Chapter 12

Keira's POV 

I stood there, frozen in place, my mind echoing with the sound of her palm meeting my skin. 

The students around us had fallen silent, some staring in shock, others with smug smirks, glad to see the omega put back in her place. 

I blinked back tears as my eyes met hers. There was no guilt in her gaze, only frustration and something I couldn’t quite name. 

“What did you expect, Keira?” Her voice trembled, but not with regret. “Did you really think you could hide it forever? That I wouldn’t find out?”

I swallowed hard, tasting blood from where my teeth had grazed the inside of my cheek. “I didn’t do anything,” I whispered, my voice sounding small even to my own ears. “I didn’t… I didn’t seduce anyone. I don’t even want this.”

She scoffed and crossed her arms, her eyes darting to the students watching us with greedy curiosity. “Don’t lie to me,” she hissed, stepping closer until her face was inches from mine. “I’ve protected you for years, Keira. I let you stay with us. I gave you clothes, food, safety. And this is how you repay me? By going behind my back to secure yourself a spot with the princes?”

I shook my head violently, feeling tears prick my eyes despite my desperate attempt to hold them back. “No. No, Alia, I swear. I didn’t ask for this. They… they forced me. They said I didn’t have a choice.”

For a split second, something flickered across her face. Doubt? Guilt? I didn’t know. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced with the cold, calculating mask she wore so well.

“Then reject them,” she said simply, her lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Reject them and step down from the Trials. Tell everyone you’re not worthy. That way, we can all go back to the way things were before.”

I stared at her, my heart thudding painfully. The way things were before. Me, silently cleaning her room while she went out to parties. Me, watching from behind the curtain as she danced gracefully across the stage, everyone cheering her name while they booed mine. Me, alone in my little corner of her world, unseen, unheard.

“I… I can’t,” I breathed out, feeling my chest tighten with panic. “They won’t let me, Alia. They said… they said if I run again, they’ll find me and—”

“And what?” she snapped, her voice rising slightly. The students watching us leaned in, their curiosity now laced with excitement. “Kill you? Maybe that’s what needs to happen then, Keira. Because if you keep this up, you’ll ruin everything for me. Everything.”

Before I could respond, a hush fell over the hallway. Footsteps echoed off the marble floors, growing louder until they stopped right beside us. My body went rigid as I felt the heat of his presence. Slowly, I turned my head, and my heart sank when my eyes met Riven’s.

His jade green eyes flicked between Alia and me, amusement dancing in their depths. He reached out lazily, his fingers brushing against the red mark on my cheek, sending shivers down my spine.

“Tsk, tsk,” he said softly, his lips curling into a smirk. “Violence against omegas is so… barbaric, don’t you think?”

Alia stiffened beside me, her confident mask cracking for a split second before she dipped into a respectful bow. “Alpha Riven, I didn’t realise—”

“Obviously,” he cut her off, his eyes never leaving mine. “Go to class, Alia. I need a word with… my mate.”

The word sent a ripple through the crowd. My mate. My stomach churned at the possessiveness laced in his tone. Alia hesitated, shooting me a glare filled with venom before gathering her books and stomping away, her heels clicking harshly against the floor.

Once she was gone, Riven turned to me fully, his fingers trailing down my jaw before dropping to his side. “I saw what happened,” he said, his voice lowering to a near whisper only I could hear. “And I’m not pleased.”

I swallowed, forcing myself to hold his gaze despite the way his nearness made my knees weak. “What do you want from me?” I asked quietly, exhaustion coating every syllable. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

He tilted his head slightly, as if considering my question. Then he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear, making my breath hitch. “Because, little omega,” he murmured, his voice sending chills down my spine, “you belong to me. To us. Whether you like it or not.”

He straightened, brushing invisible lint from his immaculate uniform before looking down at me with that infuriating smirk. “Besides, the Trials will be fun to watch. I can’t wait to see you try to survive them.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, his tall frame cutting through the crowd effortlessly. The students parted for him like water, their eyes darting back to me with renewed whispers.

I stood there, feeling the burning imprint of his touch on my skin, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else. My legs felt weak, but somehow, I managed to turn and walk away, each step heavy with dread.

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. I didn’t know if I would survive these Trials, or if I’d end up buried in the shadows of Alia’s world forever. But as I walked back to class, feeling the bruise bloom on my cheek and the ache settle deep in my chest, one thing became painfully clear.

No matter what happened next, I could never go back to the way things were before.