’s protection,” another said with her voice dripping with malice.

I felt a surge of fear but I stood my ground. “I can take care of myself,” I tried to sound brave but that only earned me a round of mocking laughter.

“oh really? Then I wonder why the alpha had to rescue you from the rogues. You little plaything.”

That pricked my heart beyond repair. It took a lot for me to pretend that I wasn’t pained by her statement but I refused to cry because it would only make things worse.

I stood there, trying to withstand the barrage of insults and sneers. It dawned on me truly that it was his protection that had kept me safe. Without it, I was vulnerable and exposed to the cruelty of the pack’s female members.

With that, I decided to take on their challenge and prove myself worthy. I had come so far to be belittled as a plaything. I had been surviving without him for the past six years of my life and I wouldn’t let anyone walk over the growth I had experienced.

“I will show you all.” I vowed, turned to my room to get changed so I could continue with my practice.