Chapter 6

"Hey mom, I know what I wanna do when I get bigger!" A young Aaron exclaimed as he snuggled into his mother's arms. The home was quiet. Shrills of laughing children, playing out on the streets, could be heard faintly beyond the four walls. Merchants advertising their products to a packed marketplace echoing through the muddy alley ways that Curved their way through brick and cobblestone.

The sun's rays peeked through a window, just bright enough to shine through the thick fog that surrounded the Grey, disheveled, hovel.

"Oh? And what would that be?" His mother gently asked. Leaning back a bit to look down at him.

Aaron looked up at her and smiled. A childlike grin exposing a tooth he had recently lost.

"I'll grow up and be a strong Alpha like Maria and Cole! And when I go to school I'll become really smart! Then! Then I will get a lot of money and build a really big house! That way you and Maria and Cole can all come live with me!"

His excitable chatter filled the air. Aaron's eyes almost glimmering.

His mother smiled. Cupping Aaron's cheek with her hand: her thumb tracing his skin lightly.

"You are such a good boy". She kissed him on his cheek. Aaron laughed.

"Aaron, I want you to know somthing. Mommy will love you if you are an Alpha or even if you are an Omega". She brushed his disheveled brown hair to the side.

Aaron pouted.

"I'm gonna be an Alpha just like my big brother and sister! I'm already really strong!"

He slid off of his mother's lap and proceeded with making muscle poses with his arms.

She laughed.

"Of course sweetheart. You're very strong". She tapped him on his nose with her index finger.

He grinned ear to ear.

The front door swung open, slamming itself against the wall. Bits of splintered wood fell to the floor.

The pair flinched.

"CLARA!" Aaron's father stormed inside.

"Aaron, go to your room and play", His mother calmly and quickly pushed him in the opposite direction. She put him in the room and shut the door behind her. Aaron watched his father walk up to her, tilting his arm back above his head.

THUD.

Aaron gasped waking up. The room was dark. The moonlight making its way through the branches of the trees; casting shadows on the wall. The fire had dimmed to mere embers with some soft crackling of burnt wood.

Aaron sat up in his bed. Gripping the linen in his fists as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead. Taking a few deep breaths he steadied himself.

Swinging his legs to the side of the bed: he stood up, gripping the headboard. His bare feet against the cold floor.

He walked himself over to the vanity where a white, ceramic, bowl was filled with water. A white cloth folded next to it.

Cupping his hands: he dipped them into the water. It's cold temperature stinging as he splashed his face with it.

Taking the white cloth he dried himself off.

"Why did I have to dream of that day?"

He asked. Looking in the mirror he was able to make out the outline of his own figure. From the subtle glow of the moonlight: illuminating his worn expression.

"I look like shit", He muttered as he turned away from the mirror.

Thinking back to his dream, the face of his mother appeared. He soft brown hair, her tanned skin that made her exceptionally beautiful ocean blue eyes stand out.

"Bet you wouldn't be so proud of me if you saw my situation mom". Aaron sighted scratching the back of his head.

Sitting at the foot of the bed: arms in his lap, he looked down.

"I swear mom, when I get out of here I'm coming to get you". He clenched his fists. He flopped backwards onto the mattress. His eyes looking up at the ceiling.

He sighed. Before he knew it de had drifted back off to sleep.

Soft knocking came from the bedroom door. Aaron opened one eye. The room was bright. The sun had been up for some time now. He had overslept.

The tapping on the wood door came again.

"Sir Winter? May I enter?"

Anna's voice: almost muffled on the other side.

"Yea", Aaron called out casually. He stretched his arms upward as Anna carried in his clothing for the day.

"Here you are Sir Winter, once you are changed please let me know so I can take your sleepwear."

Aaron looked at the clothes in her arms and then back at her.

"Anna, I have a question."

"Yes? How can I help you Sir winter?"

Aaron took the clothes from her.

"Why do you call me 'sir Winter'?"

Anna was taken back by the question. She pondered.

"That is because you are a part of this household, I must address you as such."

Aaron raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not a Fletch, I'm not a master, I'm not even a humble servant like yourself". He pointed out.

"All I am to this house is a tool".

He shifted his stance.

"To be honest I wish someone would just say my name. My first name." "Not Omega. Just MY name."

"Would you refer to me as Aaron? Please?" He gave the maid a pleading look.

Anna hesitated.

Aaron frowned.

"I didn't mean to put you in a precarious situation. It wasn't my intent to--"

"Aaron".

The Omega stopped short of his sentence. His eyes widened.

"I can call you Aaron if that's really what you want" She looked at him with a half smile.

Aaron smiled.

"Thank you!" He had never been so happy to hear his own name again. Not trickling off the tongue of his father.

"If you would please sir- erm. Aaron, please let me know when you are finished changing."

She curtseyed leaving the room.

The world seemed to shine a little brighter now. Aaron happily changed clothes. Not realizing his grin was still there.

Having the day to himself, once again, Aaron took that time to get to know Anna a little better.

He had learned she was a Beta. Just a normal person. She had let it slip that around ninety five percent of the maids working were Beta. Only a few Alpha. All the guards were the same as well. A mixture of Beta and Alpha.

"Sounds about right" Aaron chuckled.

He and Anna sat in his small parlor room.

Anna had worked for Johnathan Fletch since Zane was around the age of thirteen and Zeke being twelve.

"I didn't realize you were older than me!" Aaron exclaimed. Anna looked young enough to pass for sixteen in his eyes.

"That's kind of you to say". She giggled.

The Omega began to learn more about the Fletch family. The do's and don'ts of what to say and how to act when dealing with the hierarchy of the family.

Johnathan Fletch being at the top, Zane being second, Zeke third and so on and so forth.

"What about Lady Fletch?" Aaron asked resting his head on his palm.

"I noticed that I havnt seen her since I've come here, nor does anyone speak of her."

Anna's face became stone.

Noticing a change, Aaron lifted his head.

"Anna?"

The maid bit her lip.

"Actually you see." She started.

"Madam Fletch is....well she is no longer here. She died when the young Lord and Master were children."

Aaron flinched slightly.

"Oh!" He responded.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize." "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to her?"

Anna gave a sullen expression.

"She had been sick for a very long time."

"I see".

Silence filled the air.

"Please don't tell anyone I told you this." Anna pleaded.

"Don't worry I won't" Aaron reassured her.

By this time neither of them realized that they had taken the entire day just enjoying each other's company.

Aaron wasn't feeling as locked up as he was before. This new found friendship seemed to loosen the shackles on him.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt but it's time" One of Anna's handmaids stood at the door.

Anna stood from her chair. Taking her hands to straighten out her uniform.

"I must return you to your room Aaron" She turned slightly to him.

Back in her almost robotic like state.

Aaron stood up as well.

Walking back to his quarters Anna spoke quietly.

"Lord Fletch is hosting a Gala for his important clients. Please. Stay in your room until the party is over".

She opened the door for him.

Aaron stepped inside.

"If you need any of us please pull that rope on the far wall. It will ring a bell in the servants quarters."

"I must take my leave for now."

She shut the door.

Leaving Aaron in his prison once again.

He walked to his window. Through the trees he could make out the same driveway he had yraveled weeks ago. The headlights of some cars peeked through the trees as they rumbled up to the manor.

Aaron looked at the small rope.

"What did she mean if I needed anyone?" He cocked his head.

He walked to his door and gave it a tap.

"Is there anyone there?"

He waited.

No response.

Carefully: he grabbed the handle of the door.

Click.

He pushed it open a cracked and peered out.

Silence.

He opened the door all the way and checked his left an his right.

No maids. No guard dogs. No nothing.

For the first time Aaron had actually been left alone.

A lightbulb went off in his head.

This was his chance.

Maybe his only chance.

If he could make it out of the manor during the party: he could make a run for it.

While everyone was busy making Lord Fletch's gala perfect, he would be long gone from the manor.

His heart beat fast. He knew of a good route to take.

He had walked the halls time and time again.

A decision was made.

Grabbing just a jacket, he softly closed the bedroom door behind him and crept down the hall.