The Omegas Second Chance

Chapter 2

Shayna

The steam filled the room and the hot water cascaded over my skin like a warm embrace. It had been hours in the car, and I wasn't shy to admit that I was not as young as I used to be and aches and pains were a normal part of my life now. I may be a werewolf and heal at superhuman speed, but I wasn't immune to life and all the pros and cons that come with it.

The skin on my fingertips started to wrinkle into little prunes, so I turned the water off in the shower and stepped out before wrapping myself up in the fluffiest towel I could find in the box I had in my room. I wiped the condensation off of the mirror and frowned at the appearance staring back at me.

My brown eyes still seemed a bit dull and dark circles graced my lower lids and the bruising around my neck seemed even more pronounced today than it had before. It's not that I wasn't pretty. I knew that my genetics had been kind to me but the person staring back at me in the mirror looked like they had been put through the ringer.

I hated myself for being so weak and allowing myself to be put into that position. I had tried for so long and so f*****g hard to make that alliance work between our families that I lost sight of myself and my own well-being. I still remember the way Miles pulled Derek off of me. The way it seemed violence had overtaken my sweet fifteen year old boy. I knew within the next year Miles would be coming upon his designation.

When a werewolf turns 16, they reach what has essentially been labeled as their designation. It's where they find out if they are an alpha, a beta, or an omega. Alphas have more aggression, confidence, dominance, and strength than a beta or an omega. They can mate with any designation but generally try to find an omega to complete and compliment their personalities. A beta is strong, yes, but nothing compared to an alpha. They are generally more reasonable and easygoing compared to the assertive and self-assured characteristics of alphas. Betas in today's world are the supportive members of today's world. They are no less loyal and dependable than an alpha and generally prefer harmony and peace over conflict and aggression. Omegas are the exact opposite of an alpha. We are submissive, gentle, sensitive, and generally very empathetic. We can be 'spicy', as Miles likes to call it. Where an alpha is strong, and built like a tank and looks like they could and would rip you apart with their bare hands, an omega is built for softness. We are generally smaller, faster, and are very social.

I remember my parents' pleasant attitudes at my designation. What I took for pride was only them plotting how to use it for their benefit. Wealthy families like the ones I came from are archaic. They view women, omegas especially, as property to be sold and bought off. Bartered and traded for their own personal gain. It turns my stomach. It's part of the reason I left.

For the longest time, I hated what I was. I was tormented day in and day out from the moment my omega surfaced. I was made to believe that I was defective. That I was worthless and trash just because of who I was. At least that is the very, very shortened cliff notes version. Look at me, traumatized by my past and traumatized by my present. Will there ever be a time when I can just exist and be normal? I really should look into therapy, if not for my sake, then for Miles.

I threw on a pair of cotton pajama shorts and a threadbare tee-shirt. It was one that Derek would have scoffed at and tried to throw away. I smiled as I felt the softness cover my skin. Omegas craved soft and comfortable, especially when it was time for nesting and our heat. I made a mental note to check when my next cycle would be starting as I brushed my long and blonde hair in a braid.

When I looked at the time on my phone, I noticed only 15 minutes had passed. I sighed as I made my way back to the living room and noticed Miles had the door open and was switching off the cash for the pizza I had ordered.

"Keep the change," Miles told the driver, and started to back away when the blood drained from my face.

"Shayna?" A voice from my past had me gulping, not in fear but in the memories of the torment it brought.

"Hi Patrick." I whispered. He looked the same as he did in high school but older. He had red hair and bright green eyes that sparkled like gems. He had a hint of stubble on his jawline and a few tattoos on his arms. They were large and looked like they could crush me if he squeezed me enough. The memories of the threats he and his friends made brought a shiver up my spine. He could crush me. He was an alpha.

"I didn't know you were back in town," he said while he rubbed the back of his neck. He swayed from foot to foot as he continued to look at me. He looked regretful, but that couldn't be right. He was one of my largest tormentors in high school. I couldn't force myself to meet his gaze, not only because he was an alpha, and I was an omega, but he truthfully still scared me. Maybe even more so now, since he was larger and very clearly stronger than he was as a teenager.

"It's..."

"Do you know him, mom?" Miles asked as he looked from Patrick to me and back.

I glanced at Patrick out of the corner of my eye while still keeping my head tilted down. I noticed him staring at me, taking me in from head to toe. His eyes lingered on the bruises on my neck and the ones littering my arms. His jaw ticked, and his anger poured off of him in waves. I shivered, remembering very well what damage an alpha's anger and wrath could do. I clenched my own jaw and took a couple of deep breaths before raising my own eyes and keeping them on my son.

"We went to high school together. Thank you for the pizza, Is that enough cash?" I whispered to Patrick.

"It's plenty. More than enough. Y'all have a good night." He muttered as he backed away from us and I slowly shut the door and effectively cutting off the memories before I spiraled into another panic attack.

I wasn't going to start that here I refused to allow that to harm me. I have been through more painful things than a round of high school bullying. This was my new life. I was going to be stronger now.