Amelia Murdoch glanced around her new apartment, feeling a pang of sadness. It didn’t feel like home.
In the Silver Moon Pack, omegas didn’t have their own individual lodgings; they shared rooms. Only the members of the upper ranks were given private quarters. This wasn't the case in all packs, but it was how things were in the Silver Moon Pack.
Although she had been living there for several months, it didn't feel like a home. They were forced out of the home they had shared for years without any prior warning. Amelia had concluded that being relegated to the lower ranks wasn’t nearly as bad as she had initially thought, but it was still a tough pill to swallow. She shared the apartment with two other women. Cathy and Dora. They were nice, but kept to themselves.
Omegas and lower-tier members often gathered in a large common area. it was a spot where they could rest and relax after a long day of protecting the house and the territory. Because they shared the room, she didn't feel as alone as she might have.
However, Amelia had faced some problems at the beginning. Some omegas didn’t believe she had been demoted. They doubted both her and Scott, suspecting that the Alpha had sent them as spies to monitor the Omegas in case of a rebellion.
“How did you end up here?” an omega named Rex had asked her hurriedly. The omegas were already enraged at the Alpha for making their lives difficult by ordering them to monitor the borders near human land. Human hunters who mistook them for stray dogs would shoot at them.
The wolves were showing increased defiance as time went on. Bound by the ancient link, they were powerless to do anything against Chris. Challenging him would mean defying the Alpha, and no one wanted to take that risk. They only wanted a peaceful life and to be treated with the respect that Chris’s father had shown them.
“I have been ordered to live here,” Amelia had said, dragging her bag behind her.
“You’re not allowed to live here!” another omega, Tim, had declared, blocking her path and watching her curiously.
How dare he confront a beta? Amelia snarled at him, her temper flaring.
“Get out of here, Tim,” she yelled angrily, attempting to move past him.
He shifted his weight and slashed at her exposed arms. Her luggage fell to her sides as she raised her arms to shield herself.
Rex lunged at her with his razor-sharp teeth once he caught up. Amelia braced herself for an attack, closing her eyes, but it never came. Instead, a massive figure tackled her attackers. When she opened her eyes, she saw Martin’s wolf growling at Tim and Rex.
Martin was an enormous beast, almost the size of an alpha. If he hadn’t intervened, Amelia would have been seriously hurt. The omegas whimpered and bowed to Martin, surrendering. Scott, who had been ordered to patrol the woods, blamed himself for not being there to protect her. Martin had saved Amelia’s life, and she felt deeply grateful to him. That poor boy was also demoted because of Roselie.
Returning to the present, Amelia picked up the broomstick and began sweeping the floor.
Martin interrupted her, taking the broomstick from her. “Let me do it, Aunt Amelia,” he said.
“It’s fine, Martin,” she responded, snatching the broomstick back. “I’m no longer the beta,” she reminded him as she resumed sweeping.
Martin shook his head in frustration. “If Uncle Scott sees you breaking your back like this, he’ll kill me.”
She smiled. “No, he won’t,” she said, sweeping the entire floor in minutes. “I’m not an old, wrinkly wolf who tires easily yet,” she laughed.
Martin watched her, a mix of admiration and concern in his eyes. “You’re stronger than most wolves I know, Aunt Amelia.”
“Strength isn’t always about muscle, Martin,” she replied, leaning the broom against the wall. “It’s about enduring, about adapting.”
“Still, you shouldn’t have to endure this,” he said quietly.
"You are talking just like Scott." Amelia chuckled, ruffling Martin's hair.
Martin laughed and smiled at the lovely wolf in front of him. "He worries about you," he said as he gently removed the broomstick from her.
"You hardly rested today; you swept and cooked for the damned alpha while he does nothing but hump Rosalie's look-alike," he bit his lips, regret welling up in his face.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Martin murmured, looking down.
"Don't apologise, Martin," Amelia interrupted him with a sigh. "You’re just concerned. I understand."
The rest of the omegas were still diligently working on their assigned chores. Amelia's back was tight and sore after a long day of labour. She often found herself in the kitchen, scrubbing pots and pans or sweeping the floors. Her mate, Scott, and most of the male omegas were tasked with patrolling the vast territory for intruders and potential threats. He was usually so busy that she didn’t see him much these days.
Melissa's father faced similar hardships, but Melissa herself remained a beta because Grace had kept her close; female betas were few and far between.
"Aren't you supposed to be out there patrolling with the rest of them?" Amelia asked, returning the broomstick to the cupboard and retrieving a bucket and a sponge. She had a lot of windows to clean.
"Uncle Scott has been filling in for me for a few days because he couldn't get Chris to stop bugging him," Martin explained nervously. "You know how worried he is about you. He didn't want you to get hurt again, like last time."
Although all the omegas and lower ranks were aware of the situation and didn’t bother Amelia anymore, Scott didn’t want to take any chances. He had asked Martin to keep an eye on her and Melissa's mother whenever their mates weren’t around to protect them, which was often since they were forced to patrol.
"Well, if you're so eager to help," she said, handing him another bucket and a sponge, "then help me clean the windows. You take care of the second level, and I'll handle the first."
Martin accepted the bucket and sponge with a reluctant smile. "Alright, Aunt Amelia. But let me know if you need any help with your level too."
Amelia watched as Martin headed upstairs, his broad shoulders tensed with determination. She knew he was trying to make the best of a bad situation, and his presence brought a small measure of comfort. She dipped her sponge into the soapy water and started scrubbing the first window, her mind drifting back to the days when she and Scott had their own home, their own space.
The thought of Scott patrolling the territory filled her with a mix of pride and sorrow. He was a strong and capable wolf, but she missed having him close, especially during these trying times. The demotion had been a blow to their pride and their way of life, but they were enduring it together, and that gave her strength.
She glanced out the window and saw the omega children playing in the yard. Their laughter was a stark contrast to the sombre atmosphere. At least the children were still able to find joy in their day-to-day lives. Amelia smiled softly, her heart lifting a little at the sight.
A sudden noise pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Tim standing there, a sheepish expression on his face.
"Amelia," he began, shifting awkwardly. "I wanted to apologise for the other day. I shouldn’t have doubted you."
Amelia straightened up, wiping her hands on her apron. "Thank you, Tim. It's water under the bridge. We're all just trying to adjust."
Tim nodded, relief washing over his features. "If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."
"Actually," Amelia said, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief, "you can grab a sponge and start on the windows with us. Martin's upstairs, and I could use another pair of hands down here."
Tim laughed, the tension easing from his shoulders. "You got it."