I woke up with a raging headache and my body aching in all possible corners. My back lay on a soft feathered mattress so comfortable that my eyes threatened to close back up and go back to a deep slumber that I did not need to wake up from.
I groaned.
I knew I had to get up and face the ceiling. I don't think anyone would care even if my life was hanging by a thread if I didn't get to scrubbing the floors in a few hours.
I opened my eyes again, hoisted myself up to a sitting position on the bed, and looked around.
Rows and rows of small wiry beds were arranged together with thin curtains separating each of them. The smell of medicine and disinfectant permeated the air. I was in the infirmary.
Footsteps resounded and I turned my head just in time to see Teliff barging into the room, her face masked with worry. She looked around until her eyes finally landed on my wary form and she all but fell trying to get to my bedside.
"Maeve! Are you okay? I heard about what happened."
"Yeah, I think so. I'm better than before actually," I said with a strained smile. But it was true. I could feel the wolf in me healing me faster than before, I could feel the strength seeping back into my bones. No matter what happens, I don't think I'll ever regret being an omega now.
Teliff leaned in closer, her eyes softening. "Well, good news Maeve. Valden sent word that you don't have to get back to work today anymore. Maybe take a rest for a day or two before you get back. That must have been one hell of a beating you've gotten if he said that."
My mouth fell open.
Valden said that? No, that's not what it was. How dare he?
He knew very well I wasn't trained yet. He knew very well how weak I was. And he had no reservations about throwing me to the wolves like that, not to mention not doing anything when I was beaten black and blue in front of him.
My hands curled into fists underneath the blanket. Teliff was still looking at me with an expectant smile as if he had just granted me immortality on a golden platter.
I smiled back as if I was relieved. I probably shouldn't be complaining on my first day if I was going to last any longer.
"That's great. So I can get back to my room, then?"
Teliff nodded excitedly. "I guess they need to do a final checkup before they let you go. But after that, you're all good."
The final checkup took up more time than necessary and included them drawing my blood for some testing of sorts. Some of the scientists from their wing even paid a visit and scribbled something on their clipboards, while giving me flat looks. By the end of it, my body seemed to have healed completely and I was just happy to leave.
So all my wounds had already closed up, and even though my head still hurt, it wasn't something I couldn't handle. But I sure as hell didn't want to go through that again without any training. Now, I was just angry. Angry at Valden. Angry at Valeria. Angry at the Parthenn dome for all the unrealistic expectations. But I still couldn't leave.
My time in the periphery never granted even a semblance of power or hope so going back wasn't an option. I had to survive here. Everything that I had to go through led up to this moment. This moment at Parthenn.
But first, there was something I needed to do.
I marched across the high ceiling glass tunnel-like corridor, the strength in my muscles blazing a little louder, passing the delta guards in their simple black uniforms and strapped weapons. They said he was here, at the testing dock, and that I should wait until he's free, since what omega would dare to disrupt his duties? But I didn't care because I needed to know why he was doing this.
Because I saw the glint in his eyes as Valeria took the final blow. There had to be something he remembered about me, but it made no sense as to why he would want me hurt like that.
I pushed open the steel door leading to a large room with several machines and scanners, blue lights blinking everywhere, and beeps echoing against the walls. A separate room was built inside this one and I could hear voices from inside, a woman and a man.
One of them had to be Valden.
I moved towards it, tilting my head to look through the small and narrow window built into the side of the room to see if it really was him in there until the voices got even louder.
I could see Valden standing inside, leaning against the counter with his usual unreadable expression, brandishing a small scanner, the kind they used for testing mutation levels. I quickly hid behind the wall next to the window, my heart thudding loudly in my ears.
I wanted to confront him about what happened today but now I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
What would he even say to me?
Probably something along the lines of 'you're an omega, know your place'.
This was a bad idea. I should just leave before he finds out and punishes me instead for creeping up on him.
I was about to take a quiet turn until I saw her stepping into view. She had her eyes trained on him, but her stance was casual. Familiar.
The woman was tall and slender in the way most Lycan women were, and her shiny black uniform with the enlarged emblem clung to her curves like second skin. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek bun, not a single strand out of place and I recognized her immediately.
The Commander's aid and second in command, Alpha Rhea Garrenwhan.
I'd never met an alpha before in close quarters, but I'd seen her from afar or on screens as she conveyed the messages of the citadel and the Order of the Lycans. Everyone knew her.
She used to train with the actual Commander Alpha and now served directly under him as his aid and advisor. His right hand. Rumor also had it that she was sleeping with him.
But now, a faint sense of dread was curling up my chest.
Valden said something I couldn't hear and she laughed. My nails bit into my palms. Before I knew it, my feet had pulled me closer until I could hear exactly what they were saying.
No, I should leave. God knows how an omega would be punished for eavesdropping.
This time I turned, fully intent on walking back and enjoying the rest of my evening in peace.
Until I heard my name.