The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 90: Parapet Walk.

~Dahlia’s POV~

As the icy cold raindrops drizzled over the city and people scampered about, desperately trying to get to the safety of their homes, I didn’t.

I was headed for the fortress. The same place I’d sworn to myself that I would avoid at all costs for as long as I could.

My heart thrummed in my chest when the daunting building came into view, and do you even know what was worse? When I saw Beta Orion standing at the parapet walk situated at the top of the fortress with his eyes trained on me.

Now, let me explain a lil bit of misconception that you all may have here; I didn’t come here to see the Alpha. I am here to see the Beta himself, and the man who for some reason has his arms wrapped around the same woman who seems to have my mate wrapped around her pinky finger like a puppet.

And now, in this desperate moment, I cannot help but wonder how this pretty blondie up there seems to have a hold on both of these men. I couldn’t help but wonder if she has some sort of golden coochie or something.

Or perhaps her breasts were filled with the crystal clear fluids from the magical sphynx mountain, and the one whose potency rivals the moon goddess’ tears.

In confusion, I stood rooted to the spot watching them as they seemed to be engrossed in a conversation, and while the rain continued to drizzle over my face and body, I waited because I was desperate.

Amara needed to be released from the hospital today and because I’d asked Alpha Zarek to steer clear of our affairs, he also probably steered clear of our hospital bills as well. Or had forgotten about it. I really do not know at this point.

Cold wind blew against my hair and skin, causing goosebumps to sprout all over my body, and I shivered with clattering teeth whilst expecting that Beta Orion would acknowledge me or do anything at all. But to my absolute horror, he didn’t do any of that and that made me panic.

"Hey girl, go home. The fortress is closed to commoners by this time of the day." An old woman passing by murmured under her breath, and even though I knew that she was speaking to me, I couldn’t bring myself to move. I felt frozen in place, desperately looking up at Beta Orion who seemed head bent on ignoring me.

Cold wracked my body as I stared up at them and when it began to feel like my body couldn’t take any more of this iciness, I turned around with tears threatening to spill from the corners of my eyes. But I wouldn’t let them fall. Not when this was all my fault. Not when I had stupidly believed the words of a man as manipulative as Beta Orion despite everything.

From the onset that this was a mistake.

That this was exactly why counting on Beta Orion never seemed like a good option.

It had taken me a solid hour to bring myself to walk over here to beseech him to help me and Amara out, and I was even willing to accept his proposal now if that would mean him paying for Amara’s bills.

But I was wrong.

My hands balled into fists as I stormed away from the fortress, and by this time, the slight drizzle had grown into something stronger. Something heavier. My dress was quickly soaked through.

However, I had just walked a few miles when a burly guard ran up to me, he stopped by my side and bowed but his body language showed just how much he despised being in my presence... just how much he despised talking to me. And I couldn’t help but think that the feeling was mutual.

I already hated the sight of his face.

He muttered; "Beta Orion and Lady Jennifer asked me to bring you into the house. They say it’s important."

Usually, this was the point where I should’ve turned away. The point where the mention of Ms Jennifer’s name should be enough to have me running for the hills; But today I was desperate. I curtsied to the guard and asked; "Now?"

He snorted.

His expression seemed as though he was doing me a favor by talking to me. His eyes raked my body like I was nothing but the filth underneath his shoes.

But I didn’t mind.

His face looked exactly like the filth underneath my shoes as well.

Scars ran up his face like a child had decided to become creative, but then stopped after so many failed attempts. Hades, it was a miracle that he still has some sort of confidence left in that big broad body of his.

Mr Scarface shrugged at my question, and without a word, spun around and began to walk away. However, I took that as his own outrageously stupid way of saying yes and so I followed whilst struggling to catch up with his unreasonably large strides.

We arrived at the fortress’ gates shortly afterwards and passed through a line of aggressive looking guards leading up to the front door. Usually, I knew that these men didn’t like me one bit, but for some reason today, they didn’t bother to hide their obvious disdain.

They looked and smelled like pigs.

And acted like one too.

Wait, why do I sound so angry today?

Trudging behind the burly guard whose name I didn’t even bother to know, we went up a few airy stairs leading up to the parapet walk. And as soon as we arrived, I was immediately hit with the overpowering scent of female cologne and something else.

Something that smelled weirdly like... my clothes.

I quickly looked around us but there was nothing. I couldn’t find any of my properties laying around here so what the hell?

"Good evening Beta, and Lady Jennifer. You both sent for me." I said softly, bowing my head as both of them turned to me.

To my utter surprise, Beta Orion unclasped his arms around Jennifer’s and then he stepped a few feet away from us, not once turning around to glance at me. He didn’t even respond to my greetings!

Men were indeed scum!

"I was the one who sent for you," this time, it was Ms Jennifer who spoke up, and I watched with wide eyes as she gestured to the guard to leave us. However, I was even more stunned when the guard did that obediently. And still, Beta Orion didn’t turn around.

My heart fell.

Was she going to push me from here?

Did they call me up here just to kill me?

My heart began to beat frantically against my chest as I dragged my eyes back to her face and I gulped when I noticed how bare her skin was.

There was no make up.

Not even the faintest lip oil.

There was a time when I wondered how she’d look without a trace of makeup, and now that my curiosity had been finally satisfied, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

God, she even looked more sinister without makeup than with it.

"We saw you looking up at the fortress," she drawled in an icy cold tone, causing the hairs on my skin to stand on end— but I’ll blame the cold, "...and I needed no soothsayer to smell the desperation coming from you. I instantly knew that you wanted something, but I do not know what it is."

At her words, I glanced up at Beta Orion who still has his back turned to me, and I gulped. "I wanted to speak to Beta Orion."

"And henceforth, whatever you want to say to him comes through me. So go on." She cooed, and at the sound of this, I turned to look at him again.

He still wasn’t looking.

Stupid men!

Licking my suddenly dry lips, I muttered; "I need help with my daughter’s hospital bills. She’s better now and can be let out, but I do not have enough money... I don’t have any money to pay for her treatments."

Silence.

The entire parapet walk grew still as soon as the words slipped past my lips, and I could swear that I saw Beta Orion go still. The air suddenly felt tight, and my lungs? Those godforsaken bones... are they bones?

I don’t know.

But they felt like they were on fire.

Deep down, I knew I shouldn’t have told her my predicament, knowing the type of person that she was but I was desperate... too desperate. My desperation seemed to override my sense of reasoning.

She smiled. "I’ll pay for it."

But as soon as she said those words, instead of feeling relieved, I felt... fear. My heart plummeted. I instantly knew that there was a catch.

And I wasn’t wrong.

She added; "But first, you’ll need to do a little something for me."

Beta Orion turned around then but I didn’t turn to look at him. I could already feel his gaze burning into the side of my head. I could already smell his worry even from a mile away.

What in Artemis’ butthole was happening?

"I don’t understand what you’re implying." I tried to act smart... or dumb. I tried to detach myself from this uncomfortable situation.

But Ms Jennifer was smart. She clicked her tongue at me and smirked. "I want you to slip in a lil poison into someone’s food by midnight. And when you’re done, I’ll give you enough money to get your daughter out of the hospital, and yourself out of this pack." She drawled so casually, one would think she was talking about the rain drenching us both.

I balked.

Usually, this was the point where I should back out, the point where I should politely decline her offer; BUT I WAS FUCKING DESPERATE!

My lips formed the words even before I knew what I was doing. I asked; "Who?"

Ms Jennifer smiled then and as soon as I saw the sinister smirk playing across her lips, I knew then that I was done for. I knew I shouldn’t have asked. I knew that I had gotten myself into a big mess.

"Alpha Zarek." Her voice was slow, calculated but her tone wasn’t what made my heart hitch, it was the name she’d called.

The name of my mate.

What in the fucking world?