The Alpha's second gift was a brown jacket, which had a pretty detailing of the dark brown zipper, heavy and fluffy in my hands. If I hadn't recognised it immediately as a jacket Axel had worn on the first day, I'd have recognised it from the thick scent clinging to its fabric–so strong that I could practically smell it through the distance.     He hovered above, waiting for me to try on, standing with his hips cocked and brow arched. I sank on the couch, gripping the material in between my hands. My cheeks flamed as I thought of the marks on my arms, especially the nails marks from my aunt and my cousin.   What would he think? He may despise me even more. It's natural Alphas do not accept a single mark on their omega except the one given by them. Judging by his views, Axel won't be different at all.

/Axel's POV/  I could not sleep, my eyes boring into the ceiling with harsh breath. There was this restlessness inside that I could not explain, my legs itching to get up again and do something after such an eventful day. Eventful. I scoffed under my breath as I thought about it. About her. The reason behind a storm whirling inside of me.    Princess Lana.    A groan slipped past my lips as I slowly sat up, resting against the headrest and bringing a hand to my forehead. I could feel a migraine building behind the temples at the mere thought of the peculiar and infuriating omega. How could she be so casual about courting?     It's a huge deal. Most of the o

Axel guided me through the woods as an easy way to reach the Palace. It's eerie, kind of a place written about in gloomy novels. For a second, I expected to smell something foul when we crossed the bridge, but the air remained sharp and crisp, cold enough to burn my throat.     I could feel the familiar coil of disappointment curling in my chest, my body going stiff. I had no other choice but to agree as we had rogues on our tail. The last thing I wanted was my uncle to find out about the incident and get angry.     The paths in the woods had been cleared enough to walk, and there were no mosquitoes or much wildlife anywhere. Silence settled between us, the sound of our footsteps crunching the only noise echoing around. 

A knot formed in my throat at the sound of the clock ticking, and I struggled to eat a few bites of the food. Beth prepared it with extra care as usual, but nothing could replace a sinking feeling in my stomach.     The silence in my room was almost deafening, broken by the sound of my cutlery hitting the plate, and soon it came close to driving me insane. I gave up on eating and opened the window, hoping that the sounds coming from outside would alleviate my anxiety. No sooner had I unlatched and pulled the window open which I closed it again. Thehowling of the wind, along with the guard's loud movements, was an annoying distraction.   My eyes fell on the large, opened trunks on the floor. They were yet to be packed with all my beloved stuff. I had barely managed to stuff some of my favourite books before having a breakdo

The momentary peace only lasted me a few short minutes before the heavy wooden door was swinging open. I held my breath, letting in a sliver of light from the hallway, and the fading murmur of voices entered inside. My body froze in the spot, turning to face the door, respect and politeness too ingrained to do otherwise. With acute interest, I watched as an older woman and two other omegas approached me.   "Please welcome Her Royal Highness Luna Annie." The younger omega meekly introduced the woman standing next to her.    Axel's mother. I thought while gaping at her striking features. She was gorgeous, with her hair pulled in a low bun, streaks of grey well hidden in between. Due to the light spilling on her from the ceiling, she appeared angelic, lines marring the side of her face. &nbs