Chapter 1
Elizabeth Summers
“Oh look, it’s the mutt.” Nico Vale, the future beta of our pack shouted as I walked into the parking lot behind the sports centre.
So much for keeping a low profile today. How was it that they always seemed to find me? I thought that by coming into college via the back entrance I would be able to avoid them. I should have known I wouldn’t be that lucky. It almost felt as though the harder I tried to hide from them the quicker they got to me. I made a mental note to check my belongings for tracking devices when I got home this afternoon.
I put my head down and kept walking towards the nearest building. Maybe if I could make it to the door before they reached me they would lose interest and just leave me alone. I started to walk faster, I was only a few metres from the door, and all I needed was a few more seconds.
I was almost at jogging pace when I felt someone’s hand on my arm and was jerked back so roughly that I almost fell over backwards. Before I could fully regain my footing I was spun around so I was standing face to face with Jasper Hartford.
Well, I say face to face, it would be more accurate to say face to chest. Jasper was easily6ft5whereas I was barely5ft2. This only made him even more terrifying. He was much larger than me, much stronger than me and he absolutely despised me for no discernible reason.
“How dare you walk away when your betters are talking to you?” Jasper shouted, leaning down so that he could get right in front of my face.
“Sorry Alpha,” I replied trying my best not to meet his gaze.
I am the Omega daughter of two Omega parents. It isn’t in my nature to look an Alpha wolf directly in the eyes. Even if I had been living in the same house as the Alpha family ever since I was about five years old.
I don’t remember much about my real parents. I have been told that they were both Omegas and that my mother was pregnant with her third child, something that was strictly forbidden for Omegas in our pack. From what I understand, that third child was a boy so they decided to give me up as I was their only female child.
The pack’s Alpha and Luna heard about my situation and decided to take me in and raise me alongside their own children. They already had two sons but they wanted another child. They had been trying for the last three years but Luna Hartford couldn’t seem to get pregnant. When I needed a family to take me in, they said it was destiny. I wasn’t sure if I believed in such things but I was happy to have a family who cared for me.
I spent a long time being angry and upset at my biological parents for giving me up. Ultimately though I can understand their position. A male Omega has much better prospects of losing the Omega label so they can earn money and provide for their family. There are only a few roles that a female Omega can have within our pack. None of those roles are paid in cash but the most respected of those roles are serving ranked pack members, either in their homes or in their beds.
“Look at me when I talk to you Lizzy,” Jasper growled. He grabbed my chin roughly and turned my face so I was looking him directly in the eyes.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. I held his gaze even though every instinct I had screamed at me to look away. It was the first time I had dared to look at Jasper so closely. He was breathtakingly handsome, it was just a shame that his beauty was only skin deep.
“Good girl. Now tell me why you are dressed like this?” Jasper’s face was mere centimetres away from mine as he spoke and I could feel his hot breath on my face.
“This is just my normal college outfit.” I was trying my best to remain calm, I didn’t want him to know how much he scared me.
“So you usually come to college dressed as a whore.” He shouted.
I was speechless. I didn’t believe in shaming a woman for what she was wearing but even if I did my outfit did nothing to warrant that title. I was wearing a pair of dark skinny jeans and a black v-neck T-shirt which didn’t even show any cleavage. Not that I had a lot to show off in that department.
“Answer me now Lizzy,” Jasper growled.
“It is just jeans and a T-shirt Alpha.”
“It shows off every single curve of your body. In the future, you will cover up more. Is that clear?” Jasper growled.
“Yes, Alpha.” I didn’t want to risk angering him further by prolonging this conversation. It was usually better if I just gave him the answers he wanted and let him leave.
“Good girl.” He purred before letting go of me. I froze on the spot for a brief moment. I was too scared to move in case he had more to say. If there was one thing Jasper didn’t like it was me walking away before he had finished berating me, it undermined his authority.
When it was clear that he was finished with me I started backing away. I took a few slow steps back before turning and fleeing as fast as my legs would carry me. I knew that it was weak of me, I knew I should be braver, but Jasper is so strong and I am just an Omega. If he ever hit me he could put me in the hospital for weeks and I didn’t want to risk that.
