Guarding Omega

1

The bucket fell with a loud thud on the floor. Dirty mop water splashed all over, staining the freshly cleaned marble floor of Alpha Remus's study.

"Imbecile!" Margo shouted enraged. "Is it so difficult for you to clean something without making it dirty again? Get up and clean this mess immediately! And I'll make sure you'll be punished for your incompetence."

Ivory stood silent, on her knees, looking at Margo's burst, trembling. It was the second day since she had something to eat and exhaustion from the chores seemed to start affecting her balance already. Her whole body was shaking from tiredness and fear of what was about to happen when her day is over. Margo stated it clearly. She will make sure she gets punished.

A strange scream – like a beast trying to escape from the cage – left Margo's lips, making Ivory jolt upright, taking the bucket and placing it properly on the floor, while with a worn-out cloth she started soaking it in the dirty water, squeezing the cloth above the bucket with any strength she had left in her body.

Margo was tapping her left foot on the floor frantically, huffs letting out of her mouth while her right hand was making a gesture for Ivory to hurry up. Alpha Remus will be here soon and if he sees this mess he will be furious with the whole staff. So, for Margo's sake and the rest of the staff, it is for the best that Alpha Remus is furious with Ivory only.

When the bucket was full again and the marble floor clean, Margo hurriedly walked to Ivory's place and lifted the bucket, while pushing Ivory up on her feet and pushing her out of the Alpha's study and down the stairs. She felt so weak she had to hold it with both hands on the railing not fall down.

Ivory felt like she's been lifted from the floor when Margo got grip on her worn-out dress. With a strong push, Margo shoved her into the kitchen while she went outside to get rid of the dirty water.

A couple of maids were already there, preparing the food for today while others were bringing inside large baskets with vegetables and packs of meat for tomorrow's feast. As soon as Ivory stepped in, everyone's eyes fell on her. Shortly after, whispers echoed in the kitchen, but Ivory was used to them.

She grabbed a chopping board and placed it in front of her, taking some vegetables and a knife, she started chopping them into small pieces. They were dying with anticipation to turn her eyes on them so they can start mocking her loudly but she won't do them the favour. Instead, she kept her eyes on the task at hand.

The exhaustion was conquering every fragment of her body. Her muscles were screaming in ache and her stomach had glued on her spine. Her legs felt weak, she thought she would faint at any second. Pain strikes her left hand and she momentarily closes her eyes, biting her lower lip to endure the pain. The maids standing opposite her giggled and Margo's attention fell on Ivory – like a hawk spotting its prey after a month of hunting. The heels of her shoes echoed as she approached, every click is a heartbeat skipping in Ivory's heart. She took a quick look at the maids, sure they will enjoy this. She bit her lip, praying mentally to end soon.

"You should be ashamed Ivory." Margo's cold voice resonated from behind her. "You think we can use these vegetables now that they are stained with your blood? Couldn't you be more careful with the knife?" She snorts. "Pathetic and useless... Sometimes I don't know why Alpha Remus keeps you. Really."

Ivory's hands shake as she stares down at her hand, a deep cut with the kitchen knife and drops of blood spilling over the vegetables on the chopping board. Tears gather under her eyes and a lump rises in her throat, making it harder to breathe.

"I'm s-sorry..." her voice barely escapes her lips.

"Always the same..." Margo frowns, the poison dripping from her lips. "Spare me your presence and throw those away." She points to the chopping board with a disgusted look and turns to the others in the room. "Everyone, stop whispering and be quick at your work!"

With feet barely holding her weight, Ivory took the chopping board in her hands and walked to the sink. Even lifting the board to the bin was difficult for her. Her arms were trembling like it weighs a ton.

After washing everything that had her blood on, she cleaned her hand letting the running water wash away the dried blood that remained around the cut. With pleading eyes she turned to Margo, waiting for the next order. She knew better not to speak much as there wasn't a way to win any situation and only gain a harder punishment.

The sun – briefly above the trees outside – dropped his last shiny rays into the room. Ivory is filled with courage to hold on for a bit more as her chores are almost done for today. She wished for a bite of food but she didn't want to fill her head with hope and then get disappointed by the harsh truth.

Margo threw her a look of pity and for a second Ivory believed that she indeed felt pity for her. But her next words were not of such sentiment at all.

"As I said, your performance today was absolutely disappointing. Therefore, you should receive punishment in order to reform. Come with me."

Ivory knew very well what is about to follow. She lived this time loop all her life. As they went out of the kitchen and headed upstairs to the Alpha's study, she wondered where she had gathered such strength to endure this for so many years. Maybe it was repeated so many times that has been imprinted in her mind and body that now she considered it normal.

When she reached the top step – after struggling to get up there – the large frame of Alpha Remus appeared in the doorframe of his study. Immediately she and Margo dropped their heads down in respect as his steps started to echo on the floor.

Alpha Remus is intimidating, even at this age. He had served for many years the Moonriver pack and was one of the most respected Alphas among other packs as well. All members were obeying his word at once and feared facing his anger if they dared to stand to oppose him. Rumours had spread that soon his firstborn son, Drake will take the lead of this pack and along with it the shady business that lies beneath.

Moonriver pack was known for the weapons dealing transactions with many members in other packs and humans. Apart from that, they were occasionally involved in drug dealing and many other illegal activities that would incur great profits. Moonriver pack was ruthless. Every single member of it. Except for Ivory.

She barely remembers her parents when she lost them both so suddenly in a blink of an eye. In one moment, her life turned a hundred and eighty decrees. After that, she was the new Omega of the pack and Alpha Remus kept her under his employment as a benevolent act to ease his regrets. Many were whispering that it was his fault that her parents were killed but there was no proof and no one dared to bespoke those accusations in front of him.

After years of spending at the fringes of their society, treated poorly and punished with any opportunity arisen, Ivory wanted more than anything to put an end. But for now, she had to stand still in front of her Alpha and show repentance even though is not her fault. If they were not treating her like that, she wouldn't be so weak and to all these mistakes and therefore get punished.

"Alpha Remus, I'm terribly sorry that I occupy your time once more with such an issue, but your advice is required."

Alpha Remus took a deep breath, letting out the air with a groan coming from his throat. "Very well, what is it this time?"

"It's Ivory sir," Margo spoke with a fearful tone in her voice. "She underperformed again."

Alpha Remus huffed. "And after all these years you don't know the answer to that Margo? I expected you to be more efficient." He spoke with arrogance. "I will say it once more and is the final time. From now on, any misdeed or underperformance is punished by the whip. And the punishment will be delivered by my son, Drake."

Ivory's eyes filled with tears but she kept there standing silent facing her doom right in the face. Margo made a deep bow, praising the Alpha for his wisdom and apologizing for once more bothering him with such a trivial matter. When she finished licking the butt of Alpha Remus, she grabbed Ivory by the sleeve and dragged her down the stairs and into the dungeon.