19. The Promised

Alyssa was very much obedient and hard willed at the same time. To say that at the moment like this would be ridiculous. She should’ve known. For the moon's sake! All those sly glances and overconfident smirks that were thrown her way when she rejected all the Alphas standing by her doorstep. The Pack Alpha noticed all of that.





The day has finally come. Bile rose in her throat. The omega knew that sitting in a locked room wasn’t the solution. Anyone can break through it. After all, they were Alphas with immense strength. It would be a walk in the park for them.






A frantic rasp rusted the nails holding the door, the blood in her veins almost rushed.




“Honey...You’ve done enough. Think long and hard before you make your next move,” Her mother’s voice rang from the other side. Calm and hushed.




The omega swallowed her tears. She had no choice.




Just then the eerie edge settled over the other side of the door that caused the omega to shiver, and it’s no surprise there’s a knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, Alyssa shuffled over to the barrier, resting her forehead on the jamb.




“Give me a minute” She whispered back.



All too soon, her minute was up as the person knocked again. “Ready? Everyone’s waiting.”




Certainly not–but damn it the woman was no coward, though it did take her a minute more to tuck in her clothes, wipe the tears and run her fingers through her hair to smooth the orphan strands. She composed herself as best as she could.




Decent, Alyssa opened the door with her fake sunniest smile. “I’m ready Alpha.”




Everything after that didn’t make sense to her at all. One moment she was walking out of that door, head held down and followed by other omegas in tow, and the next moment the worst kind of pain blinded her.




There was that hurt noise that made the omega want to shove her face in boiling water, stop that fury spreading inside her like a fever all at once. Few seconds into it, she couldn’t see anyone or anything around her. The figures started fading away, or maybe it’s just her sight getting droopy and heavy.




“Mummy” She whispered, trying to reach out to her mother.




Her brother was holding their mother back, by the tree as they both were shunned. Alyssa had no idea why they weren’t moving. Before she knew it, her mouth felt numb, and she felt weightless. Like she could fly. A bitter laugh escaped her mouth and darkness consumed her all too sudden.





When she woke up in her bedroom, there was a harsh burn on her wrist. Red and raw. Alyssa almost struggled, blinking the tears away from her eyes when she saw her mother.




With the help of her, the omega sat up.




“Is it done?”




Her mother weakly smiled back. “Yeah.”




Alyssa swallowed her tears. She’s officially promised.




“What are you going to do about this?”





Her mother’s question rang in her ears. She’s so very sure in her–so confident. It’s exactly what Alyssa needed to feel like that invincible omega again. Gratitude mined within her as she stared at her mother. Her mother didn’t hesitate to offer her arm, patiently sitting by her side.




As soon as Alyssa looked around, her mother handed her water. That’s exactly what the omega was looking for.




“H-How?” The omega asked gulping.




A hand settled over her as her mother murmured softly, “I know when my pup is in distress.”




Voice lost, Alyssa just nodded, unable to say anything. At the distress expression on her mother’s face, she tried to explain, to laugh it off like she always did, but her mother shook her head. “Hush, honey. You don’t need to explain anything. Just take deep breaths and calm yourself. Would you like me to step outside?”




Unwilling to hurt her mother’s feelings, the omega started to shake her head but heard a laughter echo in the room. “Oh, when will you learn I know all? Always thinking of everyone else! Don’t worry; I’ll find you after some time, yeah.”




“T-Thank you, Mum,” Alyssa mumbled though it wasn't near enough to voice her appreciation to her for being the most accepting, gracious mother a person could ask for.




With a gentle smile, her mother closed the door behind her.





As soon as she was gone, Alyssa put her hot face in between her hands, gasping around the jagged ache in her throat and wrist.




It’s horrific that she wanted to cut off her hand just to get rid of that constant aching reminder. Of that pain spreading inside her.



A bitter laugh slipped out of her.



Realisation dawned her that she’s going to be lonely–the emptiness that so often hollowed her would never be filled by anyone except her promised.



No one else.




“Why?” She screamed, hastily dabbing at the oozing tears. Alyssa didn’t get out of her room for three days after that.
***

She blinked at the memory. It all felt too foggy, and for some reason, she can’t recall the ceremony: only bits and pieces of it. Mostly the time she went in, and the time she had a raw, honest conversation with her mother. That’s all. The events in between were a blur.




It’s not like she didn’t try. The omega tried, alright. Truly she did every possible thing, but nothing worked out. Even the town witch refused to help her given her status in the pack. It’s so unfair, but Alyssa had no one to complain.




Ever since she lost her father, it’s been like that. Families without an Alpha aren’t heard or seen with respect.




The question hung in the air for quite some time as both of them suddenly went still. She could see Nicholas thinking about something, his lips pulled together and twisted. What was he thinking about?




“Do you know who you are promised to?” Nicholas swallowed, his eyes meeting hers.



The omega didn’t want to look away, wanted to stare in his eyes forever. Nicholas had these mesmerising wide eyes that can captivate you no matter what. That’s what she liked the most about him. As if she realised to the train of her thoughts, Alyssa quickly looked away.




Even though her mother wanted the omega to find someone and settle in the city, Alyssa was against it. The potential Alpha would have to fight with her promised, and she would hate anyone to be dead because of her. The guilt will eat her up.




The omega shook her head. “ I don’t remember. It all feels a little blur to me.”




Nicholas made a sound. “What?! You don’t know the person you could be spending the rest of your life with? That’s crazy!”




Alyssa flinched at that. It sounded absurd for anyone who did not understand the rules of being in a pack. It’s a small price she had to pay in order to ensure no one attacked her and her family. Being an omega left to take care of the rest of the family doesn’t give much of choice. Despite that, she never complained.




Maybe because the promised did not claim her even after the mark on her wrist, it’s been a while now, and she has been waiting for that moment. Not to mate with him of course but hoping that she would be able to convince the promised Alpha to let her go. That sounded too good to be accurate, but that’s the only option she has left.




The omega shrugged. “It’s what it is.”



Nicholas sucked a sharp breath. “Is that why you ran away from the party that night? From Adrain?”



Alyssa nodded her head, staring at her feet. She’s still embarrassed, thinking about that. The omega felt her heart flutter when Adrian asked her permission to kiss, unlike Eric. Moons!




Why was she thinking about that narcissistic asshole now? He’s so arrogant and kissed her twice! Like a fool, she let him kiss her. But whenever he’s close to her, the omega almost loses the sense of reality. The Alpha had the power to make her stupid. Still, she can’t let that happen again.




“Alyssa”



“Alyssa!”




Nicholas's voice bought her out of reality. The omega almost jumped, raising her brow at him. Her cheeks turned red. How long was she out of it? Sometimes it's annoying how she zoned out in the middle of the conversation.




Her boss narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you okay?”



“Yeah sorry.”



Nicholas cleared his throat. “So Adrian is bummed about...you know.”



Alyssa felt her heart twist. She was hurt as well because the omega had no intention of leading him on and then breaking his heart.



“I know.”



“Uhh...so do you want me to tell him about your mark?” The Alpha boss pointedly awkwardly to her wrist.



She shrugged. “It’s your choice. I told you because you asked.”




“Got it!” Nicholas breathed.
***

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