The games begin

JULIETTE

I woke up to ice-cold water splashing on my face. I sprang out of my bed, coughing and trying to catch my breath. The water soiled my night gown, and my skin erupted in goose bumps as cold breeze seeped in from the open window.

For a moment, I didn't recognize where I was, but then everything came crashing down on me. My father, Alpha Darius…

It was a miracle he let me go last night, I thought the worst was going to happen.

I scrubbed my eyes to clear off any daze of sleep, hugged myself due to how cold I felt from the instant bath I had just received.

A tall, impassive, woman stood across the room with a bucket in hand. She didn't smile, didn't give off any vibe, just stood like a motionless doll.

“Omega Juliette. The King wants to see you clothed and in attendance in ten minutes,” she relayed the message like a robot, with a great lack of emotion.

“For what?” I rasped, my voice hoarse. “Where am I even going…”

The woman tossed a large, black velvet box at me.

Without another word, she left, not even bothering to tell me what was in the large box. I laid the box on the bed and took off the lid.

It was a dress, black and shiny, it looked skin tight. The fabric was soft and the cut was so seamless,with skinny spaghetti straps, a neckline cutting deep into the center of my chest, and a hem that would fold up if I even took a breath. But that wasn’t even the worst of it.

The very bottom of the box had a black collar. It had a single word imprinted on it in white. “Property.”

I sucked back tears burning behind my eyes. Calming myself with the thought that I belong to no one, I am only obliging because I have to. I have a better life, far from this, and I am not going to give up on it so easily.

I got dressed and stepped outside, surprised to see the real woman from earlier.

“Good.” The woman remarked coldly and said, “Follow me.” She led me to a large hall that looked straight up luxurious. From the floor to the ceiling windows, there were long polished tables filled with men and women in power suits.

The elites of the pack.

As soon as I walked in, all heads turned in my direction, and murmurs filled the room.

“Is that her?”

“The omega chick from the Hale debt?”

“She looks like a doll.”

“No, like a pet.”

I ignored their words, eyes searching for the monster that calls himself an Alpha.

I found him, sitting at the head of a marble table. “There she is,” Darius declared, he was in a finely cut charcoal suit, legs crossed, and a drink in hand.

His eyes locked on me right away and his lips curled. “My little omega toy.”

Heat flushed my cheeks. I hesitated, not knowing what to look at, or what to say.

“Come here,” he commanded with a dogged simplicity. I didn’t move, and the room went silent in an instant.

Darius cocked his head, and his smile turned wicked. “I said…Come. Here.”

My legs responded before my brain could register what was going on. I approached him and stopped by his side. He didn't glance my way; rather, he grabbed the chain at my collar and gave it a little pull, telling me to move a little closer.

“You are really well behaved this morning, little pet,” he muttered quietly, his fingers grazing the line of my thigh. “Perhaps I ought to keep you dressed in this fashion all the time.”

I felt numerous eyes on us, and it pricked at my skin. I heard their snickers and their whispers full of judgment. It's only a matter of time before they start saying these things to my face.

Darius leaned into my ear, his breath warm and humiliatingly close. “You like it when they look, don't you? Makes you feel owned.”

“You wish!” I whispered, clenching and unclenching my jaw.

“I don't, because it's already happening, little Omega.”

“I hate you.” I let the word easily roll out my tongue.

He chuckled. “Good. Hate sharpens you. Let’s see how long you can hold that fire for.”

His hand travelled lower, to the small of my back, in a possessive manner.

“Tonight after dark, you will be on your knees next to my bed. That collar stays on. Understand?” he said in a softer tone.

I didn’t answer. My replies made no difference, he was still going to get what he wanted.

Silence settled between us, amid the lively hall of elites. Suddenly, his fingers dipped back and roughly pulled the chain.

“Hmm…” I winced, reaching for my neck.

“I said, do you understand?”

“Yes,” I choked out, the metallic taste of blood settled on my tongue. The meeting passed by in a blur, and I didn't bother listening to a word of the policies and reports of the pack that they were throwing back and forth.

My heart was hammering loudly in my ears. I was beside him for hours with the stares, and him grazing his hand against me. And when it was finally over, all of the elites stood to bid themselves goodbye. It was crowded, an opportunity for me to escape this sick hall.

Darius was distracted, discussing with an old-looking man with a belly that was the size of a pot. He had released my collar, so I grabbed the chain to avoid being caught and made my way through the distracted crowd. There were no guards at the entrance, which I was grateful for.

I was going to find my way back to my assigned room, by myself.

Arriving at another corridor and praying hopefully that I was going the right way, I heard footsteps behind me, deliberately moving at my pace.

I quickened my steps, afraid for my life. The hall was empty and dead quiet. I could be killed here, and no one would find my body until hours later.

That thought sent a shiver down my spine, adrenaline pumped through my veins and I found myself running.

I looked back to see who was behind me, but there was no one. Suddenly, I collided into a wall, bouncing backwards.

Oh, it wasn't a wall.

“Where do you think you are going?” His voice filled my ears, spiking my rage.

Darius stood blocking my path, he drew closer to me, so near that I could barely breathe. His eyes weren’t mocking now, they were sharp and focused.

“I didn’t release you,” he said in a low voice.

“I’m not a serving wench,” I snapped.

“No. You’re a possession.” His hand raised again slowly, fingers tracing the collar once more. “Mine.”

“I needed air.”

“You don’t get anything unless I give it to you.” I moved to step past him. His hand shot out. He threw me back against the wall in one motion, circling his big palm around my throat, not pressing, just holding it in place.

I gasped lightly, my hands automatically clutched his wrist.

“You think you’re so special you get to run away from me?” he snarled, his tone becoming deeper, darker. "Do it one more time. Just once more and I'll chain you to my bed for a week.”

“And then what?” I found myself asking, tired of listening to his bullshit.

“You dare question me? I owe you…”

“Bullshit!” I barked and he was taken aback by my outburst, his grip loosened, and my instincts screamed at me to do something, and I did.

I pushed him back with all my strength and kicked him hard in the crouch, and he groaned, stumbling backwards, amusement flashing in his gaze.