The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 98: A darn Cunt.

~Zarek’s POV~

Until seconds ago, I didn’t realise how much damage Jennifer has caused to my pack and to my life, and as I glared at her from down here whilst she stared back at me with equal fierceness, I couldn’t help but realize that I never got to find out how she got into my bed all those days ago.

Or how she happened to smell like Dahlia shortly before it happened and during it.

I also have not gotten answers as to why her father thinks I owe him a favor, and for some strange reason, all the investigators I’ve sent out to find out how all of these things have come to be have returned with nothing tangible.

Not even a single thing.

A strange warmth crept up my skin as I watched her for a second more— but it wasn’t the good kind of warmth. It wasn’t even the kind I always felt around her... the one that usually made me uncomfortable.

This one felt different. Dark. It felt like there were a thousand leeches crawling up my skin at the same time and sucking my blood dry.

And just as if a light bulb had been suddenly turned on in her head, she waved her hands at me and squealed; "Zarek!"

The smile beaming her face was contagious and for a minute, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was overthinking everything... If it was just my mind making up these crazy scenarios and planting these crazy seeds of doubts in my head.

I knew that Jennifer may be a little spoiled... pompous even, but was she capable of the things fleeting through my head?

Was she as dark as my subconscious tried to paint her to be?

Shaking my head to rid myself of these thoughts, I glanced away from a bouncing Jennifer, ignoring her blinding smile and the way she repeatedly called out to me, and then I made my way into the house.

However, I had just crossed the threshold when Adam, a new recruit, strutted over to me. He bowed his head meekly and said; "Alpha, Beta Orion asked me to send for you. He’s in the throne room and he says it’s urgent."

As soon as the words slipped past his lips, I nodded and patted his shoulder lightly before continuing on my merry way into the house. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Surprisingly, the house was unusually busy. People— noblemen, middle class pack members, slavers and even their slaves scrambled around, looking for somewhere to perch on and looking for the next gossip to hold on to.

My eyes searched the crowd in confusion, whilst I wondered what the occasion was about. However, I had only just gotten to the last corridor leading to the throne room when a familiar yet sweet smell assaulted my nostrils.

And just like that, Nyx materialised from thin air. Her silky brown hair floated around her as she rushed forward in a flowing flowery dress, and when she saw Leila cradled protectively in my arms, her face flushed, her eyes glazing with an emotion I couldn’t pinpoint at the moment.

"Leila!" Nyx called out exasperatedly, "I’ve been looking for you everywhere! You don’t get to run off like that!" She scolded, ignoring the fact that the young child was still perched on my arms with her arms draped around my shoulders.

My eyes thinned into fierce slits as I glared straight at her, but biting down on the words that fought to slip through my lips— an accusation that I could barely hold back— I gently helped the child to the floor and whispered to her; "I’ll come to see you later, okay?"

Leila nodded.

And then to Nyx, I drawled; "And learn to be more vigilant around our child. You really don’t want her actually running off, do you?"

Nyx gulped. "I understand."

From the corners of my eyes, I could notice a small crowd watching us with eagle eyes. I could hear their hushed whispers and could notice how shocked they were when I openly called Leila my child; But right now, they were the least of my worries.

Right now, my main concern was why my house seemed to be overflowing with people and why it seemed as though everyone was anticipating my reaction.

I trekked the rest of the way to the throne room and I almost balked when I noticed the unusually large crowd in there. This particular room was literally vomiting people and as soon as I stepped in, the loud chattering of people hanging around instantly died down.

Silence enveloped everyone like a cloak as everyone turned to look at me; and in that moment, it felt as though I could feel their gazes on my skin like needles prickling at the surface of my flesh.

What the hell was happening.

"Alpha!"

"Oh, it’s Alpha Zarek!"

"Good day, your Grace!"

"You majesty, welcome!"

The disoriented greetings from men and women around rang through my head as each voice struggled to be louder than the last. But something about the entire setup didn’t feel right to me.

Something about the grim tenseness in the atmosphere felt like I’d been ganged up on... like this was an attack of some sort, and what felt worse was when I noticed the barely concealed contempt reeking off some of my elders in waves.

The worst of all was Elder Tyrion, and the old monger was glaring at me like I’d stolen something from him.

My fingers flexed by my sides as I glared straight at him, and in the most authoritative voice I could muster despite my fraying nerves, I growled; "What the hell is this?"

"Alpha, this is a long overdue meeting that should’ve taken place over a week ago." Elder Esau, Tyrion’s cousin spoke out with a kind of bravado that made me want to rip out his throat.

"And what is it about? Nyx’Zariel? Did she strike again?" I asked indifferently, not missing the way Elder Tyrion scoffed before stepping forward.

It wasn’t until that moment that I noticed Orion sitting behind him... and Jennifer seated close to him like a companion.

—And now that I think about it, they actually looked like a cute couple.

Only that this version of cute couple is one which the male looks so flustered, it was a miracle he hasn’t wet himself yet... and the female looked so smug, she was a stark contrast to the squealing woman who had been waving to me from the top of the fortress only minutes ago.

My attention shifted back to Elder Tyrion when he shuffled even closer and my eyes thinned into fierce slits when his stupid woodsy scent drifted into my nostrils.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t come any closer." I drawled in a low threatening voice when I noticed him coming impossibly closer, and I almost smiled when he shifted back quickly, a flicker of uncertainty fleeting past his eyes for a nanosecond.

He coughed dramatically and then bowed curtly before saying; "Alpha, the court has come to a new conclusion..."

"Which is?" I drawled,

"You need to step down from the throne... and you need to allow Beta Orion assume the position of Alpha." He said, and as soon as the words left his mouth, a choking silence enveloped us all.

It was so thick and so tense, I felt it pressing down on my chest. But that wasn’t all of it, what was worse was the betrayal. The fact that Orion knew about this and had let it happen... the fact that even Jennifer knew and had sat by to let it fester for this long.

What was worse was the feeling of being left in the dark for so long while those who— probably at some point— were the closest to me were well aware of what was happening.

I sighed. "And who are those in the ’council’ that came to this conclusion?"

"I did!" Elder Tyrion exclaimed with pride, "...my cousin Esau thinks so too... even Patrick there and Klint!"

"Why?"

I do not know why I asked these questions— maybe it was my mind’s own way of processing this betrayal— but I felt like I needed to get them out of my chest. My body shook with rage and despair and when I glanced in Orion’s direction, he still couldn’t look at me. His head was still ducked, and his face was so pink, one would think he’d played with beetroot before coming here.

The fucking coward!

"Isn’t it obvious?" Tyrion shouted rudely, "...you no longer know your duties! And you probably no longer remember anything!"

Ignoring Tyrion, I turned to Orion and asked; "Ajd do you agree with that, Orion?"

He balked. For a fleeting moment, I could swear that I saw regret flash in his eyes before he looked away in discomfort, but he didn’t say a word. He hesitated.

He probably doesn’t agree with that.

He’s probably doesn’t agree with any of these and was being cajoled.

A darn cunt!

A dark chuckle escaped my lips as I glared at everyone present. But even in this moment of despair... in this moment of heartbreaking betrayal, a particular face stood out to me; Elder Kira.

She looked fierce and ready to pounce on anyone when asked to— by me, and my chest swelled at the thought, knowing that there was still one loyal face... at least.

Smiling darkly at the crowd, I motioned to Elder Tyrion and snarled; "If you agree with him, come this way."

And I watched with horror as more Elders rose to their feet to scurry behind Elder Tyrion. Even Jennifer joined the crowd.

But Orion didn’t.

The cunt didn’t.

I smirked. "Now, everyone one of you, get out of this room... and out of my pack."

Chaos erupted.