"Do you realize that we are before a lot of people?" Nicole asked the big-mouthed omega before her.
She was tired. All she wanted to do was creep out, find somewhere, and hide until the party was over so she could crawl into her bed and sleep. She could feel Shane's hovering eyes watching her every move. That wasn't the worst part, she could also feel the piercing gaze of Alpha Liam following her too.
"Bitch, I don't care about nothing. I just want you to know that I heard about what you did today in the dressing room and I want you to know that I'm not afraid of you. You don't scare me like you do all the girls. That girl, I've forgotten her name, came out crying, and shivering like a chicken. Other girls did the same later on. You are so lucky that I wasn't with them, I would have smacked that silliness out of your ass."
The girl saying this was a lot taller and bigger than Nicole. She didn't normally join the other girls for orgies with Shane, but she was part of them. She seemed to be the only Omega in their crew who behaved as if she wasn't afraid of Nicole's Luna wolf.
Nicole gave her a tight-lipped smile, trying as much as possible to be diplomatic because of where they are. She hoped that once in his entire lifetime, Shane would actually get up and come to her aid because she really was on the edge and was just trying hard not to create a scene. Nicole's wolf didn't care. It wanted to wring the girl's neck.
"Do you know who was meant to be the Luna before you arrived? It was one of us, one of these so-called low-class omegas. We knew that the lunar wolf was amongst us so we planned to get close to Alpha Shane. But then you arrived and shattered everything and now you're wondering why we hate you so much. Bitch your days in this park and numbered, watch your back and your every step." She finished, flipping her hair, and walked away.
Nicole didn't know how to feel, behave or react. She stood frozen for some time completely astounded. The threats from those girls were getting out of hand and it was not as if her so-called mate was going to help her or even look in her direction. She knew the only thing keeping her alive was the fact that Alpha Shane signed a blood oath with her parents when he took her in exchange for what they owed him.
The thought of her parents brought a bitter taste to her mouth. As of present, she preferred Shane to them. She didn't think there was any wickedness or betrayal that could outdo theirs.
What kind of parents gave their child as payments to a monster, knowing quite well that he was evil?
"Nicole, you've been in one position for more than five minutes now, why?" Shane's voice ricocheted in her head as he spoke to her through the mind link.
She jolted out of her reverie and made to flee to one of the dark corners.
"Stop right there." Shane commanded. His voice was full of power which shot through her like electricity and made her stand still at his command.
"You're not done with the guests. Where do you think you're going?"
Nicole's head whirled around, as she searched for him.
"But I've spoken to everyone important as you instructed. There is literally no one left." She responded through the mind link.
"You dare question me? I'll deal with that later."
A tremor passed through Nicole's body and she gulped at his words. I'll deal with that later translated to a lot of beating and she didn't think she could handle that without passing out.
"Now walk back. I have a couple of special guests hidden amongst Pack members and each of them has to be acknowledged, accorded optimum respect, and given high-quality attention. They should be pretty easy to spot once you are with the pack members because they do not smell like packs. They're not packs. Now chop chop, get to it quickly, the party is almost over and they are ready pissed. We do not want war and chaos in Crimson, do we?"
Another bout of fear swept through Nicole's body. She hated it when he made her smile and greet his partners in crime. Most of all she hated their leering eyes, jests, and inappropriate touches.
Taking a deep breath she spun around and went to do Shane's bidding.
"Hey Luna, how are you doing? I wanted to tell you that I loved your speech and stage performance today. You are really wonderful and the beacon of light that has been sent to bless Crimson. What can you do without you? What will we have done if you're not here? I see how you work around and ask about everybody. It is truly wonderful. Well done Luna," an older woman probably in her late forties said to her as she passed by.
Normally, Nicole would have smiled gracefully but this time around she was too pissed to even pay her any attention. She was so tired of the nonsense. She was tired of pretending to be what she wasn't. Nobody treated her like a luna but they all expected her to perform the duties of a Luna.
"Thank you," Nicole said curtly and walked away.
The woman was quite shocked and so were the people in their vicinity.
"What the fuck was that, Nicole? Are you crazy? Have you lost it? Now turn back, smile, and greet that woman accordingly." Shane thundered.
Nicole stopped dead in her tracks. Breathing heavily and biting her lips to calm herself down. Her nails dug into her palms and her body trembled.
After a beat, she continued walking toward the guest without looking back.
Shane roared in her head. She could feel waves of his dominance surging through her, rippling through her skin like echoes of electricity threatening to electrocute her. It hurt. Her wolf was going crazy, primal instinct was to obey the alpha at all costs. It wanted her to turn back and do as Shane had instructed. But she couldn't, she focused and every other thing but the pain pierced through her skin and moved ahead.
"Oh, you're dead tonight!" Shane roared.
Taking a deep breath, Nicole shut off her pack bond effectively blocking out Shane's voice in her head.
She knew she was in deep trouble. She knew her body and mind would pay for her insolence tonight, but there was no way she was going back to apologize to random pack members. She hated them. She hated them because they pretended to be blind to her ordeal.
Could they say that they couldn't hear her screams most nights? Or didn't see the black eyes? Or the swollen face? Or the sadness in her eyes?
Right now she hated everybody in Crimson Pack and wanted to be left alone.
She approached the guest section and used her instinct to guide her to the first special guest. It was a fancy-looking blonde woman in an exotic dress. She looked like she was a guest at a fashion event or gala.
Giving her the brightest fake smile, Nicole plopped down beside her.
"Hello, how are you doing? Have the events been to your taste? " She asked amiably.
The lady sneered, crossed her long legs, and looked at her manicured nails.
"I see he is still keeping you around." She remarked, barely regarding Nicole. "Well, it's been an interesting turn-up. Tell your alpha that my pack has noted and seen. We know, but we do not agree until we see how this plays out. He should remember that the Dark Moon's Alpha is the most cunning being on earth. To us, this is not a show of power but a dangerous risk. Anyways, if he's able to pull it off and kill Liam Hallows, then we shall agree and he shall become as powerful as he wishes."
Nicole's heart lurched. She had thought that this was a welcome party for the alpha of Darkmoon who was also the most dangerous wolf. But she did not realize that they were also planning to assassinate him.
"The faster the better, my park will only agree if he's taken care of as soon as possible. It should be done now that Liam is still unsuspecting and distracted by his victory. Once Liam leaves Crimson he will become untouchable and Shane will lose us."
Nicole gulped, with an effort she got to her feet and went to the next guest.
They basically said the same thing. Each of them wanted Alpha Liam dead before he left Crimson. It was like a death sentence.
She hurriedly transmitted the information given to Shane and crept out of sight. She didn't know why she felt like she betrayed Liam even though he was mean to her and probably worse than her mate.
She'd just made it out of the Pack Hall and was hurrying toward her room in the Packhouse when he accosted her again.
"Where do you think you're going?". He asked, his voice sent a thrill through her body, and images of their night together flashed in her memory.
"What'd you want?"
He laughed, showing off his great dentition. She inhaled sharply, remembering how his mouth was clasped over her nipples.
"The party is far from over, Nicole,"
Pleasure thrummed through her at the mention of her name.
"Unless you're going to pack up your things in readiness to follow me home, then I don't see why you should be leaving,"
Surprising herself, Nicole scoffed and folded her arms.
"Is this all you have to say? How original. Look I've had enough shit tonight. You aren't even sure of leaving here alive-"
Nicole's eyes went round and she clamped her hands around her mouth as she realized her slip-up.
"What?" Liam growled, Shane's dominance was nothing compared to his. The sheer force of it sent her staggering 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?"
Nicole's body quivered, she bit her lips and fought the urge to spill out everything she'd heard.
He's not your Alpha. She reminded herself.
Fury whiplashed in his eyes, multiplying her fear by a thousandfold. Yet, she couldn't betray her Alpha and mate.
After a while, he smirked. His eyes shone like he knew what she'd been talking about. Nicole blinked and gulped, feeling heat pass from his hands to her waist as his fingers dug into her soft skin.
Suddenly, he pulled her into his hard chest, holding her waist delicately as his nose sniffed her neck.
"I'll get you to speak, Nicole, it's only a matter of time. Soon, I'll have you singing for me as you did two nights ago. But that would be in my mansion."
Nicole reminded herself to breathe as she shuddered in his arms. His tongue suddenly found a spot she'd never known existed at the base of her neck and licked it. Immediately, her legs turned to noodles and her body melted in his grasp. A soft moan escaped her lips as he licked it again.
Her hands automatically wrapped his neck.
He chuckled darkly,
"I'll be back." He said, detaching himself from her and moving away so swiftly that she began to ask her if what she'd experienced was in her head.