Chapter 2

Second day. "Get up! How dare you still be sleeping in the Alpha's bed?" The harsh voice pierced through Alyssa's dreams like a needle through silk. She hurriedly covered her naked body with the bedsheet. When she saw who it was, her pain began to rise again. It was Hera, Ezekiel's mother, who loathed her even more than Ezekiel did. Upon noticing her state, Hera's face creased into a deep frown. "Why are you crying?" she said with disgust. "Ezekiel is your husband, your mate, your Alpha, so you must accept everything he does to you without complaint, for that is your duty." Alyssa silently dressed herself, unable to refute her. She had to get up and do the housework, or her humiliation would not stop for the day. But Hera's humiliation continued. "Enough! My son is so unlucky that the Moon Goddess chose you as his mate! Now...hurry up and get dressed. You must work now. If my precious grandson's birthday is ruined due to your laziness, I will make sure Ezekiel punishes you," she ordered, giving Alyssa one last disdainful look before leaving the room. The grandson Hera spoke of was the son of Ezekiel's sister Emma. Not long after she was bound to Ezekiel, his sister Emma found her fated mate and they tied the knot. It didn't take long for her to be pregnant and tomorrow is the child's first birthday. Alyssa sighed deeply and stood up from the bed shakily as her legs still haven't healed from the earlier event. She entered the closet and immediately changed into a pair of trousers and a T-shirt. She had no time to wash up because she didn't want Sheila to call on her for the second time. She knew what would happen next if she delayed much longer. After putting on her clothes, she set to work immediately. After stepping into the midst of the other servants, she immediately heard the soft whispers and noticed the disgusted stares she got from them. "She's here finally, back to her place." "Look at what she's putting on." A soft snicker followed after that statement. "I wonder what the Alpha sees in her to make her his bed mate." Someone whispered making a sad smile appear on her face. Not even the servant would believe that she was his mate with the way Ezekiel, his lover, and his family openly treated her. "Sharing a bed with the Alpha can never get you a higher status. I mean, look at her.. she's just a weak whore that's beneath us mere servants." Another one muttered and the rest of them burst out laughing. Alyssa bowed her head silently, trying to hold back her pain and anger. She took deep breaths as a way to calm herself down. She knew nothing would ever come out of picking a fight with them. How could she win when she was unable to make a sound to defend herself? She could only ignore them and continue with the work assigned to her. After working endlessly for several hours, they were finally done with the preparations. Emma wanted it to be a grand event so it took them more time and effort to set the place up. Alyssa wanted to retire back to her room and take a small nap before the event fully began when a servant suddenly passed by her, roughly shoving her aside in the process. As a result of her violent push, Alyssa lost her balance and fell hard on the bare floor. She held her back in panic, hoping her baby wasn't hurt. Instead of apologizing, the servant mocked her,"Oh look, the mute can't even cry out when she falls",her words drawing cruel laughter from the others. "What's wrong, Luna? Cat got your tongue?" Realizing that the maid had done it on purpose,rage exploded in Alyssa's chest. She could tolerate their daily insults and humiliation, but endangering her baby? Never. She stood up and walked towards the servant. Before the servant could react, Alyssa grabbed her shoulder, spun her around, and slapped her with all the force of her pent-up anger, sending the woman staggering backward. The maid clutched her aching cheeks and widened her eyes. She didn't expect Alyssa to fight back. "How dare you hit me!" She screamed loudly and said, raising her hand angrily, just as she was about to fight back, she suddenly stopped in mid-air. Alyssa noticed the trembling of fear in her eyes. "Alpha Ezekiel ..." She immediately lowered her head and said respectfully. "Leave..." Ezekiel ordered in a low voice, and she ran away immediately. Alyssa turned to stare at Ezekiel in surprise, wondering why he had chased the servant off instead of watching others humiliate her like he used to before. She searched his eyes, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw a flicker of concern there. Could he finally be how good she was? "You!!" He said as he suddenly gripped her shoulder harshly, pulling her towards him. She couldn't even make a groan even though she felt she could slump at any moment under his violence. He's with an Alpha wolf, whose power was ten times stronger than a wolfless omega like her. "Don't get any delusions. Today's my nephew's birthday and I want everything to be perfect." "I expect you to do as you always do, stay out of my sight and avoid drawing any attention towards you. I hope I've made myself clear??" He asked as he tightened his hold on her shoulder. Hearing this,Alyssa realized she had been naive again. How many times would she have to learn this lesson? Always, again and again, to search for warmth in those cold eyes, to imagine tenderness in that harsh voice. Each time she thought she had learned her lesson, yet here she was, heart breaking anew. A soft sob escaped her lips as she nodded. She could still remember how he used to look at her, how his eyes once held tenderness instead of contempt. Those memories now felt like shards of glass in her chest, cutting deeper with each breath. He let out a dismissive 'humph' before releasing her, as if even touching her had become distasteful. Alyssa watched him walk away, his broad shoulders growing smaller with each step. His cold back seemed to be what he had left her the most since they were mated. Ezekiel always cherished his family, but that didn't include her. Once again, her eyes fell on her flat belly. The memory of how she lost her first baby before was still vivid. What about this time? ☆☆☆☆☆ Emma was a well-known lady and even with her horrible character, she still managed to gather rich and powerful allies from everywhere she went. Alyssa was standing in a far corner watching silently as the whole family gathered happily. Everyone looked at the stars of the day with delight. Alyssa's eyes were filled with envy as she watched Emma seated closely next to her husband with their child in his arms. She had everything Alyssa had ever dreamed of, a loving husband and family. Alyssa thought of her own pregnancy, wondering what it would feel like to be finally able to carry her baby in her arms. As she was deeply immersed in her thoughts, she suddenly heard her name being called. Emma had waved at her to offer her a drink. It made Alyssa finally visible to the guests but no one would know she was actually Ezekiel's Luna. Alyssa had been used to Emma liking to command her like a queen but she didn't expect her quality to be low like this when she whispered at her ears; "Alyssa, you must be very jealous now, right?" Alyssa quickly glanced at her smug expression knowing there wasn't going to be anything nice from her mouth. She wanted to leave but Emma gripped her hand, holding her back. "I bet you'd never get such a beautiful moment like this," She began. Alyssa balled her hands but couldn't stop shivering in anger. She knew exactly how much Alyssa had suffered when she was forced to give up her first child, but She just didn't want to miss any chances to humiliate her. "Trust me, no one would want a mute like you as a family. You'd better give up early and set my brother free.” Emma's words about her previous pregnancy struck a raw nerve. She didn't want to put up with Emma's vitriol anymore. Alyssa's hands moved decisively in the air, her gestures sharp with anger: "If you're so concerned about your brother's happiness, why don't you ask him directly instead of whispering threats to me? A cold smile spread across Emma's face as she watched those desperate movements. " Fine," she spat,"I'll make sure you understand just how unwanted you are." She turned to Nicholas, her voice suddenly sweet with poisoned honey. "Brother, when will you divorce and then marry Cindy? Our pack needs a more decent Luna and a strong heir.Not a muteness heir." The words struck like physical blows. Alyssa's hands clenched into fists, nails digging crescents into her palms. She wanted to scream that her muteness wasn't genetic, that she hadn't been born this way. The words burned in her throat, useless as always. But when her eyes met with Ezekiel's warning gaze, she immediately withdrew and that made Emma smirk more at her. "Her condition isn't hereditary so there's no way any offspring from her would have her condition." Ezekiel suddenly said, making Alyssa stun at her spot. Emma also opened her mouth in shock. It's the second time he's protected her today. For one wild moment, hope fluttered in Alyssa's chest. But then his voice hardened to steel. "But I will never let a weak and wolf-free Omega like her bear my children," he continued, adding that Alyssa's expectations were once again dashed. Emma's wicked face smiled again. She turned to Alyssa smugly, as if to say, don't get your hopes up, my brother will never accept you. So, that was his true heart, wasn't it? He still hated to have a child with her...then what about the child she's carrying now? Will they do the same horrible thing to it again?