Reborn To Defy The Alpha-Chapter 72: Jason Is Off-limit

Jason turned on the water and grabbed the first stack of plates, trying to focus on the rhythm of washing, rinsing, stacking. His breath steadied a little, but his mind kept circling the same thought. This had to be a trap. She might be waiting for the right or waiting for him to slip.

Behind him, Marta’s ladle paused mid stir.

She glanced at his back, her jaw tightening as memory pulled her into the morning’s earlier encounter. She had been on her way to the kitchen, ready to prep breakfast. Then Beta Ellie had stepped right into her path, calm, collected, and cold enough to chill the hallway.

He had looked her straight in the eye and told her she would not lay a finger on Jason anymore.

If the boy resumed his shift, she was to behave.

Or Ellie would handle her himself.

The audacity of that warning still made her blood simmer. She glared again at Jason’s back, scrubbing away like his life depended on it. What in the world had he done to get the Beta to speak for him? Ellie never cared about anyone in the kitchen. He barely cared about pack in general.

Her suspicion sharpened. Did the little fool give his body to the Beta? She narrowed her eyes, watching the way Jason hunched over the sink, too small, too nervous, too fragile looking to attract someone like Ellie. But she had seen stranger things in the pack.

Her eyes widened. No. That would be impossible. Unless...

Unless they were mates.

The thought rattled her. Her gaze flicked from Jason to the doorway, as if Ellie would walk in any second to confirm it. But Jason was not eighteen yet. The math didn’t add up.

She frowned hard.

Something was off, and she planned to get to the bottom of it.

Marta turned back to the pot simmering in front of her, the rich scent of goat pepper broth drifting up in thick curls of steam. She stirred it once, twice, then tasted it with the tip of the ladle. The flavor was perfect, which only annoyed her more. She dropped the ladle with a sharp clang that made a few Omegas jump.

She yanked at the knot of her apron, ripped it off, and tossed it over a hook.

"Luka," she barked without looking up.

"Yes," Luka answered instantly from across the prep counter.

"Watch the broth. Do not let it burn. Add the chopped spinach when it starts bubbling again. And you," she snapped at the next Omega she could point at, "finish kneading that dough. I want it resting in ten minutes. Euben, chop those onions properly. Not chunks. Slices."

A chorus of yes Marta filled the kitchen.

She gave one last glare at Jason’s back, so sharp it could have sliced him open, then marched out of the kitchen with heavy steps that echoed down the corridor.

Jason exhaled the moment her back disappeared. His shoulders sagged like he had been holding up the roof the entire day. The not knowing was worse than any punishment. If she had screamed at him or thrown something or smacked his head, at least he would know where he stood.

This waiting made his heart race so fast he could hear it in his ears.

He turned back to the dishes, but he didn’t get a single second of peace. The Omegas swooped in on him like a flock of hungry birds, crowding him from all sides.

Jason froze.

They closed in with wide eyes and too many questions.

"Why did you even follow Rhea yesterday? You know your aunt hates her."

"Do you want Nikki to skin you alive?"

"Look at him. He has guts now."

"I heard you went shopping with Rhea. Tell us, how was it? Did you buy things?"

"Is the Alpha accepting her now? Because the way she behaved in the dining hall like she’s already the Luna. She ate before him and he stayed quiet like nothing happened."

"If I knew she would be free like that, I would have tried to be her friend."

"Do you think she will accept us if we go now?"

Each question slammed into him before he could form a single thought. His breath shortened. His throat tightened. His hands trembled around the plate he was scrubbing.

"Enough," he shouted.

The entire kitchen froze.

Silence dropped like a brick.

This was the first time Jason had ever raised his voice. Ever. And every Omega stared at him as if he had grown two heads.

His stomach flipped. Panic swallowed him whole. "I... I am sorry. I did not mean to shout. I was just... overwhelmed. I am sorry."

One Omega scoffed loudly. "See him. He is already feeling himself."

Another clicked her tongue. "Be careful. Hanging with Rhea will put you in trouble. There is nothing to be forming proud about."

"I heard Nikki called you and that nursery Omega to her room yesterday," someone chimed in with a smirk. "She used the whip on you, right? Tell us how it was."

A chuckle followed, and soon others joined in laughing.

Jason clenched his hands at his sides and forced himself to turn back to the sink. He grabbed a plate, rinsed it, set it aside, pretending their voices were nothing but buzzing flies.

A shove hit his shoulder.

"Answer us now. What are you even proud of?"

Jason spun around before he could stop himself, glaring straight at the one who shoved him. The Omega didn’t expect that. His face twisted with insult.

"You dare glare at me?" he snapped, his hand lifting. "You think you have wings now? Let me reset your brain."

Jason braced himself. Eyes squeezed shut. Body stiff. Waiting for the slap he knew was coming.

"What do you think you are doing?"

The Omega’s hand froze in the air, fingers curled, the slap suspended like time itself had grabbed his wrist. Jason’s eyes flew open. The rest of the Omegas scattered in a rush, each one scrambling back to a station.

"What do you think you are doing, Timmy?" Marta repeated, her glare sharp enough to peel skin. Timmy lowered his hand slowly, his face paling as he stepped back.

"Nothing, Marta," he muttered. His voice shook, just a little. He dropped his gaze and backed away.

Marta’s jaw tightened. She hated intervening. She genuinely did. If she had her way, she would have let Timmy deliver that slap. Maybe even encouraged it. Jason deserved a little fear in his spine. But Ellie’s threat still rang in her ears. One wrong move and she would be the one on the chopping block.

She clapped her hands once. The sound cracked like a whip.

"All of you. Listen."

Every Omega stiffened. Even the pots seemed to stop simmering.

"From today onward, Jason is off‑limit," Marta said. "If any of you lay a finger on him again or try to bully him in any way, you’ll deal with me." Her voice stayed calm, almost cold. "And I promise you, you won’t like the outcome."

Shock rippled through the room. A few mouths dropped open. Someone even let out a tiny gasp. Marta? Defending Jason? The same Marta who had terrorized him since he could walk?

Impossible. Unbelievable. Wrong.

Jason felt his stomach twist. His mind ran in frantic circles. What in the world is his aunt doing? Marta never protected him. So why now? What is she upto?

She glared at all of them again. "Back to work. Now."

Everyone scrambled. Chopping resumed. Kneading resumed. Pots bubbled again. No one dared make eye contact with Jason.

Marta pointed at him. "You. Meet me after lunch."

Jason’s breath stuttered. "Yes, aunt Marta," he whispered. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

He turned back to the sink, hands trembling as he grabbed another plate. His heart pounded like he was walking toward his own execution.

This must be it.

She is going to punish him after lunch.

Why else would she want him alone?

He swallowed hard, eyes stinging as he scrubbed the dishes. The dread settled deep in his chest like a stone.

Time passed slowly in the kitchen, Marta moved with precision, calling out orders to the Omegas as she sorted the food for each important member of the pack.

"This one’s for the Alpha. Carry it carefully, and don’t spill a drop," she instructed sharply, her eyes scanning the small group. "Beta Ellie gets the next tray. Make sure you don’t mix it up. Sir Eberhard, Lady Nikki..."

The Omegas nodded quickly, picking up the dishes and stepping lightly toward the door, each tray balanced carefully in their hands. The kitchen hummed with quiet efficiency as the meal assignments were delivered and the empty plates were cleared.

Marta’s gaze hardened as she turned to Timmy. "You. Carry the lunch for Rhea."

Timmy blinked in surprise. "Uh... yes, Marta."

Marta’s lips pressed into a thin line. She still bristled at the memory of Rhea’s audacity, but her hands were tied.