Page 24 of Destined Mate

Jerome had cried over their graves and grieved with their families for as long as they were allowed to. He had dreaded bedtime.

Fortunately, the new alpha had directed him to the same room he’d been using. He was grateful for that small mercy. If the alpha had commanded him to sleep in Elmer’s bed, he didn’t know what he would’ve done.

Most likely, there would’ve been another funeral today—his own. He was afraid those small mercies would not last long.

As Jerome sliced through the vegetables with more force than necessary, he glanced nervously over his shoulder. Clyde was leaning against the doorway, his eyes scanning every movement in the room with unsettling focus.

“What are you doing?” Clyde asked.

Jerome stiffened. Clyde’s voice was deceptively casual, and Jerome glanced at the beta. His voice might’ve been casual, but his eyes never softened.

Jerome looked down at the vegetables he was chopping. “Just preparing breakfast.”

He wanted to point out that anybody with half a brain cell could obviously tell what he was doing, but he resisted. That sass would probably hurt more than it was worth. Maybe.

Then again, maybe not.

Clyde moved across the kitchen and slapped Jerome across the face. “You refer to betas as sir.”

Jerome swallowed hard as he continued his task. His cheek stung, but it wasn’t too terrible. The kitchen knife quivered slightly in his grip as he dreamed of stabbing the asshole with it.

Preferably in his throat.

Jerome attempted to keep his emotions hidden, aware that Clyde was searching for any excuse to reprimand him. He wasn’t about to give Clyde that satisfaction.

Preparing breakfast passed in a tense silence punctuated only by the clatter of kitchen utensils and the occasional terse instruction from the cook. Jerome wasn’t the only one feeling the stress it seemed.

Jerome tried to focus on the rhythmic chopping and the sizzle of cooking eggs, anything to keep his mind off the dread that coiled tight in his stomach.

At last, breakfast was ready. Although typically served buffet style, Elmer demanded his meal delivered to him. This task fell to Jerome, because of course it did.

Additionally, he needed to serve the other two betas before he could sit down to eat. It was also mandatory for Jerome to dine beside his alpha. He debated skipping the meal but was afraid the betas would hunt him down and drag him to the table.

Jerome loaded the trays with plates of food, each movement deliberate and cautious. As he carried the alpha’s tray toward the dining hall, his path crossed with Albert.

Albert stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “You’re the omega?”

“Yes, sir,” Jerome responded, barely keeping the tremor from his voice.

The beta’s fingers sank into Jerome’s skin, hurting him. At least he hadn’t pricked him with his claws. There was that, although he was going to have bruises once Albert released him.

“Huh.” Albert stared at Jerome before finally letting go.

Relief flooded him once he was away from Albert. Of course, he still had to deal with Elmer, who had required the elders and Cross Creek’s remaining betas and enforcers attend him during the meal.

Well, Lakisha and Marcia were two of the three remaining betas, but they were not there. Just Henry. The only enforcer left was Alfredo. So, in other words, no women. That didn’t bode well at all.

Jerome was required to serve everybody, like some kind of servant. That was not how pack meals were done, and the horrified glances didn’t help Jerome’s state of mind.

Finally, he could sit down and eat.

Breakfast went by with Elmer presiding over the table like a tyrant king surveying his court. Jerome did his best to be invisible under Elmer’s scrutinizing gaze.

After clearing away the dishes with trembling hands, Jerome left the kitchen area. He needed out of there—he couldn’t breathe. Heading toward the woods and a nice, secluded spot, he sat down on a small log hidden among towering bushes. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart.

While sneaking out of the kitchen, he’d heard a couple of pack members saying they’d been told to clean out the master bedroom and get rid of the feminine things in it.

Elmer had taken it over, and that pissed Jerome off to no end. He’d taken no keepsakes of his and Li Li’s time together. Hopefully, whoever was cleaning out the master bedroom would save some things that were removed.

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