Unexpected News

Chapter 8

Mirabella

Teaching was kind of a hobby for me. I actually do not do it for the money but for the kids. I love children, their natural innocence and ability to be outrightly funny. Especially my pupils, they made teaching fun for me.

And now that today's class activity has successfully come to an end, it was time for me to go home.

I waited till the last child left the classroom before packing my bag.

"Ouch." I hissed as a bout of heat went through my body striking me from head to toe. It felt like an electric shock and I was breathing hard after it went away.

"What's going on?" I whispered holding on to the edge of my table with shaking hands.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to stand up but fell back on my seat as the heat came again.

It was more intense this time, making me release a whimper. I panted heavily and remained still, fearing to move.

I spent a lot of time on that chair and waited out to see if any other episodes will happen again.

"Miss Weatherwood?"

I lifted my head to see one of the school cleaners, Yolanda holding a sweeping brush and a bowl containing other cleaning equipments.

"Hi, Yolanda."

"I'm here to clean the classroom. Are you okay?" She asked with concern.

"Yeah, I think so. Why do you ask?" I grimaced. My whole body ached.

"You look flushed. Like you are sick?" Yolanda moved from the entrance entering the classroom.

"Really?" I swiped at my forehead which I noticed was damp with sweat.

"Yeah, you might want to check that out." She advised.

"Yes, I will do that." I will definitely be going to the hospital when I'm free. This was a very crucial matter and somehow my subconscious suspected what was happening. But I rejected that notion. I would not put my hopes up till it has manifested.

"Okay, Miss."

And that was my cue to leave the class to give Yolanda space to work even though she was willingly to let me rest for as long as I wanted.

I trudged through the front door, exhausted from a long day at school. All I wanted was to collapse onto my bed and forget about the stresses of the day. But as I entered the kitchen, my heart sank. Beta Dowager sat at the table with Cornelius, sipping tea and chatting like old friends.

"Ah, Mirabella, dear, come and greet our guest, Beta Dowager." Cornelius said, his voice dripping with false warmth. I knew that tone all too well - it meant he was up to something.

I hesitated, but my feet seemed to move of their own accord.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite the growing unease in my chest.

"Mirabella, don't be rude to our guest." Cornelius warned, still maintaining that annoying smile on his face.

Beta Dowager smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Why, Miss Weatherwood, dear are you grumpy. I'm just here to talk with Cornelius. We were just finalizing the details before you came in."

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Were they discussing something involving business?

"Does this involve business?" I directed the question at Cornelius. He knows not to make major business decisions without me. I was the one who made the final decision here and Cornelius didn't bother hiding that he hated that.

"Not business. More like something that can lead to a long lasting relationship between Beta Dowager and this family." Cornelius drawled.

My heart skipped a beat. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. Not yet.

"Well, I will leave you to continue." I replied ,trying to sound innocent despite the panic rising inside me.

Cornelius chuckled. "Don't play dumb, Mirabella. You know exactly what we're talking about. Your marriage to Beta Dowager will secure our family's position and fortune."

I felt a surge of anger and resentment. How could Cornelius do this to me? I knew he didn't care about my happiness one bit and this was just a ploy to get me out of the way and gain control over the household.

I thought of my mother, and how she would be very happy with this news.

"I don't want to marry him," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the trembling inside.

Beta Dowager sneered. "You don't have a choice, dear. You'll do as you're told. And soon, you'll be mine."

I blinked as furious tears came to my eyes, I was in a very bad situation. They both knew it, even though I was in charge of the Weatherwood household, Cornelius was the Alpha and was the only one who could give my hand out in marriage. A stupid archaic law that had transitioned into this present age.

Cornelius laughed. "Oh, Mirabella, don't be such a child. This is for the best. You'll learn to love Beta Dowager in time. We will discuss further and select a date that will be suitable for the engagement party."

I knew I had to escape, and fast. I turned and ran, leaving the two men laughing and congratulating each other on their sinister plans. I couldn't let them win. I had to think of a way out, and fast.

I ran to the safety of my room, slamming the door shut behind me. I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath and process what had just happened. But my mind was a jumble of emotions, and I couldn't think straight.

Just then, a soft knock at the door broke the silence. "Mirabella, dear, may I come in?" It was Gertrude.

I opened the door, and she slipped inside, her eyes filled with concern.

"What's wrong, child?" she asked, as I collapsed onto the bed.

I poured out the whole story to her - the conversation with Cornelius and Beta Dowager, the wedding plans, everything. Gertrude listened attentively, her face growing grimmer by the minute.

"That wicked man," she muttered, when I finished. "He's got no right to do this to you, Mirabella. Your father would never have wanted this."

I felt a lump form in my throat at the mention of my father.

"What can I do, Gertrude?" I asked, feeling helpless. "I don't want to marry him. I don't want to be trapped like that."

Gertrude's eyes sparkled with determination. "We'll think of something, child. We'll find a way out of this. But for now, let's keep this between us. We can't trust anyone else."

I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. With Gertrude on my side, I knew I could face whatever came next.

As I lay in bed, my mind racing with thoughts of the arranged marriage, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was changing within me. I felt... different. My senses seemed heightened, and I could smell the faint scent of Gertrude's perfume lingering in the air.

"Gertrude, do you think I'm changing?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gertrude's expression turned curious. "What do you mean, child?"

I hesitated, unsure how to explain. "I feel different. My senses are stronger, and I feel this, this strange heat inside me."

Gertrude's eyes widened slightly, and she leaned in closer. "You might be awakening, Mirabella. As an Omega."

My heart skipped a beat. An Omega? I had heard of them, of course, but I never thought I could be one. It was rare, and Omegas were highly sought after.

Gertrude's words hung in the air, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. An Omega? It couldn't be. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The strange sensations, the heightened senses, the feeling of heat inside me...

"Gertrude, what does it mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gertrude hesitated, glancing around the room as if she feared being overheard. "It means you'll be in high demand, Mirabella. Alphas will want to claim you, to make you their own."

I felt a surge of fear at her words. Claim me? Make me their own? I didn't want to be owned by anyone.

"But I don't want to be an Omega," I protested. "I don't want to be claimed."

Gertrude's expression turned sad. "I'm afraid it's not a choice, child. You are what you are. But we'll figure this out together, okay?"

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination rise within me. I would not be a pawn in some game of power and desire. I would forge my own path.

That's why I have to look for an escape route, one way or the other because there was no way on this planet that I was getting married to that old Beta.

I'd rather die than be his fifth bride.