Page 16 of Alpha’s Possession

Thane, however, doesn't leave. Pouring the steamed milk in, I hand him his cup, trying to breathe around the lump that has suddenly formed in my throat.

You hate everything about being an Omega, I remind myself. Yet, that has changed over the last year or so. Werewolves are pack creatures and being alone is lonely. With my sister, I was never alone. Until I was. Since since then, I crave companionship. Someone who understands me just as well as she did.

"Don't let me catch you teasing my mates again," Thane says, as I turn to hand him his mug.

The words slip from my lips before I fully register them. "Yes, Alpha," I say before internally cringing at myself and cursing at my stupidity. Yet, it doesn't make his following words sting any less, though they shouldn't have hurt at all. How is it possible to be upset over someone you despise? I hate Alphas, hate the control they have while I hold none.

"I am not your Alpha!" he growls, snatching the mug from my grip and stalking off, his words more painful than if he had slapped me. Omegas crave praise from their Alpha and want to please their Alphas. I hate that part, yet still, his words break a tiny splinter in me that I swallow down.

You will not break! Especially in front of that asshole, I scold myself.

Chapter Eleven

~Harlow~

I make sure to keep my distance from the Alphas until the day ends, and am quick to leave the moment Rhen comes out and tells me I can. I know something is going on with them because when Rhen returned with Leon, I heard Thane cursing him out about something he was caught doing. So, I am relieved to get out of here; all the testosterone-filled anger is starting to affect my baser instincts.

Once out of the building and away from their threatening auras filled with Alpha dominance, I feel myself relax. I don’t realize how badly they affected me until I am away from them. Yet, now what? I still have no place to stay, no money, and my belly chose that moment to rumble.

Digging through my bag, I pull out some change and walk to the nearest payphone. I call Brianna, dreading the conversation already. I haven’t spoken to her since last night, after my run-in with the four Alphas who just so happen to be my new bosses. The phone almost goes to voicemail when she answers.

“Hello?” she asks warily.

“Hey, Bree. It’s me, Zara.” I hear her sigh.

“Ah, I thought you were a debt collector or telemarketer,” she chuckles.

“Nope, just me. I um… do you think Tal will let me work behind the bar tonight? I could kinda use some cash,” I admit.

“Sure, yes, I will let him know. Head over and I’ll find you a uniform,” she says, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, something is going right for me. We bid our goodbyes, and I quickly hang up before rushing to the other side of town, to a seedier area. I come in the back entrance and find the teeny, skin-tight little uniform hanging up, waiting for me. Rushing to the staff bathrooms, I change quickly, making sure my mask is secure.

Tal greets me as I enter the bar and nods to me; I feel a little awkward around him now that I know he is related to one of my bosses, yet I have to work. Luckily, the cook I like is on tonight, and he sneaks me some dinner before I handle the 7 p.m. rush.

I hardly make any tips. A measly $7, and it’s a slow night since it is a weekday. But once it nears 7:30 p.m., I know I have to leave soon If I want to find somewhere to crash. I briefly consider asking Tal if I can sleep here, but dismiss it since this place runs 24/7 and I don’t want to find myself in a vulnerable position by sleeping in one of the VIP Booths.

I am getting ready to clock out and take a shower in the amenities here when Tal whistles from the landing above. He nods toward the entrance, and my heart stalls in my chest when I turn and see Leon waltz in. I quickly rush toward the back staff area when I hear my name called.

“Z!” Leon calls out, and I cringe. Fuck! If he finds out who I truly am, I am so screwed. I make a beeline for the rear doors when Tal suddenly steps into my path, having rushed down the steps.

“He spent most of the day here, hoping you would be in,” Tal whispers, and I glance over my shoulder to see Leon chatting with Brianna. I wonder if that is what Thane and he argued about earlier.

“You didn’t tell him who I am, did you?” I whisper.

“Of course not. If I had known you would be working for them directly, I would have taken the beating instead of sending you in there with them, but Leon… he is…”

“A Hybrid!” I offer, and Tal sighs.

“He’s my cousin. He has an addictive personality.”

It makes me wonder how big Leon’s family is.

“What’s that got to do with me?” I all but shriek.

“Blood addiction or blood craze, and you are an Omega,” Tal states, like that is supposed to make any sense to me.

“So?”