They say a person’s life consists of a balance of good luck and bad luck. When bad things happen, good things will eventually come.

But why does it have to be different for me? How am I different from the rest of them?

Call me ungrateful, but since I was born, bad luck has been piling up in my life. I have yet to see when my precious good luck will come. Just like now. Why of all the times that Martina bullied me, why did it have to be now that I stood up to her? Why of all times the future Alpha would visit the cafeteria, why did it have to be at the exact moment when I poured the bucket of dirty water to Martina? Why couldn’t it be earlier when Martina grasped my arm and threw the trash all over me? Why? Why?

“What’s going on here?” Alaric asked in a thundering voice.

I haven’t seen him in five years since he left to train in the heavenly realm. He seemed to have grown fiercer.

“Alaric you’re back!” Martina said as she excitedly ran to him. She actually tried to embrace him, but Alaric was fast. He swiftly dodged Martina’s hug.

“I asked what’s happening here!” he asked again, irritation evident in his tone.

My gaze dropped to his body. He is also bulkier. Not bad.

“Uhm-,” I tried to answer but Martina interrupted me. “That omega bullied me!” Martina cried exaggeratedly. “She poured dirty water on me.”

Alaric looked at me angrily. “Is it true?”

“I didn’t bully her-” I said as I tried to explain my side.

“I saw you pouring water on her. Isn’t it true?” he asked again.

“Well, yes but-”

“If that isn’t bullying in your dictionary, I don’t know what else is.”

I looked at him. My heart sank and I was filled with hopelessness. Really, he would already side with her without hearing the whole story?

“How dare an omega fight a beta’s blood?!”

This man will be my alpha. My future lies in his hands. He is supposed to be upright and just, but he had already formed his conclusion about this case. About me.

“Answer me omega!”

But I never did. I no longer have the energy to explain or defend myself. He already judged me. Just like the rest of them.

I took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. “You already have formed your judgment,” I said calmly. “Just get over it and punish me.”

Surprise was etched on his face. He expected me to cower and beg for forgiveness. Any other wolf would do so before a raging alpha. But not me. I am stupid. I know.

“Arrogance does not befit an omega.” He walked towards me and grabbed my collar. “You want punishment?” He said cockily. “How about twenty lashes? Let’s see how long before you ask for mercy.”

“Never,” I said as I looked him directly in the eyes.

“Let’s see.”

Not later than an hour I was brought outside the field. The sun was scorching hot. I was a bit dizzy from the heat but I was not afraid. I looked at the crowd. Surprisingly, most of them looked terrified of what was about to happen. That did not stop them from murmuring though.

Unlike the rest of the wolves, Martina and her gang looked satisfied. I could see a smirk that had resided permanently on her face.

“Kneel,” Alaric ordered me.

“Can I remove my top? I don’t want it to be ruined.” I asked.

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“Don’t waste my time omega. Remove it if you must!” He said in a booming voice.

So, I did. I removed my top and kneel, baring my back before him. I waited for the familiar feeling of lashes when the whip hit my skin but it never came.

I looked back and saw him drop the whip. He looked angry and stunned. Then I realized that he was staring at my back filled with scars. I almost forgot. He had been gone for five years. He did not know that I suffered floggings frequently. I had been punished with way more than twenty lashes. Every time someone teased and bullied me, I fought back. I always ended up flogged and wounded. So yeah, twenty lashes are nothing.

“Stop.” Ruse came running towards us. “Please Alaric.”

Ruse pulled me up and helped me to stand. She put me behind her protectively. The murmurs from the crowd became louder. Ruse was also violating the order of the Alpha’s heir.

“Ruse.” For some unknown reason, his expression softened.

“Alaric, please, Aroa is my friend,” Ruse said as she pleaded for me.

“I know you’re both Omega, Ruse, but you’re different from her.” Then he directed his gaze at me. “She needs to learn her lesson.”

“She has always been bullied by other wolves.” Ruse started to explain. “This might also be the case now.”

“That’s not what I saw!”

Suddenly, the noises stopped and the crowd parted. A beautiful woman in a black suit came. It is Luna Stella, Alaric’s mother, and the Luna of the Dark Blood Pack.

“Mother,” Alaric said.

“Alaric, stop this, now.” Luna Stella said. Then, she addressed the crowd. “You may all go back to your own business. I will handle this matter privately.”

Alaric looks mad, but I know, he would not dare disobey his mother in front of other wolves. He is yet to receive the Alpha position. The Luna’s words weigh more than his.

After the crowd dispersed, Alaric approached his mother.

“Mother, can we talk for a minute?” Alaric said.

“Let us discuss this in the pack house,” Luna Stella said, then she looked at me “You, wear your shirt and follow us.”

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We went into the conference hall in the pack house. I had never been in this part of the building. Walls are made of thick materials. Unlike the rest of the rooms, this one seemed soundproof. There was a long table coupled with some office chairs at the center. On one side, I could see the couches and the coffee table. This must be where private meetings are held.

“Mother,” Alaric said as he closed the door. I sat on one side of the couch. I needed to sit as my knees are about to give in at any moment. Alaric noticed that I sat ahead of him. I expected him to scold me, but surprisingly, he let it go.

“Why did you want to punish her?” The Luna asked.

“She bullied the Beta’s daughter,” Alaric said defensively. “She also disrespected me. She does not fear my authority!”

“Did you investigate the matter?” Luna Stella asked.

“Mom, I saw it with my own eyes. She poured dirty water on Martina.”

“I asked if you investigated it.”

“No.” Alaric finally answered.

“Aroa, tell me the truth about what happened,” Luna ordered me.

“Mrs. Robins told me to help clean the cafeteria.” I started. “When I was sweeping the floor, Martina came, she called me slave. I tried to ignore her but she threw the contents of the trashcan all over me. So, so...”

“So, you poured her a bucket of dirty water?” Luna completed my statement.

“Yes...” I answered guiltily.

“Mom, you don’t know whether she is telling the truth.”

“Alaric, I know.” The Luna defended me. “I was there long before you came. I saw what happened, from the very beginning.”

She was there? Impossible! Only me and the kitchen lady are there. I never saw the Luna enter or leave the cafeteria. Even if she wanted to help me, she did not have to lie. Then, the Luna answered my unasked question.

“I was there Aroa. I am the kitchen lady.”

I forgot to breathe for a moment. She’s the kitchen lady? The kind and patient kitchen lady? But how? The Luna smiled at us and started chanting a spell. Then she turned into the kitchen lady I saw earlier in the cafeteria.

“Oh my god!” I jumped excitedly, obviously forgetting that she is the Luna of the pack.

“This is the disguise spell,” she said. “I want to know more about our people so I decided to be part of their daily lives.

“By pretending to be a kitchen lady?” Alaric asked unbelievingly. “This is ridiculous mom!”

“Still, I wouldn’t know the truth if I didn’t do it.” Alaric became quiet for a moment. He was in deep thought. He sighed before he finally spoke.

“I admit my mistakes. Mom,” Alaric began. “I should have investigated first. But this omega challenged my authority. I could not help myself to be angry.”

“I know, that is why I am planning to remedy it.”

Luna Stella gazed at us, a mysterious expression painting her face. I know that look. I am very familiar with it, for this is how I look whenever I am planning to prank somebody. Whatever Luna Stella is about to say, I am almost certain, both I and Alaric would like it. Not.

“You want her to change?” She paused for a moment before finally dropping the bomb. “Teach her. Let her be your student.”