3. The Night Encounter

Gasps erupted through the hall. I froze, the pitcher clattering to the table. Kael's stormy gray eyes fiercely locked onto mine, and for a moment, time stopped. I saw no anger, only a flicker of curiosity, but Seraphine's high pitched voice cut through like a blade.

"Clumsy Omega!" Seraphine hissed and rose up with a venomous voice. "You dare disgrace the Alpha? What pathetic fool are you?"

My throat tightened in fear, my Omega instincts urging me to bow, but my modern defiance flared. "I—it was an accident," I stammered, meeting Kael's gaze briefly.

Kael raised a hand, silencing Seraphine. "Enough," he said, his voice low but commanding. "It’s only cloth afterall." His eyes lingered on me with a profound curiosity.

Seraphine looked flushed and sat back. She was definitely not happy with the way Kael dismissed her.

Rune's soft chuckle broke the tension. "A spirited Omega," he murmured, loud enough for the three of us including Seraphine to hear, his silver eyes glinting with amusement." This feast could use such fire."

Humiliation burned my cheeks as I ran off, the intensity of their gazes piercing me till I left the scene. Way to go Myra. Way to leave a first impression.

"Are you okay?" Diana instantly asked as I barged in the Omega's quarters.

"I am. I'm a bit shaken but yes."

"Don't let Seraphine get to you. She's such a spoiled princess. Rumors have it that she rejected her fated mate, a guard just because of his low ranking. How unfair!"

My ears pickled with curiosity. Why is that piece of information new? That is so cruel of Seraphine but then I remembered my impending rejection. The royals are pricks.

"I won't let it." I smiled slightly at her and we both left for the next chore.

The patron was not happy with that incident and assigned me to night duties, cleaning the royal chamber.

"We are to fetch water from the courtyard well." Diana reminded me, I was glad she chose to follow me because it will be very unsafe looming in the dark all alone.

After fetching the first round, a sudden ache of fatigue hit me as I stared into the dark. It was as if I was trying to remember a suppressed memory. I don't have any—

"Diana, go ahead with the first bucket,"I said, my voice coming low than I intended to, "I'll catch up."

"Are you okay?"

I don't want to weigh us both down. "Yes, just a moment."

Diana hesitated but nodded and carried the first bucket with her.

As I leaned against the well, a soft rustle made me tense. My Omega senses instantly kicked it, they were more heightened than the 2021 ones. Then I caught a scent. The air suddenly shifted with cloves and iron, unmistakably vampire.

My ears were on alert, I spun immediately with pounding heart, to find Lord Rune emerging from the guest wing's shadow,

his crimson cloak blending with the dark night.

The shadow of the moon framed his pale face and dark hair. He has this aura of handsomeness to him but oddly enough, I found myself comparing him to Prince Kael.

"Little wolf," he said with a predatory yet soothing voice. "You are far from the pack's safety. Or do Omegas court danger now?" I could sense the teasing in his voice but I refuse to give in. He was not meant to be here. Unless—

The Omega instincts in me urged me to flee for the moons, but my modern defiance rooted me.

Unless he was here plotting evil. I instantly concluded

"I'm fetching water, not courting anything," my voice came off rougher and defensive. "Unlike some, I don't scheme in shadows."

Rune chuckled, stepping closer, his presence both chilling and magnetic.

"I recognize you now." He chuckled darkly. "You seem to know something I don't, Little Wolf. And there is this air of defiance that looms around you that sadly might be your ruin."

I gritted my teeth at his close proximity and lingering threat but I refused to back down.

"If you make any wrong move, you risk the wrath of the Lycans."

He rubbed his chin for a moment and appeared to be thinking but I knew it was a front.

"Hmmm I see. The lycans won't bat an eyelid if perchance you go missing before tomorrow."

His breath, fanned my neck as he brushed my hair aside with a deliberate slowness, his eyes locked onto the beating pulse on my neck.

"You feel that?" he whispered, with a voice thick with something I can't place. Not anger, it's more clouded. Like lust

His lips hovered just above my throat while I stayed immobilized. I could not think at all.

"One bite, and you're gone forever."

The clearing of throat jolted him back in the moment and a figure I unmistakeably recognized as Prince Kael stood there with a murderous expression.

"I believe we have concluded all in the meeting today, Lord Rune."

The vampire lord smirked and released my neck.

"I believe so Prince Kael."

He took one stare at me and left in the dark.

Prince Kael stood there and the daggers from his glare pierced my head.

"You should know better to tread in the dark, Omega."

I was not paying attention to all that, I darted my eyes left and right and realized no one was within ear shot. Maybe this is an opportunity to warn the Prince.

"Is anything the matter?" Prince Kael suddenly asked after observing me but I grew mute. How do I start and what in the world is the honorific I use while addressing him.

"N..Nothing is.." I stammered instead, growing cold feet at the prospect of revealing anything at all.

He stood there still with a grim expression and was hesitating to say anything more.

"That will be all for tonight Omega."

I hurried back to the Omega quarters. Diana was already there, folding linens. "You took forever," she said, frowning. "Everything alright?"

"I was.. I was just… lost in thought," I mumbled with a forced smile.