The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 64: And the world goes… Snap!

~Dahlia’s POV~

The hairs on my body stood on end when I felt the presence of the Alpha behind me. He was standing so close—too close— and the warmth emanating from him enveloped me like an expensive cloak, feeling almost tantalizing. When his chest pressed against the small of my back, I froze, instantly looking up at Beta Orion to find him already watching me, accessing me.

He drawled; "I was only having a discussion with a woman I am interested in."

From behind me, I felt Alpha Zarek stiffen at his words. And then, like one who was possessed, he placed his hand gently against the curve of my waist, causing me to jump in surprise as I had not expected that action.

Beta Orion’s eyes followed his hands and they darkened when they caught sight of the Alpha’s fingers flexing against my waist.

Alpha Zarek drawled; "I know." And then dropping his head until they were mere inches away from my neck, he continued; "...but doesn’t that feel weird? Isn’t it strange that the woman you’re pining for is my mate?"

And at the sound of his words, Beta Orion stepped closer until there was hardly any space left for me to breathe between both men. I twisted my head upwards to look at both them but saw nothing, just their damn massive chests.

"Does it matter?" He snapped, his voice so sharp it could literally cut through my blouse. "Why do you care?"

"I care because she’s my mate... Or am I wrong for doing that?" Alpha Zarek sassed back and I flushed in embarrassment... and something else; something that felt like a strange warmth spreading across my chest.

He was finally acknowledging the mate bond! He was no longer embarrassed to say it out loud!

I should’ve been glad that he was. Hell, I should feel good, but for some reason I didn’t. I couldn’t help but think that he was like this because perhaps, he’s really lost his memories. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was one of the stupid games he liked to play, and that maybe I was a pawn in this one.

My eyes snapped back to their chests when Beta Orion’s voice came from above. He muttered; "But we both know it’s Jennifer you’ll marry... that is if you ever end up getting married."

"Who is Jennifer?"

The question— finally confirming my suspicions that he’s indeed lost his mind— sounded like a blow to my chest. It made me recoil into myself, and I groaned when I realized that I had only succeeded in pushing myself into Alpha Zarek’s warm body. Instinctively, I straightened my back, pulling away from his warmth even though my body protested against that action.

"Your betrothed!"

"My wolf doesn’t recognize her. It recognizes only the woman standing before me." Alpha Zarek answered coldly, seemingly undisturbed and I flinched when Beta Orion scoffed derisively.

He snapped; "What games are you playing?" But the other man didn’t respond. He simply took a step back, as if noticing my discomfort, and then gracefully pulled me from my sandwiched position between them. "Why do you suddenly care for the Slave that you so desperately wanted to throw out of the house only a few weeks back?"

More heartbreak. More pain.

"I play no games, my friend. You should know that. Also, I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I cannot think of any reason I’d want to throw my mate out of the house."

"Don’t bullshit me with that—"

I bowed. "I think I should take my leave now." I rushed out, interrupting Beta Orion, and ignoring the way both men’s eyes thinned into slits as they glared down at me.

I shifted. "I was supposed to be at the pantry about ten minutes ago, but—"

"You claim she’s your mate but you make her work like a slave in your house!" Beta Orion’s sharp voice snapped at Alpha Zarek’s and I flinched— mainly because those words had struck a nerve inside of me. I dropped my gaze.

"Well, I apologize for recently learning about pack’s hierarchy and how I am surprisingly at the top of the chain." Alpha Zarek sassed. And then his eyes dropped to mine and held; "But henceforth, I’ll learn to use my powers rightfully... And I’ll start by ridding her of her position as a sla—"

"Alpha... Beta, there’s a new corpse! A woman who lives in the city’s outskirts! She was found frozen as stone and word is that it may have happened in the wee hours of the night!" The sound of a fear-stricken guard tore us all out of our reverie and in surprise, we glanced at him to find him already watching us with wide scared eyes, fidgeting as he waited for a reply.

He got none.

Not for the first few minutes as everyone was too stunned to speak or move— especially me.

The awkward silence was finally broken by Alpha Zarek’s deep baritone. He asked; "What was the last thing she was found doing?"

"No one knows for sure!" The guard answered with a shaky voice. "However, it is rumored that she was in a fight with her co-wife earlier that evening. She’d forcefully coveted some pieces of jewelry from the younger woman and beaten her to a pulp." He rushed out, and as soon as the words left his lips, I saw Alpha Zarek give his Beta a knowing look. The other man nodded, and with that, they rushed out of the space with the panicking guard following closely behind them.

They’d totally forgotten about me.

They’d totally forgotten about the drama they displayed here only moments ago.

And for some reason, I felt relieved. I was glad that they were finally out of my hair. Happy that I now had a moment to myself without two powerful men breathing down my neck.

But deep down, I felt at a loss.

I was hurt and I hated it, because I knew that shortly before the guard had interrupted, Alpha Zarek wanted to and would’ve ridded me of my Slaves’ duties.

Goddess, that was exactly what he was about to do!

For the first time in my life, I hated the guts of Nyx’Zariel. I hated how she always manages to interfere in the worst possible moments.

Annoyed that I still had to maintain my Slave rank, and my position as the pack’s runt, I turned on my heels but froze when I saw someone standing in the darkness, watching me with eyes so dark it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

It almost resembled the look that that crazy guard had given me, shortly before he tried to take my life.

Only that this time, it wasn’t a guard looking down at me like I was filth. It was Ms Jennifer; and from the look on her face, it was clear as day that she had witnessed the mishap taking place earlier.

I froze.

"Ms Jennifer... good evening to y—" I began to say but the words hadn’t fully left my lips when I felt a sudden strike across my face.

It was so strong and so fast, it made my head whip to the side as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and I needed no soothsayer to know that I had been slapped. Again.

I should be used to it because it was her signature move.

But I wasn’t.

And I snapped.