The Omega Beneath His Throne

She woke to cold water being poured on her face. “You worthless piece of s**t! I have told you to always wake up early to clean and serve us,” Audrey’s mom scolded her. Audrey sprang up to her feet immediately. “I… I'm sorry, Mom. I… I slept late due to the workload I had to finish yesterday. It won't happen again.” “I have told you not to call me Mom, but to refer to me as your Luna. And I don't want to hear your stupid excuse about not waking up on time.” She bowed her head. “I'm sorry, Luna.” Natalie stared at her from head to toe. “I can't believe I gave birth to an omega who can't even shift.” She spat on the floor as a sign of disgust. “Be fast because I'm running out of patience with you.” She banged the door loudly as she left the tiny room. The resounding noise echoed through the cramped space. Audrey remained frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by her mother's harsh words. Nineteen years. Nineteen years of hearing the same words. Omega. Weak. Useless. She lowered her gaze to her hands. “When will you give me my wolf?” she whispered. In Crescent Pack, an omega without a wolf was considered nearly useless. Audrey had grown up learning that lesson from the way people looked at her, the way servants whispered when she passed, and the way her parents never allowed her to forget what she was. She had a princess's name but none of the privileges that came with it. Most mornings, she woke before everyone else to clean the palace. By breakfast, she was usually too tired to think about food. And when she did sit near the royal family, it was only long enough to serve them. Sometimes she wondered what her life would have been like if her wolf hadn't left. Would her parents have been proud of her? Would someone ever look at her and see something worth loving? Audrey quickly pushed the thought away. She already knew the answer. Or at least, she thought she did. A knock suddenly came from the door. Audrey quickly wiped her tears. “Come in.” The door opened slowly, revealing Adeline. Unlike Audrey, Adeline looked every bit like a princess. Her long hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her clothes were always neat and beautiful. Mesmerising brown eyes and the face of a beautiful goddess. She carried herself with confidence, the kind Audrey had never possessed. Adeline's expression softened when she saw Audrey sitting on the floor. “Audrey?” Audrey quickly stood. “I’m fine.” Adeline walked toward her and crouched beside her. “You're crying.” “I said I'm fine.” Adeline sighed and reached for her hand. “Did Mother come here again?” Audrey lowered her gaze. “She was angry because I woke up late.” Adeline gently rested her hand on her shoulder with a reassuring smile. “Don't worry about her. You know how she is.” Audrey looked at her sister. “You're the only one who understands me.” Adeline smiled. “I'll always be here for you.” Those words stirred tears of joy in her eyes and made Audrey's heart flutter with overwhelming happiness and warmth. She believed them. She always had. Adeline was the only person who ever made Audrey feel like she belonged. Sometimes she would sneak food into Audrey's room or sit beside her when the loneliness became too heavy. Audrey treasured those moments. They were the reason she trusted Adeline more than anyone else in the family. To Audrey, Adeline was the one good thing she had, and she was grateful to have Adeline as an older sister. “You need to get ready,” Adeline said softly. “Father will be having breakfast soon.” Audrey nodded. She quickly changed into the plain dress she wore for her daily chores. As they walked through the palace corridor, Audrey kept her head lowered as she was instructed to. Servants passed them without greeting her. Some whispered. Some laughed. She had learned not to look at them. When they entered the dining hall, King Roland was already seated at the head of the table. His eyes immediately landed on Audrey. “You're late.” “I’m sorry, Alpha.” “Serve breakfast.” He said without any emotion. Audrey hurried toward the table. Adeline took her usual seat beside their father. The difference between them was impossible to miss. Adeline was treated like the princess she was. Audrey was treated like someone who didn't belong at the table. She quietly served everyone before stepping back. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since the previous afternoon. Still, she didn't dare ask for food. Natalie heard her stomach growl and threw a sandwich on the floor for her. “Eat it; I don't want the pack to think I starved my daughter to death.” She immediately picked it up and finished it in one go, like she was being timed to eat fast. “Thank you, Luna.” You're literally trying to starve me to death, Luna. Her thought countered her mother mockingly. “What is your useless self still doing standing there? Go and get yourself busy.” “Mom, you don't need to pass your message by shouting at her. And I'm still not in support of the way you and Dad treat Audrey.” Natalie held her hand. “You're such a pure soul. But don't let the facade she is putting on deceive you.” She tried to instigate Adeline against Audrey. “But Mom…” Roland interrupted her. “I don't want to hear another word from you, Adeline. Now eat.” Adeline picked up her cutlery and mouthed a “sorry” to Audrey at her futility in trying to help her. Audrey shook her head at her and mouthed back, “It's alright.” She hurriedly walked away from the dining hall, trying not to anger her parents any more. After she left, Roland began discussing matters concerning the pack with Adeline, completely ignoring Audrey's presence. ~~~~ While Audrey was walking down the pack house to get some fresh air she saw pups who were playing and was smiling at their playfulness. She pictured herself in them when she was as little as them. Then suddenly one of the pups shouted. That drew Audrey's attention immediately, she ran to the scene where the pups were and saw that one of the pups was on the ground with injured legs while playing with a stick. “Hey, baby, calm down. What's your name?” “Ava.” “That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl like you. I'm gonna do something that will relieve the pain. Do you want that?” “Yes princess.” She was taken aback because no one had called her that for so long. She smiled at her and gently placed her palm over the bruised skin. A soft blue light spilled from her palm, curling around the wound like tiny threads of light. She removed her hand and the bruise that was on her thigh was completely healed leaving no scar or mark. The little pup looked at her in bewilderment. She stood up and hugged Audrey, “thank you princess. I can't feel pain anymore.” She smiled cheekily at her. Another pup tugged at the hem of Audrey’s dress, “how did you do it? I normally go to the pack doctor to get band-aids for my bruise.” Audrey remembered how she had a cut on her arms while gardening. And she placed her hands on it and the cut was gone as if it wasn't there. She shook her head from the thoughts and lowered herself to his height. “I recently discovered I had healing power, baby. But don't tell anyone about what happened today.” Both of them nodded their heads. “Pinky promise?” Audrey laid out her finger for them. “Pinky promise.” The pups said in unison. Audrey continued her walk down the pack.