Chapter 2

Faythe

I can see the attraction. He’s a handsome man with his chocolate brown eyes and golden hair that looks like it will be soft to the touch; his muscles only add to his attractiveness and the tattoos down his left arm scream that he has a dangerous side. He must feel my eyes on him because he looks towards the stairs and pushes past my mother.

“School and cleaning, I’m sure that will make her the envy of everyone at Silver HIgh.” Beta Connor growls sarcastically; my mother practically falls against the wall, spilling her gin down her silk nightdress in the process. She lets out a startled gasp but she’s not stupid enough to actually shout at the Beta.

“Hello, Beta Connor.” I cast my eyes down to the worn carpet flooring as the Beta comes to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. My father taught me manners; it might have been four years since my father died but I know exactly how to address every Pack member and I know exactly what they expect from an Omega like me.

"Evening, Faythe, let's get you back to the dorms before dinner finishes.” He flashes me a wide smile that shows me every one of his pearly white teeth; he’s holding his hand out for me so I have no choice but to walk down the stairs. It's on the tip of my tongue to tell him I don’t want to go but I know better than to argue with my mother in front of others; it only means more pain when we’re alone.

“Of course.” I mutter once I’m standing in front of him; he wiggles his fingers at me and for a heartbeat I think he wants me to place my hand in his. He’s attractive but I definitely don’t want to hold his hand; the mark on his neck tells me he has a mate as well and I doubt she will like him coming home smelling like gin and an Omega.

“Your bag, Faythe; let me take it while you grab the others.” I feel my cheeks flame bright red as Beta Connor takes the bag off my shoulder; a look of disgust crosses his face as he carefully hooks the bag strap over his own shoulder. The backpack has definitely seen better days; the zip is completely busted and I’ve had to safety pin it together just to keep my things inside.

"That's everything.” I mutter softly. I can’t look him in the eyes as I say that; I don’t want to see the sympathy I know is coming. He will be like everyone else. He will see what my mom is doing to me but won’t actually do anything to change it.

“My car is out front; go and get in. I’ll be there in a second.” Beta Connor growls; his anger is clear and I don’t hesitate in running past him towards the front door, my mother goes to grab my arm to stop my movement but another growl from Beta Connor has her freezing in place before her fingers connect with my skin.

“Bye mom.” I know it's not forever but there is a small part of me, buried so deep that I can barely feel it, that never wants to come back here or see her again. The dorms are just a place for me to sleep and get to know the generation of the Pack I will grow up with; it's not a prison and it's not somewhere I’m restricted to stay. I can come home and see my mom any time I want but I doubt I will. Maybe every now and again just to make sure she hasn’t drowned in her gin or vomit.

“Remember your job, pup. I want results.” My mother hisses so low I doubt Beta Connor has heard her. I give her a small, clipped nod before running out into the darkness and down the garden path towards the waiting black SUV.

Once I’m at the polished vehicle, I pull on the passenger door handle to find it locked. I look down the empty dark street, but there is no other vehicle around, so Beta Connor must have meant this one. This is probably a test; my father told me Alphas and Betas do this all the time to ensure that the lesser members of a Pack can follow orders, instead of sighing and shouting to the stars like I want, I turn my back on the SUV and lower my eyes to the ground. I keep my hands clasped in front of me and spread my legs shoulder-width apart; it's the perfect submissive stance and exactly how someone should present themselves to their Beta or Alpha. My father taught it to me. He used to tell me that just because my wolf hadn’t shown herself, it didn’t mean I couldn’t learn how to survive within a Pack.

“Don’t push me, Fiona.” I hear Beta Connor growl; I badly want to look up and see what is happening but I force myself to keep staring at the sidewalk. “Alpha Hunter will be hearing about the lovely way you’ve been treating your pup.” I feel my upper lip turn up in disgust as Beta Connor growls at my mother. Does he really think my mother has been treating me well? We’ve been in the house less than six months and the house looks like someone has neglected it for years. I’ve done my best to keep it clean but there is only so much I can do when my mother spends every penny on gin and cigarettes.

“Yes, Beta.” My mother slurs a split second before the sound of the front slams shut. I try to hold myself still but the sound of glass shattering makes me jump. Every other time I’ve heard that sound, it's always been followed by my mother slapping me so hard that I see stars or her hands wrap around my neck until I lose consciousness.

“Sorry, Faythe, the car must have locked itself. Get in before you catch a chill.” Beta Connor reaches into his pants pocket and presses something that makes the SUV doors click. He reaches around me to open the door; I look up just long enough to see the kind smile on his face as he gestures for me to sit on the luxury leather seats. I take one look at my dirty clothes and take a step back instead of getting into the SUV. I’m clean but my clothes always seem to carry a gross stale smell that I can’t get rid of, if I sit in Beta Connor’s clean SUV, he will be smelling me for weeks thanks to his wolf’s heightened senses.

“I can just walk or take my bike.” I gesture towards the overgrown lawn where my rusted bike is waiting for me against the broken fence. Beta Connor gives a soft growl while shaking his head. I can tell from the look in his eyes that he’s not going to let me make my own way to the dorms.

“Get in; that's an order.” I might not have a wolf but I still feel the pull of an order from my Beta, I feel the light pressure on my shoulders as his wolf tries to force me into compliance; a small whimper leaves my lips and I jump into the SUV just to make the pressure stop. The second my ass hits the buttery soft leather, Beta Connor pulls back his wolf and I can pull in a deep breath. I rub my sweaty hands over my thighs and try to collect myself as I listen to Beta Connor putting my backpack in the trunk and then jogging around to the driver's side. Once he’s settled into his seat, he turns on the vehicle and starts fiddling with the fan settings until I’m being blasted by artificial warm air.

“Beta Connor, I know it's a privilege to stay in the dorms but it's really not something my mom can afford right now. I can just stay at home and ride my bike to school. I promise I won’t miss any classes or anything.” I pick at my fingers while speaking to my lap; there’s no point in lying about my family's financials; he’s the Beta so he will know that my mom gets Pack benefits and that she doesn’t have a job. I remember when we first got here, Alpha Hunter was dead set about us leaving the Pack and not having a spot but then he just changed his mind; he did a complete turnaround, and from then on, my mother has deluded herself into thinking it's because she’s the Alpha’s mate. I don’t know if that's true; I’m just thankful that we aren’t living in the forbidden forest with the rogues and monsters.

"That's not an option; Alpha Hunter has already signed the scholarship fund for your tuition and board, you won’t have a cent to pay and you’ll have a roof over your head and three meals a day.” I look up from my fingers to see Beta Connor gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles are turning white; he’s focused on the road but every now and again he looks sideways at me as if making sure I’m still sitting in the seat.