CHAPTER 2

ILYANA’S POV

“Mate,” his words resounded in my head again.

The whispers increased. Everyone in the room was as shocked as I was. The ritual had not even begun. Why? What…

“Did he just call her mate?” I heard someone say.

“The ritual has not even begun, and she can feel the mate bond. Truly, she’s cursed,” another omega said.

“She has done it to herself this time. Lady Selene was right. She should be dead. She’s a witch to other omegas like us.”

But the words were like air, entering my ears and leaving just as quickly. My entire focus was on the man in front of me and how breathtakingly handsome he was.

No omega had ever seen the Alpha King before. He was always in his pack, giving orders from his throne like a god. And a god he was, because everything about him was perfection.

His sharp cheekbones. Perfect golden orbs. A body that made even a simple shirt look good.

“You’re my mate?” he said again, more like a question, breaking me out of my thoughts.

Cold dread dropped into my stomach as the realization settled in.

This was death.

“What’s your name?” he asked—the same way every other alpha had asked before rejecting me.

Elara whined inside of me, excited by his closeness and scent, but also scared of what was to come. Lady Selene’s words echoed in my head again.

Another alpha, and you’re dead.

“Can’t you speak?” His voice was sharper this time, and before I could answer, Alpha Theo interrupted.

“Alpha Kael, we were not expecting you.” He rushed in front of me, shoving me aside to face the Alpha King.

I almost fell, but I steadied myself quickly, noticing the small frown on the Alpha King’s brow. He didn’t take his eyes off me, even as I lowered mine to the floor.

“But we’re glad to have you at the ritual. For years, we’ve wanted you here for the mating ceremony. It’s only a pity that your mate is this witch omega that seems to have her claws on every alpha. We were just about to kill her after the ritual.”

I clenched my jaw, anger mixing with something heavier in my chest. Was this it? Was this how I would die? For something I had no control over?

I was an orphan. A poor omega.

I had no time for anything outside my duties, not to talk of finding a witch to cast charms. All I had ever wanted was simple. My mate. A small family. A life where I didn’t have to struggle every day.

Something small.

“This is not our death. Let me out and let me fight them!” Elara growled inside me, but I pushed her down. It was not worth it.

Suddenly, the Alpha King spoke, his words cutting through the room.

“Who are you?”

I snapped my head up, and his icy gaze was locked on Alpha Theo.

Alpha Theo froze. For a second, he looked like he hadn’t heard him. Like his mind refused to process the question.

He laughed awkwardly. “Your Highness… surely you jest… I’m Alpha Theo, Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack. You called for a meeting the last time…”

“Ah,” Alpha Kael cut in smoothly.

“The alpha who had so much to say with no effort to back it up.”

Silence crashed over the hall. Thick. Suffocating.

Alpha Theo’s face drained. In all the years of attending the ritual, he was always the loudest. No one spoke down to him. Not even other alphas.

Until now.

No one said anything. Everyone was too stunned.

The Alpha King moved past him like he was nothing. My heart skipped as he stopped in front of me, tipping my jaw up softly so I could meet his eyes.

My breath caught. His scent was too close. Too much.

“I asked for your name.”

I swallowed. “Ilyana Crest, my lo—”

A sharp pain tore through my scalp as my hair was yanked back, and I was thrown to the floor. Pain shot through my body as I hit the ground.

Before I could recover, something cold trickled down from my head to my face.

“Witch!” Selene’s voice rang out. “How dare you mate with the Alpha King?”

“Your Highness, my mate was telling the truth! This omega is a witch. She only mates with alphas—a witch’s luck. Last year, she almost stole my mate. An omega like her. Alpha Kael, she’s not worth your time. She’s proud, useless, wretched. She doesn’t listen and acts like she’s on top of the world.”

Lady Selene continued, walking towards me and dumping more of the drink over me, soaking my clothes.

“Look at her. Pathetic wolf. Everyone knows alphas prefer submissive women, but she acts like she knows better. Never talks back, keeps her head low, and still looks at you like you’re beneath her. Useless. Stupid.”

Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed Selene’s wrist. The movement was too fast. Too precise.

My eyes widened as I met the Alpha King’s gaze before it shifted to her.

“And who are you?”

Her lips parted, words stumbling out. “My… Alpha… I’m the daughter of—”

“I didn’t ask for an explanation. I asked who you are to be spilling things on my mate.”

Murmurs rose again.

“Mate?”

“Did the Alpha King just call her mate?”

“Is he going to accept her?”

My chest tightened. No one had ever said it like that before. Not even during rejection.

“Your Highness, I assure you, she’s not worth—”

“If you say one more thing,” his voice cut through hers, “I’ll have you and your mate stripped of your position and demoted to rogues. Would you like that?”

She froze instantly, her arrogance cracking as she bowed. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry, but—”

“Do not test my patience. I am not merciful.” His voice came out low, edged with a growl.

He released her, flinging her aside. She stumbled into Alpha Theo, both of them crashing into a tray and causing a commotion.

But I couldn’t focus on that.

I couldn’t focus on anything.

My eyes were on him.

He stepped closer, closing the distance completely. Then he reached out, pulling me to my feet and using his own shirt to wipe the drink from my face.

My breath hitched.

With our eyes locked, he said the words I had wanted to hear my entire life.

“Mine.”

And then he kissed me, my first kiss.

Right there. In front of everyone.