Himari’s POV.
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Standing outside the supposed building I’ll be living from now on, I gulp, wearing my perplexity as I peer up at the rickety two-story building four feet away from my position.
It’s situated behind the Packhouse and for starters, the porch looks so old and practically falling apart, with gathered patches of moss here and there. Then there’s the fading paint on the body of the house, giving it a very sickly appearance. ‘Oh boy, this is my new house?’
Truly, Omegas aren’t regarded with any form of respect at all. I let out a sigh and stroll towards the porch, climbing over loudly protesting wood that makes my face glow with intense heat from embarrassment. ‘What a rather profound declaration of my arrival’.
I just hope I haven’t disturbed the occupants inside. I feel my chest rising and falling towards the possibility of indeed doing that and as I drop my luggage on the floor next to my feet, the door suddenly comes open to present a pair of funny sea-blue orbs.
“Ah, you must be Himari. Do come in, you’re welcome”.
Uh, I blink at the older lady before me, all glittering smiles and warmth as her lovely dimples reel in deeply.
She pushes her short dark strands behind the shell of her ear and softly shakes her head to say, “I know, it gives you the creeps at first. You’ll get used to it before you know, and it won’t bother you once you’re all settled in”.
Before I know it, she was already picking up my luggage and shutting the door behind me. An enticing smell comes wafting into my nostrils and stirring my stomach enticingly.
I already had a face-full breakfast earlier but, what is this foreign delicacy evading the air?
The woman meets my gaze and chuckles, “I’m Elsa by the way. Greg must be preparing breakfast again. We didn’t know if they’d let you have a meal before you leave, so we sorta pushed him into it. You’ll eat with us, right?”
“Huh? Ah, oh- Y-yeah. The aroma already chased the food out of my system” I reply nervously, not sure how I’m to suddenly start speaking to someone I’m meeting for the first time. Seeing the soft smile on her face though tells me I can be free with her and lower my guard.
Elsa shows me to a room upstairs and quite in alarming contrast to its outward appearance, the place seems so warm and welcoming. All renovated with lively milk and brown walls, white linen long curtains, and a sturdy staircase leading to the landing above. The floorboards are rich plywood and the windows, with clean arched panels. I had assumed the interior décor would be as appalling as the outside.
Can’t judge a book by its cover.
“Be down in ten, the meal should be ready by then,” Elsa notes last before closing the door and padding down the corridor.
I let out a heavy breath and flop down on the spring mattress. Glancing quietly around the simple bedroom, I can’t help the picture of my room forcing its way in and making me begin to compare and contrast.
A distant smile stretches my lips as I stand up and pick my luggage from the floor, placing it over the dressed mattress. The night before had been a commemoration of my cruel fate. A coveted ceremony that only occurred once a decade to celebrate the majesty of the Moon Goddess and pray for the growth, protection, and prosperity of our lands, had been celebrated and during the auspicious Healing ritual, it was declared to the entire Pack, of my derogatory status as an Omega.
I gently pick up my carefully folded clothes out of the box and place them in stacks on the bed. Turning around to see the tall wooden wardrobe, I walk towards it and bring the doors open, looking inside to decide what will be kept where.
“Pretty nice- oops! I’ll be late for breakfast” I suddenly recall Elsa’s statement and quickly move to the door.
I trace the summoning aroma to a kitchen downstairs, fighting my appetite as I walk in. Elsa by the sink sees me and smiles widely, waving me over with her hand while the other is wet and grabbing a kitchen towel.
“Come sit over here. Everyone, meet our newest” And she’s looking at me expectantly, probably to introduce myself.