“You should be put in your place. Pack Sandstorm doesn’t need a member as weak and useless as an omega,” she continued.
I squared my stance and produced a warning growl that rumbled painfully against my ribs.
“Pathetic.” She laughed.
“I’ll decide who needs to be put in their place,” Sara’s voice boomed from out of sight, her heels clicking across the wooden flooring on the second floor.
When she came into sight, I immediately dropped to my knees, hands on my thighs, hoping to appear as submissive and unthreatening as possible.
Sara’s only concern was that I was going to cause problems with others due to my omega status, and that’s exactly what this was.
I could physically smell Sara’s anger, and it made me hunch over myself, desperate to be smaller.
“The omega was rude and disrespectful about the council members,” Stephanie said quickly, her voice sickly sweet, and I was dumbfounded at how easily and quickly the girl lied.
“Is this true, Harriet?” Sara asked, her voice low and domineering.
“No, Alpha Sara,” I answered, my voice embarrassingly quiet.
“She’s lying, Alpha Sara,” Stephanie quickly interjected. “She didn’t want to clean the offices and said the council members didn’t deserve a clean space.”
I looked up then, dumbfounded. I was accustomed to being disliked, or worse, desired, by other wolves for the simple fact of being an omega, but no one had ever lied about me. Not like this. Not even as a child. I didn’t know how to respond.
“On your feet, omega,” Sara demanded.
I followed the instruction, keeping my head down and neck exposed and doing my best to remain as physically submissive as possible.
“I couldn’t believe the nerve of her, and I admit I acted on instinct and shoved her. I’m sorry, Alpha Sara, I couldn’tstand hearing such a lowly creature speak like that about Pack Sandstorm’s council members,” Stephanie continued until Sara held up a hand, silencing the girl.
“Omega, come here,” Sara commanded.
I walked up the stairs with feet that felt lead-weighted. I waited for further instructions when I reached Sara. My heart was beating quickly, but not quite pounding the painful way it sometimes did in my chest when I was scared.
“Is Stephanie telling me the truth?” Sara questioned.
“No, Alpha Sara,” I answered.
“It seems my time will be further wasted getting to the truth of this matter. Stephanie, you have made a grave accusation against Harriet. Such insubordination would result in severe punishment.”
“I’ve said nothing but the truth, Alpha Sara,” Stephanie replied quickly.
Sara hummed in response before she lifted her hand towards me. I flinched away slightly but somehow managed to keep my feet still. She placed her hand around my neck and gently pushed me away.
“Continue with your work, omega,” she dismissed me. “Stephanie, my office, please.”
I didn’t waste a moment hanging around. Stephanie was Sara’s problem now. The further away from the incident I was, the calmer I felt. The lie was clearly ridiculous; Sara wouldn’t believe it. But it didn’t change the fact that Stephanie had reacted to me in a way that required Sara’s intervention. Cole was going to be upset.
I had continued with the task of cleaning the council members' offices. It was an easy job; only Ophelia, the youngest and friendliest council member, was in her office. She had smiled warmly when I entered and made small talk about what the Pack House chef might make for dinner. She was the only councilmember who would acknowledge me, past letting me know if they wanted the room vacuumed and dusted.
The vacuum was on and loud when I entered Cole’s office. Maybe I was more shaken up with what had happened with Stephanie than I was aware because I got such a fright when I looked up and saw Cole standing behind her desk that I dropped the vacuum and hit my elbow off the office door.
“Ouch,” I cried out, holding my elbow as I used my foot to turn the vacuum off. “Sorry, I didn’t expect you to be in here,” I said.
Cole didn’t reply; it was then that I noticed the acrid scent of anger that emanated from her. She looked me over with dark eyes, her brows creating deep lines.
“Come here,” she demanded.
She hadn’t said more than a few words to me at a time since Heaven’s Bar; she had barely looked at me since Heaven’s Bar, and now she was locked on me like prey.
