Bella
After the two brothers left me alone in bed, I couldn’t go back to sleep.
My world as I knew it had been turned on its head. I was in this beautiful house, sleeping on a real bed, wedged between two strange men. I didn’t understand them at all. I was beginning to wonder if there was something abnormal about them. I tossed over onto my side and pressed my face against the pillow that Byron had been using.
Mine.
And now there was a wolf in my head.
Hello? I tried to engage the voice in my head, but she was silent. Maybe I was doing it wrong? I lay there on the soft bed, watching the window grow brighter as the day broke, but I felt cold and alone. It's like I had already grown addicted to the brothers being near me. I mentally kicked myself for growing such an unreasonable attachment to the powerful duo. Who am I? Nothing! A dirty, disgusting thing that would have been better off dead. I had no business in an Alpha’s bed.
I felt a deep sense of shame creep over me. I squeezed my eyes shut, but I could hear Luna Amber’s sharp condescending voice in my head. “You are like a f.ucking cockroach, scurrying around this kitchen.” “You are nothing but a parasite in this house.” “Don’t look at them, don’t ever look at them in the eyes you filthy slut. Do you know what a man would do to you?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin when Hailey knocked at the door. I slipped out of the bed and opened it for her, standing aside so that she could enter. She had a handful of packages in her hands. I kept my head lowered, but I eyed them curiously from under my hair.
She flashed me a bright smile, “Good morning dear! These packages arrived for you just now, and the Alphas asked me to take them up for you.”
She set the pile on the couch by the fireplace. I stood there dumbly, not knowing what to do.
“Well, aren’t you going to open them?” She prompted.
Oh.
I went to the couch uncertainly and picked up a small box. I slipped a fingernail under the tape and peeled it back, and then opened the flaps. Inside the cardboard box, another box was nestled. A shoe box. I frowned as I pulled it out. Inside was a pair of simple, sturdy slip-on shoes. I vaguely remember seeing something like this on the computer screen last night.
“Try them on!” Hailey urged, coming to sit on the other side of the couch. She was practically bouncing with anticipation. She reminded me of how the girl twins at White Pines acted on Christmas morning when they tumbled out of bed and were greeted by piles of gifts under the tree in the great sitting room.
I had never received a gift. Until today.
More embarrassing, I had never had my own pair of shoes. I had an old pair of work boots that some man had thrown away that were five sizes too big. The soles were split, there was a hole near the toes, and they smelled bad when they got wet, but it was better than going out in the snow barefoot and risking frostbite on my toes. I held the shoes and felt my hands tremble with a mix of fear and excitement.
Hailey grew impatient and took the shoes from me, and kneeled down to slip them over my feet. She checked the fit and clicked her tongue approvingly. “I think they fit! Why don’t you take a little walk around the room, to make sure.” I stood up, feeling awkward having a thick layer of materials between the soles of my feet and the floor. I walked around the couch, not sure exactly what I was supposed to be “making sure” of. I sat back down quickly and slipped them off. I didn’t want to risk doing anything that might damage the beautiful shoes, or make them dirty.
“Okay! Let's see what else you got!”
I pulled open each package reverently, preserving the packaging, because… I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with it. The other packages were filled with clothes. Shirts, pants, another pair of pajamas, socks, underwear, and bras. In the last package, I found the dress… that beautiful blue floral dress.
“Ooooh, that’s lovely!” Hailey breathed, spreading the dress against my shoulders. “Those colors look so pretty with your skin! The alphas will be pleased.”
I was both delighted and bothered by all of these new clothes. I couldn’t help but blurt out the question that was on my mind. “But why? Why will the brothers be pleased?”
Hailey gave me a strange look. “Haven’t they explained anything to you?”
I shook my head. “Please, tell me.”
She pursed her lips and seemed to consider it, and then she shook her head. “It's not my place, dear. I’m sure they have their reasons. Why don’t we wash you up, and then you can pick out something to wear today? I’ll change that dressing on your back, and then we will go down for breakfast.” She was talking a little too fast, as though trying to cover her near-blunder.
We went through the same routine as yesterday, washing my hair in the sink, and sponge-bathing my body. And then it was time to change my bandages.
I didn’t like the idea of Hailey changing my bandages. Not that there was anything wrong with Hailey, she’d been perfectly kind in every way. It just made me feel vulnerable, having everyone inspecting the wounds on my back. For some reason, I didn’t mind when the Alpha brothers changed it, maybe because they’d already seen it at its worst. But I was too timid to disobey, so when she had gathered the medical supplies, I obediently offered her my back.
Hailey carefully cut away the bandages and peeled back the gauze. “Oh, you poor dear,” she murmured as she discarded the gauze in the trash can. I saw her eyes tracing over the healing lacerations in the mirror. Her finger came up and traced an older scar along my shoulder. “Who did this to you, child?” She asked, meeting my eyes in the mirror.
I looked down quickly. I couldn’t and I wouldn’t answer that question. The worst of the scars came from the Luna, but everyone in the house was allowed to “discipline” me as they saw fit. The Omegas could slap me if I disobeyed, and even the twin girls pulled my hair and pinched me when it pleased them.
“It is healing quickly,” she said, dismissing her last question. “It probably doesn’t even need to be dressed anymore, but I’ll cover it one more time just to be safe. The brothers can decide in the evening if you can leave it.”
Nodding, I started pulling on the clothes. Hailey tsked that they should be washed before I wear them, but since I had nothing else, I just wore them straight from the plastic packaging. I didn’t wear a bra, because the straps would have crossed the wounds on my back, but I pulled on a pair of stiff new jeans, and one of the flowing tops the brothers had selected on my behalf. Hailey had brushed out my long hair, and then pulled back just the top half so that it wouldn’t fall in my face, and left the rest loose over my shoulders.
I looked at myself in the mirror, and it was like staring at a stranger. Who was this girl who was neat and clean and dressed in nice new clothes? I had the butterfly bandages on my bruised face to reassure me that it was still me, underneath. I tucked the new shoes in the closet and followed her barefoot down the stairs to breakfast. My body felt strange in these clothes, especially the thick, strong fabric of the jeans.
Hailey went into the kitchen, and I followed her. I looked wide-eyed at the shiny, modern furnishings in the large room. It was so much nicer than the one at White Pines. There were stainless steel counters and appliances, and instead of an ordinary refrigerator, there was a walk-in cooler and freezer. “Can I help you?” I asked timidly as she tied on an apron.
She smiled at me, “Do you know your way around the kitchen dear?”
I almost smiled back. What a silly question! I had spent most of my time in White Pines in the kitchen.
I went to the sink to wash my hands, and Hailey tossed me another apron. A couple of sleepy omegas wandered in, and Hailey began to orchestrate the preparations for breakfast. I whipped up the batter for banana pancakes, one of the omegas was frying eggs, Hailey was crisping bacon in the ovens, and another girl was chopping up fresh fruit for a fruit salad.
The omegas watched me warily, and I tried to stay clear of them. In my experience, they could be just as cruel as any of the ranking members.
I had just poured the last of the batter onto the skillet when the kitchen door was pushed open violently. Wyatt was framed there, his face hard and his eyes angry. I had never seen him angry, and I felt cold run through my veins.
He was so big, and so strong, if he beat me, I knew he would kill me.
My eyes darted around, looking for an exit.
“Why is she in the kitchen?” The question was directed at Hailey. He didn't exactly yell, but his voice was sharp.
Hailey looked surprised and confused. “I...I’m sorry Alpha. She wanted to help. I didn’t know…”
He stomped over to me, and I felt myself involuntarily shrink against the counter. He raised his hand, and I instinctively covered my face.
“Oh my God, Bella. Stop. I wasn’t going to--, I’m not going—f.uck.” He dropped his hand and stepped away, his expression hurt. “We told you, Bella, you don’t have to work here.”
I felt like I wanted to throw up. I peeked at Hailey, and I felt guilty. I didn’t want her to get in trouble because of me. “I… I wanted to help. I—I like to cook,” I whispered, my voice shaking.
“Oh. Okay. I guess that’s different then.” He stuffed his hands awkwardly in his pockets. “I’m sorry Bella, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I lowered my arms slowly and kept my eyes glued to the floor. I could smell the last pancakes starting to burn, but I was afraid to move back to the stove. I saw one of the omegas jump in to turn off the gas and get the pan off the heat.
“Will you please come out and eat with us?” Wyatt asked very gently.
He asked in a nice way, but it didn’t matter if he asked or he ordered, I still had to obey. I went to him, still trembling, and he put a gentle hand on my elbow and steered me out of the kitchen. Byron was at the table waiting for us.
He looked up sharply. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
I wished the floor would open up and swallow me. Byron stood and pulled out a chair, and Wyatt directed me to sit in it. I sat stiffly, head down, my hands wrapped tightly around the seat.
Wyatt sat next to me and blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m really sorry Bella, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. And I wasn’t going to hit you. I would never hurt you. There was just… flour in your hair.”