Chapter 16
Nadia's POV
Life for Landon and I returned back to normal after Talia's wedding and our failed assassination attempt on Alpha Vance.
Normal meant letting Landon lead me to heaven's gate, through pain or pleasure. Both always leave me bruised and sore.
On days when Landon was abnormally absent, the unbearable pains that soar through my body gives away what he is doing.
The first time I noticed it was right after a pack meeting. London and I just had one of our back and forths and went to the meeting separately
Alpha Vance addressed the pack about pack safety and wandering rogues seeking to disrupt the peace.
Landon was seated to him right on a lower stool. Vance had everyone's attention and kept it, well, except Landon's and mine.
He kept throwing lustful glances at a new wolf, the pack's omega, who had a banging body and wide bright blue eyes, with a lustrous silver hair flowing over her small back.
Omegas are usually pack slaves, however, she has always been treated better than an average omega.
As far as I know, her parents are not members of Moonstone pack. She was admitted as a kid.
Landon kept giving her signs with his eyes. In her defense, the innocent young girl kept looking away, in her desperate attempt to fix her gaze on Vance who was talking about really important things.
My eyes kept darting back and forth between Vance and the omega.
"She has that reputation."Someone says from behind me, over my shoulders.
"What?" I reply, acting as though I was lost.
"She has slept with a number of pack mates." The feminine voice whispers again.
Whoever it is must have been watching me watch Landon and the omega.
How would a slave, or near slave, have such a reputation and still remain among those who took her in, while banging their mates and putting them in pain?
I barely keep Tyla contained. My hazel brown eyes are starting to turn full black, a change experienced only when one's wolf is angry and lusts for an errants blood.
My breath is picking up pace as angry fumes for exhale come out of my nostrils.
"Hey," She says, tapping the small of my back, "all you are doing now is calling attention."
Chitchat during pack meetings under the reign of a rigid Alpha could attract capital punishments. Alpha Vance is reasonable, but also should not be pushed to the limit at the topic being discussed now is one quite sensitive.
I contained all the anger and hurt and irritation throughout the meeting. Tyla and I did a good job.
Talia is a few seats away from me. She and I are supposed to be seated next to each other, as the Alpha and betas mates respectively, and also as childhood friends.
Of late, she has garnered all the love and attention of the women in the pack, all strong and fierce wolves, in sharp contrast to her weak self.
Rumour has it she can't even have her wolf for a reasonable amount of time.
And it is not just the rumors. On the night of their first transformation as Alpha and Luna, it was quite a spectacle, save for Alpha Vance's discretion.
Or maybe she is just proud…
Her wolf is one of the very few with a snow white fur and no blemish. The downside is she is weak and cannot even save Talia from herself.
I guess it's how the Moon goddess repays people. If Talia wasn't mated to Alpha Vance, she would have been prey for rival packs, rogues and maybe even pack mates. Now that she is Luna, she commands the respect of more capable wolves.
Anyways… Back to the poor, lowly ambitious omega.
"That is all for now." It's Alpha Vance's last statement in his address.
The whole pack bows down in obeisance to him, more out of instinct than agreement to what was said.
He heads to Talia's seat, as she stands up and slips her hand into his, they walk out first, followed by Landon, who walks out alone, leaving me trailing behind him.
The meeting was held on the rooftop of Alpha Vance's large mansion, which he shared with many dependent pack members.
Normally, I should see Talia before leaving, but I'm not in the mood. Tyla and I have been insulted enough in the name of having a mate.
Landon would not outrightly reject me as his mate, which I am a little grateful for, and he wouldn't be faithful either.
Our relationship is one no one should envy, however, we do a very good job at hiding it, well, most of the time.
"I'll see you when I get back." He cuts into my musings on my way out of the house.
"Why later? Why can't we just go home together like every other mate?" I inject as much respect as I could into the question, infuriating him at this point is a very poor choice of action.
"You keep forgetting something," He's staring me square in the eyes, "you don't get to question what I do. Not now, not ever." His icy tone cut through every morsel of courage I summoned to ask him.
I skulked home on said day, in the dark, all alone, broken and dejected.
I wished Moon goddess would break our bond, even if it would mean I never get a mate for the rest of my life.
I'd rather die a lonely old wolf, than have Landon put me through all these as frequently as he chooses.
He's beta, second only to Alpha Vance, I dare not question his choices, and I also dared not report as it would put the pack peace in jeopardy.
"Hey wolfie," Knowing I'm putting Nadia through this makes a large wave of hurt come over me. "How are we holding up?"
She lets me go unanswered for about ten seconds before whining and whimpering and whimpering in my head.
I'm trying to act strong, but we both know the sooner we start brace ourselves for what will soon happen, the better for us.
"Why?" It's the only thing Tyla says.
Tears stream down my eyes, freely. it's dark, and lonely, a lone wolf, especially not one in this vulnerable state is susceptible to attacks from straying rogue wolves.
"I'm sorry." It's the only thing I could say. As much as it is not my fault, and there's very little I can do to change it, I feel very bad.
"It's alright. Let's get home safely." She sounds nothing near to alright but I get it.
If only we could run far away from here, somewhere safe, somewhere that would feel like home.
Away from all these abuse, away from Landon…