Chapter 1

Aria's Pov

Today was the annual mating ceremony, and also the day, five years ago, that I lost my parents to the cold hands of death. They were killed by rogue wolves, and all that remained of them were bits and pieces of their torn out flesh.

Smack! I felt a sharp sting on my left cheek which snapped me back to reality.

"Ouch!" I winced in pain, as the slap echoed in my ears. I rubbed my stinging cheeks with my palm, as tears welled up in my eyes.

"Get your head out of the clouds, Aria!" Mrs. Beatrice, the person in charge of caring for the Alpha's quarters barked. "There's a lot of work to do before the mating ceremony tonight, and you are here daydreaming?!"

"I– I'm sorry Mrs. Beatrice," I bowed and apologized in a trembling voice, and got back to cleaning, even though my cheeks still hurt, there was no time to nurse that now.

"Sorry Aria," my wolf, Ava comforted me. "Just say the word, and I'd have her head rolling," she threatened.

"Yeah right," I rolled my eyes at my hot-headed wolf. "It would only land me in more trouble."

"Don't worry when we find our mate, all this will be over," she continued.

"I hope so Ava, I just hope so."

The annual mating ceremony was being held in the pack house this year, unlike previous years where it was held in the pack's square. This was in honor of the alpha's son, London.

London was a work of really fine art. Each muscle on his arms and torso seemed to have been carved out by the moon goddess herself. His light olive skin glistened under the full moon's light which made him irrestible to any she-wolf. He had piercing blue eyes, the shade of the depth of a crystalline lake, which was framed by long dark lashes. His dark coloured hair added a rugged masculinity to him.

"Still getting flushed by the thought of London, huh?" Ava teased.

"Shut up, Ava," I retorted, my cheeks turning red.

Ever since I moved into the pack house at age thirteen, I've had a crush on the alpha's son, London. I thought it was just a mere crush but it only grew stronger with each passing day, and being assigned as his personal omega the last two years didn't help matters because I went to bed daily dreaming about him.

"Back to work Aria, or do you want Mrs. Beatrice to come back here?" Ava scolded, snapping me back to reality, and I got back to scrubbing the floors.

"Oops, I'm sorry," a tiny voice apologized, which belonged to none other than Elsa.

"Here comes annoying El," Ava chimed in irritation.

"You shouldn't leave buckets of water just lying around," she said, with a smug expression, as she swayed her waist and walked away leaving footprints on the floor I had spent the past minutes scrubbing hard.

Elsa was London's girlfriend, and just like archenemies, we had a mutual hatred for each other. Elsa had always bullied me, any chance she got, and thank the goddess for London who always came to my rescue which was extremely nice of him. This made me fall for him harder.

The rest of my day was spent on my back, scrubbing the floors in the guest room and hallways, as well as arranging the guest rooms, because we had guests coming from neighboring packs.

"Tonight's the night, Aria," I whispered to myself, as I dragged my aching body back to my room to prepare for the mating ceremony.

I took a shower in my small bathroom which wouldn't even fit two people. After taking my bath, I brought out a ball blue gown which I had found discarded close to the trash. I picked it up and washed it cause it was too beautiful to be thrown away. My hands ached from the stitching and washing I did to make it a bit presentable.

"You look gorgeous, Aria," Ava complimented.

"Thank you," I said with a smile on my lips, as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

I heard a knock on my door, which only signifies one thing; Mrs. Beatrice was calling out all the omega's for a brief meeting.

Being an omega isn't all that terrible, what's terrible is being the outcast amongst the omega's. I was being seen as the flag bearer of bad luck, and the other omega's avoided me like a plague.

I looked at myself one last time and was impressed with what I saw. I might be an omega, but one thing was certain, I was drop-dead gorgeous. I was fair-skinned with ultramarine eyes, and I had auburn hair, which I neatly packed in a sleek burn.

"I told you you look gorgeous," Ava said again, as I walked towards the other omega's who were gathered waiting for Mrs. Beatrice. The snickering and judgemental whispers I got from them were sickening, but all that will change when I find my mate tonight because I'm sure as hell I'm not coming back here.

"You guys should be on your best behavior tonight," Mrs. Beatrice began her speech. "And make sure to not draw attention to yourselves," she told us, which was more of a warning.

"Yes Mrs. Beatrice," we answered in unison, and Mrs. Beatrice dismissed us with a wave of her hand.

We all walked down to the hall where the ceremony was being held. The guests had begun to arrive, and by 10:30 p.m., Alpha James got on stage.

"Welcome, distinguished ladies and gentlemen," he announced. "Everyone, please join me to welcome on stage my son, London Fitzgerald, future alpha of Startling Pack," he said proudly, and London walked on stage looking as elegant as always in a white tuxedo. My heart skipped a bit when our eyes met.

London said a few words, his voice was so smooth, and filled with so much confidence that everyone was left captivated.

The music blared from the speakers immediately after London's speech, and everyone paired up to dance.

I was paired up with a pack member, but my eyes never left London's side, who was dancing with Elsa.

"Please let me be paired with London," I prayed silently to the moon goddess, as a mixer dance song was played, and everyone switched partners.

My prayers were soon answered, and London and I became dance partners. As soon as our hands touched, I felt a jolt of electricity course through me, and for a split second, London's eyes changed from the usual blue color, to gray.

London walked away abruptly, leaving me all by myself in the middle of the hall.

"Ave did you feel that?" I asked Ava, not sure if it was my mind playing tricks on me.

"I did. It's a good sign," Ava replied. "But let's not jump to conclusions yet."

I went and stood by a corner as I anxiously waited for midnight so that everything would become crystal clear.

Ding! The clock chimed loudly.

Someone bumped into me from behind, and I turned only to see a Gamma wolf, Amanda and her minions with a scowl on their faces.

"I guess your bad luck wouldn't let the moon goddess give you a mate," she taunted and walked away giggling with her minions.

"Don't fret Aria," Ava said encouragingly. "Tonight's our night."

I couldn't help but smile broadly, as I walked around the hall in search of my mate.

"Can you sense anything, Ava?" I asked anxiously, as I wandered through the hall.

"We just need to be patient, Aria," Ava assured.

The clock kept ticking, and I was slowly consumed by disappointment. Could the moon goddess not have given me a mate? Was it all because I'm the flag bearer of bad luck like everyone says? Tears welled up in my eyes, and I fought to keep them at bay.

"Still nothing?" I inquired, with my heart sinking.

"Nothing yet, Aria," Ava said, and I could sense the disappointment in her voice.

I sighed.

"Let's keep searching," Ava suggested. "Fate works in mysterious ways."

"I don't know Ava," I replied sadly. "It's been so long."

As time passed, my despair deepened but I still kept a fake smile on my face. The entire hall was filled with different scents of marked werewolves, as people already found and marked their mates.

"MATE!" Ava suddenly squeaked.