Callum’s P. O. V
After our birthdays’ eve celebration, we drove back to the pack house. When we entered, we saw the omega at the base of the stairs. I’d always found her attractive but I daren’t show it- especially around my friends. Once she saw us, she immediately turned to go back upstairs but Kylie stopped her.
“Omega, you’re here, how convenient. I was just telling my boyfriend how you would love to serve us at his birthday party, seeing as you put so much effort into the decorations.” She batted her useless fake eyelashes.
Harry intervened for Kylie. “You will serve at our party.”
He’d used his Alpha voice- I’d felt it- but it didn’t seem like it had any effect.
She stared at him impassively.
I watched the exchange.
He stalked closer to her, “Are you deaf? I said you will serve at our party.” She backed up and nodded her head.
“What was that mutt? Cat caught your tongue?”
Harry punched her in the gut.
She lunged for him but Gerald- the soon-to-be Delta, and I held her back. I couldn’t help but notice how nice it felt to touch her, even if it wasn’t skin to skin.
Brittany pulled her hand back and slapped the omega. She strained against us and I had to admit that she was strong- I was having a hard time holding her back- and I saw Gerald’s struggle- but I would never admit it. Kylie let go of Harry’s arm and joined in.
We all took turns holding her back so that everyone could have a go at her. When it was my turn, I hesitated but quickly recovered and hoped that no one had noticed. The punch I gave her wasn’t my hardest.
Throughout the beating, she never once shed a tear, cried out or lost consciousness but only gritted her teeth or grunted when a hit went her way.
When we lost interest in her, we let her go and she collapsed to the floor.
We walked out laughing and left her there at the base of the stairs in a fetal position.
We all lounged around in the living room. I made out with my girlfriend, Brittany, until Harry interrupted by calling me to the hallway where we’d beat the omega only she was gone. Harry was as surprised as I was. We didn’t expect her to pick herself up so soon. We went down the hall and to Harry’s soon to be office.
Once inside, he locked the door and turned to me. He looked serious.
“Cal, I’m gonna be Alpha soon. I need to trust you if you’re gonna be my Beta.”
“Hey, what are you talking about, man? I’ll always be here for you- I always have.”
“Don’t play dumb. I noticed how you acted around the omega. She has no respect and we beat her to remind her of her place. Never act like that again or I’ll replace you. There are many members eager to do it.” I knew he was ticked at the fact that she hadn’t submitted when he used his Alpha voice.
I nodded. “You can trust me Alpha Lightwood”. He nodded and unlocked the door then walked out, not before giving me a sceptical glance.
**********
An hour later, the party was in full swing and we were having the time of our lives. I was getting cosy with Brittany’s lips until it was time to cut our cakes. I stood behind my cake with my best friend, close friend and girlfriend. I looked down at our cakes.
The omega had made them. She’d decorated and prepared the food and cleaned up while we were having a good time at out pre-party party. She did it for us year after year since I turned 13.
But nobody thanked her. Nobody did it for her. Heck, nobody even knew the date of her birthday. Nobody knew her real age; we just assumed she was 17 like most of us were. Nobody knew her name.
I shook my head. I had to stop thinking that way if I wanted to keep my position as Beta secured.
The countdown began.
“Ten, nine, eight…”
I looked up from the cake and smiled.
“…seven, six, five…”
I looked around, wondering where she was.
“…four…”
Where was she? ‘She’s supposed to serve.’ I lied to myself.
“…three…”
‘Just making sure she’s not ditching.’ Was my excuse for looking for her.
“…two…”
I spotted her but she wasn’t looking at us like everyone else.
“…ONE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTANY, HARRY, CALLUM AND ANDREA!”
She didn’t clap or shout well wishes. And for some reason, that saddened me even though she was in her right mind not to.
In an attempt to rid my thoughts of her, I danced for a while until I got thirsty.
As I was going to get a drink, Kylie stopped me. “Callum, I have a present for you.”
Before I could reply, she dragged me to a guest room and I let her. She closed the door behind us and pushed me up against the wall then began to kiss me. Her kisses were desperate and demanding.
Just as I was beginning to get into the kiss and forget the omega, someone barged in and tore Kylie of me.
“Don’t ever touch my mate again!” I didn’t recognise the voice until I saw it was the omega.
Before anything else could be said or assumed, I shoved her to the ground and held the Kylie close. She got up and growled.
Just then, her scent hit me- roses and honey.
No! She couldn’t be my mate. There must have been some mistake!
My wolf, Cade, pitched in. ‘Come on Callum, she’s our mate! I know that she’ll be willing to forg-’
I cut him off. ‘No! Don’t you know what’s at stake?! We have to get rid of her and prove our worth.’
I turned to the omega.
“You? My mate? You have got to be kidding me. You are not my mate, you worthless mutt.” I sneered.
Kylie’s laugh was annoyingly high, “She’s just a power hungry bitch and since she can’t go for Harry for obvious reasons, she’s diving for the next best thing. Just looking at her disgusts me.”
Before I could chicken out, I backhanded the omega. The force sent her to the floor.
My wolf howled and tried to take over but I mentally pushed him into the shadow of my mind where he couldn’t get out.
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With regret, I kicked her ribs that were probably already broken and Kylie joined in. After a few minutes, we stopped.
“Don’t ever tell anyone about any of this- not that they’d believe you but if you do, I’ll make you sorry.” I threatened her then went back to making out with Kylie even though it was the last thing I wanted to do at the moment.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the omega muster the energy to leave the room even in her obvious agony. I admired her strength and perseverance. She hadn’t closed the door and had passed out in front of it.
Seeing her weak and hurt made my heart ache and my wolf whimper and knowing that I’d been the cause made me want to torture myself. I mentally shook myself. I shouldn’t have felt that way. She was a lowly omega and I was soon to be Beta of the third most powerful pack in the state.
I closed the door.
After about 45 minutes of making out and feeling ourselves up, I wanted to use the bathroom, “Kylie, babe, I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be back soon for more fun.” We were both down to our underwear now. I opened the door and saw that the omega had just mustered the strength to stand.
Without thinking, I pinned her to the wall. I wanted her so bad as I stared at the marking spot on her neck. Without meaning to, my canines lengthened and I did it.
I marked her.
Her eyes widened and for the first time, I heard her cry out in pain. The sound shocked me and I removed my teeth a little too roughly. I let her fall to the ground in a heap of sobs when I really wanted to hold her and never let go. It broke my heart to see her crying- because of me.
I had to do it immediately. I put on the most disgusted face I could muster. “I, Callum Jacob Howling, Beta of the Lightwood pack, reject you… what is your name?”
I was ashamed- I didn’t even know my own mate’s name
She didn’t answer. I asked her again and when she didn’t answer, I pulled her up by her hair and punched her nose. I cringed when I heard a loud crunch and she cried out. I repeated the question.
“Natalia Avarielle Ember Lightwood.” She replied with venom.
Her name was beautiful and sounded musical when she said it.
Ignoring the ache in my heart, I restarted,” I, Callum Jacob Howling, Beta of the Lightwood pack, reject you, Natalia Avarielle Ember Lightwood, Omega of the Lightwood pack, as my mate.”
She screamed and it killed me to know I was the reason she was feeling so much pain.
“I, Natalia Avarielle Ember Lightwood, Omega of the Lightwood pack, accept your, Callum Jacob Howling, Beta of the Lightwood pack, rejection.” Her tone was laced with venom and dipped in poison for good measure. It was a knife to the gut just knowing that that tone was for me.
I hadn’t expected her to have the strength left to speak. The acceptance pain pierced through my heart like an arrow and I clutched my chest until it disappeared as quickly as it started. I felt a great sense of loss.
I plastered on a smirk and walked back into the room to Kylie.
I was causing her so much pain and I had no doubt that she hated me. ‘I don’t feel anything for her. It’s for the best, for the Beta position, for the good of the pack. I’m just following orders.’
Maybe if I thought it enough, I’d believe it.
Natalia’s P. O. V
I finished bandaging all the obvious injuries and put my clothes back on then went back downstairs- to my tormentors. When I got there, the party was already in full swing.
‘I guess nobody missed me.’ , I thought sarcastically.
I checked my watch, another borrowed item-11:58pm
I rushed to get all four cakes out for the birthday bitches. Since it was dark, I used my werewolf speed to get the cakes out and was done just before midnight. I carried the cakes to the empty table and set knives behind them then retreated into the darker shadows.
Seconds before midnight, the birthday people stood behind their cakes, knives poised, smiles wide.
The countdown began.
“Ten, nine, eight…”
Why didn’t Clark do this for me?
“…seven, six, five…”
Was it because he didn’t know I had a wolf?
“…four…”
Why did my mother disappear?
“…three…”
Did she not love me?
“…two…”
Did she really disappear or had I been lied to?
“…ONE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTANY, HARRY, CALLUM AND ANDREA!”
I wanted answers.
I wandered through the party, unconsciously taking note of my surroundings. I’d learnt to be conscious of the presence of others, especially since most of the people here had only ever taunted, teased, ordered and beaten me.
After some minutes, the most amazing scent hit me like a tonne of bricks. It smelled like pine and the forest air with an undertone of manliness- my favourite smell on a man. I would find my mate tonight. I followed the delectable smell to a corner in guest room.
What I saw enraged me more than ever before.
Standing there was my mate- Callum- making out and getting touchy-feely with Kylie,
Trembling with fury, I ripped the slut off my mate. Not only was she all over my mate, she was also cheating on her own boyfriend. I was disgusted. Mates find each other when at least one of them was eighteen and I’d just found mine. I was not going to let anyone touch him if I could help it.
“Don’t ever touch my mate again!” I growled at Kylie with narrowed eyes. I despised her more than ever before. She had been my best friend and now she was making out with my mate! I wanted to rip her to shreds and feed her to my angry wolf.
Before anything else could be said, he shoved me to the ground and held the bitch close. I got up and growled.
“You? My mate? You have got to be kidding me. You are not my mate, you worthless mutt.” He sneered.
Kylie laughed a high pitched laugh that grated on my nerves. “She’s just a power hungry bitch and since she can’t go for Harry for obvious reasons, she’s diving for the next best thing. Just looking at her disgusts me.”
Quick as a flash, Callum backhanded me. The unexpected force sent me to the floor.
For the first time in years, I heard my wolf, Candy, speak to me.
‘Our mate doesn’t want us?’ she whimpered. ‘He doesn’t want us because of that thing?’ She growled.
Callum kicked my already broken ribs and Kylie joined in. After what seemed like an eternity, they stopped. “Don’t ever tell anyone about any of this- not that they’d believe you but if you do, I’ll make you sorry.” Threatened Callum then he went back to making out while I writhed on the floor.
After a few seconds, I found the strength to crawl out of the room and passed out from the pain in front of the door.
**********
I woke up and realised that I was still in front of the guest room. Everywhere hurt. I checked my watch.
1:16am
I’d been out for about 45 minutes. I got up with no small difficulty. It hurt to breathe. Before I could take a step, the guest room door opened to reveal Callum in only his boxers.
Candy whined.
He pinned me to the wall. His brown eyes were full of heat and his canines elongated as he stared at my neck- at the spot for marking. The moment I realised what he was about to do, he did it.
He marked me.
My eyes widened as pain exploded in the area and I cried out from it. The action held no love, no care and that fact made it even more painful than it was supposed to. After a few seconds that felt like infinity to me, he roughly removed his teeth from my flesh and let me fall to the ground sobbing.
He stared down at my shaking, wounded form with disgust. “I, Callum Jacob Howling, Beta of the Lightwood pack, reject you… what is your name?”
I didn’t answer. He asked me again and when I didn’t answer, he pulled me up by my hair and punched my nose. I heard a loud crunch and cried out. He asked again.
“Natalia Avarielle Ember Lightwood.” I spat. I hated having to use the sperm donor’s last name.
He restarted,” I, Callum Jacob Howling, Beta of the Lightwood pack, reject you, Natalia Avarielle Ember Lightwood, Omega of the Lightwood pack, as my mate.”
White hot pain flashed through me immediately he finished his statement and my wolf howled with the unbearable pain. I screamed. Everything hurt excruciatingly.
An intense hatred for him burned bright. I had been willing to forgive him for all his past misdemeanours. I had been willing to put it all behind us for the sake of love. He was supposed to be my mate!
My anger bubbled and boiled. It gave me the little energy I needed to speak.
“I, Natalia Avarielle Ember Lightwood, Omega of the Lightwood pack, accept your, Callum Jacob Howling, Beta of the Lightwood pack, rejection.”
Pain and surprise briefly flashed on his face before the acceptance pain passed.
I watched helplessly as he smirked and walked back into the room. Since he marked me before rejecting me, the rejection hurt more than it normally would.
The mark on my neck throbbed with unbearable pain in time with my heartbeat.
Through the haze, my conscious mind knew that I had to get out of the house. Suddenly, the pain eased enough for me to be able to move.
‘Do what you must and get us out of here. I will take as much of your suffering as I can but I won’t be able to bear it for too long. Hurry.’ moaned Candy.
‘Thank You, Candy.’ I replied.
I got up, still in pain, and limped as fast as I could to my room. Since all my clothes were already in the duffel bag, I put my towel, soap, sponge, toothbrush and tube of toothpaste in the bag. I got sheets of paper and wrote.
After writing, I placed the notes on the mattress and I picked my duffel up then checked the time- 2:57am.
I raised the loose floorboard and put my wallet full of saved money and trust fund cards from my mother into my bag and left my room, for the last time, then crept to the kitchen. I shoved fruits, vegetables and bottles of water into my bag and crept out through the back door.
That was the final shove- I was over the edge.