Chapter Two: I Do Belong

ZOVADA

Moments later, I walked down the corridors, designer heels clicked on the marble floors. 

You are my future Luna, no one can take that from you. I shook away Simon’s words, was I being too impatient?  Letting my insecurities project onto him? Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the living plant wall’s flowers were limp. “Oh no!”

I walked over and touched the wall. The green stalks beneath my fingers were soothing as they brought me back into myself.  The more I moved things around, the more my confidence returned before I grabbed the water next to the plant. After a few moments, the flowers perked up happily. I smiled proudly and placed the water back on the shelf next to the wall. Relief flooded my senses and I chose to continue ignoring the knots in my stomach. I am not wasting my time. I do belong. Just need to be patient and have faith. My journey toward the main chambers continued, with every step, my posture straightened once more. An older Omega juggled her cleaning supplies nearby. Just as she nearly dropped her mop bucket, I grabbed it before the water spilled over.

She looked up at me, her back hunched. “Oh. Miss Sage. Thank you.”

“No problem, Mary. Are you alright?”

“Oh, I threw my back out. So, I am struggling today.”

“Oh?” I placed my hand on her lower back and nodded to a couple of nearby Omegas. They rushed over and took the rest of the supplies.

“Thank you.” I answered, “Mary. We are going to put you on library duty today instead. Sit, and rest with a great book and heating pad.”

“But Lady Regina said…”

My hand against her back began to feel warm but I ignored it. “Let me handle Regina. You are injured. You need rest. We treat our Omegas as human beings here even if they turn into wolves.”

“Oh, my back is actually feeling better?” She said in confusion.

I smiled warmly. “Good, but just in case, head to the library, and then make sure you stop into the healing wing later.”

“Thank you.” She rushed off, as she stood much taller. 

I rolled my shoulders and held my head up high and made it to the door, through the crack, I could see a small gathering. An argument had broken out, Alpha Richard sat in his seat, seemingly distracted and not caring about the chaos that unfurled around him. His mistress occupied the chair next to him, the chair meant for Luna Claudia. I clenched my fists. Her leg draped over the arm of the chair as if she owned it, barefoot, dress flowed around her. A smirk so calculated I thought she’d short-circuit. Simon’s half-sister- stood in front of her like some pampered princess. My gaze drifted around the room, so much for Alpha Richard’s neighboring Alpha meeting, and what about that ‘surprise’? 

Nothing seemed out of place, or new, yet the energy of the room was a mix of tense and excited. The smell of sickening fake floral heavy in the air. In the center of the room, there she was, Regina Sherwood in all her tall blonde bimbo pink glory, hands on her hips.

A few Omegas I knew were loyal and trustworthy huddled together as she clearly berated them, Simon stood next to her with a furrowed brow, his arms crossed as if he didn’t know who to believe. Some warriors lined the room, ready to move if directed. I narrowed my gaze and pushed open the doors, instantly the room calmed. Simon looked at me in relief, Regina in annoyance, the warriors let out a breath they’d been holding.

“What are you doing here?” Regina snapped.

“I could ask you the same question.” I volleyed back. I took a defensive posture in front of the Omegas like a shield. “Why are you harassing my Omegas?”

“Your Omegas?” Lisa scoffed. “You forget your place, Orphan.”

Simon stood silently. His gaze bounced between all of us. Have faith in me. He’d said, my eyes settled on him, his one eye turned grey with anger, Oliver again–the way Simon’s jaw was clenched, it seemed he was engaged in his own internal battle. I sighed and internally shook my head. Looks like I am on my own.

My gaze cut to Lisa’s. “Yes. My Omegas. I find it highly unlikely you would willfully disregard the kindness and hospitality Luna Claudia has extended to you  that you’d forget she has entrusted these Omegas to me. Her being ill in the medical ward doesn’t change your very specific arrangement.”

Suddenly, Gamma Corbin and his daughter Gamma Didi were immediately at my side, I hadn’t even seen them move into the room.

A subtle moonlight glow from my eyes appeared as Gamma Corbin said, “Or did you forget your place, Whore?”

Alpha Richard narrowed his gaze as he studied the scene before him. Took in my appearance and nodded before he looked at his mistress in disappointment. “Is that true?”

“What? How was I supposed to know—” She was silenced by the Alpha’s expression. 

I stepped forward and took in Regina’s appearance. My pressed black suit looked elegant against her ridiculous bubblegum pink. “If you are attempting to emulate Elle Woods, you simply do not have the class.”

“Excuse me?” Regina snapped.

I folded the hands behind my back. “Elle Woods was kind. She knew how to treat those around her. Including those who she outranked.”

Before she could respond, my eyes drifted to Alpha Richard and his mistress and reached a hand to the Omegas. “Hillary, Kate. Stand tall. You are here on official Luna business.”

I could sense their uncertainty as Regina glared and interjected. “These two trollops weren’t paying attention and spilled wine on my suit. Do you not have eyes? They need to clean it.”

My gaze cut to her. “I am sorry? Is your name Hillary or Kate?”

She gasped. “Did you not hear me?”

“Should I be listening? Are you a Luna or on official Luna business?”  

Simon’s gaze bounced between the two of us, but he said nothing.

“Zovada. They ruined my suit.” She tugged on the suit in question for emphasis as if I was stupid.

I raised a brow. “Then clean it.”

“This suit costs more than they make in a year.”

I tilted my head. “Then replace it? Your family can certainly afford it.”

“You—”

Bored with Regina's childish antics, I refocused on the task at hand. “Ladies, you have the reports for the Alpha?” 

Both snapped to action and passed me their inter-office envelopes as they stood in unison alongside the Gammas and I. With a smirk, I flipped through the pages, skimmed the information, made sure everything was there before I folded my hands in front of me, reports in hand.

“Alpha Richard.” I said and bowed lowly.

“Zovada.” He replied like he always did. Not quite fondly, not quite unkindly. I never knew where I stood with him. He always took care of me, but never defended me, nor stood against me. Outside of the main Omegas in the packhouse everyone in the pack either treated me like I didn’t exist or a burden. Lisa and Charity treated me like garbage, an obstacle. The only people I could rely on for sure, were the Gamma Family, Luna Claudia, Simon.

I concluded the reports to the Alpha and passed him the documents for verification; he nodded and smiled. “Well done, Zovada. As usual.”

There was nothing warm or cold in his smile. Just the same neutrality I was normally met with. I bowed low and backed away. “Thank you, Alpha. It wasn’t me though. Hillary and Kate, with their network, are the eyes and ears of Luna Claudia. I am simply responsible for them in her absence.”

“Hm.” He replied before he studied everyone.

“Thank you for all your work. Dismissed.”

Everyone bowed and turned to leave.

Regina approached me and whispered in my ear, “You’re running out of time Zovada. You might have the Packhouse Omegas. And the Gammas. And Luna Claudia. But you’ll never have the pack. More importantly, you’ll never have Simon. Luna eyes or not, all you’ll ever be, is a Wolfless orphan.”

My heart thundered in my chest as I opened my mouth to speak. Lisa walked between us, in one fluid motion she discreetly pushed us apart. I nearly stumbled over the couch behind me, but Didi caught me. She effortlessly steadied me with an imperceptible nod of encouragement.

“Well Simey Wimey…” Lisa’s saccharine voice made me nauseous. “Regina just got back into town. Let’s show her the new Italian place.”

“Yes! You know Italian is my favorite.”   

I narrowed my gaze, I knew for a fact Italian was not Regina’s favorite, as we all grew up together, her favorite was always seafood and salad because she hated carbs since practically birth. 

Before I could even process it, Simon and Regina had been ushered out of the door with a loud slam. 

Regina’s words on repeat in my head like a record player. “You’re running out of time, Zovada. You might have the Packhouse Omegas. And the Gammas. And Luna Claudia. But you’ll never have the pack. More importantly, you’ll never have Simon. Luna eyes or not, all you’ll ever be, is a Wolfless orphan.”

Is that all I am? Wolfless. Packless. Loveless. Orphan. 

I clenched my fist, and reached for the door to follow. 

“Zovada. Glad I could catch one of you before you all left for lunch.” Alpha Rchard called out behind me. I turned to look at him, he had his phone to his ear, tension creased in his face. I studied his face for the first time in a long time, exhaustion, and something akin to fear flashed in his eyes. 

“Yes, Alpha? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Claudia’s doctor, do you have that research? Did you find anything?” 

“Yes. In my office, I have copies of everything. Do you need it?”

“If you could please. Anything we can do to help the healers. Please.” 

I nodded and turned away from the door. 

Determination settled in my bones. I do matter. I do belong. 

You are my Future Luna, no one can take that from you. Simon’s earlier words echoed in my mind.