A Secret Alpha Mate
Chapter 5

(Isla)

passes

fast.

The packhouse returns to the normal hustle and bustle of things. I'm thankfully put on kitchen duty for the week which I actually like. It's nice knowing what you're doing and there's so much to do for preparations this week that I never get bored and the work I wake up the next morning early before the first light of Autumn creeps through the window. I feel energized and decide to sneak downstairs for some much-needed alone time, and maybe a chance to get some fresh air.

The Alpha said that there wasn't a reason for us to leave the packhouse since our work was here and we work from sun up until sundown anyways. It's just how it's always been and the omega's seem used to it. I always found it strange that we weren't allowed to have time outside or really much free time at all.

Even though we're omegas, we're still wolves that need to connect with nature and I don't even know when the omega's have a chance to connect with their wolf forms. I haven't heard of Abigial shifting actually, but she must have.

The kitchen is empty and I walk outside and take off my shoes by the back door. I plant my feet in the grass and take in a huge breath of cool air, the first autumn breath of the almost changing seasons, and a smile is immediately plastered on my face. I feel content and at home.

I stretch my arms and legs and take a short walk around the outskirts of the packhouse in the forest, careful not to go too far because dawn creeps up fast and I want to be back inside before anyone notices I'm missing. I really don't want to cause any trouble. I've been pretty happy here and I want to continue that.

I made a promise to myself to lay low, even if that means pretending to submit to Meghan and not talk back, I grit my teeth at the thought of it.

Once the sky starts to lighten I head back inside meeting John, the guy who drops off fresh produce in the mornings, on my way in.

"Hi, John." I smile when I see him, he's in his mid-thirties if I had to guess, and is the most positive person I've ever met.

I open that back door as he gives me his award-winning smile, "Hello Miss Isla." he sings back.

I'm honestly a bit surprised he remembers my name as I rarely get to see him because I'm usually one of the last ones down and always miss him. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?" I ask

"If you're making some for yourself, I would love some. But I don't want you going out of your way then."

"No trouble at all. Milk and sugar?" I look up at him.

"Just milk please." He responds and he begins unloading his boxes of vegetables. As the coffee is brewing I help him start unloading.

"It's going to be a crazy weekend here then, isn't it?" He comments looking around at all the trays set out for baking today.

"I haven't seen a party this big ever," I say, truth be told there have been some smaller gatherings and meetings but nothing of this magnitude.

"There used to be parties," John gets a faraway look in his eye, "A while back," remembering, but then shakes it off, "Must have been before your time then."

"Must be," I say handing him his coffee. We enjoy it in silence for a few minutes until I start hearing some stirring upstairs and movement on the steps. I take our mugs and put them in the sink.

"Well, I better head off. Thanks for the company, Miss Isla." He tips his cap at me, "I'll see you in a few hours if you're around, I'll be back with some more produce."

I nod and smile and hastily run upstairs to get ready for the day.

Abigail and I end up working at the same station. Neither of us is great at baking so we're in charge of preparing some of the sauces that will end up served with the steaks for dinner.

"It's your birthday on Friday," Abigail nudges my shoulder, "What do you want to do for it?"

"The same thing as always is perfect." I smile at her, we have a tradition of sneaking some treats and heading to the lake, and spending hours there at night. The next day we are exhausted but it's worth it.

I look up at her as she is humming and mixing in some herbs to the sauce. She notices me starting, "Yes, my dear?"

I pause for a minute before I ask her, "Do you ever regret not replaceing a mate?" I say, "Or not really being allowed the opportunity to have one, I should say." I looked up remorsefully, we've never talked about it that much before.

Omega's that are mated to other omega's in the packhouse replace their mates. If your mate doesn't turn out to be a packhouse omega, then omega's rarely replace their mates here.

She sighs, "Honestly, I think everyone wants to replace their mate. Everyone deserves the opportunity to replace the person that the Moon Goddess chose for them. I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't have loved to replace mine. I always wanted kids." She looks down at me and pushes a strand of hair behind my ear.

It's unspoken, but we are family. I don't know where I would be if she wouldn't have taken me in.

I'm hoping that I replace a mate on my 18th birthday. Mostly because mated omega's get their own room in the attic or basement and they don't have to share with others anymore. It would just be nice to have a place of my own, somewhere that felt like mine, even if it was a small room. Maybe I could get some decorations or be able to paint the walls.

Being able to share with only one other person, and the person that was destined to be yours, seemed like a major step up to the floor of an attic.

Meghan stalks in the kitchen her heels clicking, giving her away before her bleached ponytail comes into view. I busy myself and look down hoping she won't notice me. She starts looking closely at everyone's station, not as she would even know what she's looking for. She was a s**t omega.

Abigail disappears for a second and comes back with a tray of pastries.

"Bring these upstairs, there's a backup fridge in the prep area off the main dining room. I whisper a thank you and hurry out of the kitchen right as Meghan turns around to look at our sauce station.

I head up the kitchen steps and have to cross the foyer to access the dining room as easily as possible. I'm looking down trying to focus on carrying the tray that is getting heavier as I go on.

All of a sudden I hear a shriek as I bump into something. I let out a bit of a muffled s****m and drop the platter. The only sound is the platter bouncing off the floor and I see it in slow motion as the pastries go flying.

The pack members that were milling about the packhouse all freeze.

I look up and see Hailey glaring at me with so much hatred in her eyes.