Chapter 6 | Luna to Omega

~Nyla~

There was still daylight, but the sun was nowhere to be seen when I was jolted out of my sleep. The chopper had touched the ground already, and heavy rain with thunder rumbling and flashing lightning greeted us.

The same woman who brought food to me earlier had come to wake me up. Everyone was already off the chopper except for two men with grumpy faces. The woman led the way while one man grabbed me by the arm and took me to the packhouse.

We were walking towards what appeared to be a huge estate amidst a spectacular setting with at least 8000 acres. We passed through glorious gardens and an array of distinctive buildings.

My mind wandered off to the stunning gardens at the palace where I loved to spend my mornings, eating scrumptious breakfast and listening to the birds sing. 

How I took everything for granted because my man was the most powerful Alpha I knew. I thought no harm would ever come to any of us. 

"The Alpha said you will be living in the Omega Quarters and working in the kitchens." The woman explained as the man shoved me into a large hall after passing a lushly lined brick path.

"Will I be killed if the food I cook is inedible?"

The woman thought I was deranged to joke with her in such a crisis situation.

"I did not lose my mind. I can do dishes, scrub floors, or anything that doesn't involve the actual cooking. Please don't put me in charge of anything food related if possible."

"The Alpha is very picky about his diet and taste. He will never have anything you cook. You will be cleaning up after lunch and dinner. There is a different person who will scrub the floors and all surfaces early in the morning."

"What about my baby?"

"I have no idea." She said with zero emotion and walked away when I opened my mouth again.

"A new slave?" Another woman questioned the men, and they nodded.

"Follow me." She walked with an air of arrogance and showed me where I would be sleeping.

No one cared to introduce themselves to me. I didn't care to know their names either. Woman 1 and Woman 2 were good enough for me.

"You will be sharing this with two other slaves."

Wyatt despised the word 'slaves' and everyone at the palace was scared of loosely using that word when he was around.

"Move, princess. I don't have all day." She turned around and pushed me in before leaving me alone. I was in her way.   

Princess! That's what Wyatt called me. There was no point in reminiscing about him after every sentence someone spoke. I was no longer a princess but a kitchen maid.

I pulled the curtains apart to look out at the vibrant azaleas and walled garden beds. This place was beautiful indeed, and the way they created a waterfront by diverting the lake water around the estate was genius.

There was someone else already in the room, sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor. Woman 3! She woke up when the light from the windows seeped through. The skies were now fiery red after the rain.

"Hi, did you just get here?" Woman 3 asked me, appearing to be deprived of human interaction. Most omegas at Wyatt's place were humans, so I assumed her to be a human here as well.

I was normally a friendly person. Maya told me I was too warm and kind. Today, I felt cold and bitter. I hated the sight of anyone and everyone around me, even if they merely existed.

"I'm Olivia. I'm from the Silver Bow Pack... was. I was from the Silver Bow Pack and my husband was the gamma. And you?"

Silver Bow Pack was Skylar's husband's pack. They have all been killed before trying to escape, including Skylar and the Queen. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought about yesterday when I saw Skylar's glowing face and chirpy talk about the coronation.

Life can turn upside down in the blink of an eye.

"I'm Riley, from the Red Crescent Pack." I used Beta Vance's wife's name.

Something about telling everyone I would have been their queen earlier this morning made me feel unsafe. Olivia gasped in horror. She probably got the news about the brutal killings and destruction her new pack caused. It was now my fucking new pack too. 

"Didn't know Beta Vance's wife was a human."

"Oh, so you are a she-wolf?"

"Most captives here are werewolves forced into slavery. The beautiful ones get to become the sex slaves. Never thought I would feel grateful for looking too plain."

"Sex slaves? That's disgusting! Don't these assholes have mates?"

"Shh... lower your voice. Not everyone waits for their mate. Alpha Kian lost his mate and is about to take a chosen mate this coming full moon. But he feels no connection with her, so he sleeps around sometimes. There are some others like his beta who are bigger manwhores." She whispered as if the walls had ears.

I felt a twinge of pain when I thought about the alpha sleeping around. How did the cruel moon goddess bless me with such an asshole after giving me someone like Wyatt for almost a year? Why raise my expectations about this whole mate thing, only to be tied to a murderer and a manwhore.

"How long have you been here?" I asked Olivia.

I wanted to be left alone and was in no mood for a conversation, but if this woman has been here for long enough, she can give me a lot of useful information. I needed to know how to get around this packhouse and find out who were the alpha's loved ones. But first, I needed to know if my baby was here. She needs to be fed.

Realization dawned suddenly. Fed! With what? I was running dry, probably because of the premature baby? Or the disaster that struck today. I had no idea how these things worked when in the human body. 

"About a month," Olivia replied, but I forgot what my question was.

The door was kicked open by Woman 4 who looked sweaty and exhausted. 

"There you are! Wanted to see what was so special about you." She walked towards me and stopped when she saw all the blood on my dress. 

"What do you mean?"

"She's dressed like some queen. Looks like the alpha has taken a fancy to her." She talked to Olivia as if I didn't exist.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Olivia asked her and then told me, "This is Sadie, by the way. Your other roommate."

"We were put to work the moment we arrived. But the housekeeper tells me that the Alpha told her this queen bee should get some rest." She threw some clothes at my face. "He told her to give her some clothes too. Didn't we wear the same clothes they captured us in for days until we could afford to buy them on our own?"

"Want to switch places with me?" Bitch! "How about you lose your husband, give birth to a baby, and not know where the little one went? What's your story?"

"They killed my fiancé because we trespassed their borders by mistake. Some man dragged me to this packhouse and kept me with him until he was bored with me. I'd gladly trade places if I can be the Alpha's whore."

I looked at the clothes I got. They were plain pastel colors and not even my size. What was this woman so jealous of? I was glad I didn't have to be in this uncomfortable bloodied purple gown anymore, but I rather have my baby in my arms than clean clothes. 

"She was Red Crescent pack's Beta's wife. Don't treat her like shit." Olivia took my side, and I already liked her.

"So what? Not anymore. And she's a weak human. What does our Alpha see in you?" She asked me again.    

Maybe the manwhore slept with her? Why was she acting like this? I got up to change.

"Our Alpha? Not my Alpha!"