There was light in me. What a cruel joke

Caspian's POV

Today, I met the end of me.

I have dreaded this day for as long as I can remember.

I had hoped the Moon goddess hated me too much to let this happen. That my actions had ensured such a fate would be denied me. That darkness and pain would be my only companions in this life.

But I guess this, in its own way, is a fitting punishment for me. The irony.

When my father ordered us to join the Moonborn trials, I obeyed. But I didn't understand what the point was. Lucien's attendance I understood; it's his destiny to rule.

My fate required no trial to prove myself. I already have. Again and again. But he still doesn't trust me.

I arrived at the arena, hoping for an uneventful day. When Tavian requests I spar with a wolf I had never seen before.

“Is this a joke?” I thought. To spar during the Moonborn training period is to give it your all. Which often means death for one of the participants, sometimes both. And this is who they want me to face? A little wolf with barely any meat on her?

I look to my already seated twin and all I receive is a small nod. Barely a gesture, then I understand why I am here; to make Lucien look good.

“Let's get this over with, little wolf” I said as I walked to the center of the arena.

I assumed she was weak but when Tavian announces her as an omega, I was simply confused. Do they expect me to kill this girl?

The girl who's staring at me like I was just an obstacle—now that, I find interesting.

She met me at the center of the arena and I see no evidence of fear in her. Even as the crowd mocked her, all she saw was me.

It was a bit unsettling. Usually, people avoid staring at me.

So I took a closer look at this little wolf; She wore leather and cloth, clearly self-made and with great effort. She wore it like armor, not decoration.

Her hair was a mess of inky curls, wild and untamed, spilling over her shoulders like a dark waterfall that refused to be tamed.

Her eyes were something different; violet. Rare in these parts of the world. So, she was an outsider.

She confirmed this with the stance she took. Too low for the likes of wolves in this pack. I believe she thought she was faster than me.

A mistake.

Then she disappeared

Interesting. Maybe I was wrong.

She circled me faster than the average beta would be able to follow.

Unluckily for her, I was neither average nor a beta. So I saw the black blur coming from what she probably thought was my blind spot.

My response was fast, hoping I could knock her out and end this before it went too far for her.

She dodged and took a bit of me along with her.

What a vicious little thing.

I start forward as she lunges at me instead of circling. I reach to grab her, but I miss as she changes direction in the middle of a lunge.

“This girl might just be crazy” I whispered as I felt my lips form a smile.

I couldn't remember the last time I smiled, or the last time I've been this entertained.

She's circling me again. My little predator.

Then I glance at the crowd and realised what a big fucking mistake I had made.

I'm enjoying myself.

In his presence.

Lucien's expression was Stoic, but his eyes followed the girl as she circled me.

I have to end this.

She attacks.

And I caught her by the throat.

And I squeezed as my claws grew into her neck.

I asked her to concede, but the little wolf is stubborn. But there's something more.

I saw it in her eyes when she slashed away at whatever part of me her claws could reach. Drenching me in my own blood.

I confirmed it when she sank her claws into my shoulder and ripped my flesh off like a cornered beast.

For her this is all or nothing. There's only one way this ends, and it's not with her concession. Whatever dark thing that hides behind those violet eyes of hers will never allow a concession.

Such a thing would consume her and bring her nothing but pain

That's what I told myself as I prepared to kill her.

I drop her.

I readied myself for yet another life to bathe my hands in its blood.

Then I saw the worst possible thing happen.

I had always been able to see the bond of others, just like my mother, and it was pretty much the only reason my father keeps me alive.

A fucking blessing and a curse.

Maybe just a curse.

And as cursed as I was, I never thought I'd see the day I'd see my mate.

I watch as the light grows from her chest to meet the light growing from mine.

There was light in me. What a cruel joke.

—————

“I really should have killed her” I thought to myself, the noise of the crowd muffled as I leave the arena.

“I should leave and stay as far away as I can” I thought to myself as I stay within range of the arena.

I should know better, but I couldn't help it. I didn't look at her after the bond formed. I just left her there. With holes in her neck.

That's a death sentence for the average omega, but she's proven to be anything but average. So I waited.

And waited

Until she came out, completely free of injuries. Her pale skin was even clear of any bruising.

This was no Omega. Who was this girl?

As I pondered this question, I managed to lose her. The girl she came out with was walking alone to a boy just leaving the arena.

I was thankful for this—I’d seen what I wanted to see. She was fine. I should have been able to leave then. But I didn't get far before the rain started and fear washed over me.

It's so sudden it startled me. It kicked all my senses to high alert. But there was nothing here. Just me, the rain and an empty street.

Then my head cleared, and I understood the fear was not mine, it was hers.

I quickly focused my sight to see the bond. Its light grew from me and flew out the street and I followed it as fast as I could.

I found her beaten bloody and unconscious in the rain. Her assailants, nowhere to be found. Judging by her injuries, it had clearly been done by betas and their scent had already been washed away by the rain.

She should have been dead. Any omega would have died twice over.

I shouldn’t have cared. Honestly, leaving her here to die alone in an alley might’ve been a mercy compared to what she’d face if I couldn’t stay away from her and Lucien found out.

But I was already picking her up. She was so light I was surprised the rain hadn't washed her away.

As I held her close, I could feel her erratic, beating heart began to slow.

I was relieved.

It was odd.