02

KIARA.

Damon slammed a fist into my desk, leaving a dent. His eyes left Kaleb’s and turned to mine. Seeing him move forward, my heart skipped a beat.

“Enjoy this while it lasts,” he spat.

As he turned to leave, Kaleb's hand shot out, yanking him back by his collar. The fabric ripped. 

“I don’t care what the Alpha thinks,” Kaleb growled. “Kiara is my mate. Soon to be your Luna.”

For that moment, I felt a sense of pride. Then Damon laughed.

 “Don’t kid yourself, Kaleb.” Damon reached for Kaleb’s hand and took it off his shirt. “This useless excuse for a werewolf can never be your mate or my Luna. Stop lying to yourselves.”

He was right. I was always going to be a helpless, bullied, slave of the pack so long as I’m an Omega. It’s how things have been done in the pack, and the Alpha wasn’t bothered by it. Kaleb’s affection couldn’t change millennia of tradition.

When the classroom door slammed behind Damon, Kaleb's hands framed my face. His thumbs brushed the tears I hadn't realized were falling. 

 “I don't believe him,” I said, staring at the books in my hands. “So please tell me you’ve told the Alpha of our relationship. Your coronation is in a week but he still looks at me like I’ll never be anything more than his slave.”

 Kaleb cupped my cheeks in his firm hands and lifted my face to his. His golden eyes bore into mine, melting me from the inside out. He looked at me with so much affection.

 “You shouldn’t. My father has been busy with preparations, but I promise to tell him tonight,” I felt warmth when Kaleb locked me in his embrace and filled me with his sandalwood scent.

 “W-what if he doesn’t approve of? It’s not like anyone in the pack does,” I said in a doubtful whisper.

 Kaleb pulled away then held my two hands in his.

 “Kiara, do you want to be my mate?” he asked still staring at me. “Do you want to be my Luna?”

 “Of course, I do. More than anything, Kaleb. You know how much I love you.” I replied desperately.

 “That’s all I need to hear. Destroy any doubts you have about becoming my Luna. It’s either my father lets me ascend with you by my side or I don’t ascend at all,” He assured with a convincing smile.

 I leaned to his face and pressed a kiss on his cheek.

 “I trust you.”

 “Good.” Kaleb turned his head to the door. “You can come out now, Sia.”

Immediately, Alessia came into the class trying her best not to laugh. Kaleb must’ve caught her scent behind the door. For a second, I wish I could do the things he could do, but Omega’s don’t have heightened senses like the other grades in the pack with Wolves. The Moon Goddess designed us to be the weakest species of the Werewolf race.

 “Hey, Kaleb. How’s it going? You know, I was just waiting for someone. Totally wasn’t eavesdropping on you guys or anything,” Alessia defended with a not-so-convincing smile. She hurried to her seat to pack her things.

 “It’s cool. I’m glad Kiara has a good friend like you watching her back.” He turned to me and then to Alessia. “Have you girls gotten your dresses for the ceremony?” He raised a brow at Alessia, with his right hand on my waist.

 “Yeah we-”

 “We don’t,” Alessia replied, cutting me off. “We’re going shopping after school.”

 “Oh.” Kaleb put his left hand into his pocket and pulled out a small golden card. “In that case, take this.” He handed the card over to Alessia and she accepted it with a weird glow in her eyes. “Get yourselves the best, well… everything. I don't want my beloved looking less than a queen when I show her off to the pack,”

 Kaleb sighed then took his hand off my waist.

“I have an errand to run for my father,” he said, softly rubbing his thumb against my right cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

I nodded then lifted my heels to give Kaleb a goodbye kiss. I pulled away after a few seconds and watched him walk out of the class and down the hall.

 “Why are you smiling?” I teased Alessia with a playful punch to her shoulder.

 “You guys are adorable.”

 We got out of class, headed to our lockers to put away our books.

 “What’s with that flashy card, anyway?” I asked, closing my locker. “You seemed giddy when he handed it to you.”

 “It’s the Alpha’s Golden Pass. With it, we can get whatever we want from any store in the pack for free,” Alessia answered with a . “Forget all the bad stuff I said about Kaleb. You’re lucky to have him.”

Alessia shut her locker then placed her hand over my shoulder.

 “Now come on. I know just the place to use it.”

Together, we hurried out of the school grounds, heading for the best clothing shop in the pack-  Diamond Rose. It’s reserved for the high and wealthy factions in the pack, and with this card, that included me.

 “You girls can’t be in here,” warned the chubby old lady at the counter when we walked in. “Especially you.” She added staring at me.

"Actually, we can." Alessia twirled the Alpha's golden card like a weapon.  

 For an instant, a look of shock appeared on the old lady’s face. She knew what the card was.

 “Let me see that.”

 We got to the counter and Alessia handed her the special card. After taking a good look at it, the old lady gave us a rather odd smile.

 “Forgive my earlier rudeness girls. Have a great time.” She ushered us in.

 I guess everyone tend to be a lot nicer to people like me when they know they’re favored by the Alpha or his son. I and Alessia spent a long while fishing through a sea of clothes, shoes, pieces of jewelry, and accessories until we found the perfect outfits.

As we rifled through silk gowns, Alessia bumped her hip into mine. “Admit it. You're glad I eavesdropped now.” 

I held up a sapphire dress with a smile, “Maybe.”

The old lady greeted us with the same odd smile on our way out. We trekked for a while before stopping in front of a bar with the word ‘Toothless’ inscribed on its sign.

 “I still don’t understand why you work here. What’s the use of having a rich boyfriend if you still work your ass off for money,” Alessia questioned, scanning the building with her eyes. “I’m just saying.”

 “You don’t see me complaining, do you?” I replied.

 Alessia knew where the conversation was heading so she didn’t push any further. Besides my responsibilities at the Alpha’s compound, I decided to take the job of a bartender at one of the pack’s popular bars. It’s a lot of work, but it’s the one thing in the pack that makes me feel closer to my birth-parents. Not to mention the pay is good.

 We hugged.

 “See you at school tomorrow,” Alessia waved, walking away. “Make sure to get some sleep tonight.”

 Alone, I took a deep breath in then opened the doors of the bar. The first thing I noticed was the new clock. It’s already 5 PM. My shift starts in fifteen minutes.

 “Hey girl,” called a sweet voice from the counter.

 “Hey Val,” I smiled.

 Valery is an Omega just like me. In between my sadistic boss and the annoying customers, she’s the one person that made me enjoy working here. She’s a lot older than me and had a way with the guys. I waved to her then quickly go to the backroom to get changed and put away my shopping bags.

 “I’m just going to pretend I didn’t just see you walk in with two bags from Diamond Rose,” she started, taking down a bottle of vodka from the shelf behind us.

 “Then I’m going to pretend I didn’t get you this for the coronation ceremony,” I replied, placing a small wrapped blue box on the counter.

 Val hastily turned the last customer in front of her a drink from the vodka bottle and then grabbed the little box. Her mouth gaped wide open when she saw the content of the box. It was a beautiful golden necklace.

Her fingers trembled on the necklace. “Kiara, I can’t-” 

 “I know you’ve been saving up for one of those fancy necklaces at DR so I thought I’d get you one since the Alpha was paying.”

 “Thanks a lot, Kiara,” Val says with a breaking voice as she hugs me. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

 “Don’t mention it. We Omegas have to stick together. Besides, I wasn’t going to let you go to the ball wearing that rusty chain,” I laughed.

 A lot of thank-you’s later, Val was out of the bar and it was just me. Working as a Bargirl got a lot easier after I memorized every drink the bar sold and the customers’ preferences. While cleaning the used glasses, I noticed a tall old man walk in. I’d worked here for a year and I’d never seen him before. I hadn’t seen him anywhere else in the pack.

His white hair and beard made him look over sixty, but he was way too muscular for someone that age. More muscular than the Alpha and that was saying something. He had a leather black jacket on with a matching pair of jeans.

 “You must be Kiara, the Omega kid who survived the gas explosion thirteen years ago,” he said, sitting on the stool in front of me. “You have no idea how long I’ve been looking for you.”

A chill ran down my spine. I didn’t know what scared me more. The fact that this stranger  knows my name, or that his eyes were glowing red.

 Blood Red!