Chapter 10
TOSCA
The morning after the truck and its mysterious cargo had arrived, we still hadn’t seen who or what was locked in the isolation shed.
The omegas who’d served dinner for the betas in the food hall the previous evening reported that they’d overhead the betas talking about an omega they’d ‘grabbed off the street’ and how Zarbius was going to be ‘so impressed’ with them for their audacity.
The omegas had also overheard references to the ‘Alpha’s mate’ but didn’t know what that was about.
We wondered if Zarbius’ mate had been found and brought home and was now currently locked up in the shed awaiting punishment.
There was only one way to find out.
It was decided that one of us should take food out to the shed and insist the betas let us deliver it to the omega inside.
Owen being the bravest, and perhaps also the most curious, had volunteered to do it.
We’d prepared a tray of food and water, then watched anxiously from the windows as Owen trekked across to the shed.
At first, it didn’t look like the betas were going to let him in, but he stood his ground and argued with them, and eventually the shed door was opened and he went in. After a few moments, he came hurrying out and headed straight towards our shed.
He ignored us as he rushed into the house, throwing open the door of the cupboard where we kept the bedding, and pulling out a blanket. As he stalked to the door, he snapped, “Those idiot betas left him in there all night without a blanket. He’s half dead with cold.”
Owen rushed out the door and back to the shed, arguing with the betas again until he was allowed back in.
A few minutes later he came out accompanied by the omega wrapped in the blanket.
We heard the tail end of a heated discussion, and one of the betas shoved Owen.
The other grabbed the captive omega by the arm and dragged him off towards the general amenities shed.
Owen came hurrying back to us.
“It’s not Zarbius’ mate,” he told us, angrily. “It’s someone else. It’s an omega though. And the stupid betas left him there all night without food or water, or anything to keep him warm, and they wouldn’t have even thought to let him go to the bathroom, would they?”
“Sharkey’s taking him to the toilet block now,” said someone, still peering out from the window.
“That fucker?” hissed Lucey. “He’s mean.”
“Poor bloody omega,” cursed one of the others, “He’s in for a rough time then.”
“Shit.”
Sharkey was one of the worst betas, always taking advantage of every situation, touching up the omegas when he could, and one of the more regular visitors to the omega-house. He wasn’t above leaving a few bruises either, regardless of whether an omega resisted or not.
Everyone fell silent as the pair disappeared around the corner of the building, aware of what was likely to happen to the unsuspecting omega in the next few minutes.
We hadn’t been waiting long, when “Hey, they’re coming back already!
” shouted Rata, peering out the window from behind the lace curtains.
A squeak of surprise came out of her. “Oh! And he looks… he looks okay.”
We clustered round the window, disbelieving.
But it was true. Sharkey and the omega were walking back towards the isolation shed.
The omega seemed calm and Sharkey was scowling angrily.
The omega was shoved into the shed again, the door locked, and the sharp clang of boot heel hitting metal reached us as the beta kicked the side of the shed a few times.
Clearly, whatever he’d hoped to do, he’d been thwarted.
We heaved a collective sigh of relief, though it probably meant one of us was in for an unpleasant time later.
But we were used to it. Once you’d lived in this pack for a couple of weeks, you weren’t innocent anymore, you knew what to expect.
This poor omega would not have known. He was okay for now, but if he stayed here much longer, he’d just be like the rest of us.
Later that day, the old van rattled up to the gate. Zarbius had arrived home. We knew we could expect visitors to the omega-house tonight.
******
I looked at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My eyes were red-rimmed not from crying, but from trying not to cry. They kept watering up and I kept blinking the tears away.
The scent of my wonderful alpha, the scent that had haunted me all day yesterday, was beginning to fade.
Once or twice during the day, I’d thought I could still detect it, but it was oh, so faint.
I felt sad that the last tangible reminder of our time together was fading.
Soon all I’d have would be the memories, and in time those would fade too.
I was certain I’d never have another heat like that.
And I’d never see that beautiful alpha again.
The sound of my sniffle was unnaturally loud in the hollow space of the bathroom.
Someone banged on the door. “Hurry up!”
Fuck, this was the only place I had any privacy and I couldn’t stay here all night. I was on tonight’s cooking and service team. Oh well, at least I wouldn’t have time to be sad. Not too sad, anyway.
I heaved in a deep breath. There was no point pining over someone I couldn’t have. And the dinner wouldn’t make itself. I sniffed again, ran some water over my face, dried off and went out.
“It’s all yours,” I said to the omega waiting outside.
“About time,” she huffed, shouldering me as she pushed past.
I didn’t respond. Everyone was on edge tonight.
When Zarbius came back from an absence, there were always calls to the omega-house.
It had always been the case, but it had become more frequent since the Alpha Mate was no longer around, and the violence he’d inflicted on his mate was often now directed our way.
With what we now knew, none of us would blame the Alpha Mate if he had just run away to escape, though there were rumors that the truth was far more frightening.
I sighed. There was nothing I could do about any of this. I stopped brooding about it and went to help prepare the meal.