Chapter Three:

"Octavia, what in God's name are you doing?" the Omega, Penny growled in frustration as she caught the ten year old girl playing in the mud; her clothes, face, and hair was covered in the soggy muck.

"Out in the back, now, before I whoop your little butt!" Penny shouted, gaining attention from other pack members. Some laughed and shook their heads, as this was the usual to them. Octavia always seemed to get into something, and Penny was the one who had to take care of the mess. It was her job as Omega, after all.

"I fell," Octavia whined, knowing she was in for hours of Penny's useless bickering.

"Sure, just like the last time you said you fell on the cake I made and happened to eat your way out of it," Penny shook her head when Octavia chuckled.

"You're such a brat. No excuses, let's go to the back," Penny grabbed Octavia by her muddy ear and pulled her along. Other kids her age laughed and pointed, some cheered her on for being so rebellious.

"You're lucky Isa didn't catch you out here doing this. She would have grounded you for a whole damn month!" Penny shouted loudly, making Octavia roll her eyes.

"I better not catch you doing this again!" Penny hissed as she turned on the hose, cold water immediately bursting out through the tube opening.

"I-I can take a shower inside the house," Octavia stuttered, afraid of the cold water. She backed away but shrieked when Penny soaked her with the icy liquid.

"No!" Octavia cried, hating that she didn't have the warm temperature of werewolf skin.

"This is what happens when you play in the mud!" Penny growled, little chuckles escaping her lips at seeing the child get what she deserved.

"You're an old hag!" Octavia shouted but screamed louder when Penny put the hose in the back of her soaked shirt, the ice water blasting down her back.

Octavia quickly threw the hose on the ground and ran towards the forest, ignoring Penny's shouting. She knew Penny wouldn't chase after her; the woman was annoying to be around, but she did understand when enough was enough. She guessed it was a werewolf thing, letting others calm down in case of shifting in rage.

She knew where to go; her favourite spot she shared with Cain; a small river no one really went to. It was their secret spot. Over the years, living in the pack house with her adoptive parents, Isabelle and Adrian Wesley, she bonded with the Alpha and Luna's son. He treated her with respect, unlike the others. She was usually looked at as a bother, the one who always got into trouble. Wherever she went, she was scolded. She didn't feel loved, nor wanted. But she has nowhere else to go...

As Octavia came to the clearing of the river she released a long breath. Finally, she felt safe.

"Cain?" Octavia looked around and immediately felt saddened to see he wasn't there.

"Just my luck," she pouted and sat on the ground, hating how soaked her hair and clothes were. Her teeth chattered from the soaked clothes still covering her body, and the amount of curses released from her mouth would have made Penny faint. Snickering to herself, she moved back and leaned against a tree, not caring about getting dirty again.

Staring up at the blue sky she sighed in content. All she could hear was the sway of the wind against the trees and the rippling water of the river in front of her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of peace.

...

"Octavia!"

Octavia sat up startled, drool pooling at the corner of her mouth. She felt her skin swell with goosebumps over how cold it was.

"Oh no, I slept," she looked around but could barely see by how dark it was.

"Octavia!" She heard again but this time she recognized it as Cain's voice. Within seconds he ran through the opening of the bushes.

"Why are you out here so late? Do you have any idea how worried I was?" He spoke sternly, sounding extremely cross. She lowered her head and averted her eyes in embarrassment. Knowing she'd made Cain worried had her feeling both happy yet sad.

"I'm sorry, I fell asleep, C," Octavia muttered, noticing how cold she was. She couldn't stop shaking.

"Come here," Cain sighed and walked towards her. She blushed as he lifted her up like a princess, holding her to his warm chest.

"You know what would warm you up? A nice bath and some hot chocolate. How does that sound, Princess?" Cain smiled at her charmingly. She lowered her lashes and nodded,

"sounds good."

...

"Are you okay in there?" Cain knocked on the door of his personal bathroom, worried about the girl inside.

"I'm good, C," Octavia lowered her chin under the warm water and sighed happily.

"Just don't drown. I'd cry," Cain told her, although his tone sounded playful.

"Okay," Octavia replied, feeling sleepy.

"I have your hot chocolate ready with marshmallows!" Cain shouted from behind the door, making Octavia jump out of the tub quickly. She rubbed the towel through her hair but didn't bother to dry her body off. Grabbing her clothes off the counter, she pulled on her pink underwear and then slipped on her princess nightgown that Cain bought for her. Once she was done she opened the door and smiled at Cain as he held two cups of hot chocolate filled with marshmallows.

"Here you go, and I also have this!" Cain placed her cup of hot chocolate on the bed side table before picking up a DVD case: The Princess and the Frog.

"Yay!" Octavia clapped her hands together before running and jumping on Cain's king sized bed. He shook his head at her and laughed,

"You're such a kid," he rolled his eyes and took the CD out of the case, placing it on the DVD player open slot.

"Now, to spend a nice hot chocolate and movie night with my princess," Cain sat on the bed and pulled Octavia to his side. She wrapped her arm around Cain's and watched the movie, holding her cup to her lips to taste the chocolaty goodness.

This is true happiness.