Chapter One

Aria's POV

A worthless omega, that's all I can ever be.

My “loving” mate is at it again, making love to his Alicia. I wish he will just reject me and leave me be.

My entire torso feels like multiple knives are stuck inside. Unfortunately, this made me hunch over and spill Tania, a pack warrior's smoothie from the kitchen island.

The entire kitchen is silent, even the drop of a needle could be heard. The legs of her chair scrape the floor and the clicking sounds of heels approach me. My heart is beating hard against my chest, “foolish, foolish, Aria”, is all I can think, just before I felt her hateful gaze.

“You ruined my drink, wench”, she spits in my face. 

I try to raise my head and mutter an apology, but nothing comes out but heavy pants from my lips. 

“You won't apologize?”, slap, “useless”, kick, “worthless omega”, stump. The sharp edge of her heel wound into my barely clothed skin. 

Blood and sweat trickled down my wounded body, I can barely feel the pain she's inflicting. The betrayal of a mate hurts much more.

The stumps stop coming and she sports a smirk, looking down at me. “I wish I had more time to teach you a lesson, but I have to look my best for the bonfire tonight”, she said, taking a turn and skipping away as if nothing ever happened.

The conversations in the kitchen start again. I drag my battered lanky frame to sit against a kitchen cabinet. 

Heavy footsteps can be heard approaching from the staircase, and the musky smell of my mate mixed with lavender and pine filled my nostrils. Alpha Omari walks in without a shirt and jeans that hang low on his waist.

My eyes drink in his form, even though he hurt me he is still my mate.

His amber eyes glance at me, turning cold, “Pathetic, just take a look at yourself”, he said  to me, his lips contorted in a grimace. 

“And you thought I'd ever pick you over Licia, such a joke”, he adds. 

He takes long strides into the kitchen and picks a plate,  heading back upstairs. 

He paused right by the staircase, tilting his head to the side.

“Make sure you're at the bonfire tonight, I'm making an important announcement”, he ordered. 

“Babe”, Alicia calls out whining from upstairs, “You're taking too much time, who are you talking to?”

“No one important”, he answers, “I'm coming right up, love”, hurrying upstairs.

I lift myself weakly, dragging my feet out of the pack house to the tiny hut allocated to me. My wolf has been silent since when our mate ignored the bond and betrayed us.

***

I stare at my reflection through the broken mirror, in my room. My eyes are swollen and red from crying. My dress has visible holes and is faded. The only thing I love about myself are my vibrant hazel eyes.

“Come on, Aria, it's now or never”, I whisper to myself, doing that a lot since all I got from others are harsh words and insults.

Slipping on my worn-out sandals, I take off towards the pack house following the peculiar scent of my mate. I want to try one last time.

I have rehearsed this scene one too many times before now, with my mind drifting afar, I bump into a hard chest, sending sparks through my skin and I fall rather clumsily. 

“Watch where you're going, mutt”, Alpha Omari let out a growl. 

I whimper faintly in response, “I'm sorry for bumping into you, Alpha.”

“Can we have a word, please Omari”, his eyes darken.

A shiver rolls down my spine “S…sorry, Alpha Omari”, I stammer timidly.

“Make it quick, I have important places to be and people to be with.” The glint in his eyes shows he enjoys how it hurts me when he mentions her.

I take a deep breath licking my cracked lips, his eyes follow this and turn completely dark, his wolf fighting for control. He shakes his head vigorously and gains control then his gaze goes cold.

“Why can't we work out, I'll train and get stronger. I'd do anything just give me a chance to prove my worth to you” I mutter with my eyes fixated on the wooden floor as if it were a thing of interest.

“Are you done, rambling?”, he said in return. I nod my head.

His rough hands lift my chin to face him. My eyes glossy with tears, I blink hard to get rid of them, less he would think I am weaker than he initially assumes. 

“I would be settling for way less if I choose you, I don't know what kind of sick joke the moon goddess is playing but to be paired with you is more like a curse than a blessing.”

Fat tears run down my cheeks, my lips quivering violently I can barely control them.

“Come on, look at you. You're not even much to look at for me to even be remotely attracted to you, an Alpha like me settling for you…..”, I snatch my face from his hands running past him, anywhere is better than near him.

I twist my neck backward so I'd make sure he isn't following me, bumping into someone else again. This time it is the head of the kitchen, Greta, her eyes narrow shooting me a glare.

“I was searching for you, take this”, handing over a blue apron to me. “Get your lazy self to the kitchen, and share the barbecue around.”

I nod my head briefly, with a sigh. Taking a turn and heading to the kitchen. I picked up a tray, and placed various barbecue wraps in it venturing outside towards the bonfire to share. 

It is a short walk from the pack house. My feet hurriedly move towards its destination to avoid a beating.

My ears pick up the distinct voice of my mate, he must be making an announcement or something because the bonfire is unusually quiet.

I make my way to the crowd, starting from those near me, and then I hear his words loud and clear. 

“........would like to announce officially that Alicia Bennet, the daughter of Hector Bennet, our former Beta, is my chosen mate and Luna of the Blood Moon pack.” 

The wolves of the pack make loud howls and whistles, showing their support. Tears trickle down my face, I stay longer so I can hear it all.

He turns facing her, gazing at her lovingly, one arm wrapped around her tiny waist, pulling her close, and the other cupping her cheeks affectionately. 

“To show my utter loyalty and commitment to you, my love”, he takes a deep breath with elongated canines and sunk his teeth in her neck.

My chest feels like it is being torn apart viciously, I can barely make out the screams and shouts that filled the late-night air.

Without a second thought, I ran into the woods surrounding our pack. My legs keep going, getting past the trees until they give out completely.

Loud sobs escape my lips, my life has been so painful. I was taken in as an abandoned pup from the pack borders, and bullied throughout middle to high school. 

When I first had my shift and it was discovered that I was an Omega, my predicament got worse. I was starved, beaten, insulted by even fellow Omegas, with no friends.

The snap of a twig pulls me from my thoughts. I whip my head towards the sound.

My blood ran cold, “Rogues!”, I think out loud.

Several blazing red eyes peered at me in the night, giving them off to being close to insanity. 

They are past the border lines and are on pack lands.

I fall on my butt, scratching my palms on the cold forest floor, as they step forward. Without a second thought, I take off toward the pack, aiming to warn them of this impending threat. 

My mind link stopped working because my wolf had gone silent.

A searing pain shoots through my leg, as one of them latches onto me, swaying from side to side. He then yanks me backward and flung me at a tree. 

I fall barely conscious, a tall figure crouching over me murmurs, “You remind me of someone, little girl.”

My ears could faintly pick up multiple sounds of paws hitting the ground, getting past me, as I slowly drift into oblivion.