CH:2 A Dirty Offer

The next day dawns with the weight of expectation pressing down on Aria's shoulders. As she sets out to begin her daily tasks, she braces herself for another day of relentless torment and hardship. 

“When will all of this end, I hope it ends one day and I get out of here… It is not even my fault,” She thought and went to pick up the broom for cleaning. With each sweeping motion of the broom, Aria's muscles ache with exhaustion, her hands raw from the relentless labor. But despite her efforts, she can never seem to keep up with the relentless pace set by her peers.

“Why are you so slow? Come on, Aria, pick up the pace!" The omega lead chides, her voice sharp with impatience. 

"We don't have all day, there is so much work to do, come on, finish this fast,” Aria's jaw clenches with frustration as she fights to hold back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She knows she's working as fast as she can, but it's never enough for her relentless tormentors.

Aria did all the cleaning and as she finished cleaning the floor, her heart sank as she watched her companions deliberately trample over her hard work, their cruel laughter ringing in her ears. Without a second thought, they pour dirty water onto the freshly cleaned surface, their actions a deliberate insult to Aria's dignity.

"Oops, looks like you missed a spot," one of them sneers, a malicious gleam in her eye. 

Aria's hands tremble with suppressed anger as she fights to keep her emotions in check.

‘I want to break your faces but I know it will only cause me trouble, why moon goddess, why me?’ She wants nothing more than to lash out, to scream and fight back against the injustice of it all. But she knows that would only make things worse.

‘Aria, keep calm and don’t say anything,” So she swallows her pride, burying her pain deep inside as she forces herself to continue, one agonizing step at a time.

Aria struggles under the weight of her burden, she has lost all hope. But sometimes the plea for help is heard by the moon goddess. 

Ethan came into the Omega quarters, and her eyes drew Aria. He was mesmerized by her beauty. Ethan pauses in his tracks, his eyes softened with compassion. Her beautiful face shone brightly without any makeup and her perfect body. 

‘Why haven’t I noticed her till now? She is such a beauty! She can come in handy!’ Ethan thought he saw her mopping the floor and others laughing at her,

"What is happening here?” Ethan's heavy voice resonated in the hall. And all of them were silenced. 

“I asked a question…” He said. 

“Nothing, Sir. This girl is not working properly. So, I am teaching her to do her work.” The omega lead said. 

“OH, yes, that I can see, it is enough," he commands, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. 

"This is too much for her," Ethan says. 

The omega lead, taken aback by his interruption, bristles with defiance. "But she's an omega, she's supposed to work, and I must assure you that I am here for it," she protests, her tone defensive.

Ethan shakes his head, his gaze unwavering as he meets the omega lead's glare. "That doesn't give you the right to overburden her, she has done enough work, And I can complain about it to Alpha, what is happening here, and all of you will know what will happen to the bullies." he retorts, his voice firm but it hid a warning. The omeva lead gulped.

“She deserves a break like anyone else. Am I right?” He asked. The omega lead nodded. 

With a reluctant nod, Ethan turns to Aria, his expression softening with warmth and concern. The first time in this pack someone came to save her, she couldn’t believe it. 

"Come with me," he says gently, offering her a reassuring smile. Aria was hesitant at first but then she could not deny an upper-rank order. So, she followed him. 

"You've earned a rest," Ethan said. 

Aria's heart swells with gratitude as she gets up from the floor and stands beside his side. The weight of her burdens momentarily lifted from her shoulders as a reassuring presence is beside her, As Ethan steps in to assist Aria, his presence commands attention and respect within the pack. They were going out from the omega quarters when Sylvia came in there and saw it all. She is well aware of Ethan's reputation for handling unsavory tasks with ruthless efficiency. 

"Ethan," Sylvia begins, her voice tinged with apprehension. "What are you doing here? This is pack business." She reminded him. Ethan's gaze hardens as he meets Sylvia's eyes, his tone firm and uncompromising. "I'm here to ensure fairness and order," he replies evenly. "And right now, that means giving this girl a break she deserves." He said it clearly. 

Sylvia bristles at Ethan's defiance, but she knows better than to push him too far. With a reluctant nod, she steps aside, allowing Ethan to take control of the situation.

“I will have many chances to even our count.” She hissed. Ethan just shrugged his shoulders. Turning to Aria, Ethan offers her a reassuring smile.

"Come with me," he says simply, his voice carrying a note of authority that brooks no argument.

Aria nods gratefully, falling into step beside Ethan as they walk away from the chaos of the omega quarters. 

In his presence, Aria felt a sense of safety and security she hadn't felt in a long time, grateful for the unexpected ally who had come to her aid.

“Where are we going?” She questioned. 

“Just follow me, I will tell you everything,” Ethan said. 

They walk into the depths of the forest, Aria is grateful by heart as she watches Ethan's unexpected kindness unfold before her eyes. But she can't help but feel overwhelmed by his generosity, grateful for the respite he's provided from the harsh realities of her daily life.

"Ethan, I don't know how to thank you," Aria murmurs, her voice filled with genuine appreciation as she gazes at him.

“No need to thank me, this was not only for you, but it is also useful for me.” Ethan's response surprises her.

Instead of accepting her gratitude, he tells the truth to her, now Aria is aware that something is wrong, and her head is filled with questions. 

“What is going on? What does he want from her?” She gulped but didn’t say it out loud. 

“Don’t worry I will not harm you,” He said. They both stopped in front of a lavish house. It is very modern architecture, Aria looked at it in aw. 

“It is so beautiful!” She said, her face saying it all. 

“Yes, it is now come on,” Ethan smiles and extends a hand, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Come with me," he says, his tone light but insistent. "I have something to show you." Intrigued, Aria follows Ethan, curiosity bubbling within her as they get inside the house. It was so beautiful, more amazing than the outside. 

“Whose house is this?” She murmured. They didn’t stop until they reached the front of the room. 

“This house is mine, but this room can be yours if you accept my terms, do you want to see it?” Ethan says it piqued her curiosity. She nodded her head. 

Ethan opened the door and room, Aria could hardly believe her eyes. Before she stands a beautiful array of clothing and sumptuous jewelry, bags, and footwear, laid out like it is fit for royalty. Aria's breath catches in her throat as she takes in the sight, her heart swelling with gratitude.

"Ethan, this is... incredible," she whispers, her eyes shining with wonder. But she didn’t go ahead.

“I have seen the real beauty that is hidden under these ragged clothes, and I want it to come out, so we can use it. These beautiful hands are not for rotting in omega quarters, these beautiful eyes are not for shedding tears. Aria you don’t realize but you can do wonders, you can create a storm that no one will be able to hold back.” Ethan says with a smile that holds a hint of mischief as he reaches for a gown, holding it out to Aria with a twinkle in his eye. The beautiful satin red gown, only looking at it, Aria can feel how much this fabric will be and it feels so good on her skin. 

"Go on, try it on," he urges, his voice gentle but persuasive. "You deserve to feel like a queen, if only for a little while. Please, do it, I want to see if my eyes caught the real gem.” Ethan said, and because of his help, Aria can do this little thing for him. 

Aria accepts the gown, her heart shaking like a butterfly, and the doubts about Ethan's motive vanish for some time from her head. She went towards the changing chamber and as she slipped into the beautiful garment, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Her eyes started watering, this felt so good. 

“I don’t remember after how many years I wore something good,” she thought and cried at her fate. 

As Aria stands before the mirror, she can’t recognize herself, she looks so lively and beautiful. A sad smile came upon her lips. 

“Aria, come out,” Ethan's voice took her out of her thoughts, she came out and smelled the food, her heart racing with a mixture of gratitude, as she saw hot food, some soup, steak with grilled veggies and boiled potatoes, and something to drink. As she was staring at the food. Ethan was staring at her in awe, his eyes complementing her, the beauty of her body mesmerized her, where was she hidden? Why didn’t he notice her before? Ethan scolded himself.

“Aria, sit and eat up, then we will talk,” Ethan said. She can't help but feel overwhelmed by Ethan's sudden kindness, his gestures stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within her. 

“Thank you so much!!!” Aria said and she sat down. Ethan noticed how graceful she was, not only in her body but her actions also showed it. 

She is eating very slowly, but a sense of unease gnaws at Aria's insides. She knows that nothing in the pack comes without strings attached, and Ethan's sudden generosity only serves to heighten her suspicions. Aria’s instincts were on high alert. 

“You can tell me what it is that you want, I know everything that you did for me came with a cost. I am not a fool.” Aria said. Ethan smirked. 

“This gown looks so beautiful on you,” He replied, neglecting the answer to her question. 

Aria was feeling it from the time when he urged them to try on the gown, Aria's instincts screamed at her to resist, to reject the false promises of comfort and luxury. But fear held her back, she didn’t want to argue with a high-ranking member of the pack.

Right now she wants to run away from here, it was a mistake coming with him before, but she was unable to grasp Ethan's true intentions, now her heart is filled with uncertainty and distrust. She longs to push him away, to retreat into the safety of solitude where no one can hurt her. Aria finished her meal and she looked towards Ethan. 

“Good Girl, now we can talk, your energy is restored and you will understand me better…” Ethan said. 

“Don’t think of me as a villain here, I am not very good but am I not so bad either? I will help you get out of all the troubles, think of it as a shortcut,” Ethan said, Aria's heart pounding with uncertainty.

‘What does he mean?’ Aria thought then looked at him in a confused manner. 

"Do you want to do easy work?" Ethan asks, his tone casual but loaded with meaning. "Work where no one will dare to bully you in the future?"

Aria's eyes widen with cautious interest, her mind racing with the possibilities of a life free from torment and ridicule. But even as she nods in agreement, a sense of dread tugs at her heart, warning her of the dangers that lie ahead.

"I can take you to meet someone, the person will see you and he will keep you with him. You will enjoy a luxurious life and will have all the benefits, you also can have kids if you want, but there is only one condition…” Ethan paused and stared at her face. 

“What?” Aria spoke in a daze. 

“You have to become his mistress. This will be your position in his life.” Ethan's next words only confirm her worst fears. He offers her a proposition that sends a chill down her spine. His words hang heavy in the air, their implications sinking in like stones in the pit of her stomach.

“What?” A scream of shock came out of her mouth. Aria's blood runs cold at the suggestion, her mind reeling with the implications of such a proposition. 

“Yes, this is my proposal to you, you will live the life of a queen but hidden from all the world. You will please him and he will please you…” 

Ethan lays out his plan to make Aria a mistress. Aria's heart sinks with the weight of his betrayal. She knows that if she agrees to this scheme, she'll be sacrificing her autonomy, allowing herself to become nothing more than a tool to be used and discarded at Ethan's whim.

“And what will you get from it?” Aria asked, As the pieces of the puzzle start to come together, Aria's mind races with the realization of Ethan's true intentions. She understands now why he's been so eager to offer her assistance, why he's been so insistent on her compliance. 

“I will have a higher rank and the freedom from someone and her dirty chores and games,” Ethan told the truth. But even as the truth dawns on her, Aria can't help but feel a sense of betrayal. She thought Ethan was different, that he was someone she could trust in this chaotic world. But now, she sees him for what he truly is: a manipulator, using her as a pawn in his own game of power and deceit.

“But, this is not right…” She said, And Ethan smirked. 

“Everything is right in this wrong world until it is doing something right for you,” Ethan laughed. Ethan may think of her as a pawn in Ethan's game, but she refuses to be a willing participant. She'll find a way to escape his clutches, reclaim her freedom, and forge her path in this world, no matter the cost.