The Alpha's Mate

{1}

Jake's pov

---

I woke up to the harsh sound of my mother shouting from downstairs, demanding that I get up and make breakfast for her and my dad. The morning sun barely filtered through the curtains, but there was no rest for me, not in this household.

I was an only child, but you'd never guess that by the way I was treated. Ever since it was revealed that I was an Omega, life had changed. My parents, both Alphas, couldn’t understand how they could have produced an Omega. Whispers began to spread in our community, ugly rumors that my mother had been unfaithful. Even my father, once so proud and loving, began to doubt her. And as their suspicions grew, so did their resentment towards me.

I wasn’t their child anymore; I was their servant. The chores, the endless list of demands, the cold stares—I endured it all. It wasn’t just the disappointment in their eyes that hurt; it was the lingering question of whether I even belonged to this family at all.

But despite it all, I knew I had to get up. I couldn’t escape the life I was born into, but maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to survive it.

--

With a heavy sigh, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet touching the cold floor. The wooden boards creaked beneath my weight as I made my way to the bathroom. The mirror reflected a face that was too young to carry such a burden, dark circles under my eyes evidence of sleepless nights filled with worry and fear.

I quickly freshened up, knowing that any delay would only make things worse. My mother's voice echoed through the house again, more impatient this time. I hurried downstairs, my heart pounding in my chest.

The kitchen was already filled with the aroma of coffee, but the warmth of the scent did nothing to comfort me. My parents were seated at the table, waiting. My mother’s sharp eyes flicked up to meet mine, and I could see the dissatisfaction in her gaze. My father didn’t even bother to look up from his newspaper.

“What took you so long?” my mother snapped, her voice cold.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, quickly moving to the stove. I began preparing breakfast, my hands moving automatically as I cracked eggs and fried bacon. The sizzle of the pan was the only sound in the room aside from the occasional rustle of newspaper pages.

As I worked, I couldn’t help but think about how different things used to be. Before the test that revealed I was an Omega, before the accusations and the coldness, our family had been happy. My parents used to laugh and smile, their love for each other evident in every glance and touch. But now, that warmth had vanished, replaced by an icy distance that I couldn’t bridge.

Breakfast was ready in a matter of minutes, and I placed the plates in front of my parents. My mother inspected hers, giving a curt nod before she began to eat. My father remained silent, his eyes never leaving the paper.

I stood there for a moment, waiting for some acknowledgment, some sign that I still mattered. But none came. I was invisible, just a shadow in the background of their lives.

“Go clean up your room,” my mother ordered without looking up.

I nodded, turning to leave the kitchen. My stomach growled, but I ignored it. There would be time to eat later—if they left anything. As I walked back upstairs, I tried to push away the bitterness that threatened to consume me. I couldn’t afford to let it take hold. I had to stay strong, had to keep going.

But deep down, I knew that something had to change. I couldn’t live like this forever. I didn’t know how, or when, but I would find a way to escape this life. I had to.

---

As I trudged back up the stairs, my mind raced with thoughts of escape. It felt like an impossible dream, something I could never actually achieve. But even so, the thought of getting away from this place kept me going.

When I reached my room, I found it in the same disarray as I’d left it. Clothes were scattered on the floor, books piled haphazardly on my desk, a stark contrast to the immaculate order my mother demanded from the rest of the house. My room was the one place where I could let go, where I could be myself without the constant pressure to be perfect.

I began picking up the clothes, folding them and placing them neatly in drawers. As I reached for a worn hoodie that had slipped behind my bed, my fingers brushed against something cool and metallic. Curiosity piqued, I pulled it out—a small, intricately designed locket.

I sat on the edge of the bed, turning the locket over in my hands. It looked old, with delicate engravings that formed a pattern I couldn’t quite make out. I didn’t remember seeing it before, but something about it felt familiar, like it belonged to me.

With a gentle click, I opened the locket. Inside was a tiny photograph of a woman I didn’t recognize. She had soft features, kind eyes, and a gentle smile that made my chest ache with a sense of longing. Tucked behind the photo was a small piece of paper, folded tightly. My heart pounded as I carefully unfolded it, revealing a short, handwritten note:

_"To my beloved child, 
No matter what others may say, you are strong, you are worthy, and you are loved. 
One day, you will find your place, where you belong, where you are cherished for who you are. 
Until then, hold on. I believe in you."_

The words blurred as tears filled my eyes. I had no idea who had written the note or how the locket had ended up in my room, but it didn’t matter. The message felt like a lifeline, something I desperately needed to hear.

I clutched the locket to my chest, feeling a warmth spread through me. For the first time in a long while, I felt something other than fear or despair. I felt hope.

This small piece of jewelry, this mysterious note—it was like a sign, a reminder that I wasn’t alone, that there was something more waiting for me out there. I didn’t know when or how I would find it, but the thought that someone believed in me gave me strength.

For the first time in years, I smiled. It wasn’t much, just a small curve of my lips, but it was real. And with that smile came a new resolve. I would find my place in this world. I would prove to myself and to everyone else that being an Omega didn’t make me weak.

I wasn’t just going to survive—I was going to live.

---

First chap out