ARIA'S POV

I always wake before the sun.

It's not really a matter of choice for me, but omegas just don't get to sleep in. Someone has to take care of the kitchens, do the laundry, and haul the wood...usually before anyone else even wakes up or yawn. That someone is usually me, and I don't mind because it's just how things are.

This morning feels unexpectedly special. I wake up before the Alpha's bell, feeling a strange tightness in my chest and a fluttering in my stomach that I can't quite identify. My wolf stirs within me, restless and more alert than ever, adding a new and exciting tension to the day.

Aria, she whispers within me, her voice gentler than a breath. It's near. Do you sense it?

I press a hand against my heart as if I can calm the racing inside me. "Yes. I feel it."

Her name is Selene. She entered my life as a pup, initially quiet but becoming louder as I grew. While some wolves boast about how fierce their inner selves are...being demanding or wild... Selene isn't like that. She feels like that gentle, loyal part of me I never really shared with others-yearning for deeper connection.

Right now, though, she isn't calm at all. She paces, ears perked, tail swishing.

Tonight we turn eighteen. Tonight we find him.

I let out a shaky laugh. "You sound so sure."

Because it's fate. Because the Goddess promised us a mate. Someone who will see us when no one else does.

Her certainty stings. I want to believe her. I want to believe that somewhere out there, someone's soul was stitched to mine before I even drew my first breath. But I also know the way wolves look at me when I enter a room. I know the curled lips, the narrowed eyes, the muttered "omega" under their breath like it's filth.

What kind of mate could want me?

Selene growls low inside me, hurt by my doubt. Don't say that. We are more than they see.

"I know," I whisper, my throat thick. "I just... I remember."

And with that word, the memories slide in like shadows creeping under a door.

I was twelve when rogues tore my parents from me.

I see it all so clearly: the moon gently illuminating the clearing, its silver glow shimmering over my father's broad shoulders as he stood proudly in front of us. His name was Kael Whitlock. With strong arms and stern eyes, he carried a smile that made me feel safe and loved. My mother, Selene...I named my wolf after her because I couldn't let her memory fade...stood right beside him. She always smelled like lavender and fresh bread, her warmth and softness comforting us both.

That night, the rogues came fast. Too many. Too hungry.

I remember my father shoving me behind him, his voice deep and firm. "Run, Aria. Take your mother's hand and run."

But I didn't run. I froze. My mother screamed at me to move, but my feet stuck in the dirt. I watched claws slash. I heard the sound of flesh tearing. The growls, the gurgled cries, the way my father staggered and fell. My mother shifted, her wolf a streak of silver, but three rogues pulled her down at once.

Blood soaked the earth.

I was still standing there as the warriors from the pack arrived, their howls piercing through the chaos. Rogues quickly scattered, leaving behind a scene of silence and fallen bodies. Two of them.

Selene's voice still echoes within me, heavy with grief. We lost them. We lost everything that night.

My throat burns as I whisper back, "We lost them, but we survived. Somehow."

But surviving isn't the same as living, she replies. They would want us to live.

I squeeze my eyes shut. She's right, but the truth is cruel. Since that night, I've been nothing but a shadow in this pack. No family. No protection. Omegas are already the lowest, but one without parents? I'm less than nothing.

I go to work and try to stay focused, even when I face sneers, pushes, and the scraps of food no one else wants. Some nights, I find myself crying quietly into a thin pillow, wishing no one could hear. Other nights, I lie awake staring at the ceiling, dreaming about what it might feel like to matter to someone, to have arms around me again, to truly belong.

Selene's voice breaks through my thoughts. That's why tonight matters. Fate will fix what was broken. Our mate will be our family. Our mate will see us.

I want to believe her so badly it aches. I whisper into the dark room, "What if our mate doesn't want us? What if he takes one look and rejects us?"

The silence after feels heavy. Then Selene answers, soft but fierce. Then he is a fool. And the Goddess will have to answer for it.

Her fire sparks something in me, a tiny ember against the cold. I cling to it.

I gently push the blanket aside and stand up. The pack house is peaceful, with only the soft creak of the wood and the distant howl of a patrol wolf breaking the silence. I make my way to the cracked mirror on the wall. The girl looking back at me doesn't seem like someone a mate would easily notice. My hair falls in loose waves, dark and a bit tangled at the ends. My hazel eyes look a little tired, with shadows under them from many sleepless nights. I have a small frame, and faint scars from years of hard work are visible on my arms.

But Selene speaks with pride. You are beautiful. You carry their eyes and their spirit. Don't look at the scars...look at the strength.

I touch the glass, whispering, "Maybe he'll see it. Maybe..."

The word catches in my throat. I swallow and try again. "Maybe my mate will change everything."

Selene presses against me, warm and certain. He will. I feel it.

I allowed myself to daydream for a while...strong hands gently holding mine, a comforting voice calling me more than just omega, a heart beating in sync with mine. Love, family, and a place where I truly belong...these warm thoughts felt so real and close to my heart.

The fantasy fills the hollow places inside me.

But the ache never quite goes away, because reality can be harsh. In Silvermoon, rank really matters. Betas marry betas, deltas marry deltas, and alphas only choose the strongest. Omegas often find themselves in the background, seen but not truly noticed. If my mate has a higher rank, he might turn away in disgust. If my mate is another omega, then nothing really changes. Either way, hope can feel risky.

I sink onto the edge of the bed, wrapping my arms around myself. Selene curls close in my mind, her fur brushing my thoughts, her heartbeat steady.

We will face it together. Whatever comes. Even if he rejects us.

"Together," I whisper, tears burning behind my eyes. "Always."

The silence of the night stretches. My chest feels heavy, but under it thrums something sharp, something waiting. Excitement? Fear? Both.

I lean back on the mattress, stare at the ceiling, and let the words slip out before I lose courage. "Please, Moon Goddess. Please let him be kind. Please let him love me. Please let tonight change everything."

The room is dark, but outside, the black sky softens. The first streaks of pale gold creep across the horizon.

Selene lifts her head, ears alert. It's time. Dawn is here.

My birthday has arrived.

And with it, whatever fate the Goddess has written for me.

ARIA'S POV

The hall was filled with the warm, inviting aroma of roasted venison and spiced wine, mingling with the lively scent of perfumes in the air. Long oak tables boasted silver trays piled high with delicious food, candles casting a gentle golden glow, and pitchers of mead making their rounds from hand to hand.

The lively chatter of my friends created a joyful atmosphere...filled with laughter, friendly boasts, spirited debates, and the cheerful clatter of chairs and goblets.

It should have felt warm and celebratory...a lovely feast bringing the pack together after a long week of hunts and border patrols. But I found myself sitting at the very end of the last table, on a stool so far from the light that it felt like I'd slipped into shadow.

That was where I belonged.

I gently picked at a crust of bread, barely noticing the glances that swept over me-some filled with mockery, some with pity, and most simply indifferent. Omegas always found themselves sitting in the back, close enough to offer help but far enough to go unnoticed.

"Aria."

I could feel my wolf's voice whispering inside my chest. She had been pretty quiet most of the day, just a gentle hum beneath my skin, but now she was pressing against me, feeling restless and eager.

What? I answered silently.

Her tone was soft, but firm. Hold your head higher. They may not see you, but I do.

My throat tightened as her words hit home. She often said things like that, especially when I needed a little reassurance. I did my best to stay strong. I squared my shoulders, but I kept my eyes lowered, pretending to be interested in the bread, trying to hold it together.

Across the hall, laughter echoed loudly as warriors cheerfully raised their cups. Damon's beta sat comfortably near the center, surrounded by friends, with his arm relaxed around a female warrior. His voice was clear, confident, and lively.

He hadn't looked my way at all tonight, not even once.

A sharp ache pressed in my chest. My wolf stirred again, an uneasy ripple.

Why do you torture yourself looking at him?

Because I can't stop, I admitted.

This had been the case for weeks now. Since I turned eighteen, and ever since my wolf softly revealed what I had long suspected...that he was mine.

Damon. The Beta of Silvermoon. He was strong, ambitious, and could be cruel when it suited him. And I was the omega, the girl who often felt overlooked and forgotten at the very bottom.

I gently bit my lip, feeling the lingering sting of rejection, recalling the night he'd snapped that he didn't want an omega mate.

That he deserved someone better. I didn't argue that night. How could I? He was right.

Still, that connection was always there. My wolf sensed it all the time, like an invisible thread gently pulling tighter whenever he stepped into the room.

I pushed the bread aside, feeling no hunger anymore. My mind wandered, as it often did, to my parents.

Mother's laugh, warm and bright as sunlight flowing into our cosy cottage, instantly lifts the spirit. Father's voice, gentle yet firm, guides me on how to skin rabbits and listen carefully for rogues in the brush.

Though they were taken by rogues years ago, their blood left a lasting mark, staining the earth before my eyes. I still see it sometimes in my sleep, a haunting memory that lingers.

The pack hadn't cared. No one had comforted me. I'd been left alone in a cold den, the whispers of "orphan omega" echoing around me until they gradually faded away. Eventually, I became invisible, unnoticed by everyone.

My wolf pressed harder against me. You're not invisible. Not to me. Not to the Moon.

Her words steadied me, a fragile rope across a deep chasm.

But the rope frayed when my gaze lifted...only for a heartbeat...and landed on him.

Damon.

He relaxed in his chair, the warm glow of the fire highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw, while his dark hair gently fell over his forehead. His smile was sly and slightly dangerous, adding a hint of mystery.

The warriors nearby burst into cheerful laughter at some joke, but all I could hear was the steady beat of my own pulse, echoing in my ears.

My wolf froze inside me. Aria.

I know. My breath caught. Something shifted.

At first, it was a gentle change, like the air itself seemed to grow heavier, and the hall almost leaned closer toward him. Suddenly, everything shifted...sharp and intense...a snap, like a tether pulling tightly between us.

Mate.

I'd experienced it before, but never with such intensity. A wolf's cry echoed within me, not shouted out loud but resonating deep inside, vibrating through my bones with a powerful presence.

He remained still.

It was just a quick moment, but Damon turned his head softly, his eyes sweeping across the hall with a piercing intensity.

I really should have looked away, instinctively dropping my gaze, trying to hide or stay unnoticed. Yet, I simply couldn't look away.

Our eyes locked.

His eyes were not the warm amber of a friendly packmate. They were storm-dark, molten, flickering with something unreadable.

The noise of the hall faded away...the laughter, the clatter, everything else faded beneath the thunder in my chest.

Time stopped.

His nostrils flared as if he could smell me from across the room, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze burning into my skin.

My wolf whimpered softly and pressed closer, lingering between feelings of fear and longing.

He feels it too, she whispered.

I didn't dare breathe.

Damon blinked slowly, as if he was suddenly aware of something he couldn't quite put into words. His jaw clenched, and he seemed ready to stand up and go after what destiny had in store for him. My heart fluttered with a mix of hope and hesitation.

Then the spell broke, and a warrior gently tapped his back, inviting him into another story and another laugh. He hesitated for a moment before turning away, feeling a mix of emotions.

The connection between us still burned brightly, raw and unyielding. I sat there, frozen and feeling my hands tremble beneath the table. My wolf whimpered once more, but this time it was low and filled with a dangerous edge.

He cannot run from it forever, she said. Neither can you.

I took a deep breath, feeling it slow and tremble. The celebration around me continued, unaware of the moment that had just changed everything for me. But I knew deep down.

Everything had changed.

Aria's POV

The feast swirled around me, lively and loud with plates clattering and wolves sharing laughs, while the fire crackled warmly in the stone hearth. Yet, somehow, none of it truly reached me...no warmth from the fire, no sound from the crowd. The only thing I noticed was his gaze, burning deeply into mine, anchoring me in that moment.

I could feel my wolf's voice gently pressing against my chest, starting softly. He's on his way.

I froze, my fingers clutching the edge of the table so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I didn't need to look up to know he was there. I could feel him ... Damon's presence was like a storm approaching, impossible to ignore.

My pulse jumped. A wild mix of dread and hope filled me. Why now? I asked my wolf. Why look at me now?

Because the bond will not be silenced, she said.

Her voice was steady, but a sadness lingered in it. It pulls at him the same as it does at us. Even if he denies it, he feels it.

My throat tightened with emotion. A part of me secretly wished to slip out the back door to escape before he could reach me. Yet, another part stayed rooted to the stool, longing for even a little acknowledgement.

The sound of his boots scraping softly on the wooden floor grew nearer, gently quieting the lively chatter around us. Wolves noticed the change, and whispers began to cut through the air like sharp blades, adding a tense, almost electric atmosphere to the room.

I looked up.

Damon stood before me.

Tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that gently falls into piercing green eyes, he looked at me with a gaze that felt both intense and curious, like he was sizing me up. His scent was a comforting blend of pine and iron, reminiscent of a warrior's strength, combined with the faint, bitter aroma of ale that added a touch of rugged charm.

For a single heartbeat, he didn't sneer. His eyes searched mine, and my wolf gasped inside me. He sees us. The truth is right there. Don't you feel it?

I did. The bond between us vibrated like a taut string, on the verge of snapping. My chest felt heavy with the emotion, and my heart desperately wanted to believe.

"Damon," I whispered. My voice was barely audible, but his ears caught it.

His lips twisted, not in warmth or recognition, but in something crueller. The hope that had dared to rise inside me faltered.

"You," he said, his voice low enough for only nearby tables to hear, but sharp enough to cut. "Of course it would be you."

The words made me flinch.

Stay steady, my wolf urged. Don't bow your head. Not to him.

"I..." My voice cracked, but I forced the words out. "You feel it too. The bond."

For a moment, his jaw tightened. I saw it...the flicker of truth he couldn't hide. My wolf pushed hard. Claim us. Claim what the Moon has given.

But Damon leaned in a little closer, his breath warm and tinged with wine as it brushed my cheek. "Do you realise what this would do to me?"

Confusion tangled in me. "What...?"

He laughed softly under his breath, a gentle sound that sent a shiver down my arms. "A Beta. Second only to the Alpha. Mated to an omega. Do you realise how weak that makes me seem?"

The words hit hard, feeling crushing. Silence grew thicker around us. Wolves inched closer, acting casual, but I could feel all their eyes on me. My stomach tightened with nerves.

My wolf snarled inside me. Weak? The bond is sacred. There is no weakness in us.

But Damon didn't hear her. He didn't want to.

"Damon, please," I whispered, though I hated how small my voice sounded. "We didn't choose this. The Moon did. You can't just..."

"I can," he snapped. His eyes narrowed, blazing with pride and disgust. "I won't be shackled to you. I deserve more than an orphan omega who spends her life cleaning scraps off the floor."

Gasps rippled through the hall. My cheeks burned. My chest squeezed so tight I could barely breathe.

Do not let him crush you, my wolf urged. Her voice shook with both rage and pain. You are worth more than this.

But Damon was unstoppable, standing tall with confidence. He made sure his words echoed through the hall, capturing everyone's attention. His smile was sly and daring, just perfect for making a statement.

"I reject you, omega."

The words thundered through me.

Something inside my chest suddenly tore open, and the bond that had been singing happily since my eighteenth birthday twisted painfully like a blade before snapping. It was a through-and-through, brutal feeling. I gasped sharply, my breath leaving me in a cry. I clutched my chest, trying to hold the pieces together, but they just scattered and slipped right through my fingers.

Pain ripped through me, deeper than bone. My wolf howled inside me, raw and broken. No!

She clawed at the edges of my soul, fighting the tearing sensation, but even she couldn't stop it. The bond is real, it's sacred, he can't...

But he had.

He stood there, tall and proud, watching me break down. The silence in the hall was almost overwhelming, filled with judgment, whispers, and the cruel satisfaction of those who often looked down on omegas.

I trembled. My vision blurred. My wolf whimpered like a wounded creature, pressed against me, trying to shield me from the worst of it.

We are not nothing, she whispered through her tears even if he casts us aside. Even if they all do.

I couldn't speak. My lips moved, but no sound came. My whole body felt hollow, scraped clean of hope.

Damon's sneer deepened. He turned his back on me, slow and deliberate, as if to show the pack that I meant so little, I wasn't worth another glance. Laughter sparked from some of the warriors at his table, cruel and cutting.

My hands trembled uncontrollably. I gently placed them flat on the table, hoping to steady the shakes. Yet, inside, my whole being was trembling with emotion. My wolf, overwhelmed by everything, whimpered again...its sound full of both fury and despair.

Get up, she begged. Get up and leave before they catch sight of you.

But I couldn't move. My legs refused me. My heart lay shattered in the open for everyone to see.

Around me, the whispers grew, voices hissing like snakes. "Omega." "Pathetic." "No wonder."

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

And then, beneath the shame, beneath the pain, something else stirred. Quiet. Small. But there.

A spark.

My wolf's voice steadied, though weak. This is not our end. One day, Aria, you will rise, and they will see.

I closed my eyes, holding onto her voice as the only anchor in the storm.

But Damon's words...his rejection...echoed louder than anything else.

"I reject you, omega."

And with that, my world ended.