Trapped In The Cursed Alpha's Game

SILLY LITTLE GAME RUBY HENDERSON "Look here, runt," Meredith's voice fills the room, a wide smirk is plastered on her face as she regards me, "How would you love to sleep with our dearest Alpha for a few bucks?" She fills her red-painted mouth with alcohol as the table bursts forth in laughter. They obviously have a little too much to drink. Alpha Nolan certainly is in a good mood to have his girlfriend joke this way. "I bet she'd be dead if Alpha Nolan knotted her. Right, Babe?" Cassie, my cousin and ex-bestie, nudges her fiancé, Beta Ivan, my mate. The mate who didn't want me. Serving them tonight at this party is the biggest humiliation of my life because not only do they make me feel like complete trash, but they're making jokes that cross the line. "So my dare for Nolan is to take..." Meredith's thick lashes consider me, searching my face Cassie whispers something to her and she smirks, "Ah, so you're the Ruby." "The trash that imagined she could claw her way up the ladder with Ivan." Ivan tenses perceptibly. These words coming from Cassie hurt a million times more than any of the things Meredith is saying to me right now. Her betrayals still hurt like yesterday's cut. Cassie knew I had loved Beta Ivan all my life. When the goddess fated us, and he rejected me six months ago, humiliating me in front of the entire pack, Cassie didn't hesitate to stab even deeper into my already shattered heart by clinging to the only man I've ever wanted. Tonight is a gleaming reminder that he doesn't deserve me. "I dare Nolan to take this pathetic omega up to his room for the night." I pause halfway through the task of refilling their shots. I'm the only omega serving here tonight. Did the vodka shots go straight to her brain? Certainly. The rest of the table reacts well except for Nolan who's sitting there, still. His green eyes are fixed on the void before him like he's way too sick of them and just doesn't want to be here. I've never seen him this up close before and I must admit, he looks better with that shadow on his handsome face and yes, he's not easy on the eyes. He looks more like he wants to murder every single person in his private lounge. I think it's my cue to say something. I don't. I dare not. What am I to say? These folks are the most powerful force in the Bridgeford pack, to go against them, especially our Alpha's bitchy girlfriend, means signing a death warrant. I can't afford to, not when the chances of Nolan opting for the consequence are there. "What the f**k is this?" I hear him mutter to the occupants of the table and they grow instantly silent. Even his friends know where to draw the line but Meredith's never the type to back down. "It's either that or the consequence, Babe." A smirk twitches on her lips as she leans more into Nolan's broad chest, "Would you rather have your beta rule your territory and boss your ass around for six weeks or loosen s**t up and have fun tonight?" So what's the consequence? Alpha Nolan's jaw clenches, his knuckles hardening around the glass of martini in a way I'd expecting it to crush. Those lovely eyes are turning a darker shade of green. He looks more like he's repressing his rage than actually being enraged. His slutty girlfriend sweeps a swathe of her blonde hair from her pretty face, laughing at his knotted face like she's untouchable. This man looks like he's a second away from snapping, from burning down this place and everything in it. That should scare her off this joke, but unlike the rest of the table, she's challenging him. She's fearless. Oh, then I remember, she's Alpha's overly spoiled, bratty girlfriend. High maintenance doll. The envy of every girl in the territory. "I'm allowing you one night of freedom before we get engaged. Well, if you're too scared to have a little fun?" Scared? She must've used the wrong words. Or maybe the right one because Nolan's peering gaze shoots straight at me and for the first time, our very temptingly handsome Alpha sees me. Like she really sees me. And damnit, I hate how my hand starts to shake, so badly, I almost spill the vodka bottle. Suddenly, his chair squeaks against the polished floor and before I can blink, he's towering above me with his gaze pinned on me. He smells so damn delicious. So delicious that I want to stick out my tongue and lick off that glare off him this instant. Goddess help me. He doesn't mutter a word to me, his passive gaze doesn't give away what he's feeling as he strolls past me towards the stairs. I stand there, momentarily lost in the sinful view before me. How could anyone be this breathtaking? I love how he's the bigger person, walking away from their silly little games. When the last of his broad back disappears into the hallway upstairs, I release a silent breath and return to the task of serving the table. "Put that down!" Meredith barks at me, "Get up the stairs this second!" I'm not sure if I just heard her clearly. "Excuse me?" Instead of a reply, she empties her glass of drink on my face, and it drips right into my dress. The table picks up their humor again. Laughing like she just told a classic joke. "Up the f*****g stairs, or I make you!" Meredith's claws are out. Everyone around the tables was still laughing except the she-devil before me, her dark gaze piercing through me. I'm not sure where this sick game is headed, but with how threatening Meredith is right now, I know I have no option but to oblige because I'm no match for her strength. I wipe off the alcohol from my face with my sleeves, clearing my vision. I start towards the stairs, unsure of what awaits me. Completely vague about what Meredith stands to achieve from this silly little game. Or is this how twisted they have fun in their world?