[07]

AUTUMN:

First it was confusion and the next, I was glaring back at Beta Maddox. With no plans of answering him, I hurried cleaning the hallways, mopping everything and when I was done, gathered all the cleaning materials that the other omega's had dropped on the floor. 

“Have you gone mute?” he asked. “I said why are you cleaning the hall alone?”

At the corner of my gaze, he pocketed his phone in his pocket, while eyeing me.

“I did not need an audience, Beta Maddox.” Telling him why the others left was a waste of time. There was no guarantee that he would take my side. He rejected me, remember? 

Seeing him will only make the mate bond painful. Just because I carried it well did not mean that I was no longer in pain. 

“I am overseeing things, Autumn. You're not answering my question.” 

“I'm not the only one working. Try to check if the others are done as well.”

I double checked the hallway, checking if there were still spots that were left. But there was none. 

“Done. You're the only one left. I will talk to the other omega's.”

“It was supposed to be me with the rest of the omega's, but not anymore,” I mumbled to myself. Forcing a smile and looking at him, I added, “You don't have to do that, Beta Maddox. Thank you so much, too for checking on the hall. It meant a lot for Hugh. Oh no. Alpha Hugh.”

“Is that sarcasm in your voice, Autumn?”

Looking at him with a dry expression I replied, “Think whatever you want, Beta Maddox. My job here is finished. If you will excuse me.”

“Return your cleaning tools to the materials and come after with me.”

My heart skipped a bit. 

It does not have anything to do with the mate bond. Don't get your hopes high. 

Raising my eyebrows, I asked, “Why should I do that, Beta Maddox? I don't want your fiancee to slap me once again.”

‘You think I will let that happen again?’ Trisha growled. ‘Not a chance.’

“That will not happen,” he reassured. “She will receive a scolding from me. I don't tolerate bullying in this pack.”

You don't have any idea, Beta Maddoxx.  “Oh, no. You don't have any idea about your woman.” Too. She's a monster. A monster hiding with a beautiful face.

“Sabrina could be difficult to handle at times, but most of the time…she's…”

Funny how everyone kept on defending her even if she was the one at fault. They believed she was a saint and her minions were even worshipping the ground she walked on. 

“She’s kind? I don't think so.” 

Damn.

Why did I keep on entertaining him?

I better run away from him.

“Autumn. I meant it when I said that the alpha wanted to see you,” he repeated. 

What for? 

They had already abandoned our friendship so we should treat each other as if we did not exist. 

“No, thank you. I am busy this evening.”

“I'm planning to go out in the city.” I already had contacted someone. There was a vacant job for cleaning a house. I would grab that one. Omega's were not forbidden to grab some extra jobs as long as we were done with our jobs in the pack house. 

“Why?”

Looking at him dryly, I answered, “What else? I need some cash. Looking for cash is more important than attending the party.” 

Besides, I did not have anything to wear. They said it was formal attire. I did not have anything except some used clothes. 

“You could be charged for that.”

“Not attending the alpha's party  could be charged with imprisonment? I wished those who rejected their mates would be charged, too,” I said with a dry tone. 

The beta walked after with me as if he was a lost puppy. 

“Don't talk lightly about that,” he murmured while scanning the surroundings. 

“I will keep on talking if you keep on following me. The others will know about our relationship, Beta Maddox. And you will regret it,” I threatened. 

“You’re not the one threatening me, Autumn. You're not allowed to work. You will attend the party, whether you want it or not. That's an order from me, your beta.” And he walked ahead of me, leaving me dumbfounded.