ผลาญหัวใจด้วยไฟรัก

It is often said that we get the opposite of what we wish for. How true is that? I didn't quite believe that saying till it became my entire life. Living opposite to what I desired.

"Iris, why are you standing over there looking lost? Get those flowers to the table quickly!" Madam Maureen yelled, and I snapped back to reality.

"Yes ma'am," I replied politely as I picked up the flowers and arranged them quickly. The ceremony was starting soon. It was a marking ceremony where an alpha announces his mate publicly before marking her privately. It was like a wedding ceremony that only the rich and powerful got to partake in. I had always imagined myself having such a ceremony too, but that was almost impossible because I was a low ranked omega. Although I already had my special someone who I hoped to be mated with. And he was everything I could ever wish for.

I looked once more at my lock screen which was a photo of me and my boyfriend Archie, and I smiled to myself.

"The ceremony is commencing. Everyone, go to your assigned spot!" Madam Maureen clapped her hands to call us together and all the other workers and I immediately located our various spots.

I was a server at the event, and as a low level omega, it was hard to find a proper job.

My boyfriend, Archie had specifically told me not to go out today but to rest since I have had to work all week, but I just couldn't miss out on this gig because the pay was good.

Soon, the pair to be mated were invited to the stage. This part always excited me, so I hurriedly served a few more drinks as I walked forward so I could take a look at the new couple, and to my greatest surprise,

"Archie," I whispered softly. What was he doing here, and why is he standing at the front as if he's the one to be mated? I couldn't wrap my head around it, I felt a little dizzy, causing me to drop the tray in my hand. It made a loud sound, and everyone looked at me. Archie caught sight of me and quickly averted his.

"Who dares disrupt the ceremony?" Luka Lane said in an overpowering voice. He was the leader of his pack and the father of the omega to be mated.

Madam Maureen rushed forward to apologize and quickly dragged me away.

"What is wrong with you? Why do you always cause problems? I should never have employed you for this job." She said agitatedly as she pulled me outside. I was out of it for a few minutes before I recovered from the shock but she was still yapping none stop.

"Is Archie the one to be mated?" I asked interrupting her.

"It's Archie Addams, call the name right if you want to keep your head young girl," she said warningly. She looked at me and saw that her reply was not what I wanted to hear.

"Yes, he is to be mated with Ethel Lane, and this is their mating ceremony," she said finally, and my world came crashing down. How on Earth could this happen? I was with him only yesterday, and just now, inside, he couldn't even spare me a glance.

It felt like my heart was being torn into a million pieces and my legs started moving on its own as I ran. I just wanted to escape from here. Madam Maureen called after me but I was too broken to reply.

As I made for the door with tears clouding my sight, I suddenly bumped into something hard, it was a man, probably a guest. The tears in my eyes made everything so blurry that I couldn't see properly.

"Watch where you are going," the harsh voice said to me.

I looked up, and all I could see were the deep maroon eyes staring at me sharply. It felt like these pairs of eyes could see right through me. He smelled of sweet spices and he had a dominating aura around him. He raised a brow as he noticed how hard I stared.

"I'm so sorry" I kindly apologized and excused myself but he held my hands and handed me an handkerchief with a T symbol engraved on it.

"Wipe your tears" he said coldly before walking away.

I stared at his back as he walked away from me before sniffling into the handkerchief and it had his scent on it. It was calming but it couldn't take away the hurt in my heart.

I trudged home, tears streaming down my face. As a Forsaken, I was no stranger to heartache. Our kind was abandoned by the Moon goddess, left to suffer in silence and be mistreated. We forsaken were the least in the pack and often referred to as low grade. Forsakens were a breed of omegas that didn't go through heat, but I was probably the only exception, except that I had kept it a secret.

Alphas wanted nothing to do with us as it was seen as a disgrace to have a forsaken as an official mate. But I had thought Archie was different. I had thought he loved me.

~~~~~~~

I had cried myself to sleep last night after the whole encounter and I didn't have any energy left. Amelia my half sister had banged on my door severally but I didn't respond because I didn't have the strength to face her.

I was hungry so I headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. I opened the fridge and grabbed two eggs to fry but I suddenly felt a sharp pain as someone yanked me from behind.

"Hey that's mine! who gave you permission to try to eat it?" Amelia yelled aggressively.

Ugh! She hadn't gone to work yet, and I didn't have the strength to fight.

"Jeez, you look like shit. What happened to you?" she said, grabbing my arms in an attempt to pull me back and keep me in place.

"Please let go, I'm not in the mood," I calmly said.

"I was only concerned, but you make it look like I'm bullying you," she sneered.

I was too hungry for whatever was about to happen, I needed to get food into my system quickly.

I pushed past her as I headed out to go buy something when I got a text from Archie, and he wanted us to meet up. My mind was clouded, and I couldn't think of anything else. I quickly got into a taxi and made my way to the location where he had asked to meet up.

It was the Grand Hotel, which was one of the most luxurious hotels around. I needed an explanation, something must have happened, he was probably forced because I know he really cared for me. I kept telling myself these things. I didn't stayed till the end of the ceremony, as I was too sad. Maybe Archie didn't go through with it, maybe he changed his mind because of his love for me. I kept lying to myself.

He opened up almost immediately I knocked his door and he gave me a big hug, and I hugged him back.

"Iris my love, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," he sobbed.

"It's okay, I'm here now," I said, sobbing too.

We stayed like that for a while until he broke out of the embrace.

"Why were you at the ceremony? I told you to rest home, didn't I?" He said this while holding my face.

I blinked confused. Was that the first question he was supposed to be asking? I moved my face from his hands and gave him a little distance.

"You didn't want me to see what I saw, that's why you told me not to go out, right?" I said already irritated.

"The problem I have with you is that you never listen to my request. I asked you just to do a simple thing, and you couldn't. You almost ruined the ceremony," he said looking me in the eyes.

"Is this really what we should be talking about? You were getting married to another omega while in a relationship with me, and me going out to work is your problem? If I hadn't gone, I probably would have never found out, right? Archie, answer me!" I yelled.

"What is so strange about an alpha mating with an omega? I'm a high level alpha, and of course I need a high level omega if I want my pack to be powerful," he said with a straight face and serious tone.

"What?" I was surprised. I couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth. I stepped away from him as my heart ached. He came closer and held my hands.

"Look Iris, I really love you, but you are a forsaken, and a forsaken will do my pack no good. What will people say if I'm mated to you? I am the heir to the Addams, and I need a high level omega for a chance of birthing the Ultima. You know how important this is to me," he said, holding my hands tight.

"Please let go of me," I said almost in a whisper as I felt my legs trembling.

"Please listen to me Iris, my official mate may be Ethel Lane, but that doesn't mean we should end what we have. I have always loved you, and I always will. Ethel is only needed for breeding, but we can continue as lovers," he said, tightening his grip.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Archie wanted me to be his secret lover. No way in hell.

"Let go of me you douchebag! I will never be anyone's secret. I will not help you cheat on your mate. Since you want a better omega, you can get one, but I do not wish you happiness." I said angrily as I stormed out of his room, feeling nothing but disgust as he called out to me, but he didn't dare follow me out as he was probably afraid of being seen by others.

How could Archie have such a disgusting thought? If I hadn't known he was already mated yesterday, I would probably have been in the dark for a long time and become a home wrecker unknowingly.

I tried to gather my thoughts, but my legs were still weak and wobbly. What was this feeling? I was probably too hungry, but this was not the feeling of hunger. It was getting too hot, and I started losing strength in my knees. I had barely made it to the end of the long corridor close to the elevator before my knees gave in. I fell to the ground, and it was becoming hard to breathe.

Shit! I was in heat. Not at this time and place, please; I didn't even take my suppressant with me. I can't be found in this state.

Being a forsaken, my pheromone smell was not as strong as that of a higher omega in heat, but that didn't mean I was not in danger.

I struggled to pick myself up to get to the elevator. The elevator suddenly opened, and I saw a tall frame. I looked up and saw those Maroon eyes looking down at me. I immediately recognized them, as they were unforgettable. I couldn't take a proper look at his face because he suddenly covered his nose with his hands and looked away immediately, as if trying to avoid the smell of my pheromones.

"Please help me," I pleaded weakly.

"Do you know what you are asking of me?" he said as he raised a brow questioningly.

"Please help me," I said again before falling to the ground.