The Pregnant Runaway Omega

Chapter 2

Anabella

The fireworks blared through the midnight sky, casting the dark blanket in fiery sparkles of different colors. It was loud and chaotic, but the sounds of the explosions did nothing to blur out the shrieks of joy and fascination.

All around me, wolves were finding their fated mates. Some were darting off to secluded corners, others had no sense of privacy, marking one another right then and there, amidst the crowd of a hundred wolves.

My nerves raged. I’d been there for almost an hour, yet it looked like this year might pan out just like the rest. I’d be going home the same way I came, just as mate-less, and by the wide berth given to me by the other wolves, the pitying and scornful glances, just as pathetic.

The tears pricked at my eyes, fogging my vision as I stood in place, my hands wrapped around my midriff like a support could prevent me from falling apart. I fought the urge to just turn around and leave.

Across the garden, Chloe’s black hair came into my line of sight. Her eyes were already focused on me. A taunting smirk jerked the corners of her mouth, even from that distance, I could still hear it loud and clear, as the word ‘Loser’ carried through the crowd. The word burned a bitter path through my ears, settling inside me like a ball of fire. I turned away, making my way through the throng of people. It took everything in me not to drop down to my knees and give into my sorrow.

Again, another year and I’d remain the same weak omega wolf with nothing to write home about. No mate, no family, no friends. I’d hoped with everything inside me that today would turn out different. Surely the moon goddess hadn’t put me on this earth solely for the purpose of suffering.

But as the hours ticked by, the hope within me thinned out. Before I knew what was happening, I was drowning myself in cups, letting the alcohol numb the hollow ache in my chest. New-found couples pranced all around me, dancing with one another, relishing the opportunities they’d been given. My eyes were glassy, barely seeing the activities of the night, what with my unshushed tears and rapidly rising level of intoxication, it was a miracle I was even still standing on my own two feet.

I was in the middle of wiping my nose, sniffling away the tears, when the scent hit me. Musky, rich, so entirely masculine and all-consuming. It rested like a pastry on my tongue, making my mouth water. Unconsciously, my spine straightened.

Oh my goddess, could it be?

The smell wrapped around me, deliciously enticing. The weight of it pulled down my breasts, making my head even foggier than the alcohol. I felt a delicate tingle between my legs. My head tilted back, nostrils flaring as I tried to inhale more of it. Sandalwood and pine, the tiniest hint of aftershave.

I felt my wolf then, curious, imagined her on all fours, her snout sniffing the air.

My head darted around, my feet moving before my brain had even fully processed what was happening. My body moved in the direction of the scent, it grew stronger, more potent, more intoxicating the more steps I took.

“Oh my gosh, Stephen’s here!”

“You’re kidding! Where?”

The female voices spoke around me. I couldn’t help but follow their line of sight.

And then my heart stopped.

It was as though the crowd parted, revealing him standing alone, dressed in all black, his tan skin glowing underneath the moonlight.

A gasp tore from my lips. "Mate?" The scent swirled all around him, emitting from his pores and wrapping around me like a fog. And then his head jerked, eyes darting across the clearing and zoning straight at mine. I watched as they doubled in size.

My heart tripled on itself, and this time, I wasn’t able to fight the tear that made a thin trail down my cheek. Stephen was actually my mate! My feet began moving again, of their own volition, carrying me over the grass and directly in front of him.

Slowly, hesitantly, he closed the distance between us, his beautiful green eyes thinning with contemplation. A crowd was starting to gather around both of us, their watchful gazes full of curiosity.

“I know you.” He said, softly.

I swallowed, my mouth opening and falling closed. I gaped at him like a drowning fish, stumbling over words that wouldn't form. He chuckled at my response, stepping even closer. The tips of his polished shoes grazed my flats.

“Anabella.” He said.

I could only manage a nod.

His hand reached out, thumb stroking delicately over the apple of my cheek. My breath hitched. I heard multiple gasps echo through the crowd, but I couldn’t focus on them, Stephen was the sole object of all my attention. His touch was soft, but it felt like a thousand tiny sparks exploding beneath my skin. I could barely breathe standing mere inches away from him.

His eyes trailed over my face, taking in my features like he had all the time in the world.

“Beautiful,” He whispered.

I felt the flush rise up my neck, definitely staining my upper profile a dark crimson color.

The feel of his hands on my skin fell away before I wanted it to end. He pulled back, the same hand curling into a fist at his side, “It’s a shame.”

My brows pulled together, my expression betraying my confusion. Before I could utter a word, he was speaking again.

“This is ill fitting. I can’t take you as a mate.”

Every inch of me froze up like a statue made of concrete. “What?”

A bitter smile pulled on one corner of his mouth, the mocking grin slashing through his cheek like a weapon, “We can't be mates. There’s no way I can accept you.” The crowd thickened, more bodies piling all around us. The murmurs grew more frenzied, but I could barely hear any of them.

“What?”, I queried again.

“Are you short of hearing?” He growled suddenly, all the softness from earlier long gone. I jumped back, “I reject you, Anabella. A weak female like you could never be my mate. What did you expect? You wanted me to accept this, take you in, to start a family of weak omega half breeds? Don’t be delusional.”

My fingers reached out, digging into the soft fabric of his tunic. I didn’t care about the people watching, I didn’t care about anything but that. This miracle, that was slowly slipping from my grasp. “You don’t mean that!” I yelled, shaking my head frantically, “You don’t mean that, Stephen. The moon goddess doesn’t make mistakes.” I cried, “I’ve wanted this… you. I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember. This isn’t wrong, don’t you see? It’s meant to be, we’re meant-”

He shoved me off him, and I stumbled forward a step.Catching myself before I could hit the ground, I turned just in time to see Chloe step out of the lingering bodies. Her smile was saccharine sweet, “There you are Stephen, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Her words were meant for him, but her gaze was locked on me.

“Stephen,” I cried, my voice came out watery, a lump lodged deep in my throat, “Think about this, we could be good together, our bond is what the moon goddess chose.”

He crossed the clearing, grabbing Chloe by the back of her neck and she gazed up at him sweetly, “Yeah,” he said, “Well I choose you.”

It felt like it happened in slow motion. I was unable to peel my eyes away, watching as he leaned into her, brushing her hair to the side as his teeth sunk deep into the base of her neck. Her lips parted in a half moan.

Bile rose up my throat, fast and putrid. The tears welled up in my eyes, leaking through as I dropped to my knees, heaving on the grass and letting go of the contents of my stomach.

My body wretched as I sobbed, my shoulders wracking as the mess spilled from my nose.

“Ugh!” Chloe growled, “How much more pathetic could a girl be? You’re so f*****g disgusting! Did you think he would ever want you? Of course, not only are you good for nothing, you’re also just plain stupid. What a waste.”

“Ew, this is so not cool to look at.”

“Ugh, I hate watching people throw up.”

“Disgusting!”

Their words speared through the flesh of my skin, ripping open wounds they couldn’t see. I didn’t lift my head, even when the episode dissipated. I wrapped my arms around myself, crouched down on the ground.

"Pathetic"

"So f*****g pathetic"

He couldn’t… he wouldn’t… there’s no way he would…

The evidence was in the way it hurt, the tears dripped from my eyes, falling unrestrained, mixing in with my mess on the soil.

The crowd was thinning out, wolves growing bored with the spectacle. I urged my body to move, to get up, to redeem myself. But I couldn’t, I felt broken, shredded into pieces as I stared at the pile of goo on the ground.

Her scent surrounded me, tickling my nose as she leaned down.

“Poor little Omega rat.” Chloe seethed.

Her words had never felt truer.

She yanked on my wrist, digging my limp fingers in the vomit and lifting my hand to smear the gunk on my face. I sobbed harder, wiping my mouth as I got to my feet, taking off in a sprint. I stumbled over my dress, almost falling face first to the ground. Her mocking laughter shadowed me, trailing after my form like a taunting echo.

I didn’t look back, I ran as fast as I could in my inebriated state, trying my best to not crumble again until I got to the house.

My footsteps slowed to a walk, my feet dragged loudly over the wooden porch steps. There was more torment awaiting me once I walked through those doors. I didn’t want to go back into the house just yet.

“She’s not here yet. Really she’s a mess of a thing, but I’m sure she’ll suffice.” Uncle Boris’ voice was muffled through the door, but I could make out most of the words.

“Who is she to you?” Another voice chimed in, his words rough in my ear, masculine. Intense.

Something about it pulled me in.

“Anabella.”

My shoulders straightened. Were they talking about me?

“And how old is she?”

“Old enough to bear as many pups as you require.”

The gasp tumbled out of me before I could restrain it, pups? What the hell are they talking about? I moved closer to the door, pressing my ears flat against the surface.

“Is she willing?”

“She will do whatever I ask of her. You don’t have to worry about that. Do you need a breeder? I’ll get you one King Davis.” Uncle Boris’ voice was sure, hard.

I fought back the rise of another sob. Making my way through the back of the house, I made my footsteps as light as possible, climbing up the stairs and into my room.

I had thought the day couldn’t get any worse. But moments after I heard the front door shut a while later, I knew my fate had been sealed. I cried into my pillow, trying my best to muffle the sounds and not drag any attention to myself.

Uncle Boris’ footsteps taunted me as they echoed through the house, thundering on the hardwood as he made his way to my bedroom.

The door creaked open. Slowly, I heard the sound of a belt being undone. I knew what was coming next before I even heard the crack of leather.

“You think you can just listen in on my conversations like it’s your right?” He shut the door behind him, “I’m about to teach you another lesson you’ll never forget.”