Caged

Chapter 10.

*Photo: Weston

I tried to hide my immediate reaction, but Ivy's eyes flashed up to meet my wide ones. "I mean, I'm not surprised. Look at her." I bit my lip, hoping she would let it go.

"Ugh. She's not even that great once you get to know her. She's so shallow. All she cares about is status. Her father is the Delta and in charge of our warriors. She actually had the position of training the she-wolves before me, but I challenged her and won so Alpha awarded it to me instead. She was furious." A mischievous smile was curling up Ivy's mouth and she raised her chin in self-pride before turning serious once again. "She doesn't look that tough. She's not nearly as thin as you, but she's fast. Don't let her play you. She's a snake in fights."

I nodded and glanced back at her once more. She was leaned over a table of males, her breasts on full display as they pushed up from her barely there top. A knife twisted in my gut and I couldn't help the tinge of jealousy stabbing at my heart. She'd been with him. The one meant for me. My thin frame was curvy in the right places, but small nontheless. Not like hers. She had the body of a playmate. My breasts and ass were full enough that I'd always gotten attention for them, but never so large that they were bursting from my top. Her complexion and dark hair were flawless. I'm sure she looked like a perfect match to Rhett. I quickly shook my head. I couldn't go there. I wasn't her and never could be, but I was better because I was the one meant for him to have all along.

I caught myself wondering who else in this room had been with Rhett when suddenly Ivy's voice pulled me back to reality. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

She laughed and blinked back at me. "I asked where you were from originally?"

I bit my lip nervously, unsure of if I should tell anyone who I was, but ultimately decided honesty was the best option. If I wanted to be part of this pack, I'd need them to accept me for who I was. And it was only a matter of time before someone realized who I was. "Oh, well it's a funny thing actually. I'm originally from here." I waited anxiously, hoping she would accept who I truly was. She was the first friendly female I'd encountered in years. Since Avery actually. I had forgotten how much I needed that in my life.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise before her eyes narrowed in concentration. "From here? What'd you say your last name was again?"

I took a breath and responded evenly. "Walker. Lili Walker, but I was known as Thalia here."

Her sapphire blue eyes flashed in recognition before she leaned forward, speaking lowly. "Oh my god, the Omega? I remember you now. We're the same age. Your mom was...Olivia right?"

I nodded slowly and dropped my eyes, waiting for her to leave the table but she remained, her eyes fixed on me. I finally looked up to see her expression had changed to one of inspection. "Where have you been all this time?"

"Um...well, when my mom died, I figured if I was going to be on my own then I may as well do it on my own terms. So, I left. I went to live with the humans. Encountered some wolves and that was helpful, but mostly was on my own." I knew I would eventually need to tell people more, but for now, that was enough.

"Hmm. So, what made you come back? You were branded a Rogue when you left. It may have been better for you to just stay out there honestly. Some won't take kindly to your leaving the pack." She spoke frankly, with no judgement, but I couldn't help the irritation at the situation.

I should've never been forced to be an Omega, but no one seemed to care about that. Why shouldn't I have left?

"I didn't have a choice. If I didn't come back, it would have been worse for me out there. I needed to be with a pack. I couldn't be on my own anymore."