Valerie's POV

I woke up to find myself in Alpha Niklaus' bed. The moment I realized where I was, I jumped out of the bed.

"Whoa! Slow down."

I found Alpha Niklaus seated at one corner of the room, in front of a table. It seemed like he was busy before, but he turned to me.

"Good morning, Alpha."

"Niklaus." He corrected me.

"That might take a while for me to get used to." I admitted, feeling shy.

He gave me a once over, and I was reminded that I was still wearing his shirt. I didn't change out of it last night even after Carrie brought me clothes. I liked his scent on me anyway.

"Are there other people in the pack apart from your Beta, Gamma and Carrie?" I asked curiously. He didn't introduce me to anyone else.

"They are a lot more you have not met. It is your choice if you want to meet them or not."

"Do they know that I am your mate?" I asked curiously, and he chuckled.

"Since the moment I introduced you as my mate in front of the Blood moon pack house and all those Alphas, everyone got the news that you are my mate."

My eyes widened as I stared at him in disbelief, and my heart fluttered at his words. While Alpha Ronald was ashamed to introduce me as his mate even to his pack members for three years, Alpha Niklaus didn't even waste a day, and he told all the Alphas and Lunas he could find.

"If everyone is aware that I am your mate, surely they will be expecting me to show myself to them." I then said to him.

"Going by this logic, you might have to visit everyone in the pack to show yourself to them."

I chuckled, but insisted.

After having a shower and changing into a simple yellow pleated gown, I decided to go downstairs. But the moment I opened the door, I met a woman there, with dark hair and brown eyes. I wondered if she was his mother. She looked like she was about to knock.

"Good morning." I greeted, unconsciously lowering my head to her.

"Where is Niklaus?" She asked, her tone condescending.

I was taken aback, but I was quick to recover and answer her.

"He is inside."

"Do not enter. You are not permitted." I heard the Alpha's voice, and unlike the way he spoke to Carrie, his Beta and Gamma, there was no warmth in his voice at all.

"Niklaus, please... You did not even bother introducing her to the family."

Family? I might be right about her being his mother. Why was she salty to me then? Or maybe she was just displeased that he didn't introduce me.

"You have seen her, now go."

"What about your brothers?" She asked. "We are having breakfast right now, and it will be good for the both of you to join us."

I turned to the Alpha, hoping that he would agree, but then...

"Valerie can join if she wants to. I am good here." He didn't even make an effort to stand up, and he didn't even try to make me stay back. So this was really my choice? I was not used to having choices.

"Valerie, do you mind?" She asked me, her tone softer this time, and I just nodded. Even if I wanted to refuse, I knew that I would not be able to. As an omega, I was used to obeying every ranking wolves.

When we got to the dining table, I met it surrounded by four guys and two ladies. His brothers and sisters? They were many.

They all turned to me, their expression a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny. I felt small under their gazes, like an outsider being sized up.

"Our new sister in-law, huh?" One of the boys stated, before he got up and approached me. "I am Marcel, the eldest... After our dear Alpha of course."

He took my hand and shook it firmly. I was confused about his true intentions, but I had no choice but to go along.

"These ones here are David and Dante." He pointed to two boys in the table, both with golden brown hair and a striking resemblance. "They are twins."

"And that grumpy one is Fredric." He pointed at a young boy that looked between the ages of seventeen and twenty.

"That's our little princess over there, Adeline." He pointed to the teenage girl with short purple hair.

Adeline waved and smiled shyly at me.

"And this one, Sofia is our dear cousin. She does not know when she is no longer welcomed in a place." He pointed to the hair with long hazelnut hair.

"I know that you plan to kick me out, but I am not going anywhere." Sofia stated with a roll of her eyes.

"Welcome to the family, Valerie. I am sure Klaus is treating you well." Adeline stated, standing up. "I reserved a seat for you. You can sit next to me."

Truthfully, there was an empty seat close to her.

Oh, they already knew my name. I guess there was no need for an introduction.

I walked over and sat on the chair Adeline pulled out for me.

"Thank you," I whispered to her, and she smiled broadly.

"I am happy Niklaus found you." She looked genuinely happy. And she was the only one at the table whose emotions I could easily read, perhaps because she was the most open. Maybe the twins too, as they didn't seem to give a care if I was here or not. Fredric was just glaring at everything and everyone.

I just started eating when Marcel spoke again.

"So an Omega, huh?"

I froze for a moment, before I quickly recovered and nodded.

"The goddess must be making a mockery of Niklaus' taste." Sofia added.

Taste? Like his taste in women? But he told me that he was okay with Omegas. I felt my stomach churn, and I lost the appetite to eat.

"Don't you think your line of discussion is inappropriate?" Adeline scolded them, a frown on her face, but I just forced a smile at her.

"Addie, always the defender of the helpless." Sofia said again, and Adeline scoffed.

"Why don't you tell us about your pack and the things you there." Their mother chimed in, and I didn't know if I was to be grateful or not.

"There is not much to say. I used to work in the pack house." I tried to not to appear too nervous or uncomfortable talking about the pack house and the so-called 'work'.

"Were you working as a maid? A cleaner perhaps?" It was Sofia again, and this time it was clear that she was mocking me.

A maid and cleaner would had been better though. I was Alpha Ronald's sex slave. My guts twisted at the sick memories he gave me.

"Sofia, shut the fuck up." Adeline yelled at her, seemingly angry and disgusted by Sofia's attitude.

"Addie, I know that you are the Alpha's sister, but you should tone down your disrespect. I am still older, remember?"

Adeline rolled her eyes. "Maybe if you learn to respect yourself first. Ignore her, Val. She just likes to hear the sound of her own voice."

Sofia was visibly angry, but she could not do anything. She just sat down there quietly and fumed.

"Thank you." I whispered to Adeline, and she nodded. Everybody else at the table heard me, but I didn't care.

I then stood up. "And thank you for breakfast. I think I am okay now."

I didn't eat much food, but I could not stand bring among them for another minute.

And at the same moment, I met Carrie coming down the stairs. I walked to meet her.

"Good morning, Beta."

She smiled. "Just Carrie."

Without saying any other word, she grabbed my hand and led me out.