Their Game, Her Ruin

Autumn I shouldn’t be here. The music is too loud, the lights are too bright, and the energy in the room is buzzing with the kind of excitement I’ve never had during pack events. Pack members in expensive dresses and pressed button-downs move about the room in clusters. They laugh as if they own the world because most of them probably do. I peer around, feeling way out of my league dressed in black catering slacks and a plain button-up shirt, carrying trays of finger food past pack mates in silk dresses and tailored suits who pretend I don’t exist. Emily just had to fake sick today, so I was forced to attend since we are down to three staff members. The restaurant I work at, Grill & Graze, was hired to cater the welcome party for incoming college students. I didn’t even realize what the job was for until I got out of the truck and saw the Stone family crest on the mansion gates. No one told me there was a welcome party, although I didn’t expect to be invited in the first place despite finally getting my grant accepted. “Smile, Autumn, and pass me those napkins,” Mrs. Kailee says. I hand her the napkins and move to set the next table on the buffet. “You should try to mingle. We just need to set up, and then you can join the fun. Emily will be back tomorrow, and she’ll help me do the pick-up. It’s time to stop hiding, you’re 21st will be around in no time, you’ll see once you get your wolf, you’ll regret never having fun when it becomes only about mate bonds.” I try not to laugh at her words, she clearly forgets what I am. She’s not the omega sister of the one who was supposed to be the next beta until he died trying to save me. I hover near the drinks table, gripping a red cup of something fruity that Mrs. Kailee had given me. I haven’t dared taste it yet. “Omega,” someone whispers behind me. “What’s she doing here?” “She’s the one whose brother died, right? He was to be Alpha Jaxon’s beta, or was it Ryker’s?” “Yeah, Jaxon’s. I wonder if they realize they have mongrel blood at their party. I heard she was the one who let the rogues in that killed her brother and father.” Wrong. But facts don’t matter when people prefer gossip. I take a steadying breath and pretend not to hear them. Not tonight. I just have to survive this party, and then I can go home. Back to my mom. Back to scrubbing other people’s leftovers off dinner plates at the restaurant. I could kill Emily for skipping tonight. I never do the functions for this exact reason. My plan was to blend in, serve, then disappear, hoping no one would recognize me. But I should’ve known better. “Autumn!” a syrupy voice calls, and I freeze. Brielle. Of course. She struts toward me in a red, glittery silk dress that probably cost more than my tuition. Future Luna to the pack and cheer captain. Alpha Jaxon has selected her to be his chosen mate, from what I heard around town. He hasn’t found his fated mate, despite being of age now. He is 21. I have six months until I get my wolf, but I’ll skip on the mate part if it’s anyone from this pack, although being Omega, we rarely got mates, especially since the ascendance tests. You got one shot at seven years old. Your whole future lay bare before your wolf even woke up. Everyone knew how the Ascendance Tests worked, and you could look up anyone’s status on the council portals. Some girls tested as Luna’s, strong enough to fight beside alphas or even take one on. Some tested Vesta, nurturing and adding to the bloodlines, but also good warriors. Me? I tested Omega. Weakest of the weak. No fighting blood. No destiny according to werewolf society. Brielle smiles like we’re old friends. “Oh my Goddess, you actually showed up! I didn’t know omegas were allowed at pack events.” I smile tightly. “I’m not here as a guest. I’m working.” I point to my shirt where it says Grill & Graze. “Oh, right. Guess someone has to serve the food and drinks.” Her friends laugh. I don’t. But I don’t flinch either. I’m used to this sort of taunting. “You should at least enjoy yourself,” she says, voice faux sweet. “We’re playing a game. Truth or dare if you want to join.” I know better than to say yes. But I also know better than to say no, so instead I ignore her and finish fixing the table setting, and she eventually wanders off. For the rest of the night, I keep my head down and stay near the food, filling tables with mini quiches and sliders, making sure the drinks are always flowing. I don’t stop to chat or linger too long in one place, always moving. Carrying trays and refilling bowls, exactly as if I were invisible, as if I were a ghost at a party only the living could enjoy. If they want to talk about the dirty omega girl who doesn’t belong, they’ll have to do so behind my back. Mrs. Kailee waves from across the room, motions her finger to her watch on her bony wrist, reminding me to keep an eye on the time. I nod, knowing the party is dwindling now, the guests turning their attention to other things, like gyrating against each other. Girls are drunk off their faces, laughing and stumbling about as those supposed to oversee the party leave, and so does the manners and etiquette reserved for the elders, now thrown aside so they can let loose. Another hour, I think. Maybe only half that if everyone keeps wandering into that room off the side. If I can just get through another hour of this, I can go home and crawl into bed. Once the last trays of food are laid out, I slip toward the side door, heading for the truck with Mrs. Kailee. I’m two steps from freedom when I hear it. “Hey! Wait, can we borrow Autumn for a bit?” My entire body shudders at her voice. Brielle’s aura cuts through the crowd. I turn slowly and find her already walking toward me in her glittering red dress that clings to her body like sin. She’s smiling, but there’s nothing friendly about it. I look at Mrs. Kailee, begging her with my eyes to say no, but she smiles, recognizing Brielle. “Brielle, how is your mother? I missed her last week at the bake sale.” I will give Brielle one thing: she is a good actress. She should look into acting because everybody adores her. “She said you were sick. I hope you’re feeling better. Are you attending next week’s charity fundraiser?” Brielle asks. “Of course, I am feeling much better, so tell your mother I’ll be in attendance. I have already RSVP’d.” “Great, I will let her know. Do you mind if Autumn stays? She can catch a ride home with us,” she says, and I stiffen at her words. My manager, blissfully unaware, waves a hand. “Go ahead! We’re just about wrapped up anyway. It’s also your welcoming party, Autumn. You’ve earned it. Just—don’t drink too much,” she nudges me. “Never know, you could have a mate here somewhere, he may recognize you,” she sends me a wink. I want to protest. I open my mouth to say no and that this is not a welcoming party for me, that they have done nothing but make my life miserable since my brother died. But Brielle’s already wrapping her arm around mine, her long manicured nails digging into my arm in warning. “Great!” she chirps, already pulling me through the crowd. “Silly woman, my mother can’t stand the Vesta b***h. I can’t believe she would dare get your hopes up like that. An Omega with a mate? That’s rich. Maybe next she’ll tell us the Moon Goddess herself scrubbed your kitchen floors.”