verb ~ lose one's balance and topple over

NOVA

A week had passed, and I had thankfully avoided conflict. Today was a cleaning day and so I got busy cleaning the vast majority of hallways and rooms in my designated area. Which is the alpha and the beta rooms, as well as all the main offices downstairs.

Today, I could hear shouting and doors slamming from Steven's office. He came storming out into the hallway not long after and barely glanced at me. I watched him go into the forest through the foyer window, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Not long after, Sophie came out after him, her eyes wild with anger.

Oh, no. Bad timing to be here, Nova.

Marching my way, her hand came flying to my hair, and she pushed me against the wall, her canines extended. I shrunk away from the sight of her wolf, completely at a loss for her reaction. Her free hand quickly slapped me across the face so hard and unexpected that I bit down on my lip and the metallic warmth of blood filled my mouth.

"It's all your fault!" She shrieked.

I expected something else, but she quickly dismissed me with a growl and chased after Steven in her stupid high heels.

I spat out the blood and slumped to the floor. I was just mopping! What have I done? I took a moment to gather my thoughts and understand what had just occurred.

My answer; no clue.

There were sounds of footsteps scuffling, and I looked up to see everyone running down the stairs and halls, wiping hands on their aprons and fixing their hair.

Another downside to not shifting was not being able to mind link my fellow pack mates. I could only assume the word was out for a meeting or something had actually happened since everyone was going towards the grand hall.

I cursed, not having time to sort my face out, but got up and followed a group of people, wiping at the blood that dripped down my cheek. The grand hall was bright and was the only place where we could all fit. Luckily, I got there just in time. Most wolves already stood facing a podium where both alpha men stood.

Alpha Steven was the one who was talking tonight. I noticed he was doing a lot more instead of his father, Damien. No doubt he would be in complete control soon. Rosie had already left to live with her mate in his pack, so the family numbers were dwindling.

"Thank you for coming when I know so many of you are busy." The room was hushed to silence. "I received a phone call with the orders from the king."

Murmurs sounded across the room, and people jostled nervously. I huddled into myself at the back of the crowd, glad for the cover from the people in front.

"The King is sending one of his main packs and their alpha to do a welfare check on us!" He cleared his throat to quieten the room. "And it is the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack."

People murmured amongst the crowd, but I frowned in confusion. This pack obviously created uncertainty within them, but the name sparked a memory of the alpha pair muttering to each other last week.

I was blissfully unaware of why it was such a bad thing, so made a note in my mind to ask mother later. This was the second time I heard Steven talk about them. This was the pack that was at the party, yet I didn't sense an alpha as strong as that there.

Wiping my mouth with my sleeve, I grimaced at the blood. I really liked this jumper...

Glancing up, I saw Steven surveying the room as people voiced their opinions at once. His gaze met mine from way across the room and I sucked in my lips before dropping my head so my hair would cover my face. I felt weirdly... guilty.

He cleared his throat. "Alpha Titan will expect the most from all of you! Keep up appearances and be ready. I will see you all later!"

People chattered as they flooded out of the building. From the corner of my eye, I saw Steven watch me as I slipped into the stream of bodies. I kept myself hidden and made my way to my room in the packhouse.

I took it upon myself to wash my face and hands before continuing with the rest of my chores. There were only a few hours left, anyway.

***

I shut the cleaning cupboard with a sigh. I had hoped to finish two hours prior, but Sophie had caught me and demanded that I scrub her room from top to bottom in case the new pack saw. It was quite comical, considering she was already promised to Steven.

She caught me as I was finishing her hallway, her face immediately turning sour. "It's all your fault, you know."

"W-w-

"Don't what-what me. You know what you did. You purposely parade around like a slut and got the attention of the beta of Blood Moon when you spilt crap on him! I don't know why Steven insists on you being a server when you can't even talk." She laughed. "You are useless and pathetic. And now we all have to suffer because of you, as though your very being isn't enough torture for us."

My bottom lip wobbled, and I kept my eyes on her shoes. Was I really that useless?

"Oh what, gonna cry now? How pathetic, just like I said. Now go get out of my sight." She scoffed, opening her bedroom door.

I nodded furiously and turned to hurry away. However, in my haste, I missed her pointed foot and my reflexes were too slow. I came crashing down onto the wooden floors, my knees and jaw cracking on the hard floor. I could hear Sophie chuckling before her bedroom door shut behind me, leaving me in the hallway.

I laid there alone and cried, my body absolutely on fire with pain. I could feel blood pooling from my lip again and what felt like my nose. My vision swirled, and I had trouble bringing myself to my feet.

Damn floor. Damn wolves.

When I eventually stood, everything swam, and I wobbled my way down the stairs, clutching onto the bannister for support. I found my bedroom by heart and quickly locked the door behind me. Collapsing on my bed, I welcomed the darkness of the moon, finding solace in its soothing presence.

I cried once again, for the feeling of not being welcome always hit me hard. I longed for wellbeing, for safety beyond my bedroom walls. To not have to worry every time that I stuttered in fear of the repercussions. I longed for freedom, for no one to rule over me. I longed for my wolf and our heritage. A place in the pack.

With those thoughts in my mind, I dragged myself into my bathroom. Once again this month, I needed pain killers, yet this time I opted for the stronger ones. My vision was steady, but the pain had me cramping up and vomiting into the toilet two minutes later.

As I stood there, covered in blood and sick, I knew I had no choice but to shower. So, I reached out and turned on the water. I had to make do with lukewarm water for my shower, since they restricted omegas to how much hot water they could use.

Before I could strip off my clothes, a knock sounded at my door. I practically whimpered a sob.

"Y-yes?"

"Nova."

My body slumped in fear. He couldn't see me this way. He would get suspicious.

"Yes Alpha?"

"Nova, I came to tell you about tomorrow-do I smell blood?"

My heart clenched in fear. "N-n-

"Open this door." Steven demanded.

My eyes teared, and I trudged my way over to the door and unlocked it with my head hung down. If only he was ten minutes later, I could have hidden this.

"What happened? Why are you in the dark?" He wondered.

He spoke as though he was an alpha who cared and not the one who dismissed me in public.

I risked a peek at his face to find his blue eyes darker than before, pupils blown as he harshly stared down at me. I wanted to break free of the alpha stare, but I couldn't.

I had to hold my ground.

"I f-fell."

His eyes narrowed. "Interesting fall, Nova. I noticed the split lip earlier."

I shrugged, fighting my mind against the command. "I honestly f-fell."

I mean, I wasn't lying.

Knowing I couldn't defy an alpha command, he sighed and nodded. "You have got to be more careful. You're human. How is your vision?"

"Fine." I murmured.

He stood in front of me and inspected my injuries, his eyes widening once he saw my scalp.

"This will not heal in time." He mumbled, brushing my hair to the side.

In time?

"S-sorry?" I asked.

"This hurts, yeah?"

I mutely nodded, which made him sigh, his hand on my head letting go. Automatically, my arms wrapped around themselves again and I stepped away, cascading my hair across my cheeks.

"I need you to see the doctor. You will not heal that overnight." He sighed.

Not a doctor!

I shook my head, thinking of an excuse. "I don't want my p-parents to know."

"Very well. I will not force you..." He mumbled. "I see how uncomfortable I make you and I'm sorry I had to command that, Nova. But my pack members are important to me...as are you. I will sort this out."

I nodded mutely as he left my room, not believing a word. As I numbly went to lock my door, the only sound that filled the air was the running water from my shower and the trembling sound of my breath. I bit back tears as I thought about the problems this may hold against me as I climbed into the warm water.

Blood rushes down the drain, my hair soaking in conditioner in hopes it would strengthen through all my body's malnutrition. I dried myself gently after washing and then looked at myself in the mirror. My left eye was swelling again, but my nose and lower lip no longer dripped blood. My chest heaved in anguish at the sight, and I fought the tears back.

Getting into a nightie, I was about to climb into bed when a soft knock sounded at the door. Hating the visitor already, I cracked the door and peered my good eye through. Steven stood mutely with a needle in his hand and a first aid kit in his other.

"Let's get that sorted."

I could've cried at his generosity, but I was all dried out... Maybe he did care after all?

He made me sit on the bed and tended to my wounds with antiseptic. He placed a few strips onto my head and he gave me an ice pack for my eye.

The needle he held was full of his own blood. His wolf DNA would work its magic and the swelling of my eye would vanish, I hoped. I was told alpha blood could help heal lesser wolves, but was hard to get them to give it up. It wasn't enough for injuries to disappear completely; mate bonds did that. Going from what I knew about transfusions, I would look better by morning.

When he finished, he gave me painkillers and bruise cream before standing and leaving. "It should start working as you sleep."

I curled up into my sheets, my eyes dry from tears at last. I let out a content sigh as the meds kicked in before dozing off into the world of sleepy comfort.

************

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