Chapter 1: He's Back?

Author's Note

A few months ago, I struggled to write and get my words onto a page. English isn't my first language, and to be honest, I've never considered my vocabulary particularly strong.

Then something unexpected happened.

The characters in this book suddenly seemed to come alive in my head. Their words, conversations, fears, pasts, dreams, and emotions felt real. Writing this story stopped feeling like putting words together and started feeling like living alongside them. Through that experience, this world slowly came alive.

I have one hope for you, my readers:

Don't just read this story as a collection of words on a page. Live it. Step into the world of these characters, feel what they feel, hurt when they hurt, and celebrate when they find happiness. If you do, then hopefully you'll experience the same thing I did while writing this story—the feeling of being completely immersed and alive within another world.

Thank you for giving this story a chance.

— Deeyah Writes

Content Warning

This story contains mature themes, including violence, emotional trauma, abuse, discrimination, war, grief, sexual content, and other sensitive topics that may not be suitable for all readers.

For readers who prefer to avoid explicit intimate scenes, chapters containing mature sexual content will be clearly marked with [R18] warnings beforehand. Reader discretion is advised, especially for readers under the age of 18.

I've also made an effort to ensure that these scenes can be skipped without causing you to miss any major plot developments or important story moments.

With that said, welcome to Rozaria.

I hope you enjoy living this journey through the eyes of its characters. 🌚🤧

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1: He's Back?

Ever's POV 

“All Omegas to their stations, Alpha Hagan has returned” The matrons rang the bell to alert everyone in the chambers.

The cloth I had been using to wipe the windows fell from my hands at the sound of the announcement.

He was back? A rush of excitement shot through me. It'd been a month since he left for his most recent pack visit. And I'd yearned every night for his return. I dusted my wet hands on my clothes and loosened my brown hair, fixing it as best as I could. I couldn't let him see me looking a mess after a whole month of being apart.

“Did you hear? The Alpha's back” Kia's voice called from behind.

“And?...” I raised a brow.

“Yeah. Like you haven't been dreaming of him this whole past month.” She scoffed. “I miss you Hagan. When will you return, Hagan. I can't bear it when we're apart” She mimicked and I threw my shoes at her which she dodged and ran down the stairs with me chasing after her.

Kia and I grew up in GreyMark's orphanage for Omegas. She was the only one I got along with as other pups there felt I was either too stubborn or too much trouble to be entangled with.

She was also the only one I'd told that I was mated to the Alpha. And best of all, She was my best friend, my roommate, and one of only two things in this Pack that truly mattered to me..

The other was Hagan. And he was finally back after being away for so long.

Kia and I scurried past our stations.

“Where are you going?” She whispered, holding me back. “We're supposed to be at our stations.

“I have to see him” I whispered back. “It won't take too long I promise, just a minute”

She groaned. “For the love of God. That's what you always say. And a minute turns to 10 minutes”

I gave her my famous saddening look. Which 99% of the time worked on her. The 1% not working being whenever she had just been punished when I was actually at fault.

“Not this time, Ever. We could get caught. And you know what those matrons do to us whenever we're caught wandering outside our stations without permission” She whispered, not willing to budge.

“Then I'll go myself” I yanked my hand out of hers and slid past the passageway to the street. Kia joined me moments later, panting heavily as she caught up to me.

“You'll be the death of me one day” She let out and we both laughed as we increased our pace to avoid being spotted.

We ran across the main yard and eventually got to the crowd awaiting the Alpha's entrance. Warriors, Gammas, Elders and many beautiful highborn shewolves were eagerly waiting.

Omegas like us were strictly not allowed to attend gatherings like this so Kia and I had to cover up our crescent marks. It would be easy to tell with how faded they were that we were Omegas so we hid it as we slid past the crowd.

Some wolves we passed still managed to figure out we were Omegas - through our weak scents and our dirty clothes of course. And it made passing through harder as many of them shoved us out of their way.

We eventually managed to make it to the midst of the crowd. Kia and I put our veils on to avoid being recognized.

I searched for Hagan's carriage among the many carriages that moved past. I wasn't the only one searching apparently as many Highborn shewolves shoved each other just to get a sight at him.

They were causing serious commotions for the rest at the back as each with their own comments started one argument or the other.

“I can't believe our Alpha still doesn't have a mate. Any shewolf would be willing to assume the role of his mate if only he just asked” One began, frustration clear in her tone.

“And what makes you think even he asked, he'd ask you of all people. Your father is literally a retired nobody. Your family lacks the status suitable for a Luna” Another pressed and they both got into a fight, pulling each other's hairs.

“Oh what I'd give just to have a night in those arms. Having those eyes staring down at me” Another began.

“Slut! That's why you still don't have a mate and yet you're pregnant” 

And that didn't end well either. Kia and I decided to move further aside from them before we'd get caught in their drama.

The carriages finally halted at the Pack house where the Beta alighted first and the crowd went into a frenzy. The shewolves especially.

Beta Roy was as good looking as one could picture. His green eyes suited his short black hair so well and when he wasn't standing close to the Alpha, he was one of those extremely good looking men ladies could barely take their eyes off. 

I looked over at Kia. She had unfortunately fallen into the frenzy too.

“Well someone's gaping…” I teased.

She jerked back into composure as she tried to hide the astonishment in her eyes.

“I wasn't,” she quickly defended. ”And didn't you say a minute. I reckon it's been up to five minutes since we left”

“Pretty please, just three more minutes” I pleaded with her as she rolled her eyes.

“Fine. We leave after we see your prince charming” She teased back and I shot her a glare.

A tall masculine figure alighted the last carriage. And the crowd went crazy, with whistles and chants erupting everywhere. The ladies completely lost their composure as some began screaming for his attention.

I couldn't see him clearly as many people had stepped in front of me and blocked my view but I didn't need anyone to tell me who was causing these commotions.

I struggled to slide past the crowd in front of me to get a better view. And I eventually found a block to climb on. 

My eyes didn't need to search for two long before it found him. There he was. Greymark's Alpha and proudly…My mate. Even if no one knew. I clutched my chest, unable to hold back my smiles. One month away and he still managed to look more beautiful than ever. His broad shoulders and imposing frame made him impossible to miss, even among the warriors surrounding him.

For a moment, he turned to where I was and we locked eyes. To others there, it would seem like a basic glance through the crowd but we both knew. He looked away as fast as we had locked gazes, for it not to arouse suspicion in the minds of the Pack members.

“It's been a whole extra five minutes, Ever” Kia whispered, pulling me down. “We should get going,” She said, pointing towards two of the matrons who seemed to be looking for us as their eyes searched the crowd frantically.

“Presenting to you, Greymark's Alpha” Beta Roy's voice rang out and I turned back again as he surprisingly continued “And…”

“Did the Alpha bring someone with him?” One of the highborn females let out, curiously.

My eyes caught sight of the figure whose hand reached out of the carriage.

I watched, puzzled as a tall, elegant female beauty stepped out of the same carriage Hagan had just stepped out of.

Her presence commanded so much respect and you could feel it even from a distance that her wolf was a strong one. From how prominent her crescent mark was - She was definitely a highborn. But who was she to Hagan?

My stomach tightened.

No. No, no, no.

“His Luna” Beta Roy finished. Those two words pierced me like two stone daggers were driven right into me. The crowd went into a frenzy as gasps and murmurs flew around. 

“It can't be,” I let out an almost silent murmur, my gaze falling back to Hagan. 

“She's his mate? I still think I would've been a better pick but damn they look so good together” One of the highborns let out.

I searched Hagan's eyes for some sort of answer to whatever this was but his eyes didn't seem to deny what Beta Roy had just said. He stretched out his hand to her and she took it smiling and as they turned, his gaze fell back to me, cold and distant in a way I couldn't explain.

I didn't see what happened next as Kia forcefully pulled me out of the crowd. 

“I told you we shouldn't have come” She let out, her voice drenched in panic.

The matrons were getting closer to where we were and she was trying hard to avoid being seen by them. I could barely walk properly or register how much trouble we both were in as my mind still dabbled in the words Beta Roy called out so casually “His Luna”. I'd spent three years picturing myself in a moment exactly like that where I'd stand beside him to bear that title. And he…

“What is an omega doing here?” One of the warriors Kia had hid behind screeched as he pushed her aside, snapping me back to reality. I snapped out of my head and tried to help her up but someone else shoved me to the ground.

The matrons had heard the commotion and rushed to where we were. Kia’s eyes threw daggers at me as they closed in on us and eventually spotted us, shooting us displeased looks.