Arya’s POV

He slammed me into the wall, grabbing my ass cheek, desperate and longing for something.

His lips clashed against mine hungrily, like a vicious feral beast.

I barely had time to register it all, but I moaned, too ecstatic to call it off.

“We shouldn't..." I whispered; immediately he pulled out. “This is wrong.”

They were both panting heavily.

He grabbed my chin, roughly. Painful. His hot breath cascaded on my face as he stared with lust. “I do whatever I want with you, Arya.” I gulped, "You know why? Because I own you.”

I caught sight of his veins, bulging like he was trying to hold back something in.

"I…I am your sister…” I said softly; he cut me off.

“Step-sister," he corrected, not giving me any chance.

His hands slid back into my core, a gasp escaped my lips, and tears brimmed in my eyes.

“What if the alpha finds out? He'll kill me for sure.” I pushed his chest slightly, but he was stronger.

“Let me worry about that.” His fingers played with my clits. He rained kisses on my neck; I was already soaked for him.

I palmed my mouth to keep it from making other lustful sounds. "Take your hands off your mouth. Your moans are music to my ears.”

I obeyed.

“You're already wet for me.” He chuckled deeply. “Want me to fuck your cunt?”

I closed my thighs; he noticed it and widened my legs. My core throbbed against his thrust, his other hand widening my legs.

Everything felt so rushed, wrong, and forbidden.

I don't want this; I shouldn't, but it felt so good. More than I have ever felt in years.

Then pain exploded from my neck, like fangs sinking into my skin.

“Ow.” I yelped, "Did you just mark me?”

I uttered, in disbelief.

“Now, everyone would know who truly owns this pussy.” His breathing became ragged.

“You won't like this as much as I do.” He softened.

I nodded.

“Then stop fighting it.”

*************

Wet liquid courses through my body, making me jump to my feet, awakened from my dream.

“I called your name forever, and here you are still sleeping.” Laura barked at me, a glass cup over my head.

She had poured me water.

I sprang to my feet, my legs wobbly, but I gained my balance.

“I overslept. "Sorry." I bowed my head slightly.

“You better be,” she said, folding her arms. “Get my dress ready; I will be leaving for the event in a few.”

She swayed out of my room, if you could call it that.

The alpha, or should I say, father, had given it to me in compensation for not throwing me a party for my twentieth birthday.

Not that it mattered anyways since I was basically a slave here.

I wrapped a scarf around my neck; the mark was still visible and raw even after seven years.

I rushed to the laundry to get Laura's clothes, then went into her bedroom.

It was a lot bigger than mine and more beautifully decorated too.

She had everything in the world, a spacious room, and a wardrobe filled with expensive clothes.

And I got nothing.

Laura and I are twins, Fartenel twins, and because I look nothing like any of my family, my father assumed my mother had slept with another man.

And so, I was being treated like an outcast.

I finished with her clothes and headed back to the kitchen, where I was assigned my duties as a chef.

I met with the other maids, and we prepared breakfast.

“Why do you always have that scarf on?” "Lilith, my only friend," said.

I smiled at her; she was brought here since her parents died, and she found comfort in me.

“It's um...chilly," I lied, making an omelette.

“You always have it on you, even in summer.” Her brows rose. “Don't you feel hot?”

“What are you two doing?” Madam Grace yelled from outside; she spotted us slacking.

“We'll talk later," I said, barely able to avoid her suspicions.

Laura loves eating in her room, and I didn't know the reason. Every day, I make her meals and bring them to her at a specific time.

Sometimes when I come late, she throws a tantrum and throws food on my face or tells Madam Grace to suspend my morning food. Or for days.

I wasn't going to let her get to me. Not today. Maybe tomorrow.

Today was an exciting day for me, because I was going to visit Brad today.

I dreamt of it and planned out everything weeks back.

I made him some cake using leftovers from Laura's birthday; I wanted to surprise him.

Of course nobody knew I was dating him; I also couldn't believe I would find love myself considering I am a wolfless Omega with no intention of ever finding a mate.

No one ever wanted a Wolfless Omega, except Brad.

He made me feel special, feelings I had no words for.

At exactly eight on the dot, I marched to Laura's door but halted immediately when I heard moans from her room.

Laura was promiscuous and loved to rub it in my face a lot, a habit I hated her for.

I couldn't care less; it was her life anyway.

The door was slightly ajar; I raised my hands to knock but paused.

"Oh, Brad," Laura's voice, undoubtedly in climax.

Brad?

Did she say Brad?

I must be hearing things.

“That's the spot, Brad. More, more.” She chuckled.

The tray of food slipped from my fingers, and without thinking, I pushed the door open only to find Laura riding Brad.

My Brad.

“Brad?” My voice cracked; they both were completely naked, staring at me.

“Arya, what are you doing here?” He quickly put on his pants.

“How long has this been going on?” I shouldn't be speaking up like this, especially when Laura is around, but I was on the verge of losing my mind.

“It's not what it looks like.” Brad pleaded,

“It is exactly what it looks like, Arya.” Laura marched up to me in her garment. “So it is true that the good-for-nothing Arya has a boyfriend. And yet you pretend to be so innocent. Prude.”

“If you knew I liked him, why did you do this?” I teared up, speaking up to my sister for the first time.

Sure, I might get slapped in the face for this. I was burning with the desire to know.

“I want to see you suffer, just like you made Mom suffer.” Her voice dropped deadlily.

“I didn't do anything to Mom, I told you that.” I raised my voice as the tears blinded my eyes.

A slap whipped my face from Laura. "Are you yelling at me?”

I dropped my face. "No," I said quietly.

“Good, because this is only a punishment for killing Mom."

“I didn't kill her.” I mumbled; fortunately she didn't hear that.

"I promise you that I'll make your life a living hell.” She paused, staring at me with disgust.

“What did I ever do to you?” I regretted those words immediately as they came.

“Everything. You took everything from me. My whole life was tied to Mom, but you let her die.”

“I did not…"

“You fucking bastard,” Laura lunges at me, kicking my legs till I drop to my knees.

“I'll kill you, Arya; you'll regret ever coming across me.”

I laid curled up on the tiles, protecting my head with my hands as Laura stomped on me.

“Just die already,” kick.

“You worthless piece of shit.” Stomp.

“You don't deserve the luxury of living in a pack,” she yelled.

“What's all this commotion?”

Arya's POV

I've always known I wasn't part of the family.

I was maybe an outcast.

But not blood.

Laura never stopped shoving it in my face ever since the demise of our mother, when we were ten.

She told Dad that I killed her because I was last seen with Mom when she gave up the ghost.

“It's Arya, Dad; she crept in on me and yelled at me for having fun with Brad," Laura said in a childlike tone.

She knew the alpha would be on her side; I had no chance of defending myself now.

“Care to explain what might be happening?” The Alpha turned to me.

I slowly got up; pain shot through my body, but I'm used to it already.

My gaze was lowered. I dared not look at him directly.

"I...I made a mistake, sir," I said carefully.

“It is always a mistake with you, Arya.”

He said. “I should have thrown you out the day I met you.”

Those words were like his mantra that he said to me.

Sometimes I wondered why he never really threw me out; I would have been happily dead rather than this unending suffering.

“Always causing trouble. No food for you tomorrow!” He ordered ruthlessly.

“Get ready, Laura; we'll be leaving soon."

Then he walked away. I bowed, not resisting at all.

Brad was still standing there, looking at me with pitying eyes.

My heart throbbed, shattered into a million pieces. The only person I love has been taken away from me.

“What are you doing standing here?” Laura's voice: “Go get my clothes ready. I want to look good tonight.” She squealed.

My pace quickened, and tears burned my eyes, but I wiped them off.

Pain was normal to me after all.

I plummeted on my bed immediately after I got to my room.

Lilith walked behind.

She sighed, then sat beside me holding a bowl and rag.

“I can't believe Brad did this to me.” I let out a sigh as she cleaned my wounds.She had become my personal nurse ever since.

“I'm sorry you had to go through all that.” She said softly.

“It's not enough that I've never gotten a mate, but the only guy I cared about was snatched right in front of me. It's not fair.”

I gulped down the bile forming in my chest.

Lilith sighed, putting down the bowl; her gaze softened."

I have to go now. Madame Grace might look for me.” She got up.

I understood her.

We're merely maids here; our feelings didn't matter.

I got up too quickly, and pain erupted from my ribs; I groaned.

I was still suffering from the pain she caused me last week.

I got to the laundry room to iron Laura's clothes.

According to what I heard, there was a festival happening downtown where Alpha and his family will be in attendance.

The festival happens twice in a year, first was to meet with your mate.

The second was to form a mate bond.

However, if you missed the first time, you'll have the chance to meet with your mate the second time.

Of course the alpha didn't want me there.

A sizzling sound came from the pressing iron.

I lifted it up to find the piece of linen was burnt.

“Oh no, no, no. Laura would kill me for sure.”

As if she heard me, she burst into the room and stared at her dress, her eyes reddening.

“You fucking burnt my dress!” She yelled before stomping in.

“I can explain…” I pleaded with her.

“How will I go to the festival? How can I find my mate?” She glared daggers at me.I knew those looks, a dangerous glare that told me whatever she was thinking, I'm not coming out alive.

“I can fix it,” I fidgeted. “Don't tell on me.”

"Oh, I won't tell on you." She tossed the dress, snatched the hot iron, and grabbed my arms.

“What are you doing?” I panicked.

Before I could beg for mercy, she pressed the hot iron on my bare skin.

It burned, sizzling. A scream tore out from me before I could stop it.

Her grip was strong on me.The iron stayed on me for a minute. Maybe two.

By the time she let go, a raw, deep red scar marred my skin. Taking the shape of the hot iron.

“That should teach you never to mess with my clothes.” She barked at me. "They are worth more than your pathetic life.”

“What did I ever do to you to deserve all these?” I sobbed quietly.

“Are you talking back to me?” I lifted my head. "We are sisters. Sisters are meant to look out for each other.”

“Did you say sisters?" she scoffed. "You were never my sister, Arya. I don't know what Mother had fed you before she died, but you will never be my blood.”

I shook my head.

“You didn't know? The alpha said you were picked from the lake. Mom went into premature labor." Laura informed, her grin widening.

“That can't be true. Mom said we're Fartenel twins.” I said in denial.

“Oh please!” She raised her hands. “You were someone else's trash. An outcast that suddenly made their way into the pack house.”

Mom told me she gave birth to me. I knew I looked different compared to her and the alpha.

Laura had olive skin, blond hair, and blue eyes.While I had dark hair, hazel eyes, and shorter hair.

Our mom was a sex slave to the alpha, who managed to get pregnant for him. The former Luna, his wife, had died. Alpha Roman took my mother in; however, after our birth, he said I looked nothing like him and treated me differently.

“You liar!"

Laura scoffed again. "Just wait until… What is that?”

Something caught her attention.She was staring at my neck.

My scarf!

Where did it go?

I quickly covered my neck, but it was already too late.

Laura snatched my right hand, pressing the wound she had just inflicted, and I groaned as it stung.

“You're hurting me.”

She turned deaf ears.

She pushed my head, tilting to the left, revealing the mark.

“You've been marked?” She gasps, shocked, “By whom?"

I thinned my lips and bit my tongue. I can't tell her that.

It was a taboo.

If the alpha finds out, who knows what he will do?

“It's nothing." I forced it out despite the pain from my arms.

“You piece of shit, you've been sleeping with the guards, haven't you?”

“No!” I said too quickly.

“Then who?” She persisted.

Suddenly, my neck tingled, burning—painfully.

It had happened before, and that was why it was still raw.

Occasionally, the mark burned, renewing itself—raw and more steep.

“I can't tell you that.” I muttered.

“I'll tell Dad if you don't tell me who marked you.” Laura retorted.

“Haven't you done enough?” I raised my voice, "You want to take everything from me? Do it. I don't care anymore.”

I don't know what came over me to speak to her that way.

Maybe it's the fact my life was literally over; maybe it's because I wanted to prove something for myself, like Mom always told me to.

“That's enough, both of you.”

That voice—I recognized that voice.

I turned and saw him.

Levi.

The mark burned again, more intensely than before.

Excruciating. my legs weakened, barely able to hold my weight.

“I think it's time to sell her to the slaves, since she has began whoring around,”Alpha Roman said.

“No..” I said weakly.

My eyes blurred, then suddenly everything went dark.

Arya's POV

Sunlight slipped through the curtains and landed across my face.

My eyes flutter open. My head is pounding.

I groaned, sitting up only to find a man towering over me.

I jumped back, holding the duvet over my chest.

“Finally, you're up.” He said, tearing his gaze from me. And backed up.

“Levi?” I whispered.

He turned his head to me, I hitched.

He was more grown than in the last seven years I saw him.

He was fully jacked, all muscles, with a chiseled jaw and honey brown hair.

I can't believe he returned after all these years.

I thought he died or something because no one ever spoke about him, not that I could ask about it.

Although I still had dreams of what he did the night before he went away to the alpha's academy.

“How are you feeling?” His voice softened, and his gaze lingered on me.

“A little lightheaded," I barely said.

“I'll go get you something to….” Before he could finish, Alpha Roman barged into the room. Levi’s room.

“Where is she?” He thundered; troops of men followed behind him.

“Take her away; she's done more harm than good.” Alpha Roman ordered.

“What do you mean by that, Father?" Levi demanded.

“Stay out of this, son; it's time we take her away. The vampire clan will be willing to have a non-wolf as a blood host. Or whatever they planned to do with her.”

Levi stepped in front of his father, slow and deliberate, hands in his pocket.

“She isn't going anywhere, Father. I'll handle this.”

“Don't interfere with what you don't know. Arya is a shame and disgrace.” He roared, “She's a curse brought upon our land, and if we don't take her out, the gods will punish us.”

I am a…curse?

“Why else doesn't she have a wolf?” Roman asked, "And don't say she's a late bloomer.”

“You're right, she has no wolf because she doesn't smell like one.” Levi agreed, “However, I don't permit you to take her away to the vampires.”

“And who the hell do you think you are to go against my order?” Roman's veins bulge in his head. “This is my pack; whatever I say goes.”

Levi was oddly calm in such an intense situation; I could barely breathe in such a tense atmosphere.

My heart beat was accelerating.

“I will take care of this, Father; you have my word."

“Your words mean nothing," Roman bellowed. "Seize her!”

As the guard walked past Levi, just as he was about to reach me, Levi grabbed his head, ramming it against the wall.

I shrieked, closing my eyes. Warm liquid sprayed on my face

A thud made me open my eyes, and a smear of his blood was on the wall and some of it on my face.

“Are you willing to listen to me now, Father?" Levi said, his voice cold.

The alpha told the remaining of them to leave. “You don't know what you're doing.” He began, “The vampires would stop their carnage on our pack once we give them a ‘wolf’ to feed on.”

“Give them someone else, not Arya.” He said.

Roman turned to me; I averted my gaze in submission.

“Do whatever; she is doomed to die either way.”

“That won't happen," Levi countered.

“Oh yes, it would. You know what is coming; a weak being like her would never survive such an apocalypse.”

He turned and left.

The room fell quiet for a minute, then Levi turned to me.

My hair stood erect, and my heart slammed in my chest.“I should get going….”

“Sit where you are.” He ordered, and I plunged back to the bed.

His gaze traveled to the dead guard. “I'll have someone take care of him later.”

I nodded.

Levi was different, not just in appearance but in his aura.

He was intense, and it got me in a chokehold.I wanted nothing but to leave here and return to my small room—where I found comfort.

The air became thin, and my heart pounded.

Heat beamed my face, and the tingling sensation from the mark made it worse.

Suddenly i felt like sixteen again, the night he left to the academy.

“Should I say something? Conversation, maybe? This is too awkward.” Thought spiraled through my head.

Levi and I didn't speak much before.

And now that he'd returned years later, it felt so discomforting.

"How many years has it been?” I asked nervously; my voice cracked.

His eyes stayed on me for a moment.

“What happened to you?” He ignored my question and stared at my arms where Laura had inflicted.

“It's… a burn from a hot iron.”

“Who did that to you?” He asked.

I froze

If I told him the truth, he would kill Laura for sure.

He was possessive that much, even when we were kids.

“It was an accident; I burned myself.” I chuckled.

He looked displeased but didn't say anything.“We leave at dawn.”

He said and turned, but I stopped him.

“Where to?” I blurted.

He turned to me, his eyes commanding even with no words.

This felt all too familiar.

Like when we were teens, Levi always told me what to do, to which I couldn't object.

He never allowed anyone to bully me or talk to me whenever I thanked him. He'll disregard it and say, "You'll thank me later.”

I never got to thank him before he vanished.

Lilith brought me a good meal after Levi left. She cleaned up the blood.

I offered to help her, as it has been my job for years, but she refused.

I didn't leave the room for the rest of the day.

And in return, I slept in peacefully.

No one yelled at me or told me what to do.

No Laura.

No, Madam Grace.

For the first time in my twenty-third year of living, I felt peace and serenity.

I could get used to this if Levi doesn't vanish again.

Like he did seven years ago.

A tapping sound woke me.

I peered around; darkness swallowed the room.

I sat up on the bed, holding onto my duvet like my life depended on it.

The moonlight illuminated the large dark room.

The air was chilly, too.

The knock came again, louder. Aggressive.

"Who… who's there?” I was forced out in fear.

If a wolf attacks me, I have no defense.

Oh God, who could it be?

The door flung open, and Alpha Roman stepped forward.

“Come with me.”