I'm so screwed

My cousin clearly doesn't find this as amusing as the instructor–as she stares daggers at me.

Her expression reads: “how dare you” and her eyes scream “consequences”. But I don't care, it's too late to turn back now.

“An omega from such a strong family” he starts, “Miss Dane, care to explain?” He gestures to Talia and I see her fury spike, sending shivers down my spine.

“She is my cousin from a failure of a family–from my father's side” she says quickly with a grin. Fully expecting a reaction from me but I'm not going to ruin this for myself, it's been a long time since provocations like that worked on me. For good reason.

“But she is your blood nonetheless” he says to her, “and as a beta in your household she is your responsibility. Letting her come here makes me question your ability to lead”

Talia's expression turns stoic at his words. Her gaze focused on the man. She will remember him. The instructor dared to question her leadership skills, knowing full well she aims to be Luna of the pack, like most of the girls that applied for this year's trials.

Talia's friends–if you can call them that, shift nervously beside her. I can't blame them, her mood is ruined now– someone will have to pay, and we all know who that will be.

The instructor is about to add more when I am nearly deafened by squeals and roars. Someone has the whole class riled up, and I shut my ears in response. That's when they walk past me. An entourage of Alphas; really the children of Alphas.

They pass by me without so much as a glance. The one at the helm and clearly their leader gives a brief nod to the instructor before taking the stairs to his seat and the others follow.

That's when I see her, the strange girl from the market, she sees me and offers a wink before joining the others. So much for being late.

The instructor clears his throat with a cough “Well it seems everyone is here now, let us begin”

“Wait! What about me?” I ask.

“What about you?”

“I want to join the trials too”

He sighs “Go home, child. This is no place for an omega”

“No” I proclaim, that's right. Going back empty-handed is not an option, not when I'm so close. Risking the wrath of

“What?” he asks with annoyance and I can immediately feel the eyes of everyone on me. This is the part where the omega scurries away. Actually that's wrong, any omega would have left five steps ago. But as they will come to learn, I am nothing like the average omega.

“I refuse to just leave” I start, hoping he doesn't take off my head. “At least give me a chance to prove myself”

He takes a deep breath and exhales. “Child, this is for your own good. The trials were not made for omegas”.

And he's right–an omega participating in the trials is nothing short of a death sentence. In the past omegas died in spades, mostly from spars with Alphas and betas, barely anyone got to the wilds training and none who did survived.

So I understand him wanting me to turn back. But not even death can deter me. After all, I'm covered in it.

“That you are” my brothers whisper in my mind in unison.

“At least give me the chance to prove myself” I say, “if I fail, I'll leave without a fuss”

“And if you die” he asks

“Then I leave without a fuss”

I say it with a smile.

He stares at me for a moment, rubbing his beard. “Okay then, I guess this will be a perfect teaching moment for the others”.

Front row seats to seeing an omega be put in her place, a spectacle I doubt any of them would want to miss.

“Talia Dane” he says, and I start to panic. “Seeing as she's your blood, it is fitting you do the honours of picking her opponent.” My heart sinks. “It cannot be yourself of course, I wouldn't want you to go easy on her just because you're related.

Relief.

An Alpha bloodline producing an omega is seen as one that is losing its power and after today the alpha's present will know Talia’s family produced an omega.

If he had allowed her to pick herself, I have no doubt she would kill me for this.

I expect to see her frown a little, but she's smiling. And that never means anything good for me. Nothing good at all.

“I pick him,” Talia says, pointing behind me and the class gasps.

I turn to see a large man slowly approaching, and I could hear the instructor's heart beat faster.

“Are you sure Miss Dane?” He asks, clearly confused.

“I am” her smile widens.

“Very well then” he exclaims, “Sire, would you be willing to spar with the lady here?”

Now it's time to panic.

There's only three people in the pack the instructor would address with “sire”; the Alpha king and his two sons.

I turn.

He stops just behind me, looking down at me with complete disinterest. He is tall. Broader than anyone in the arena. Eyes like magic and a scar that screams a story.

I swallow hard.

This man could break me with a shrug.

I'm so screwed.