What Lurks Beneath

Chapter 2

Slave POV 

    I wake up the next morning at my usual time, despite my bodies' protest. I can’t afford to give anyone a reason to punish me. Not today. Not after yesterday. Not on my birthday. Today, I will keep my head low, I will avoid everyone and goddess willing no one will notice me. Not until It's time to throw me out at least. Today, when the moon rises, I will be free, a rogue... but free. I make it to the kitchen and begin prepping like usual. When 6am rolls around there’s no sign of Clara. Odd. For as long as I can remember that old bat has never been late.  

Maybe she finally kicked the bucket  

Oh, come on Nikita, she’s not THAT old. Especially not for a werewolf 

Could have fooled me  

She’s barely 50 you snarky mutt, you know she’s the nicest one. Can’t you lay off just a little.  

That’s not saying much. Just because she’s the nicest devil, doesn’t make her any less of a devil. Don’t fool yourself into thinking differently. Don’t show compassions to those who don’t deserve it. 

    I internally sigh. Sometimes there’s no rationalizing with that wolf. I'm hoping once we shift, we’ll be more in sync. That she’ll mellow out and I'll toughen up. We’ll meld and balance each other out.    

    The door to the kitchen opens and I turn expecting to see Clara but instead see one of the other omegas. Really Odd. I’m beginning to think Nikita is right about her kicking the bucket. I consider asking the girl if she’s heard anything but then remind myself of today’s goals. Keep your head low, avoid everyone, so instead I turn and continue my work. Breakfast is over with and I rush to clean the upper rooms, praying Brone is nowhere near and Claudia is keeping him happy. My prayer is answered as I finish up with the rooms and make my way to the pack gardens undisturbed. Maybe today I really will make it out safely.  

    I’m working in the garden when I finally catch sight of Clara. She’s off, closer toward the forest edge, arguing with her mate. Whatever it is they’re arguing about must have her really upset. You can see her face red even from the garden. She's waving her hands frantically... and … is that tears I see running down her face!? Keep your head low, Avoid everyone. I start to look down when I catch her mate slapping her hard across the face. That's not right. Mates aren’t supposed to be like that.  

They’re not mates 

What? 

Not true mates anyway 

How do you even know? 

The mark, it’s different. How have you never noticed? 

What do you mean? 

There’s a bite mark, but no bond symbol. A true mate bond leaves a symbol of their bond in the center of the bite. Hers does not have that. They are chosen mates.  

Chosen mates? Why? Why would anyone not wait for their true mate? That makes no sense. 

Some get tired of waiting. Some chose a mate after theirs dies. Some believe they know better than the goddess. Either way it’s foolish. They will be cursed.  

Cursed? 

Yes, any wolf foolish enough to mate with someone who isn’t their destined mate is cursed to never feel the mate bond. They will never feel the connection even if they find their true mates later on. That’s how he’s able to slap her with absolutely no remorse in his eyes. Chosen mates never work out. It's an insult upon the goddess and she does not take kindly upon being insulted. Where do you think Alpha’s get their pride? Their wrath? We are all her children.  

How do you know all this? 

I am wolf. I was raised by Selene. All her children inherently know this. Some are just exceptionally foolish, or are tied to arrogant humans.  

    I look back towards the forest but Clara and her mate have already left. She probably didn’t come in today because of whatever conflict they were having. At least she’s alive. By time I get done tending the garden it’s time to return to the kitchens and get started on Dinner. I’ve yet to see any sign of Brone and It’s been a huge relief. Just as I'm about to step foot into the kitchen I feel a yank on my hair and fall on the ground. Claudia’s face hovers over me, her face is twisted in a nasty smirk.  

    “Heard you kept Brone company yesterday, you slut”  

    Who is this w***e calling a slut? Sleeping with another wolf’s mate. I should be the vessel of Selene’s wrath and put this mutt in her place.  

Her mate is dead 

Brone’s isn’t, and she could have a second chance mate out there. She’s stealing two wolves of their future. She deserves whatever is coming to her. Goddess let me be there to see it when it happens.  

    “Don’t you have anything to say for yourself slut?”  

She kicks me hard in the ribs, and I feel one brake. Greate.  

    “What do you want Claudia? I need to get to the kitchen” 

    Her face contorts into an even more awful smirk, if that’s even more possible. Then I hear a voice from behind me and my stomach instantly drops. 

    “I thought I taught you your lesson yesterday, you disgusting slave” 

    “Alpha I learned, I swear” I bow my head trying to appear as small and submissive as possible. I even go as far as to bear my neck to him, doing all I can to abate his anger.  

    “THEN WHY HAVEN’T YOU ADRESSED YOUR LUNA PROPERLY” he roars, shaking the wall, and causing any wolves in the vicinity to shrink and submit as well. 

She is NOT Luna. Selene would never pick someone like her to be Luna to a pack. 

She made Brone an Alpha 

Nikita seems to have nothing to say to this.  

    I’m about to answer Brone, when I feel a heavy punch land on my face, breaking my nose. If I weren’t already on the ground, I would be now.  

    “Well?” he snarls “You think just because you get released today you can do whatever you like? Do you really think I'd let you go without a goodby present?” then, as an afterthought, he crouches down to my ear and whispers in the coldest voice I've ever heard 

    “I may not be able to kill you now slave but the moment the moon reaches its peak. The moment you shift and turn rogue I will be free to hunt you down. And believe me when I tell you this Slave. I WILL be there for your first shift and I WILL hunt you down. There. There’s your present.”  

We will see who kills who Alpha. When we shift, I WILL rip your throat out. 

    And with that he wraps his arms around Claudia’s waist and drags her to his room leaving me there on the ground. Shocked. I should have known. Goddess I should have known. How foolish can I really be? There’s no way he would ever let me go. I’m pretty sure the only reason he hasn’t even killed me yet is because he’s not actually Alpha yet and despite his father being a brute, he’s still a council abiding brute. Alpha wouldn’t let Brone defy the council and kill me. I need to leave now. I can’t wait for my shift. I can’t make it obvious though. The gardens are my best bet. I rush to the kitchen and throw all the basil and tomatoes out before Clara can notice. 

    “Clara, I forgot to harvest the ingredients from the garden today” 

    “Goddess, can’t you do anything right mutt? Go. Hurry. I need to get started on everything else or dinner won’t be ready in time. Goddess help us if those warriors get impatient.” 

    With her consent I rush toward the gardens but I don’t stop there. I continue on and into the forest. This is my one and only hope for survival. I need to find somewhere safe to shift and then I need to book it as fast as I can and get as far from this pack as possible. Hopefully Brone won’t catch on until I've shifted and gone.