Alpha Nikolai

Celia’s POV

I bit down hard on my lip, trying to keep the moan in. But as he pushed deeper, my resistance broke as I let out the moan, clenching the silk sheets tightly.

“Look at me,” Nikolai said with a voice dripping with want.

I forced my eyes open, meeting his intense gaze. The same eyes I’d caught earlier that night at the pack gathering. The ones that had made my breath catch because the Alpha, our Alpha, had actually been looking at me.

He moved again, and another sound escaped my throat helplessly.

“That’s it,” he murmured, sliding his hand up my thigh.

I knew I shouldn’t be here. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was nothing other than an orphaned omega who had spent her days scrubbing floors and taking orders. I didn’t belong anywhere near Nikolai Rydor’s bed, much less under him. But when he’d come up to me at the gathering, when he’d leaned close and asked me to follow him, I just couldn't say no. My whole life, I had been invisible. And suddenly, someone like him saw me.

I had been standing in the corner, fighting to remain invisible, while everyone else laughed and drank. I wasn’t there to celebrate anything. Omegas weren’t invited to celebrate. We were there to serve, clean, and stay quiet.

And just then, I felt it. That prickling breath on the back of my neck that told me someone was watching. When I turned, my eyes had almost bulged out of its sockets at it locked with Nikolai’s eyes which were on me. Not past me. Like he had just found something he didn’t even know he was looking for. I had looked away so fast my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Alphas didn’t look at omegas like that. They barely acknowledged we existed.

But he kept watching. I could feel it.

“What’s your name?” he asked and I finally turned to look him in the eyes again.

“C–Celia,” I stammered. He maintained the calm smile on his lips while I was a mess by just being in his presence.

“Come with me, Celia.”

First off, it was an order. I couldn’t disregard the Alpha's order. But more so, the way he said my name in that soft, deliberate manner, like it meant something, made it far much harder to resist. So without questioning, I bowed my head and followed him.

We walked through the halls in silence, while heart thudded vehemently in my chest. I kept wondering why me? What did he want? Was I dreaming? And when we had finally reached his quarters, he locked the door and nodded towards the bed. I sat, my hands folded tightly in my lap.

“You’re nervous,” he said, pouring himself a drink.

“I just… I don’t understand why I’m here, Alpha.”

“Don’t you?” he asked, stepping closer. “Tell me, Celia. How long have you been in this pack?”

“All my life.”

“And in all that time,” he said, his eyes studying me, “has anyone ever really looked at you?”

The question stunned me. “No,” I whispered. “No, they haven’t.”

“I’m looking now.” His fingers brushed my jaw. “Do you want me to stop?”

I should have said yes. I should have remembered my place. But my voice betrayed me. “No.” I whispered in a trembling manner. His thumb traced my lip. “Good.” he murmured and grabbed my lips with his. And just then every thought vanished. I responded before I could think as my body acted on instinct.

“Tell me you want this,” he said against my lips, running his fingers underneath my tattered gown and up my thighs.

“I want this,” I breathed. “Please… I want... arrgh.” I moaned against his lips as his fingers ran beneath my core that was still covered with my panties. And just then, he slid his finger underneath my pants and into my core. I shook in pleasure and gripped his hair harder as I kissed him. He had taken one of my hands and made me feel his hardness. And even with his pants on, I began stroking it. He had groaned against my mouth and kissed me deeper. I smiled as I began to unbuckle his pants. And once it was loose enough, I slid my hands underneath them and grabbed his hardness and stroked, loving the feel of his wetness in my palms. And from his moans and the pressure of his fingering, I could tell he loved what I was doing to him.

And that’s how I ended up here, tangled in his sheets, lost in him and everything he made me feel. Every thrust sent sparks through me.

“Nikolai,” I gasped, forgetting to use his title.

His grip on my hip tightened. “Say it again.”

“Nikolai,” I moaned louder this time.

The tension built higher and higher until I shattered completely, crying out as waves of pleasure crashed through me. He followed moments later with a deep groan, falling his forehead against my shoulder.

For a while, neither of us moved. We just breathed and remained on each other, skin to skin, with our hearts pounding. Then he rolled onto his back. I curled into his side, wearing the wildest smile while my body was still tingling. For the first time in forever, I felt warm. But more than that, I felt seen. I felt alive. Maybe the Moon Goddess had finally smiled on me. Maybe I did belong somewhere. Maybe I belonged here with him.

I closed my eyes, listening to his heartbeat, enjoying every rhythm. Until there was an abruption. His hand pressed against my shoulder and shoved me away.

I hit the floor, dazed. “What—?”

Nikolai was already up and getting dressed wearing a cold expression. Like nothing had happened.

“Alpha?” I whispered. “Is everything okay? Did something happen?”

He didn’t even glance at me. “Get dressed.”

“O–okay.” My hands trembled as I pulled my clothes back on. “Did I… do something wrong?”

When he finally looked at me, the coldness in his eyes froze my blood. “What is this?” I asked quietly. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” He let out a humorless laugh. “You actually thought that meant something?”

Air left my lungs for a second that instant.“I… what?”

“Let me make this clear, omega.” The way he said it —omega— like filth. “You were a test. Nothing more.

“A test?” My voice broke. Someone please don't wake me up!

“I felt something pulling at me. I thought maybe…” He shook his head. “But there’s nothing there. You’re nothing.”

Tears blurred my vision. “You asked me to come here. You touched me, you—”

“I made a mistake,” he cut in coldly. “A dirty, unfortunate mistake.”

That hit hard! Every cruel look I’d ever gotten, every insult I’d swallowed, every disdain I had to endure all came rushing back. But this was worse. Because this time, I had let down my guard and dared to hope.

He reached into his pocket and tossed a few coins at my feet. They clattered across the floor. “For your trouble,” he said. “Though you barely earned it.”

I stared at them and then returned my broken face to him. And just then he let out a very bitter laugh.

“Did you actually think you’d be my Luna?” His laughter was extremely cruel. “You? An orphaned omega with nothing? You’re lucky I even looked your way.”

“Stop,” I whispered as the tears just poured down my face. He gave me one more disdainful look and turned for the door.

“You’ll regret this.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

I saw his body tense. Probably she was in awe that I could actually talk back to him. He paused and glanced back. “What did you say?”

I straightened, meeting his gaze even as my cheeks were wet. “I said you’ll regret what you did to me tonight.”

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. Then he scoffed. “Regret you? I already do.” he said and just like that, the door slammed behind him.

I stood there in silence, surrounded by the proof of what had just happened. The sheets, the coins, his minty scent still hanging in the air. My hands shook as my chest hurt. The humiliation was unbearable. All my life, I’d learned how to endure cruelty. I’d built a thick armor enough to survive anything. But tonight, I’d taken it off. I’d believed I could matter to someone. And he’d crushed me for it.

I sank to my knees and hugged myself, as I just allowed myself to wait. But beneath the pain, that spark of anger kept burning. No. I wasn’t going to let him, or anyone for that matter, destroy what was left of me. So I wiped my face and looked around. There had to be a way out. I couldn’t go back to the pack house, or even face anyone. But I could leave. I had to.

The guards changed shifts before dawn. The kitchen entrance was usually empty then. If I was quiet, if I moved fast… I could make it out. Out of Silverpine. And definitely out of this life.

The thought scared me. I had no money, no plan, or even any idea what was beyond the borders. But staying here scared me more. So I slipped my shoes on and went to the door, pressing my ear against it. I heard footsteps in the distance, but the hall itself was quiet. Then I took a deep breath and opened the door.