Hers Freely

33. Dinner with the Beta

I have spent the past two days cleaning the communal bathrooms and common areas, and I must say, I loath this work. It doesn't matter how much effort I put into scrubbing and disinfecting, it seems like everything gets dirty again in just a matter of hours. And to make matters worse, some wolves deliberately make a huge mess just to see me clean it up. Not that my life doesn't suck enough, on top of that, I have been assigned to shadow two female omegas who constantly criticize my work, leaving me with the most repulsive tasks. It's incredibly frustrating and unfair. Thankfully, my shift is over. My leg is throbbing and it's not fully healed yet, but as soon as I am able to, I am leaving this place.

As I limped away from the scene of my trials, a glimmer of hope ignited within me, propelling me towards finding a future where my worth was recognized, and my efforts were truly appreciated. Lost in thought and grumbling my bitterness, I didn't notice I had walked into a hard chest. Startled, I looked up to see the Beta looking down at me with a side grin.

"Now what do you want?" my tone clipped. He seemed to be at my every turn lately.

 The Beta's expression didn't change, but I sensed a shift in his demeanor. After a moment of silence that seemed to stretch into eternity, he spoke.

  " We're going to dinner" he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"You need to eat properly, not only what I ask Iris to scrounge up, but a complete meal." he continues" You're too thin."

I gave him a quizzical look "No," I replied defiantly. "I just want to be left alone." that meant crawling back to my hole and disappearing under my blankets away from everything.

 But the Beta wouldn't take no for an answer. His green eyes bore into mine with unwavering determination as he stood his ground.

"You can't keep hiding away like this," he insisted softly.

And just like that, something shifted inside me. Maybe it was the way his gaze held mine with such sincerity. I tried to look away, to retreat back into my solitude, but there was something about Jonah when he looked at me, that gave me goosebumps.

No one has ever regarded me as if I truly mattered.  I was consumed by a wave of unfamiliar emotions cascading through me. It was like he could see past my insecurities and actually see me, Ella. 

To say the least, his attention was confusing. I don't know why he even cares.
Goddess just look at him! 

Surely, he has had many women. How could he see past my fragile frame and scarred skin, etched with the toil of countless chores, it seemed a stark contrast to the strong flawless beauty of the pack's she-wolves. 

"Well, gorgeous," he said with a sly grin, "are you coming willingly, or must I unleash my irresistible charm?"

 Hesitantly, as a result, I found myself nodding in agreement.

"Excellent," he said, his grin widening as he clutched my hand in his. My mind racing, I don't get the whole hand holding thing. 
 Why was he interested in me? What did he see in me that others couldn't?

As we walked to the dining hall, I blurted out, 'Why do you even care if I'm thin?" Jonah paused, a mischief expression appeared as he replied, "Don't you want to be strong and powerful like me?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, causing me to let out a giggle. I couldn't help but notice that when it was just the two of us, he was more lighthearted and carefree. 'You're a strange one, Wolf,' I teased. 

 There was an awkward silence after that. I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises today had in store for me.

 When I entered the hall alongside the Beta, a hush fell over the room like a heavy blanket. It seemed as though time itself had paused; the children's laughter ceased, the adults' conversations withered away, and even the kitchen help who had been setting out food at the long wooden tables stopped to fix their eyes on me.