Fated

Chapter 1

When you hear the word 'mate' what does it make you think of? Doesn't it make you think of passionate romance and unbreakable love? Will you feel fulfilled when you meet your mate? I used to think so. I used to believe in all those mate stories when the second they met, they would fall in love.

All their troubles would fade and they would run off into the sunset and live a happy life. A life of joy and not sorrow. No pain. No heartbreak. Because a mate should never leave you.

Never.

But I stopped believing all of that when I was eight. That was the year my father killed my mother (his mate) and outcasted me, making me a rouge. I had to fend for myself before falling into the South Water's pack.

There I was treated like a lowly omega, having no friends and no one to rely on but myself. If mates were ever a thing, mine never came for me. And I came to terms with that. I had to in order to survive.

From ten years old I was beaten and abused for every mistake I made. My body held scars from each blow, though most would heal over time. But it didn't matter because I would just get another beating on top of it.

And that was because I was a shield wolf. I didn't have to obey alpha commands or any other commands for that matter. I would just go against their word and rebel. The only way they could teach me to behave was by beating it into me.

But then I met Donna Troy. She was the Beta's daughter and took pity on me. She would bring me bandages and clean my wounds, and eventually, I learned to trust her. Eventually, we became friends and I wasn't alone anymore.

And now I was eighteen, living in the attic of the pack house, trying to get my chores done every day so I would be able to sneak out and meet with her. Of course, it would be scandalous if someone found out about Donna and me, so we had to hide our friendship.

Life was exhausting and with every year that passed, I stopped believing that someone would come and save me. Instead, I started to plan my escape here. Luckily, Donna wanted to leave too, so we planned to start our pack and travel the world. It was a dream, but it was also the only thing that kept me going.

"Rachel," Donna whispered at the doorway.

I looked around the kitchen and saw no one was paying attention, so I left my cleaning station and walked over to speak with her.

"Yes, beta Troy," I said out of politeness.

"Did you hear? There is a ball where the king alpha is hoping to find his son a mate." Donna grabbed my hand and jumped with joy. "Wouldn't it be amazing if that person was you?"

"It could never be," I shake my head and try to quiet her so the others wouldn't hear.

"It could be," she frowned, upset that I was putting myself down again. (She always hated it when I thought with the glass half empty).

"I am a lowly omega," I shake my head. "I would never even be invited to the ball."

"I need a maid to come with me. I chose you. You are coming as my plus one," her smile returned.

"Donna, why would you do that? I can't be there. Someone would notice I was a shield and try to kill me for not obeying," I shake my head, knowing how hated shields were in society. If someone would figure me out, I would be toast for sure.

"I will protect you," she hugs me close, showing her sincerity. "And if you just act like you are following their commands, how could they notice?"

"Alright," I nod, knowing I have a weakness for Donna.

"Yea!" She said a little too loudly and caused the whole kitchen to turn to us. Donna's quick thinking made her say, "Sorry, I was just so excited about the breakfast menu, please go back to your work."

I complied, pretending to hear her beta orders, but truthfully I just thought it was better if Donna left me alone. I love her to death, but she is the cause of most of my troubles when she shows her friendship to me in front of others.

"Beta Troy, tell your mother and father that food will be served in ten minutes, please," the older omega, in charge of all food production asked as Donna walked off.

I spent the rest of the morning making and serving food to the pack house, keeping my head down the whole time. I didn't even bother to look at anyone's face because it would only result in an angry alpha.

Though it had been a while, Alpha Luther could still become angry with me and abuse me, which I didn't want. What he did to me stuck in my head and now I flinch when people move too fast or raise a hand.

I feel weak and because of that, I stopped fighting. My life has become simpler, and more tolerable. So I keep my head down. I don't make a noise. And one day, I might just be able to slip out of this hell hole.