Guarding Omega

3

The misty morning came sooner than expected. A few rays of the sun were able to escape the cloudy barrier blocking the view of the sky, falling into the forest. One of them found the hole in Ivory's tent and fell on her face. She was still on the ground, curled up, her hands tied around her torso and knees to her chest. The warm feeling of the sun on her skin was most welcomed. Like a balm.

Soft careful steps echoed from behind her, where the entrance was. Ivory didn't have the courage to respond, so she stayed there with her eyes closed, expecting to be beaten or throw cold water on her or any of the things they were doing to her all this time. Her body tensed at the touch on her right shoulder – as if an electric current hit her – but when she realized that the hand that was touching her was slowly rubbing her upper arm soothingly, she relaxed and opened her eyes.

When Ivory turned her head to meet the visitor her heart opened like the petals of a flower. It was Alice, with a comforting smile on her lips and her eyes filled with tears ready to be fallen. She had made it and came to visit her.

"What they did to you..." her voice was filled with emotion. She run her fingertips on Ivory's back but she quickly draw them back when the latter hissed in pain. The skin was still bruised around the long slashes and thick dried blood was scratching her skin as it detached from it with the slightest movement she did. "The balm prevented any infection but you need serious treatment," Alice whispered, keep examining Ivory's wounds.

Alice reached to grab her by the shoulders to lift her to a sitting position but Ivory stopped her. "Don't bother with me. You should go, your father will be looking for you. If he finds that you're here again..."

"Don't worry about me, Ivory." Alice gave her a faint smile as she grabbed her again – this time Ivory didn't argue – lifting her from the cold ground. "They cannot do anything to me," she added looking at her with a smile that made her whole face light up. Her eyes dropped down pointing at her tummy where a hand was gently placed.

A gasp of surprise left Ivory's lips and tears started rolling down her face. "You are..."

"Yes. Twins." Alice answered grabbing both Ivory's hands in hers. "I found my mate. He's from another pack. I met him at the Alpha's gathering at the lake six months ago. He's the Alpha of the Shadow Forest pack, up in the north. He's kind and caring and I feel safe with him. And loved."

The tears dripping from Ivory's face became rivers. For many reasons.

First, she realized for how long she wasn't able to see her friend and saviour, the only person that showed her kindness and love in this hell on Earth. Alice was there from the first moment her life became an upward slope with misery and pain and sorrow.

Second, she was genuinely happy for once in her life. She thought that she will never feel that way again. Blessedness had landed on a person that was giving it away so generously.

Third, the sorrow surrounding her heart. She knew what these news mean. Alice would have to go. Her place was in another pack now, on the side of her mate. A Luna. And she was sure they will love her.

But for Ivory, this meant that she'll be here – all alone – suffering in the hands of every member of this pack. There will be no one to treat her wounds or bring her clothes or a plate of food.

"Ivory? What's wrong?" Alice asked as if she could read her mind. Her bright blue eyes got darker and worry reflected in them. "Are you all right?"

Ivory left a puff of air she was holding for a long. "I'm – I'm happy for you, Alice. You receive a huge blessing." She managed to say between her sobs.

They remained silent for a moment until her sharp breathing started to return to normal.

"So, this is the last time I see you?" Ivory spoke with a hoarse voice. Alice's frozen face was the sad answer to her question. Alice's lower lip began to tremble slightly as if it was her turn to burst into tears.

"How?" is all she managed to say.

"They may have tortured me for a long time but I still have reason in my head." Ivory gave her the saddest smile and Alice's heart clenched.

"I didn't sleep last night," Alice confessed. "I was trying to find a way to tell you. But there's no point now."

An awkward silence fell inside the tent as the two girls stood there looking at each other. Suddenly, Alice grabs Ivory by the arms crashing her into a tight hug – being gently at the wounds on her back. Ivory gasped in surprise but then she let her arms land on Alice's back, squeezing gently.

"Promise me that you'll hold on," Alice whispered. "Once I go there, I'll talk to Jason and we'll figure something out. I give you my word, Ivory. I'll get you out of this place. You do not deserve this."

"There's no need Alice. My fate is sealed. Go away from here and live happily for both of us. You have a family now. Your own family."

"But you're my family too!" Alice spoke with a cracked voice before tears blur her vision.

"I won't last for long." Ivory's words came out painful and hard, like the truth slapping them in the face.

Her moment broke when trampling echoed from outside. Someone's close. The girls looked at each other with wide eyes filled with shock.

"You should go and never look back." Ivory whispered. "Just remember me and I'll be fine." She gave Alice a faint smile before the latter vanishes from sight.

A few seconds later, the tent cloth opened to the side and two guards entered. One was holding a tray with a small cup and a piece of stale bread and the other a ball of fabric she couldn't tell what is it for.

"Alpha Remus has requested you to change your attire and have a bite." The one holding the tray spoke. "There's a lot of chores to be done and there's a big celebration tonight, so get your ass off the ground and be at the Alpha's house in half an hour."

They left the things on the ground and turned to leave the tent when the other stopped in place.

"Take this," he said as he took a small piece and tossed it on the ground in front of Ivory. "Take a bath first, you stink." He added wrinkling his nose and exiting the tent to meet the other guard.

Ivory waited until their steps fade in the distance before she approach the things left in front of her. When she made sure no one was around, she jumped to the tray, grabbing the bread and the cup. It was almost three days without something to drink or eat and her heart tugged at the sight of food and water. With big bites, she devoured the bread before she could blink and took the water down her throat in one go.

Her stomach growled in satisfaction. It needed more but Ivory was thankful for this piece. Who knows when it will be the next time she'll eat? Taking the small piece the guard left for her, she brought it close to her nose. Soap.

She took a look at herself. She was covered with blood and mud. If the ball of fabric was a dress then she needed to be clean before she'd put it on. Holding on to the bed, she managed to stand up. She picked up the fabric ball – which eventually was a dark green dress and placed it on the small table. She should do her best to keep it clean.

The bucket sitting just outside her tent was full of rainwater. At this time of the year – and throughout winter – Ivory was always placing an empty bucket outside, so she had some water to clean herself.

With slow and gentle moves she cleaned herself, rubbing her hands with the soap and then spreading the soapy water on her body. It was hard to clean her back but she tried as best as she could. The water was freezing cold, making her breath catch short in her lungs at first but later she got used to it.

When she finished with the bath, she took a piece of cloth from the inside of her old dress and carefully tear it out. It should be enough to cover the hole in the tent's ceiling. She put the clean dress on and the dirty one on the bucket with the remaining water to soak with a bit of soap left. After she finished washing the old dress she put on her worn-out shoes and went out, heading for the Alpha's house.