Riley POV
I'm awake and staring miserably at the doorway when Cody enters the room. I can't get the image of Damien being tortured in front of me out of my mind. The helplessness I felt, the anger at my mate treating me like I was nothing, it was all overwhelming me. I hugged my knees to my chest, and I could see Cody's look of pity on his face as he watched me.
"Riley I wish I could talk some sense into him" he murmured, squatting down to speak to me as I lay on the bed "as it is he's going to let you stay in this room, that's something isn't it?" he asked as though I was some child being given a gift.
I stared at him. He sighed "I'm sorry but I'm to introduce you to the head omega so that you can" he coughed "start your duties."
He looked apologetic. I blinked and sat up, not surprised but a flash of anger swept through me.
So this was his plan? Just make me work and ignore me. I bit my lip and stood up, Cody running a hand through his hair and looking like a man who had been caught in the middle of everything. "Come with me, I'll take you to Sandra," he said with a grimace "She's not the most pleasant person to be around" he warned me.
I nodded. I followed obediently. Perhaps if I was given work to do, I would be able to forget about my mate for a while and what he was doing to me. I was not opposed to hard work or earning my place in a pack. But it hurt that my mate could not bring himself to look at me let alone speak to me.
We walked out towards the front entry way and Cody tapped an older female with blonde and grey hair, who looked to be in her mid-thirties on the shoulder, causing her to look up sharply.
"Sandra," he said and she smiled at him.
"Gamma Cody," she said respectfully, bowing her head "what can I do for you?"
I eyed her. She had a pinched look on her face and she was thin, clad in a uniform that resembled a maids, and her hair was pulled back so severely it caused her to look like she was angry.
"Sandra this is Riley," Cody said introducing us.
Sandra pursed her lips as she looked at me.
"Riley is to be given her new duties as an omega under you," Cody said reluctantly, as Sandra gave a slow smile and raked her gaze over me.
"You don't look like you're capable of much," she said snidely "you look as though you're pretty weak."
I looked down at the floor. "Riley can't talk she's mute" Cody quickly interjected, "so she'll be unable to communicate much."
Sandra sniffed, looking thoroughly put out, but a quick glance at the expression on Cody's face and she fell silent.
"She'll be fine with me. I'll find her a uniform and get her started" Sandra said sighing as though she had been asked to do something difficult "is there anything she's not able to do?"
Cody hesitated and then shook his head regretfully "The Alpha did not specify."
"Come along then" Sandra growled, motioning to me.
I looked at Cody who nodded and gestured for me to follow her. I hesitantly began to follow the woman who trudged towards the back of the pack house.
"Don't know what the Alpha is thinking, giving me a pathetic girl like you" Sandra muttered, as we walked, "I guess an omega is the only thing you're good for, considering you don't seem to have a wolf" she muttered, giving me a sidelong glance and sniffing me "but I warn you?" she said sternly "I don't put up with laziness, you do your job or suffer the consequences."
Consequences? There was a reason this woman was referred to as the head omega but she did not elaborate as to what the consequences might be. Instead, we stepped into what looked like a supply room, uniforms hanging on racks, cleaning supplies, brooms, mops, and anything you could need neatly stacked in the room. She glanced at me and then frowned, grabbing a uniform off the rack and passing it to me. "Get changed," she said, as I looked at her.
She turned her back, indicating I was to change right there in the room. I was quick. The uniform was basic black trousers and a black button-up shirt to my relief instead of the dress. While I was getting dressed, she rifled in a nearby cupboard and then threw some shoes over her shoulder. I put them on, surprised to see they fit perfectly. She had a good eye, I thought, then again she must have been doing this for several years.
I stood there with my clothes in hand. She turned around and observed me. "You look presentable" was all she said "but that blue hair of yours" she shook her head looking disgusted "you'll need to dye that back to an original color."
I touched my hair. It was an original color. She made no more mention of it, taking my clothes and throwing them into a nearby hamper.
"We'll start in the guest rooms on the ground floor," Sandra said tersely "Alpha Jaxon likes to keep them clean in case he has guests arriving. Bring the mop and bucket, and I'll grab the cleaning trolly" she grabbed it and began to check the contents "and we'll work together. We'll have to change the linen" she added "but the linen cupboard is on the ground floor and I'll show you where on the way. There are only six bedrooms for guests on the ground floor and I've been informed one is yours so that makes five to take care of today."
That didn't sound so bad I thought, walking behind her. True to her word, she showed me the linen cupboard on the way through. Five rooms didn't seem like much, but by the time we had stripped and remade beds, dusted, swept and mopped the floors, cleaned adjoining bathrooms, cleaned the windows, and aired out the rooms, I was a sweaty disgusting mess, and panting heavily.
Sandra was not impressed. "It looks like you'll have to build up your stamina" she tsked and shook her head. "Dinner preparations are getting started. Go and help in the kitchen" she hesitated and glanced at me "Go and wipe your face first" she said disapprovingly "you look like a red tomato and it's not flattering."
I bleakly carried the last of the linen to the hamper and dropped it in, before ducking into a nearby bathroom to wash my face and retidy my hair which was coming loose from my ponytail, before entering the kitchen which was abuzz with activity. The cook took a disinterested look at me while Sandra motioned for me to start doing the dishes. That job was easy at least and it gave me the chance to listen to the conversation of fellow omegas who chatted with each other while performing their tasks.
"Did you hear? The Alpha apparently found his mate" one said excitedly.
Another omega snorted "Yeah right, if he had, wouldn't he be claiming her by now?"
"You know he's always been against having a fated mate. But" a pause and two omegas looked at the third expectantly "he's going to have a party next month to find a chosen mate. Isn't that exciting?" she gushed "there'll be so many women to choose from."
I stiffened and my mouth went dry. Sandra was busy delegating tasks to some of the other omegas and was too busy to pay any attention to me. "I heard that he rejected his fated mate" an omega chirped "because she's not one of us."
"Yeah well, I heard that he wants her for breeding only" another one commented.
I hung my head and continued to silently do the dishes, my cheeks flaming.
So everybody knew that Alpha Jaxon's mate was here, but it was all rumors and gossip. Nobody knew for certain which meant at least, they didn't know the girl was me. It was something small to be grateful for. I was sure that if they knew I was her, that I would not be treated with kindness, not with the way the girl had commented on the mate not being a shifter. I hunched my shoulders and tried to get my task done as quickly as possible, my mouth watering at the delicious smells coming from the kitchen as dinner was prepared.
"Prepare yourselves, dinner is about to be served. Riley" Sandra's voice was cutting and abrupt "stop doing what you're doing and try to tidy yourself. I want you, myself, Cassidy and Chloe to serve the Alpha and the others at the table their food. The rest of you" she eyed the other omegas who looked disappointed and even angry "go and find some work to do. Somebody take over the dishes, another of you begin to put the dry ones away and somebody go upstairs and begin to tidy the rooms."
A lot of grumbles followed her announcement but the other omegas obediently followed her orders as I straightened my clothes. The cook already had plates spread out and was busy plating the food. I glanced at Sandra wondering how to proceed.
"There's already cutlery and glasses etc on the table. It's just the food that needs taking out" she answered "the Alpha, Beta and Gamma get their food first as is the custom. If there was a Luna she and the Alpha would be first, but of course at the moment there is no Luna" she instructed.
"Riley, take Alpha Jaxon, Beta Callum and Gamma Cody their plates" she instructed, while the other girls looked dejected.
She wanted me to serve the Alpha his food? I realized she didn't know who I was because Cody had not specified and therefore could not be blamed for putting me directly in Alpha Jaxon's path.
I could not object or even refuse. I was doing precisely what Alpha Jaxon had ordered. I could feel my heart hammering loudly in my chest as I swallowed hard and took hold of the three plates, balancing them carefully and walking straight into the dining room, my whole body beginning to tremble as I felt eyes directly staring at me.