EMMA
"Happy birthday to you, darling Emma. Happy birthday to you." My aunt chorused the song in an off-key tone. A happy grin creased her features as she helped me up from the bed. Beads of sweat dotted my forehead. I had the nightmare again—the usual nightmare I always had on my birthdays, and it never made sense to me.
"Thank you, Aunty." I forced a smile as I stood up from the bed. I loved my aunt so much, especially how she seemed to make my birthday a huge deal even when I hated it.
She produced a lopsided cupcake from a brown satchel on the floor, and I suppressed the urge to break down in tears.
"Make a wish, Emma." Tucking a stray curl, she nudged me. I blew out the candle and closed my eyes, pleading with the moon goddess to make this my best birthday ever.
Let this be the year everything changes.
For everyone else in the Pack, an eighteenth birthday was sacred. It was the moment your wolf emerged, and your mate bond became possible. But for me, a bastard Omega with a cursed collar, it meant nothing. My wolf had never stirred, and no one expected it to.
Layla squeezed my shoulder, bringing me back to reality. "After chores, we will visit your mother's grave."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "Okay."
As I stared out through the window, the Pack House buzzed with preparations for Vera's mating ceremony tonight. I was the Beta's daughter, too, but no one seemed to remember that today was my birthday.
Suddenly, a loud shriek echoed from inside the Packhouse. I didn't need to guess who it was. Vera made it a point of duty to flaunt her mates before everyone in the Pack.
As if my aunt remembered what they did to me the year before, she sighed, squeezing my hand. "Stay away from them today. Please."
"I will. I promise." I would keep to my words, but fate had other plans. I quickly donned my birthday dress and strode out of the slave quarters, ready to start my chores, when a senior maid strolled past.
"Hey, Omega, Luna Vera summons you." She signalled to me
"I have a name and it is not Omega," I whispered and turned on my heel, walking faster before Vera found the perfect excuse to punish me again today.
As I neared the ceremonial room, I heard familiar moans and to my surprise, the door to the ceremonial lounge was open. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Vera sprawled across Xavier's lap, her crimson dress hitched high as Xander fingered her. Her hand crept up his pants and squeezed his crotch roughly, and I heard a soft groan escape him.
"Oh dear moon goddess, fuck my pussy harder, baby. Yes, right there."
"Yes! Yes!! Oh my yes!!! Tear that pussy like you own it!!"
Xander was kissing down her neck as she moaned softly. A chill went down my spine at the sight of them together so brazenly. Couldn't she keep her voice down? My stomach clenched up into an uninvited knot of jealousy. I couldn't be jealous because they weren't mine. Their hands roamed her body like they owned it — like they were all hers.
A whimper escaped her lips, and that was when she saw me. Clearing my throat, I immediately said, "You called for me."
"Yes, I did, my love. Happy birthday." Vera disentangled from them and got off the bed, pasting a fake smile on her face.
For the first time in eighteen years, she wished me a happy birthday, and I couldn't help but feel irritation swell inside me, especially when she brought out a red bag from her closet. Suspicion trickled down my spine.
"I got this for you, sis." She pulled me into a tight embrace. I stiffened in her arms as my brows curled in a frown. I would be a fool if I didn't know that this was one of Vera's antics.
This wasn't kindness—it smelt fishy, especially with the triplets watching. I knew Vera. And I knew something was wrong. She had called me in to make me watch them make love to her, another way to remind me that I was mateless. But why the gift?
She pulled out of my embrace and patted my cheeks.
"Awww, babe. You are so sweet." Just then, one of the triplets—Xerxes piped, drawing me out of my thoughts. Maybe I was overthinking things.
"Thank you, Vera. Congratulations on your mating ceremony, too." I managed to say that before collecting the gift. But as I did, my fingers brushed her hand—and something deep inside me flinched.
I didn't know why, but my stomach tightened. I turned to the triplets, who still regarded me with so much disgust. My eyes connected with Xerxes as his gaze raked over me like I was a worthless piece of trash, but when I looked at Xavier, I saw a look of hunger cross his features, and it disappeared as soon as I saw it. Like it had never been there. Were my eyes playing games on me?
I sauntered out of the room, towards the slave quarters, when what would make me hate this year's birthday happened or rather, when everything fell apart. Again.
"The Luna Crest is missing!" A loud voice bounced off the Packhouse, sending shivers down my spine.
No. No, no, no, it couldn't be …
I had cleaned the room where it was kept yesterday, and this was new to me. I saw Vera rush out of the ceremonial room with the triplets behind her, and almost immediately, two guards flanked me side by side just as the red gift bag fell from my hands. I was in deep trouble.