Chapter 3.

When I woke, the sun was already setting. Panic seized me as I bolted upright, wincing at the stabbing pain behind my eyes. I'd never slept through an entire day before, especially not a full moon day.

My hand flew to the back of my head, finding dried blood caked in my hair. The memory flooded back—the overwhelming heat, the maid, the suppressant pill, and then... those silver eyes.

"You're awake."

I jerked at the voice, twisting to see Kylie sitting on the edge of my bed. She should have been long gone by now, freed from her punishment and returned to her family.

"What are you still doing here?" I croaked, my throat painfully dry.

She passed me a cup of water, her expression grave. "I couldn't leave you like that. I was waiting for you to wake up.

I gulped down the water, fighting the urge to ask her about the man who'd entered our room earlier. "How did I get back to my bed?"

"I dragged you," she admitted. "You were burning up, Aurora. I've never seen heat symptoms like that, and I've assisted the pack healer for years."

The water churned uneasily in my stomach. "It's nothing. Just the full moon."

Kylie's eyes narrowed. She opened her mouth and closed it again. Omegas were the lowest of the pack, and not just because their strength, aptitude and leadership ability equaled that of an ant, it was majorly because of this. In the right, or wrong condition, we turned into whores during the full moon. 

And yet we were rare. I didn’t know any other Omega except my Mom. Explaining to a virtual stranger that I was an actual, actual omega, wasn’t smething I was going to put myself through. Every female wolf had heat symptoms, we’d leave it at that. 

A commotion outside the window interrupted us—drums beating, wolves howling, the sounds of the full moon celebration beginning. Kylie cursed under her breath.

"We need to get you ready. If you miss the ceremony, your aunt will have both our hides." She yanked open the small chest at the foot of my bed, pulling out the traditional white dress all unmated females wore for the full moon.

On an impulse, I hugged Kylie, my throat tightening. It was the first time I was visible to somoene else. Probably sensing that, she hugged me too. As soon as we walked out of the house, there’d be no reason to meet or talk again. We both knew it. 

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The celebration grounds blazed with torchlight. Every member of the Silver Moon Pack gathered in their finest attire, faces already flushed with wolfsbane wine and the feral energy of the approaching moonrise. Children darted between legs, laughing and playing chase games that mimicked hunts. 

The full moon wasn’t just a day of rest, it was also a day the goddess set aside to bless some of her people with their mates. Unmted wolves were looking forward to knowing if they’d receive their mates.  I had no illusions of ever finding a mate. More likely, one of my guardians would go too far and kill me. 

I kept to the shadows, away from the worst of the crowd. My white dress clung uncomfortably to my skin, already damp with sweat despite the cool evening air. My suppressant was wearing off faster than expected, leaving me dizzy and disoriented.

"Look who decided to join us," came a familiar, sneering voice.

Fina materialized before me, resplendent in a silver gown that highlighted her status as the daughter of a council member. A string of gleaming pearls, the same ones she'd accused me of stealing, adorned her throat.

"Nice necklace," I muttered before I could stop myself. 

Her hand flew to the pearls. "Found them in my jewelry box after all. Not that it matters—I still know you've been stealing from me." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a hiss. "I've convinced Mother to request a thorough search of the omega quarters tomorrow. We'll see what turns up."

My stomach dropped. The chocolate Kylie had given me—if they found it, they'd assume I stole it from the kitchens.

"Wait, Fina, I haven't taken anything…"

"Save it," she snapped, grabbing my wrist hard enough to bruise. "You're coming with me. Mother wants you serving wine to the elders."

She dragged me toward the center of the celebration, where the pack's ruling council sat on elevated chairs, observing the festivities with imperial detachment. My legs felt leaden, my skin feverish despite the suppressant. The music grew louder, the drums matching the frantic beating of my heart.

"Hurry up!" Fina hissed, shoving me toward a table laden with crystal decanters.

As I reached for the wine, a particularly aggressive drumbeat sent a shock of sensation straight to my core. The decanter slipped from my hands as I fell to my knees, shattering at my feet in a spray of crimson liquid and glass shards. 

Silence, broken by gasps fell across the nearest revelers. I felt the weight of dozens of stares as the wine soaked into the hem of my white dress, staining it blood-red.

Aunt Meredith's voice cut through the silence like a knife. "Clean that up. Now."

I hid my face, frantically gathering glass shards with trembling hands. A piece sliced into my palm, and I gasped as blood welled up, mingling with the spilled wine.

Something snapped inside me at the sight of my own blood. My wolf surged forward with such force that I nearly blacked out. My vision blurred, the world tilting sideways as a wave of heat so intense it bordered on pain rolled through me.

"Aurora?" My Aunt appeared at my side, her face swimming in and out of focus. "What do you think…"

I couldn't hear the rest of her words over the roaring in my ears. The drumbeats faded, replaced by the thundering of my own heart. I fumbled in my pocket for the suppressant, but my fingers closed around nothing.

"My pills," I gasped. "I need…"

I spotted my purse, which had fallen during the commotion. I lunged for it, but she caught my arm.

"Aurora," she whispered, her eyes narrowed with barely veiled anger. "What are you trying to do?"

I couldn't answer. My body moved of its own accord, wrenching free of her grasp. The world narrowed to a pinpoint focus. I snatched my purse, fingers fumbling with the clasp.

The tablet slipped from my grasp, rolling across the ground. I dove after it, uncaring of the spectacle I was making. Behind me, I heard Fina's mocking laughter, Aunt Meredith's hissed commands to compose myself.

None of it mattered. Nothing mattered except the burning need consuming me from the inside out.

As my fingers finally closed around the tablet, a new sensation overwhelmed me, an invisible cord pulling tight around my chest, yanking me in a specific direction. My head snapped up, gaze fixing on the council house that stood at the far edge of the celebration grounds.

"I need to go," I whispered and stumbled to my feet.

Someone grabbed my hand, holding me back.

I shook my head, the pill forgotten in my hand. The pull was irresistible, a siren song calling to the very depths of my soul. My wolf clawed desperately at my insides, howling for release.

"Let me go," I said, my voice unrecognizable even to my own ears.

"If you don’t stop with this drama…," Fina hissed, yanking me backward.

With strength I didn't know I possessed, I shoved her away. She stumbled backward, shock written across her face. 

I staggered forrward, oblivious to the stares and whispers. My legs moved of their own accord, carrying me through the crowd. People parted before me, their expressions a mixture of confusion, disgust, and in some cases, fear.

"Aurora!" My Uncle’s voice cut through the haze. "What do you think you're doing?"

I ignored him, pushing past anyone who stood in my way. The pull grew stronger with each step, drawing me inexorably toward the council house. A low growl rumbled in my chest, the voice of my wolf breaking through.

The massive wooden doors of the council house loomed before me, carved with the ancient symbols of our pack. Two guards stood at attention, their eyes widening as they took in my appearance, wild-eyed and blood-stained.

"Stop," one commanded, stepping into my path.