Chapter 75: An Omega’s life
"Look what I found loitering around. Fucking trash"
Astrid tried to catch herself and failed as she went tumbling into Willow’s chambers.
"Celeste, what is this?" Willow rose from her bed, setting the book she had been reading down with deliberate care, her eyes traveling from Astrid’s tangled hair to the dirt on her dress.
"She was outside by the gardens, taking the air, she said." Celeste scoffed. "Ever since your precious lady became the princes’ mate, every Omega suddenly thinks she is a noble."
Willow approached Astrid, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"Astrid" she drawled. "Did you think we would not see each other again?"
She raised her hand and cracked it across Astrid’s cheek.
"How dare you?" she snapped. "You think you could humiliate me in front of the princes and my father and then get away with it?"
She circled back, her fingers grabbing Astrid’s jaw with a painful crush.
"You think I am someone you can mock?"
Celeste who was standing to the side chimed in.
"She forgets her place."
Willow’s palm cracked across Astrid’s cheek again.
"You are nothing, just as your lady is nothing."
Celeste laughed. "Should I leave you two alone? Or do you want me to hold her down?"
Willow’s lips pressed into a thin line.
"What am I going to do with you?" she murmured, almost to herself. She walked to the window and stared out at the gardens below.
"If I make her disappear, all fingers will point to me. And I am kind of on probation." She said the word like it tasted sour. "I cannot be seen to do anything that would offend the princes and put my father in a bad light."
She turned, and her eyes found Astrid’s.
"That is the only reason, I am not slitting your fucking throat right now."
Willow waved a hand to Celeste.
"Take her away." she sighed. "Do whatever you want with her."
Celeste grinned. "With pleasure."
She grabbed a fistful of Astrid’s hair and yanked.
"Get up!"
Celeste did not wait for Astrid to collect her feet below her before she began pulling her across the floor.
Astrid struggled, grabbing unto Celeste’s wrists as she pulled, only managing to get on her feet with her hair still hanging in Celeste’s grasp.
"Let go of me"
"She talks?" Celeste gasped in mock horror. "Shut the fuck up"
They rounded the bend when the grip on Astrid’s hair loosened and she was shoved backward, forcing her to collapse to the ground on her knees.
Astrid raised her head to see what had stopped her assault when she saw Willow’s father, Soren standing at the far end of the hall.
He was in riding leathers and it was clear he had just returned from somewhere.
His eyes traveled from Celeste’s shocked face at seeing him to Astrid’s tear- streaked cheeks and the red mark blooming across her jaw.
"Beta Soren," Celeste stepped away from Astrid. "I was just..."
"I saw what you were just doing, Celeste." he cut her off.
"She was being disciplined." Celeste sputtered. "She... Willow ordered it."
Soren’s eyes widened at this.
He looked at Astrid who kept her eyes to the ground and wondered if he could make her disappear himself. That would ensure she did not blab to her mistress and get Willow in trouble with the princes.
But that would cause an uproar if she turned up dead and it would hinder the banquet which was a means to get Alistair out of this pack for good.
"Leave" He said instead.
"But..."
"Leave now, Celeste and I will pretend I did not see this. I will have my guards see you back to your house then I will have a talk with my daughter."
Celeste cast one look at Astrid that promised this was fat from over before she turned and walked away.
Then he turned to Astrid.
"Can you stand?" he asked.
Astrid nodded because she could not find words. Soren offered her his hand anyway and Astrid took it.
"Come," he said. "Let us take you to the healing chambers. Get your wounds checked out."
Master Aldric was hunched over a table when they both walked in.
"Beta Soren" He called out. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit."
"I would like you to take a look at her." Soren thrust Astrid forward.
Master Aldric seemed surprised.
He was a healer to the royal house and noble lords and ladies, not to an Omega but he gestured for Astrid to take a seat and looked her over, cleaning the cut on her lips and applying salve on her cheek while Soren watched.
"All done." He called out.
Soren was standing by the window, his back turned to them.
Can you give us the room, Master Aldric?" He asked.
"Of course." Master Aldric frowned.
He looked at the scared and trembling girl one last time before he walked out through the back door.
Soren turned to Astrid
"Thank you." Astrid murmured.
He said nothing and the silence stretched, making Astrid very uncomfortable.
"Astrid," he finally said. "We are free to talk truthfully to one another, aren’t we?"
Astrid nodded.
"Good. I know how my daughter must have behaved towards you. It is my fault for letting her act however she wants but if you tell anyone about what happened today, the princes, Ayla, anyone at all then I would be forced to act."
Astrid felt her blood run cold.
"Would you want to get on my bad side?"
She shook her head in the negative.
"Good, I am glad we have an understanding."
He held her gaze for a moment longer before he turned and walked out of the room.
Astrid rose from where she had been sitting in the same moment the healer walked back into the chambers.
"Thank you for treating my wounds." Astrid bowed.
"You are welcome, dear girl. Although, I feel inclined to ask what happened to you?" he said. "How did you come about such wounds?"
"I fell" Astrid answered simply. "And the Beta was kind enough to help me and to bring me here."