My Stepbrother, My Mate

***Henry****

The weight of the laundry in my arms was nothing compared to the weight of being unwanted in my own home.

“Where do you think you are going?” A voice is behind me as I walk through the living room of the pack house with the load of laundry in my arms. My step stopped as I knew the danger of being caught snooping around where I wasn’t supposed to be. The voice belonged to the pack warrior, Cody, who had a stern expression on his face. I quickly stuttered out an excuse about looking for the laundry room before making a hasty retreat.

“Stop right where you are,” Cody, one of the pack warriors, said, putting his hand on my hip as he pointed his finger at me. “Henry.” A smile formed on Cody’s lips as he pushed my body to the ground, making the load of laundry fall to the ground with a loud thud.

“What are you doing?” I shouted, trying to stand up, but Cody’s boot slammed into my ribs, and a sharp pain splintered through my body. Laughter rippled around me, drowning out my gasps for air. “You’re not going anywhere,” he growled, his eyes filled with malice as the surrounding people laughed seeing me struggling.

“Leave me alone, Cody,” I shouted, feeling a surge of fear and anger rise within me. “This isn’t funny,” I added, my voice shaking as I tried to push Cody off of me.

Cody laughed, kneeling in front of me, and whispered, “You should learn to keep your mouth shut.” His breath reeked of alcohol, sending a chill down my spine as I realized the seriousness of the situation. “An omega like you should know how to show respect and stay in your place,” he sneered, tightening his grip on my arm. My heart raced with fear as I realized I was truly at his mercy. His grip was so tight that I could feel the blood circulation being cut off. “Please, let me go,” I begged, as pain shot through my arm.

Cody’s eyes darkened with a menacing glint as he leaned in closer, his voice low and threatening as his legs wobbled under the weight of his anger or alcohol. “You’ll learn your lesson one way or another,” he growled, causing my heart to sink with dread. “It’s because of you, the Alpha, that is punishing me like this,” he spat, his anger palpable. “You brought this upon yourself.”

Cody kicked my side, causing me to cry out in pain. “You’ll regret ever crossing me,” he hissed, kicking me nonstop until I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. The pain was excruciating, and I knew I had to find a way to escape before it was too late.

“What did I do to deserve this?” I whispered, feeling helpless and desperate for a way out of this abusive situation.

Cody gripped my hair, pushing my hair back, his eyes filled with malice. “You know exactly what you did,” he growled, tightening his hold on me.

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face as I tried to think of a way to escape his grasp. The fear and pain consumed me, but I knew I had to find the strength to fight back before it was too late. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me.

Cody’s grip tightened, cutting off my breath. Pain shot through me. Desperation flooded my mind as I searched for a way to break free from his hold. "Please, just let me go,” I begged, tears streaming down my face.

“Beg me all you want, but you’re not going anywhere,” Cody sneered, his eyes filled with malice. As he kicked me to the ground, “Cody, leave him; if you continue, the Alpha will hear about this,” a voice shouted from behind him.

Cody’s expression turned to one of surprise as he released me and turned to face the newcomer. “The Alpha doesn’t care if he is dead or alive,” he muttered before storming off, leaving me on the ground gasping for air. “You think you’re special, just because you're the Alpha’s brother? You’re nothing. You don’t deserve the name you carry.”

He is right. I am nothing but a slave to an omega. Alone in the room, grasping my throbbing ribs, I knew I had narrowly escaped a brutal beating. No one was here to help me. I lay there, helpless, wondering what I had done to deserve this.

There are many omegas in the pack, but only I seem to bear the brunt of everyone’s anger and frustration.

The pack house loomed around me, its grand walls hiding the ugly truth—this was no home for me. The cold stone floor beneath me felt as unforgiving as the people who lived here. No matter how grand it looked, this was not a home—it was my prison.

My eyes stung with tears as I lay there, feeling the weight of loneliness and betrayal heavy on my chest. Pain radiated through my body with each breath I took. The bruises on my skin served as a painful reminder of the constant torment I endured.

But Cody’s words seem to echo in my mind. “The Alpha doesn’t care if he is dead or alive.”

His words hit like a dagger to my heart, reminding me of my insignificance in the pack. But he is right. No one, not even my brother the Alpha, seems to care about my well-being. I am truly alone in this pack, with no one to turn to for support or protection.

The emotional wounds cut deeper than any physical harm, leaving me feeling more isolated and vulnerable than ever before.

Xavier doesn’t care if I am dead or alive, and that realization stings more than any physical pain I have ever felt. The emotional anguish of betrayal and loneliness weighs heavily on my heart, leaving me feeling utterly alone in the world. Knowing that my only family, my brother, the Alpha of the pack, doesn’t care if I exist.

Once, my brother’s voice had been my comfort. Now, it was the silence that hurt the most.