Chapter 7

The silence broke again as reality came back to her once she heard Adeline speak in her original monotone voice, "You're staying here."

Jessica flinched at those words. She was afraid of that. She knew it would happen. She just didn't want to hear it. It also yet again dawned on her.

She was being forced to be in the Delaney Pack.

Her blood ran cold at what she realized had happened. One of the doors to the study opened slowly, revealing a young brunette who, like everyone else in this pack, brought a serious air with her, "Yes, Madam Alpha?"

"Puppy, this is Katalin, an Omega like you. Katalin, this is Jessica. I would like you to take her to the servant quarters and I would like you and your sister to advise her about the Delaney pack ways. You're both excused," Adeline got up from her seat and started to walk toward Keric as Katalin bowed her head to her and went for Jessica.

"W-wait...Madame Alpha?" Jessica got up but spoke almost hesitantly.

Adeline looked at her, stopping, "What?"

"I have a job back in Jackson. At a café. When I left, I was...feeling extremely..." Jessica trailed off.

"Afraid?" Adeline finished and Jessica nodded.

"And I'm sure my boss noticed. I believe that she might be worried about me," Jessica spoke her eyes on the floor.

"And we did chase after her barely a few moments after she fled," Keric added in a matter-of-fact voice.

Adeline sighed in an annoyed manner. She looked back at Jessica, "Fine. Tomorrow, you will accompany Katalin and her sister to the café. You are to quit your job there. You are no longer a lone wolf and your place is here. Understood?"

Sadness filled Jessica's heart as she nodded and turned to leave with Katalin, who closed the doors behind them to leave her new Alphas alone.

"Keep up. The others are not used to you yet. Females of the other ranks would want you to submit to them and the unmated males will have eyes on you," Katalin spoke to her in a light yet cold voice, her petite body out-walking Jessica in speed.

She couldn't believe this. Everything, her job, her goals, her promise to never join another pack, her way of life, was gone with just a few words. She had gotten herself caught, and now, her life was no longer hers.

Though, inside of herself, her wolf did settle. Though still wary of their new home, it was just that: their home. They didn't have to run anymore, no more rundowns, no more lonely nights, and no more fending for themselves.

"But...don't forget," Jessica reminded her other self, "No pack is to be trusted. This pack is known for its hostility, its distantness, and its aggression; it may be far worse than the other packs we have faced and other packs we've been in...No. We can't settle. I don't know how, but we have to find a way to leave this pack. We can't give up. We've come way too far..."

Her wolf whined at her thoughts. We can relax now. We are safe.

Jessica debated on listening to her wolf's instincts this time. Before she really could though, Katalin spoke, "We're here." She went forward and opened the door to the flat.

It was silent as they entered the house. Katalin closed the door and let out a sigh, which startled Jessica.

"...What?" Katalin asked, less icy than when she was walking.

"N...Nothing," Jessica shook her head slightly.

Getting up from her lean against the door, Katalin narrowed her eyes at her, "Look. Don't lie to me. What is bothering you?"

"Just...um...why were you so cold out there, but not here?" Jessica asked, failing to find a way around it.

Katalin studied her, "We're not heartless. Jessica, was it? If the pack was so, the Alpha would have killed you the moment you got here, despite how busy he is."

Jessica gulped, thinking about Keric and Adeline, knowing that was true. She saw right through her. Of course, she had. Who couldn't? When Jessica scented her, she could tell she was easily stronger than her. In fact, Katalin was easily as strong as a Delta in her old pack. Jessica wanted to ask, but decided against it, fearing the outcome.

Katalin walked past her and called through the house, "Kamilla? Oscar? Lain? Jeremy? Tuomas? Is anyone here?"

The sound of a room opened, steady steps were heard down the hall, and from it came someone who looked almost exactly like Katalin. Her hair was short, straight, and in a v-cut compared to Katalin's shoulder length and curly hair, and her cheeks seemed more rounded than Katalin's. As well, her eyes were dark brown while Katalin's were a lighter shade.

"I'm sorry, sister. The others are working. It's just me," The woman spoke to her, but at the same time sniffed and looked over at Jessica, her eyes held a bitter stare at her, "Who's this, Katalin?"

"Jessica. She's a new omega to the pack," Katalin told her sister.

Her sister studied her, her cool gaze unchanging, "...Are you sure she's even that? The pack she came from wasn't that strong was it?"

Jessica bit back a growl that both she and her wolf wanted. She may have been weaker than them, but how dare she?! She knew nothing about her original pack!

"Not all packs are strong. She is an omega, Kamilla. Madame Alpha demands that we look after her and have her help with our duties," Katalin sat down while Kamilla rolled her eyes, her lip twitching in aggravation, "It seems you will finally be getting a bunkmate."

Kamilla gave her a low growl, almost a groan of protest. Her attention turned back to Jessica, "Jessica was it?"

Jessica nodded, not trusting her voice to not growl at her.

"I'll show you to the bedroom," Kamilla leaned against the wall, "Anything else we have to do, Katalin?"

"Just one. Tomorrow, she has to go back to Jackson to quit her human job," Katalin told her, relaxing her eyes.

Kamilla grunted before heading back to the room, cold aggravation lined her words, "Are you coming or not?"

~~*

"You'll be staying here," Kamilla led her into a bedroom that was smaller than the Motel 6 room, but still large enough for two people to live there comfortably, "That bed and drawer is yours."

Jessica went over to the single-sized bed. The sheets were amber colored and when she sat down, it felt a little rigid, but far more comfortable than the grounds she's slept on, "...Thank you—"

"Don't thank me," Kamilla cut her off, ice didn't leave her voice as she stressed those words and folded her arms, leaning in the doorway, "There was bound to be another Omega in here eventually. I just didn't think I'd be sharing it with someone weaker than me."