Walking straight and closer to one of the Omegas
"Do you realize that we are in front of a lot of people?" Melissa asked the outspoken Omega in front of her. She was exhausted.
All she wanted was to slip away, find a quiet place, and hide until the party was over so she could retreat to her bed and sleep. She could sense Lloyd's watchful eyes detecting her every move.
That wasn't even the nastiest part; she could also feel Alpha Greg's intense stare on her
"Look, I don't care about anything or whatever that could happen. I just want you to know that I overheard what you did today in the dressing room, and I want you to be acquainted with the fact that I'm not afraid of you. You can't threaten me as you do to all the other girls. That one girl, I've forgotten her name, came out crying and trembling like a leaf.
Other girls had similar responses afterward. You're lucky I wasn't with them; I would have put an end to your nonsense.
The girl saying this towered over Melissa, both in height and size. Although she didn't usually partake in Lloyd's encounters with the other girls, she was part of their group. Unlike the rest of the Omegas, she acted as if she wasn't frightened of Melissa's Luna Wolf.
Melissa enforced a tight-lipped smile, doing her best to remain diplomatic considering the situation. She hoped that, for once in his life, Lloyd would actually step up and come to her shield, as she was staggering on the edge and dreadfully trying to avoid causing a scene. Melissa's wolf, on the other hand, didn't care. It desired to throttle the girl.
"Do you know who was supposed to be before you arrived? It was one of us, one of those so-called low-class Omegas you see here.
We knew the Luna Wolf was among us, so we planned to get close to Alpha Lloyd. But then you showed up and ruined everything, and now you wonder why we spurn you so much. Your days in this pack are numbered, so watch your back and every step you take." She concluded, flicking her hair, and moved out immediately.
Melissa was flabbergasted by a tumult of emotions, uncertain of how to feel, conduct herself, or even react. She stood frozen for what felt like an eternity, wholly shocked by the mounting intimidations from the girls. Her so-called mate showed no predisposition to help or even recognize her presence.
Subsistence appeared to be her only consolation, as she recalled the blood oath Alpha Lloyd had made with her parents when he took her in, settling their debt. It was the only reason she kept on to be alive in this hazardous quandary.
The thought of her parents left an unpleasant taste in her mouth. In assessment, she found herself desiring Lloyd over them, unable to measure any mischief or disloyalty worse than what her parents had committed.
What kind of parents gave their child as payment to a colossal, knowing quite well that he was malicious?
Suddenly, Lloyd's voice echoed in her mind, breaking her trance-like state. "Melissa, you've been in one position for over five minutes now. Why?" he necessitated through their mind link.
Frightened, Melissa retorted out of her daydream and impulsively tried to retreat into one of the Shadow places.
"Stop right there," Lloyd ordered, his voice radiating power that shot through her like electricity, subzeroing her in place.
"You're not yet over with the guests. Where do you think you're going?" he asked harshly.
Melissa's head turned around, looking for him in the room. "But I've spoken to everyone important, just as you initiated.
There's no one left," she replied through their mind link.
"Do you dare question me? I will address that later," Lloyd rejoined with a bullying undertone.
A shock poured through Melissa's body as she guzzled, knowing that "speaking about it later" meant enduring an undecorated penalty, possibly more than she could handle without passing out.
"Now walk back," Lloyd demanded. "I have a few special guests hidden among the Pack members, and each one of them must be recognized, preserved with the greatest honor, and given complete courtesy.
They should be just as tranquil to detect once you're with the pack members because they don't have the same scent as the Blossoms. Now hurry up, the party is almost over, and they're already angry. We certainly don't want war and chaos in Blossom, do we?
A trend of fear washed over Melissa once again. She hated it when he forced her to smile and greet his associates in crime. Above all, she disliked their leering eyes, unfortunate remarks, and unjustified bodily contact.
Taking a deep breath, she turned around and complied with Lloyd's command.
"Hey Luna, how are you? I just wanted to say that I absolutely loved your speech and stage performance today. You're truly amazing and a beacon of light that blesses Blossom. We couldn't do without you, could we?
What could we have done if you weren't here? I've noticed how caring you are, always asking about everyone. Well done, Luna," an older woman, probably in her late sixties, said as she walked by.
Usually, Melissa would have courteously smiled, but this time she was too upset to even concede to her. She was drained by all the nonsense, weary of play-acting to be someone she wasn't. Nobody gave her the necessary attention like Luna, yet they all expected her to fulfill the responsibilities of one.
"Thank you," Melissa replied abruptly and marched away.
The woman and the people nearby were quite taken aback.
"What the hell was that, Melissa?
Are you out of your mind? Have you lost it? Now turn around, smile, and greet that woman appropriately," Lloyd shouted. Melissa curtly ceased, breathing deeply and pinching her lip to calm herself down. Her nails dug into her palms, and her body shivered. In a moment, she continued walking towards the guest without looking back.
Lloyd's growl echoed in her mind. She could feel his supremacy rolling through her, like electric waves vivacious beneath her skin, threatening to consume her. It was sore.
Her wolf was going crazy, its primal nature urging her to obey the alpha at any cost. It demanded that she turn back and obey Lloyd's orders. But she couldn't. She was engrossed in anything but the searing hurt, pushing forward.
"You're dead tonight!" Lloyd's grumble resounded.
Taking a deep breath, Melissa disengaged her pack bond, effectively making Lloyd's voice speechless in her head.
She knew she was in grave distress. Her body and mind would undoubtedly suffer the consequences of her defiance tonight, but she refused to go back and apologize to random pack members. She despised them. They turned a blind eye to her misery.
Could they fairly assert they couldn't hear her yells most nights? Or turn a blind eye to her black eyes, swollen face, and sadness in her eyes?
At this instant, she detested everyone in the Blossom Pack and just wanted to be left alone.
Getting to the guest section, she relied on her predispositions to lead her to the first special guest. It was a sophisticated fair-haired Lady in a prominent dress, like a guest at a fashion event or festival.
With a forced smile, Melissa took a seat beside her.
"Hello, how are you? Have you been enjoying the events?" she asked graciously.
The lady scorned, overlapped her long legs, and inspected her trimmed nails.
"I see he's still keeping you around," she remarked, barely admitting Melissa. "Well, it's been quite an interesting turn of events. Tell your alpha that my pack has taken note. We're aware, but we won't support it until we see how this is disclosed.
He should remember that the Shadow Moon's Alpha is the most astute being on Earth. To us, this isn't a display of power but a hazardous risk. Anyway, if he manages to pull it off and kill Greg Hillary, then we'll agree, and he can have all the power he wishes."
Melissa's heart frisked a beat. She had thought this was a welcome party for the alpha of Shadow Moon, who was also the most hazardous wolf. But she hadn't realized they were also plotting his elimination.
"Sooner is better. My pack will only agree if he's taken care of as soon as possible. It should be done while Greg is still unwary and preoccupied by his victory. Once he leaves Blossom, he'll become unchallenged, and Lloyd will lose our support." Melissa absorbed hard, assembled her strength, and moved on to the next guest.
They echoed the same opinions. Each of them wanted Alpha Greg dead before he left Blossom. It was like a death sentence.
She speedily communicated the info to Lloyd and discreetly made her way out of sight. She couldn't explain why she felt like she was betraying Greg, even though he had been hard on her and perhaps worse than her mate.
As she made her way out of the Pack Hall, heading towards her room in the Packhouse, Greg stopped her again.
"Where do you think you're going?" Greg asked, his voice sending tremors down her backbone as memories of their passionate night together flashed in her mind.
"What do you want?" she asked him.
He giggled, illuminating his faultless teeth. She inhaled sharply, recalling the sensation of his mouth on her nipples.
"The party is far from over, Melissa," he told her, viewing as wish strummed through her at the mention of her name.
"Unless you're going to pack up your things and follow me home, I don't see why you should be leaving."
Astonishing herself, Melissa sneered and folded her arms.
"Is that all you have to say? How Greg... Look, I've had enough tonight. You're not even sure if you'll leave here alive-"
Melissa's eyes broadened, and she quickly clamped her hands around her mouth, realizing her slip-up.
"What?" Greg growled his ascendency overwhelming Lloyd's. The sheer force of it sent her stunningly back.
His hands shot out and caught her, and although she was terrified, his touch sent a wave of pleasure directly to her core.
"What did you just say?"
Melissa's body trembled. She bit her lip and fought the urge to reveal all she had heard. He is not your Alpha, she reminded herself. Fury burned in his eyes, escalating her fear a thousandfold. Yet, she couldn't be disloyal to her Alpha and mate.
After a moment, he sneered, his eyes magnificent as if he knew exactly what she had been talking about. Melissa winked and guzzled, feeling the heat from his hands on her waist as his fingers plowed into her soft skin.
Suddenly, he pulled her into his hard chest, holding her waist precisely as he snuffled her neck.
"I'll make you speak, Melissa. It's only a matter of time. Soon, you'll be singing for me, just like you did two nights ago. But that will be in my tower." Melissa recapped herself to exhale as she trembled in his arms. His tongue found a spot at the base of her neck, a perception she had never known occurred, and he thrashed it. Promptly, her legs turned jelly, and her body melted in his grip. A soft moan ran away from her lips as he did that again. Her hands impulsively enveloped his neck.
He snickered at Shadowy.
"I'll be back," he said, coming loose from her and moving away so speedily that she began to wonder if what she had learned was all in her head
