CHAPTER FIVE: THE PROMISE, THE BETRAYAL, THE AWAKENING

"So you had kept her in your room all day?" Sylvia's voice was sharp, trembling with rage. "This filthy thing?"

She lunged at Ayla, but Caius caught her by the arm mid-air.

"You're hurting me, Caius!" she shrieked. "You are hurting me!"

"I thought I made myself clear enough the last time, Sylvia."

"If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. I—I'm sorry!" she whimpered. "But don’t punish me like this. I know you’re trying to teach me a lesson by... by accommodating this omega!" She spat the word like venom.

“Leave,” Caius said coldly.

“Wha—Caius—”

“I said leave,” he repeated, then turned to the guards. “Get her out.”

"Don’t you dare touch me!" Sylvia shrieked, but the guards were already pulling her out. Her eyes burned holes into Ayla before the heavy door slammed shut.

A few moments of silence passed.

A soft knock broke the tension. It was the head maid.

"Alpha. I’ve come for Ayla. To brief her on her new duties."

Caius looked toward Ayla. “You may go,” he said gently.

Ayla bowed. “Yes, Alpha.”

As she turned to leave, Caius called out, “Ayla.”

She paused.

“Be careful,” he said, his voice quieter now.

Ayla gave a small nod. “Yes, Alpha.”

She followed the head maid, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. But the further they walked, the louder the whispers.

“She must be a witch.”

“Maybe she used a love potion.”

“An omega? In the Alpha’s chambers?”

“She’ll bring ruin to this pack.”

“She won’t last the week.”

Ayla kept her head low.

To her surprise, the head maid wasn’t unkind. In fact, she was… respectful.

“As the Alpha’s personal maid, your duties will include preparing his chamber, serving his meals, and standing by when summoned,” she explained. “It’s a great responsibility. Understand?”

“Yes, I do,” Ayla replied.

“You’ll serve his dinner tonight. The Alpha eats in his chambers.”

A few moments later, they were in the kitchen. The head maid handed her a silver tray.

“Don’t drop it,” she warned.

Ayla nodded, took the tray, and walked toward the royal hall. The whispers followed her like shadows. As she reached the staircase, she saw her—Sylvia, coming down, face blank, eyes staring straight ahead.

Ayla’s heart raced. Would she slap her? Scream?

But Sylvia passed her without a word. Without even a glance.

Ayla exhaled. She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding her breath.

At the Alpha’s door, she knocked.

“Come in,” Caius said.

She entered quietly and placed the tray on the table.

“Is there anything else the Alpha might need?” she asked.

“Yes,” Caius said, sitting. “I need you to eat.”

“What?”

“You threw up the last time. You need to eat properly.”

“But—”

“No but,” he cut her off. “You wouldn’t disobey the Alpha, would you?”

Ayla sat slowly, unsure. “I apologize.”

He chuckled. “Good. Eat.”

As they ate in silence, Caius suddenly said, “Would you come somewhere with me tonight?”

She looked up.

“My mother’s grave,” he added. “I want to tell her about my mate. And the pup.”

Ayla nearly choked. Caius passed her a goblet of water, smiling.

“Don’t you think she’d turn in her grave in disdain?” Ayla asked, wiping her mouth.

“No,” Caius said with a small smile. “I think she’d turn in excitement.”

Ayla looked down, blushing.

“So… will you come with me?” he asked again.

“I… I can’t disobey the Alpha,” she murmured.

After dinner, Caius leaned closer. “We’ll go separately. I’ll change into a guard’s uniform. We can’t be seen together.”

“I understand,” Ayla said.

“Good. Go first. Anyone asks, show them this note,” he said, handing her a sealed message.

Ayla left, holding the note. Every time someone asked, she responded calmly, “Running an errand for the Alpha.”

Finally, she reached the spot Caius had described and waited.

Minutes later, a guard approached. Her eyes narrowed, until he pulled down his hood.

“Alpha,” she whispered.

A passerby neared. In a flash, Caius pressed Ayla against him, lips near her cheek as though kissing her. To the passerby, they looked like a guard and his lover sneaking a moment.

When the passerby was gone, Caius stepped back.

“Shall we?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

As they walked, he reached for her hand. She stiffened, but let him.

“Tell me about yourself, Ayla.”

“There’s not much to tell.”

“Humor me.”

They talked all the way. About her parents. Her life in the pack. The isolation.

Eventually, they reached a hill. Below, the river glistened under the moonlight.

“It’s beautiful,” Ayla whispered.

“It was my mother’s favorite place,” Caius said. “She asked to be buried here.”

He showed her the grave. Then, he knelt.

“Mother,” he said softly. “This is Ayla. My mate. She’s carrying your grandpup.”

Ayla watched him, heart aching at the rawness in his voice.

“I promise to protect them. Always.”

She wiped her eyes.

“Would you like to see the top?” Caius asked, standing.

“I’m scared of heights.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She hesitated, then took his hand.

The view was breathtaking.

“You were right,” Caius said.

“About what?”

“An Alpha not being able to accept an Omega as a mate.”

Ayla turned. “Alpha Caius, I—”

Before she could finish, he shoved her.

“CAIUS! NOOO!”

She screamed as her body tumbled, air rushing past her. Her eyes locked on his face, cold, distant, watching from above.

False promises. This cruel world.

The baby. Her baby.

This was how she would die.

She hit the water.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

*

*

*

A gasp.

Air. Light. Voices.

Her eyes flew open. She was lying down–but not on rocks. Not drowning.

People were around her. A woman between her legs.

“Queen Liliana, you need to push! The baby is almost out!”

“What?” Ayla rasped. “Queen… Liliana? Push?”

She looked around wildly.

“Where… where am I? What baby? I–I already…”

But memories weren’t there. Only fragments.

She blinked in panic.

Wasn’t I just falling? Dying?

Then came the fire, burning in her veins, licking at her spine like heat rising from within. Her chest tightened, not from pain, but from something ancient stirring.

“Push, Your Majesty!”

Something inside her roared.

Not just pain. Not just fear.

Power.

It wasn’t wolf. It wasn’t human.

It was something deeper. Hotter. Wilder.

A dragon’s soul… awakening from its slumber.

And it had chosen her.

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