Chapter 2 - Scared

Marly POV

                 When I woke up the next morning, after finally falling asleep, I had bruises on my stomach.  Nobody had beaten me, so I did not understand where they had come from.  My stomach ached like I had taken a beating, but it made no sense.

                  Layla was still quiet.  “Layla?” I asked but heard no response.  I was sorry for her; we had just met in my mind, the night before.  I had hoped to shift, but Layla said we would not shift as it was too soon and that we were special.  But I feared I was already a disappointment for her.  “You are not a disappointment, Marly,” Layla said softly before adding, “Our mate is the disappointment,” she replied before receding back in my mind.

                  Looking at the clock, I raced downstairs to prepare breakfast for my family.   “You are late,” my father scowled at me.  “Sorry, Gamma,” I replied quickly preparing bacon and eggs for my family.  I was not allowed to call my parents mom and dad.  I could only address them with their titles.  My sister and brother were able to call them mom and dad, but they were Gammas, so it made sense, I guessed.

                  I was never permitted to eat with the family, so I never ate much.  My mother was constantly telling me men did not want a curvy woman.  Some curves I could not help, like my ample breasts, and hips.  I knew the popular girls were petite, but I had a secret.  I had a mate, and he loved my curves.

                  Racing to catch the bus, I heard my mother yell at me, “Do not be late today, Omega.  We are having guests this evening, and I want a meal prepared for when they arrive.  I waved to acknowledge her as I raced to the bus stop.  Sighing, I had already missed it, so I made the long walk to school. 

                  As I was walking along an SUV stopped beside me.  My mate was driving, “Hop in Omega,” he said.  I smiled at him, eager to spend time with him.  I noticed his future Beta in the front seat, so I opened the door to the back seat.  I was surprised to see a couple other of Maxwell’s friends there.

                  I felt uneasy as I slipped into the vehicle, hesitating and debating if I should just walk.  Before I could decide, an arm reached across me, slamming the door shut and deciding my fate.  Maxwell stepped on it, and I was flung back in the seat.  The guys laughed, as I scrambled to get my seatbelt on.

                  “Didn’t I say she was a looker?” Maxwell said to his friends.  I was basking in the compliment, until I shyly looked at his friends.  There were looks of hunger in their eyes, “She certainly is, Alpha,” the Beta replied, licking his lips.  I glanced at the others, who were equally staring, “I love those curves,” one said, making me feel sick to my already aching stomach.

                  I sat up in shock as the male closest to me put his hand on my leg.  “And she’s jumpy, I like that in a she-wolf,” he murmured.  I looked to see Maxwell glancing back at me, with a smirk on his face.  Something was very wrong, and I needed to get out of the vehicle sooner than later.

                  As we took another turn, I realized we were already at the school.  Sighing in relief, I quickly jumped out of the vehicle, getting away from the guy who had been touching my leg.  Maxwell and the others got out of the vehicle.  “What the hell do we have here?” my sister Cassie asked as her and mean girls, as I called them, approached the vehicle.

                  She looked down her nose at me.  It was no secret she hated me, and in fact went out of her way to make my life hell.  “We saw your sister walking, and picked her up,” the Beta replied as he continued to look me up and down.  I knew my clothes were nothing to look at, but it was like he was looking straight through me.

                  “Well, she can get lost now,” she said, as the mean girls laughed along with Maxwell and his friends.  I felt tears sting my eyes but quickly put my head down and walked away.  I did not want to cry in front of them or him.  I did not know what it meant, but I had hoped Maxwell would stand up for me.

                  Not able to spend much time dwelling on things, I went to my classes.  Before I went to my final class of the day, I squealed as an arm reached out and dragged me into a vacant classroom.  I was then pulled by my hair and my face slammed down on the desk, “I do not know what you are up to, Omega, but you better be careful,” Cassie spit out as she bent down over me.

                  Before I could reply, I heard someone open the door, and I could smell my mate enter the room.  Coffee was not my favourite smell, but I felt a sense of comfort wash over me, as I waited for Maxwell to rescue me.  I felt him move closer and could feel the heat of his body behind mine.

                  “What are you doing Cass?” Maxwell asked her.   She laughed, “Just reminding the Omega of her place,” she replied as her grip eased up on my head.  I felt relief when she let my hair go.  Before I could stand up, I felt a twist of pain in my stomach similar to last night but not as intense.

                  I looked towards the pair, to see them kissing.  It was not possible.  I moved to get away from them, when Maxwell’s arm snaked out to grab my arm, “We will discuss this later,” he said, as if this somehow made sense.  I simply shook his hand off my arm and raced to my final class.

                  I held the tears at bay, as I walked into the classroom late.  I slipped into my seat and simply stared out the window, rather than focus on what the teacher was saying.  I loved school; it was a way for me to escape my reality.  I had plans of going to college when I was done.  A chance to leave this hell behind.

                  But today I found no solace in my lessons.  Instead, I thought about what I had to when I got home and sighed in relief when the final buzzer went off.  I grabbed my things and raced to catch the bus.  I could not afford to be late, and I most definitely did not want a ride home with Maxwell.

                  Before I stepped onto the bus, I felt someone grab my arm.  “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” the Beta asked as his hand tightened around my arm.  “I have someplace I have to be,” I replied, trying to tug my arm away from him.  “Maxwell will not be happy,” he cautioned me.

                  I tugged and he finally released my arm.  I jumped onto the bus and took my seat.  As we pulled away, I watched Maxwell move towards his Beta.  He stared at me with a scowl.  That stare sent a chill down my spine.  He mouthed the words, “I will see you soon,” a promise I did not know if I was meant to look forward to or dread.