5. Lyra's Pov

Lyra's Pov

Each step I took away from the ceremony, crushed every bones in my body. I could feel it cracking and eyes wouldn't stop dripping tears.

"Lyra..." 

A familiar voice called and when I turned it was mother. For a moment I felt relieved, as though I could lean on her but when a blissful smirk appeared on the corners of her lips, I realized that ones again, I had thought of something impossible.

"Did you think that Asher would chose you as his mate?"

My hands curled into fist. I couldn't understand what was happening, did Asher not find me good enough? 

I turn to walk away!

The howls, the screams.

My heart pounded against my ribcage as I tripped over and fell on my butt.

Shame surged through my body in waves as I pushed backwards away from the sound and the photograph that threaten the bones in my body.

Breathing became a secondary thing ones I realized my lungs fought the movement as I tried to suck in a breath.

I quickly stand on my feet about to run off but suddenly I felt my wrist tightened and then dragged backwards with force as I fell on the ground again.

"Where are you off to?" A familiar voice yelled at me and instantly I met the person's gaze. It was no other than my mother.

"I have to get away from here!" I muttered as hot tears stream down my cheeks but as I tried to stand on my feet she pulled me downwards with force.

"Am I supposed to use that as a reason for your negligence?" Her hands collided with my cheeks and it turned red instantly. 

"No one else will do it if you leave. Am I to do the work myself? You brat." She cussed.

"Mother, Alpha Asher just announced Devlin as his mate, but not me!" 

"What do I care? A slave can't be the Alpha's mate, didn't you think about it? Just do your work and live like you've been living, stop being greedy, it won't pay you." 

Each word that left my mother's lips felt like a stab to my already wounded heart.

 The pain from her slap still lingered on my cheek, causing tremors through my spine. I could feel my pounding heart and my body shaking. 

How could she be so heartless? How could she not understand my yearning for a life beyond this suffocating existence?

Asher drew Devlin closer on the stage and kissed her forehead making me spun around instantly.

But then-

Mother turned me around and held my chin up, her eyes was cold, and a malicious smile twisted the corners of her lips. Without warning, her free hand struck my face once more, causing fresh tears to well up in my eyes.

"You think you have the right to leave? You think you're entitled to something better?" Her voice dripped with venom, each word laced with disdain. "You're nothing more than a slave. Stop feeling offended. Now work!" 

She nudge me to the ground. I could feel my body trembling as I tried to stand on my knees. 

A sudden pull on my hair, pulled me up. My mother dragged my hair and pulled me towards the dish area. 

"Wash the dishes and do the cooking! You need to finish before midnight if not, there will be serious consequences!" 

Tears trickled down my cheeks as I sobbed loudly.

"Are you crying? You are a stupid child indeed. I'm sure you must have been mistaken that Asher was your mate. An Alpha can never be mated to a slave, don't you know? You are an omega Lyra. And right now, you should be thinking of your father, the money for this job is to take care of his drugs." 

She grunted and then said again, "Who cares if you are mated? Just live your life for your parents, that's the only way the moon goddess will reward you in your after life. Stop being so selfish when your parents need your help."

"Mother!" I yelled, my lips were shaking in fury but no words could escape from them.

 Everything mother had said was only because she wants me to be a slave to her for the rest of my life, and not because she cared. 

Which parents wouldn't want their child to find her mate?

I was lost! There's no way a mother wouldn't understand the child's pain. She isn't my mother. 

I bit my lower lips as the thoughts hovered in my mind. I tried to stand on my feet but I suddenly felt a cold chill on my body.

I quickly became drenched as a cold liquid poured on me, and when I looked up it was mother. 

Just as my lips parted to question her a voice shrieked from behind her.

"What's going on there?" 

When my gaze met that of the person, I froze instantly.

Asher was standing right in front of me. I couldn't utter a word, my gaze instantly lowered. Slowly, he walked closer and every step made my heart pound even faster, but then-

On the floor, was my mask. My gaze fell on it instantly and it occured to me-

'If I wear the mask, will Asher recognize me?' 

But then another thought made me wonder, 'What if he hates my face and that's why he choose Devlin? Did he really hate my face and my identity?'

The thought of it made a sudden wave of frustration ting in my veins and for a moment I felt like dying was an option.

As I stretched my hand forward to pick up the mask, Asher suddenly knelt on one knee in front of me and I froze.

My gaze mellowed as I tried to cover my face with hand. 

"Are you okay?" He asked. His voice as sweet as the birds chirping in the morning. I could feel my racing heart as it's beating felt as though it would lunged out of my chest in excitement.

"I'm okay." I muttered, hiding my face from him but then he gave me a hand.