CHAPTER 10: The wolfless Burden

Andrea

My life had just gone from a decent and comfortable one to something I can’t even understand anymore. Don would never look at me the same way anymore.

The good reputation I had built here quickly crashed right before my eyes. Everyone would soon start to avoid me like I was some deadly plague.

And to top it all, Don no longer has any use of me at the counter, I didn’t even know what to expect from working behind with the wine makers.

The music went on outside, but I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. I heard their mumblings from inside here and even though their words were inaudible, I could tell they were speaking of me.

I lay on the old bed, pulling the sheets over my face like it would block out the gut wrenching feeling in my chest. But of course I was only wasting my time.

The voices slowly became distant as people dispersed. I heard shuffling outside my door as the other workers went back and forth.

“I can’t believe she fooled everyone..” I heard someone mutter.

“Well she didn’t, if you think about it.” Another responded. I climbed down the bed and walked to the door, pressing my ear against it to hear them clearer.

“Nobody asked about her wolf even though we all had our suspicions…”

“Do you think we should still be friends with her?..” a deeper voice hummed and mocking laughter rippled through the air.

“Oh please. Don shouldn’t send her away. Maybe he can just give her a smaller task, like scrubbing the floors when everyone leaves the tavern.” Another responded and they giggled away.

It almost felt as though they stood there to talk just so I could hear them. I turned around and walked back to my bed, heart sinking deep into my stomach.

My throat burned as more tears flowed freely down my sore face. I sank into the bed in silence, just letting the tears fall without a word.

The night stretched on, cold air brushing in through the window. Music died down completely, plates and jars clanged. Soft laughter hummed through the air, people spoke in low voices and the sweet smell of food sifted into my room.

My stomach rambled in hunger and my mouth watered. I stared at the door, waiting for when someone would drop a tray outside for me.

Hours drifted by and yet there was nothing. I opened the door a few times and glanced through the corridors, but there was no one there.

I heard their voices in the distance, but nobody had any time or food for me.

I shut the door and walked back to my bed, dropping into it for the millionth time.

“How does being wolfless mean I can’t eat?” I muttered in frustration, my eyes glued to the ceiling.

I lay there, drowned in thought and drenched in a pool of my own tears. Slowly, the hunger engulfed me entirely and I fell asleep.

Not long after I finally shut my brain down, I heard a knock and before I could fully awaken, the hinges creaked and footsteps followed.

“Andrea..” Don’s voice cracked through the silence of dawn. I sat up lazily on the bed, rubbing my eyes to pry them open.

“Good morning Don..” I muttered weakly.

“Get up and get ready, it’s time to work.” He ordered. My eyes shifted to the window and I leaned over, drew the curtains and slowly turned my eyes back on him.

“At this hour?” I asked, genuinely confused. “Don who works at the tavern at this hour of the day?”

“Who says you’re working at the tavern?” He growled, baring his chiseled teeth at me. “I can’t risk losing my customers because I chose to show kindness to you. So like I said yesterday, you’ll be working with the wine makers behind the tavern, in order to earn your stay here.”

I bit down on my lower lip, hunger gnawing at me. “Understood..” my voice echoed weakly. He left and I climbed down from the bed, changed into new clothes and left the room as well.

My legs wobbled and my eyes felt heavier than they did last night. All that crying and going to bed starving made me feel like the world was crashing on me.

Don led me to the back and we didn’t stop walking until we got to a thicket. He led me into a deeper part of the forest and I heard deep voices ahead.

Slowly, I started to see a few young men walking in a straight line. Each of them had something strapped on their shoulders as they laughed and chatted in low baritones.

“Walk faster.” Don ordered. I hastened up, wiping off sweat from my face.

He gestured for me to wait and I stood by a tree watching the shirtless men labor. Some of them glanced in my direction, others just completely ignored my presence there.

After Don was done speaking with someone who I perceived to be the head here, he called for me and I rushed to where they stood.

“She looks frail…” the man complained. His eyes scanned the rest of my body and I could see the disgust in his eyes.

“Are you sure she can do any work here?” He asked and Don nodded.

“That’s the only way she can remain here because she has nowhere else to go. So I think that should be more than enough motivation for her to put her heart and soul into working hard..”

I nodded slowly. Don took one more look at me, shook his head and walked away.

“Now we have no more time to waste, look alive!” The man yelled. “You will refer to me as master, because that is who I am to you… your superior. Your hands look weak so you’ll handle picking the vines and the nuts for the nectar..” he ordered.

“Yes master.” I muttered and picked up a large basket from the pile. The basket on its own was already heavy, so when I filled it up with berries and nuts, the weight multiplied.

I lifted my weary eyes and dragged my heavy legs behind me as I pushed my weak body forward.

“You only started today and you’re already tired?” The master bellowed, glaring at me with rage in his eyes. “Why can’t you even do anything right?”

I rolled my eyes and kept pushing my body forward. I wouldn’t blame him anyway, they’re omegas and if there’s one thing they’re known for, it’s their frustration with literally life itself.

So whenever they met with someone beneath their status, they’d take that chance to use whoever it is as a balm on their ego.

I ignored his howls and worked even harder just to be in their good books. Hours upon hours, the sun scorched and yet I didn’t stop for even a water break. But no matter how much I tried to keep my brain and body busy, I couldn’t stop my stomach from crying out in hunger.

Three ladies from inside the tavern brought their meals in trays and I put my basket down, wiped my hands and thanked my stars for the meal. But when I reached for a plate, one of the men spat in it and turned it on the ground.

“How dare you stretch your filthy hands to eat from our table?” He snarled. I was too stunned to even speak.

“Can’t you see that there’s no one of your status here? You wish to eat with your superiors huh?” Another man laughed and the rest joined in. The master handed me an almost empty cup of water and ordered me to get back to work.

I gulped it down and dragged myself back to where the basket was, tears stinging my eyes.

Slowly, my legs began to go numb. I couldn’t feel my arms anymore and my head spun around.

“Why are you stopping?” I heard someone bark. I tried to walk but I couldn’t.

My eyes felt heavier, my vision thinned as a shrill sound rang in my ears. I reached for something… anything to hold, but my body gave out and I crumpled.

Voices filtered back first, then soft light and then the dull ache in my head. When my eyes pried open, Clover’s face hovered above mine.