The Alpha's Rejected Omega but Fated Sigma Mate

Megan's POV

As if he too is in denial of what he knows to be the truth, he pulls me toward him again and rubs his palms over my entire body, as if waiting for me to hiss in pain. My friend is searching for bruises. Jax wants what he knows to be true to be a lie. 

We both know it. 

Should I confide my troubles in him? It's not like he will be here to judge my fat belly later on. He told me he didn't plan on staying long here. 

My wolf is very disapproving of my thoughts as much as she adores Jax and Blue. 

But how to bring it up? Like, "Hey, I know we haven't been in touch for a while and this might be unexpected but uh, I'm pregnant?" 

Red's tongue hits the roof of her mouth and her head goes from side to side to emphasize her disbelief. 

What? I'm already conflicted with this drama in my life and you're- judging me? 

Of course, she couldn't but I know what she wants to say for I can feel it. Beth and all the others that would be parading in and out of the alpha's bedroom. Red feels and I also share the same view. That we won't be enough for him to stop his womanising ways. My wolf fears the toll that will take on me. 

Should I unveil all this to my friend? 

Jax's frown deepens as he scratches the back of his head at a non-existent itch. "Tell me, Meg, are you one of his dogs?" By dogs, he means exactly what it sounds like. And there is no hiding it anymore from him. This is it- either he remains my friend or I lose Jax now. 

Red speaks to him, through Blue and even Blue takes offence by his words. If Blue is asleep or whatever, then Red cannot speak to him. I am learning as I go along, see. Both wolves then ignored us and went along playing with themselves. 

Blue explains to Red what Jax means by dogs and she grows heavy-hearted. 

"Is your mum home?" I mutter, my eyes darting to the surroundings behind him, not that I could see much because he is too close to me and blocking my vision with his body. I don't know but I feel as if Jax and I would need privacy for this conversation we were about to have. 

"No," he returns, flatly, squinting his eyes as if to say but 'you should know this' because my wolf could sense she wasn't home. But stepping back, to allow me access in, he doesn't query it. That's when I close my eyes, after stepping inside, taking it in. It's the most beautiful scent I've had in days- his home. Walking into his house, I take my shoes off, put on a pair of slippers and go over to the kitchen to make tea as if I belonged. 

Without even knowing it, I needed one of his mother's teabags, in this 2 pm heat. 

This is home to me. Red is silent but she is taking in everything, listening very attentively. 

"Do you know, I had a guard until this morning?" he informs me, close behind, our feet silent on the floor because of our soft-soled slippers. 

His words seem foreign to me and I furrow. A guard? A piercing ringing sound is in my ears. 

Suddenly I feel like - I sniff- chocolate cake. I spot the cake in its glass dish on the red-marbled, island-counter. The annoying sound goes away. 

"Do you have any idea how worried I was? What the actual f*ck is going on Meg? I f*cking tried to come see you and I was stopped. F*cking stopped Meg! Three f*cking men were guarding my house and one had to accompany me wherever I went. Even my mother. Why Meg? Why are you being punished?" His voice is raised but he isn't overly loud. 

Never before today, have I heard Jax use obscene language. 

I hear his words but I am taking a cup out of the cupboard after pressing the electric kettle switch, on. I know my way around this kitchen now. "Punished?" 

"Beta Will says you were to be punished because you did not show up for your duties at the packhouse. He said the disobedience will be beaten out of you by the alpha. Is this what you face if you miss work, Meg? You are beaten?" The disbelief could be heard in his tone. 

Blue and Red backed away from the conversation. 

By his words, I grasped then that Jax genuinely did not know what unfolding right now. Had he not known how omegas are treated? I mean, I know he has been stuck in human land but he lived here until he was almost legal. He had to have some sort of idea. 

But which is worse right now? My newly found old friend thinking I was sleeping with our great alpha who was ashamed of f*cking an omega, and so he lied to the pack and said he was showing me my place and punishing me with lashings? Or my friend thinking I was beaten? 

Pulling in my lips, I folded my arms and nodded, holding back the surge of hurt inside, like I have grown accustomed to. I reach into a drawer and take out a fork and in another a knife then a plate from a shelf, making my way to the covered cake, for a slice. 

"Baby, because of your low rank?" His tone is soft, almost a whisper and I could feel myself growing weaker. "What sort of punishment? Tell me. It's because of me you weren't there," the white joggers and the black hoodie-clothed, man wearing a worried expression tried to coax me into using words but my silence told him everything he needed to hear. 

So now Jax knows my lowly rank and duties. He knows I am omega but he was not aware of what our duties are. And if he had been aware, he did not know the extent it stretched. As servants practically. 

And because of two days back, now he does know. It's one thing thinking someone already is aware of your shame but another thing entirely when they now learn of it. 

My cheeks grow hot, ashamed. My neck joined in the heat as well because while the others thought I was being punished for not doing my duties, it was the total opposite. 

To explain his time with me, our alpha told the pack, he was punishing me. 

Beating me. Belittling me. 

That cut...it was... my heart felt like cracks were forming on the surface of it. My distress before didn't compare to this- my chest suddenly felt heavier but shattered at the same time. 

Red's words are showing her irritation with me. It's the first words she has said to me since Friday. 

"It's not because of you," I want him to understand he should not feel guilt for something he had nothing to do with. "And- he never-" I gulp, swallowing hard. 

Blue could be addressing either Red or Jax but I could feel his judgement towards me. It's uncalled for. 

"Meg, this is madness. You cannot be beaten because of- why didn't you show up to work?" Jax spoke and I placed a slice of cake onto my plate attempting to erase the truth from my mind. The hurt I contain. 

Blue's voice echoes inside my head and Red whimpers as if in pain. 

"He never puts his- hands on me, Jax. I swear. He does not- hurt me like everyone thinks." Suddenly drained, I drop the fork on the counter next to the plate and place both hands on the edge, my head dropping low as I try to control my breathing. Difficult task when your legs are trembling, and threatening to release your weight. 

Is this panic or grief? 

"What are you doing? Are you okay?" Jax's concern has him holding onto my forearm, his tone softer than before and the back of my throat bring up a strangled sound. His nearness, drawing from me. As if pulling away my hurt. 

"My- mate he says," The words are less than a whisper and my admittance to the matter seems to not want to be revealed. Like my subconscious is preventing me from saying the words. And I pull away from Jax's touch when it feels as if my body itself is becoming shallower. 

Red's panicked howling has me straightening my neck. She is searching for something. 

"Blue says he can't find Red," Jax says to me slowly, his forehead creasing.