Chapter Two

“Mate.”

The word shouldn’t have meant anything to me. But my body refused to ignore it. I never had time for fantasies or romance - nothing like a first crush or a first kiss.

Girls like me don’t get that.

So at this moment, I had no idea what to do.

“What’s your name?” His voice dropped, rougher now.

I adjusted to my feet when I realized my weight still rested on him. “Aurora.”

“Aurora.” He growled, with a dire stroke in his voice. The way he said my name drove me into a sweet trance.

It made my wolf pace, awakened and curious.

Who is he?

I want him, she whined.

Me too.

“Who was chasing you?” His voice tightened as he peered above my head. His brows clashed together.

He was annoyed that someone was after me?

This was strange - seeing someone become protective over me. It almost didn’t feel real.

“No one.” I lied.

Eris would have my head if I uttered a word against the family.

Suddenly, my mind brought back the scene I left behind.

The blood. The injured man. My escape.

“I should go back.” I began to inch away from him.

But he didn’t let me go. His big hands remained firm on my shoulders.

“Don’t you want to know my name?” His tone carried authority.

“S-sorry, I do.” I swallowed. “What’s your name?”

I had to crane my neck to meet his gaze again. Something about him demanded absolute submission - and it wasn’t just his towering size. Although he made me feel good, I felt undoubtedly insufficient.

“Damon. It seems the moon god—”

“Aurora!”

I jumped when I heard my name. It was Eris, and oh she sounded furious.

Unconsciously, I began to shrink away from him. It was too dark to find an escape. But I would… again.

Or it would be weeks in the hole if Eris found me.

I whipped my head around for a path but all my eyes caught was darkness. There was no way out.

Where exactly was I?

Gradually, the salty taste of fear collapsed in my mouth. This was my fault.

Why did I stop running?

“Come.” Damon pulled me closer to his chest and in a second we edged deeper towards the dark.

Branches scraped against my arms as he kept pulling me into corners. My heart and mind raced as I let my life hang in the balance with a stranger leading the way.

I could still sense Eris coming after us.

Please Goddess… wherever he was taking me, let it be away from them.

We kept brushing into corners, till we came into a bright light. I looked back and realized it was a maze we had escaped from.

Thank the goddess. I sighed,

I held my chest as relief washed over me. The cold air was void of Eris's frosty scent. We were safe.

Grateful, and at ease, I perked up at my savior to thank him.

But no words came out of my mouth.

The smile in my heart died when I gaped at the magnificent, familiar sight before me.

His face in the moonlight was breathtaking.

It matched the powerful aura I had sensed from him. But those blue eyes, they weren’t the same. In the light, they appeared dark and hidden.

My stomach dropped.

I knew my stranger. Everyone did.

I almost talked myself out of it. Almost.

The broad shoulders. The way pack members made space before they saw him. The cold certainty in his eyes that belonged to someone who had never been told no.

No… it couldn’t be him.

Under the moon, right at the entrance of the festival, the alpha of the Silvercrest pack stood beside me.

He studied the beaming crowd while my eyes grew wider by the second.

Mate.

The word anchored in my brain again. Only this time it drove a hot knife through my skull.

No. No mate. I mourned.

I yanked my arm away, but he wouldn’t let me go.

His grip on my arm was too tight. I was ready for anyone - but not an alpha.

And of all alphas, not him.

My breathing quickened, panic washing through me like ice. If he found out who I was or what I was, it was over.

My escape would be impossible.

I twisted my neck to the maze. Hoping Eris would appear and take me away. My nightmares were better than who this man was.

Alpha Damon.

The pack made space not out of courtesy, but out of something older than manners.

Once I’d heard of an enforcer who fainted when his name was mentioned during a punishment. Not from fear of the alpha. From relief that it wasn’t him doing the punishing.

He could never be mine. The moon goddess could never be that cruel. Then again, when had the goddess ever favored me?

Silent tears clouded my eyes, as my knees quivered. From the crowd, two elderly-looking men came forward to meet us.

“Alpha, we have been looking for you.”

“The ceremony is about to begin.”

They both bowed as they spoke, avoiding his direct gaze in any way. I did the same, gluing my eyes to my dirty sandals.

I felt his cold gaze watch me closely. “You said the moon goddess would direct my path and help me sense the one she has chosen for me.”

“I found her.” He spun me to their center.

My feet staggered, before they froze.

I couldn't believe my ears.

Why was the moon goddess speaking about me?

This was supposed to be a good thing - but not for someone like me.

Tears streamed down my chin.

If it was the will of any divine for the Alpha to be my mate, then it was the greatest punishment the universe could ever offer.

“Yes, alpha. We’re glad you finally found your ma —”

“Get it done. And remember why I’m here.” He scolded.

One of the elders, who sounded a bit skittish, nodded. “Wh-when we got the letter that you are chosen to battle among other alphas for the throne of the alpha king, we were not surprised but expectant.”

“Your dominance on the battlefield has reached the ear of every pack.” The other one added. “They know of your glory and your recent victory. If not for your objection against choosing a mate yourself, there’s a long line of houses who would be honored to —”

“You both talk too much.” Damon griped. “Just get this over with.”

In all this, my head remained down. All I could think about was a way out. I could lie about who I was. How would they know? And once the night was over I would run.

Nothing would stop me this time.

“Look here child,” one of the elders called to me, “what house are you from?”

“House of…erm…” My tongue felt heavy and dry. I couldn’t do it.

“She’s a slave.” Eris's voice tore through the air.

I shut my eyes tightly, and miserable relief pooled into my veins. My fingers clutching my dress, I wanted to disappear.

“Alpha, I apologize.” Sam’s voice entered. “We couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with the elders. I’m sorry alpha, but this one cannot be your mate—“

“You don’t decide what I take.”

Though Damon’s voice was calm, it thundered to an extent and caught the attention of the rest of the pack.

“We apologize, Alpha, and don’t mean to speak out of place.” Eris bowed, as did her husband. “But the one you’ve chosen is not worthy. She’s a slave with no name and has no rights even as an omega. We care for her but she repays us with theft and disgrace. My other children can testify to this. Alpha, she’s an exile. It would be a curse and an abomination for her to be our Luna.”

Something in me went very still.

The way a room feels after someone slams the door and the echo finally dies. It made me feel numb and cold all over.

The pack members began to gather. Their curses rose into a restless murmur.

Never will a slave omega be their Luna.

I did not want to be anyone’s Luna. I just wanted to leave.

“Alpha y-you can’t.” An elder pleaded. “The moon goddess is never mistaken.”

“Enough,” the Alpha growled.

“Never will I bed a pathetic, little omega, or make her my Queen.”

His eyes glowed blood red when he turned to me, fangs bared.

“I reject you.” His voice was cold. Absolute. “You are nothing to me. You will be imprisoned for your crimes.”

His words didn’t hurt the way I expected. They didn’t burn.

They just… removed something. Like a hand reaching into my chest and pulling out whatever had just started to grow there.

My knees went first. Then the noise. The crowd’s murmur became distant, underwater.

I heard myself say “I accept your rejection” and I didn’t recognize my own voice. It was too quiet. Too small.

He was already walking away before the words finished leaving my mouth.

I don’t know why… but that was the part that broke me.

Not the crowd. Not Eris. Not the enforcers closing in.

Just the view of his back walking away, not caring to hear me finish.

Instantly the footsteps of the enforcers surrounded me. I squirmed in the dirt as they came closer. Tears soaking my dress, I reached for my wolf, seeking comfort.

I found nothing but silence.

And just like that—

I had nothing left.