Aria's POV

I shake my head to clear it.

"Calm down, you remember what happened the last time?" I nudge her softly in my mind. 

"He is not that cowardly, Alpha, he won't reject us", she said with so much conviction. 

A soft cough pulls me out of my thoughts.

Wait, he is my mate? The handsome stranger I'd been admiring from afar. 

I creased my forehead in confusion, still staring, he maintains his blank face as if he didn't smell me as  his mate.

".....Well, Aria meet my cousin, Alpha Kael", Martha says, staring at me with an expression I couldn't decipher. 

Wait, what? THE ALPHA KAEL IS MY MATE?

"And cousin, meet my new bestie, Aria, the prettiest girl around", she said, giving Alpha Kael a mischievous smile.

A low growl fills the air, a gorgeous blonde that I didn't notice earlier, is by mate clinging to his strong arms. 

Martha and I share a look, then turn to her once more.

"Hello, Jessica, didn't see you there", Martha utters with clenched teeth.

She definitely has some telling to do, for the first time Maria is being bitchy to someone.

Jessica's pretty face twists in a snarl. "Yeah,right", she then turns to me, "Welcome to our pack, Aria, hope you fit in just fine", she finishes with a smile that looks like a grimace.

"Happy you've met my betrothed, Kael", Jessica said with a haughty look, rubbing his biceps.

I haven't uttered a word, blinking my eyes rapidly to rid them of the tears pulling so fast. 

"Ermmmm......, it's nice to meet you both, we'll be on our way", Martha states awkwardly as she pulls me by the arm.

We keep going until we reach a balcony. She then gave me the same strange look as she did earlier.

"He's your mate, isn't he?", she said with such ferocity. 

I twist my neck so fast towards her, before I could help it a loud sob escapes my lips, my chest constricts painfully. Even though he didn't reject me, being ignored totally hurt really bad.

Martha pulled me into her arms and I let the tears flow, gradually calming down, as little sniffles filled the balcony.

"Am I so unlovable, that I've been rejected twice", my solemn voice filled the eerie night.

Martha's body shakes in anger at the revelation. 

"Of course not, sweetie, he hasn't rejected you okay?", she said, smoothing out my hair from my face.

"But, he didn't acknowledge me at all, like I wasn't even there", I replied with anger.

"You know what, you need a run," Martha said, staring into my eyes.

"Idon'thaveawolf", I mutter so fast, utterly ashamed. 

I'm so sure my bestie, as she calls it, will leave. No one wants to be associated with a weakling.

"I didn't get that", she replied in confusion. 

"I don't have a wolf, I can't shift yet", I stare at the floor as if it was so interesting. 

She followed my gaze, bending her neck, "You know that I'm an Omega right?"

My eyes bulge out in shock, my jaw almost dropping on the floor. "Wait, what? How?" I utter.

Her lips break into a smile, "Well you know, though I'm not proud of him right now, my cousin cares about the wellbeing of every pack member from the least to the strongest."

My face knotted in understanding, "I now get it everyone looks so healthy, I even thought that this pack didn't have any Omegas."

"You're so adorable, he believes that all should be treated equally, with respect and we have access to the same opportunities, from education to health", she explains.

"Anyways, I'll let you figure out the dynamics of this pack, gradually, for now we're going for a run to the woods", she gives me a glare and adds, "You're riding on my back, no arguments."

I make a gesture "zipping" my lips and throwing the keys away. Our loud laughs fill the balcony.

I hook my arms with hers, leading us back to my room so I can change.

I wipe off my makeup, and change my clothes. I hurry, handing out some clothes to Martha so she wouldn't need to go to her room and change. 

Her strong arms pull me towards the veranda in front of the pack house. In the twinkle of an eye she shifts to a beautiful brown wolf, spotted with white patches and beautiful brown eyes.

Her head tilts, giving me a nod. I clumsily climbed her back, slipping slightly. She bends her legs slightly, making it easy.

She takes off in a sprint, I've never moved so fast, had to bend low so I don't get hit by branches hanging low.

The breeze whipped my hair against my face, I could barely make out the trees as we ran past them in a blur. The trill runs through my veins making me let out a loud and beautiful laugh.

She soon slows down and comes to a stop, I take that sign to slide off much more balanced than earlier. 

The sound of rushing water makes me pay more attention to my surroundings. A beautiful waterfall lay before us. I feel like going for a dip.

A gentle nudge on my shoulders pulls me from my thoughts, "Come on, let's go in for a swim."

I haven't even realised that she has shifted to her human form. She runs taking the lead screaming, "The last person is fart face", she jumps in and falls in with a big splash.

I take off in a sprint with a loud laugh, jumping in right after. We start splashing at each other, tiring out after a while. 

Martha stares at me with a soft smile and muttered lowly, "I have no idea what you've been through in the past, I see your scars but you deserve the world, Aria", she said, "You are strong, hot, with a beautiful heart, don't let this break you."

Her beautiful words made my heart beat so hard and fast in my chest, for the first time I felt like I was worth something. I deserve love and to be loved. People's opinions will not break me but instead I'll be better, do better. This is the perfect opportunity for a clean slate, I will not talk down to myself anymore, no I am meant for better.

"I deserve better", I said at the back of my mind.

"I told you, you deserve the world", Willow answers with glee.

A feral growl pulls me from my thoughts. Martha and I exchange a quick glance then turn towards the sound.

"Rogues!!!"

Not again, I freeze with fear.

Maria pulls me out of the water, in a rush. Three pairs of eyes glare at us from the dark.

"Aria, run!!!", Martha screams, as she jumps mid air and growls at them menacingly. 

I know I am being stupid but I can't leave her, she will definitely get killed.

The three wolves attack Martha all at once, she is fast and trained but one has held on to her left hind leg, the other goes for her throat now exposed. 

"Noooooooo" tore through my throat.

"Let me out", Willow screams in my head, "Not on our watch."

I jump to intercept the wolf without thinking of dropping on four paws.

Without thinking I sink my teeth in his throat, ripping it out in a blur. My body no longer feels like mine, a feeling so primal bubbled in my chest. Willow has definitely taken over.

I jump at the one still holding on to Martha's paw, giving him a hard swipe to the face. He let go of her, turning to me to fight me off but I swipe again at his belly giving him a deep wound.

I feel a searing pain on my right paw, kicking blindly and throwing him against a nearby tree. I don't let him recuperate before I sink my teeth in his throat, shaking vigorously until he no longer moves.

I check on Martha making sure she is fine, she  stares at me with wide eyes "You are a white wolf", she stutters weakly.

My head feels dizzy, my eyes get blurry. I gradually lose consciousness, and my furry wolf is replaced by my tiny human body.

I hear a voice that seems so far off shouting "Aria!!!!", as I give in to the darkness.

Alpha Kael's POV

"Jessica, I have to let you go, I'm so sorry if I've hurt you, but, I now have a fated mate", I said plainly, my voice void of any emotions.

Her full lips curl up in a sneer, "So that's it, Kael, after everything I've done for you."

A subtle sigh escaped my lips, this will definitely be harder than I initially thought. Jessica was the best choice for a Luna, since I thought I wouldn't get a second chance mate. But now things are different, I could barely take my eyes off my mate at the welcome dinner three nights ago.

"What we have is real, Kael", she continues, "I love you so much, I'm even ready to let go of my mate for you", she pulls me close, with a soft pout on her lips and tears streaming down her face.

I take a wide step backwards, "First, it's Alpha to you not Kael, and the deal is until we find our mates, which is the case right now".

She quickly wipes the "crocodile" tears off her face, and said, "I will have you no matter what, I will be damned if I let anyone else have you", she takes one last look at me and stomps out of my office, slamming the wooden door behind her. 

My thoughts drift to my beautiful mate, it has been three whole nights since the scary attack by the rogues. I wish I had acknowledged her as my mate. My fears had resurfaced at the sight of her.

My past and scars held me back, now I regret all of it. I want her by my side as my Luna. 

I wonder how she and Martha were able to fight off three fully grown male wolves, all by themselves. 

A loud knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts. The door is pushed open by none other than my best friend and Beta, Aldin. His warm brown eyes meet mine, with a look of mischief. 

"Hi, Princess", he said aloud as he plopped himself into a chair, lifting his feet and placing them on MY TABLE!!!

A look of disdain crosses my face, giving him a menacing glare, "Take your stinky feet off my desk, and I told you a million times to stop calling me princess."

He just throws me an annoying grin, "Since you don't want me around, I won't tell you that your precious Luna is awake, and definitely not asking about you."

I shoot up so fast from my seat and speed downstairs towards the infirmary. Aldin's hard footsteps follow closely behind me. 

My heart pounding so hard against my chest, beads of sweat coated my palms, my usual cold demeanour looking extremely antsy as we approached the door.

"I never thought I'd see the day the great Alpha Kael will be so scared of a woman's wrath", Aldin cackles at my expense. 

I give him one last look before twisting the door knobs gently and letting myself in.

My beautiful mate and Maria roar with laughter, but stop abruptly at the sight of me.

Martha gives me a dark look and spins towards my mate asking, "Would you like me to stay or leave?"

Aria gives her a warm smile, "It's okay, you can leave, I'll be just fine."

"I'll be right outside the door, just call out when you need me", Martha states, her feet padded softly past me going out the door.

Aria's once cheerful demeanor turns cold almost immediately. "What do you want, Alpha", she said expressionless.

"I-I...... I'm sorry for not acknowledging you as my mate at the dinner, I take full accountability of the attack", I utter stuttering, "If I would have accepted you then maybe the attack wouldn't have happened at all."

I take a pause, staring at her entrancing hazel eyes, she let out a long sigh.

"Can I ask one thing, why did you ignore me completely?" She asks.

I don't like the coldness towards me but I deserve it and will work hard to get her back. 

"I was scared, I never thought I'd get a second chance mate, Lycans are known to have just one mate for life", I mutter, with my head hung low, "I was scared of getting attached and losing you, like I did my first mate."

"Did you even care how that will make me feel?" she said, gritting her teeth, "You made me feel so worthless."

"Anyways it's all in the past now, you can go on with YOUR JESSICA, I don't care anymore", she screams. 

I draw closer to the edge of the bed taking her tiny hands in mine, "I know you might not believe me right now but I will spend the rest of my life if possible showing you how much you mean to me."

She gives me a long look and replies, "I now know that I deserve so much more, prove your words to me, then I might consider giving you a chance."

"I'll prove it to you, I promise", I answer with conviction.

"You can come in now, idiot, and quit eavesdropping", I tell Aldin through the mindlink.

"Whatever, you are lucky to have me", he answers as he steps into the room.

"Well, well, how are you doing, pretty Luna?"Aldin said cheerfully, "Oops,  I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Handsome Aldin, Kael's Beta". He stretches his arm out giving my mate a firm handshake. 

"I'm Aria, it's nice to meet you", she said with red cheeks. 

Meant for me alone, I think, already getting jealous already at their interaction. 

I shake off the thought as fast as it came, what is happening to me, my little Kitten was making me feel things I never felt before.

The door knob twists open, with Martha's head popping in with curiosity, "Can I come in now?"she asked, staring at my mate.

Aria nods briefly with a smile and turns back towards Aldin.

Martha steps into the room with a steaming cup of coffee placing it carefully by the bed for my mate. 

She joins in the conversation with Aldin as well, sporting a huge grin.

"I hope you made things right this time Cuz, you disappointed me that night, she is the strongest and most genuine she-wolf I've ever met" Maria said across the mindlink.

"I've started working on it, but I'll prove to her how much she means to me in time", I reply with a smile.

"Thank goodness you're finally getting rid of that, barbie doll, Jessica", she mutters with disgust.

I release a low chuckle, "You've always never really liked her, you know, though almost every other she-wolf in the pack adores her."

"She may be strong because of her Beta blood but she is an arrogant, egotistical bully and you know it", she replies.

I shake my head at her antics and let her be. 

The door is pushed open abruptly, in a blink I stand protectively in front of my mate, before her scent hits me.

"Speak of the devil", Martha mutters under her breath. 

A deathly silence envelopes the room as we all wait for the "guest" to state her reason for being here.

"I, Jessica Woods, challenge you, Aria, to a duel for your place as Luna, let the best woman win."

Aria's POV 

"I accept", I said with a daunting smile.

"What!!!"their screams reach my ears.

"Funny how you think, you stand a chance at me", Jessica taunts, "A little attack took you out for days."

A deep guttural growl from my mate for the disrespect makes the look on her face fade instantly.

"That should be my problem, right?", I answer, a sneer appearing on my face, "Take your plastic self out of this room before I do it for you, doll."

Kael and Aldin release gasps in pure shock, my usual timid self completely gone.

Martha sports a huge smile on her face, "This is interesting", she exclaims, "I always knew you had it in you."

Jessica quickly regains herself, "Do not think for a second that your little shenanigans mean anything", she answers quickly, "I will crush you, you better watch your back." She walks briskly out of the room.

"You definitely have your hands full with this one", Aldin finally spoke up, finally recovering from his shock.

"I look forward to it", Alpha Kael answers with  a warm smile, his blue eyes then peer in my direction, "I am not happy with this, Kitten."

My brows rise in question, surprised at the endearment, "I see no problem with my decision, Alpha", I reply, my face turns cold, "You should be happy that you finally have a chance to be with your "beloved" Jessica." I throw him a challenging look, folding my arms.

His beautiful eyes meet mine.......wait did I just say "beautiful"? This mate bond is really something, but I will not let him in so easily.

I get lost again in those orbs, a loud cough breaks me out of the trance I'm in.

"I just remembered, we have eeemmmm some shelves to clean" Martha stutters.

"No we don't............." She pulls a reluctant Aldin out of the room.

A deathly silence fills the room, it is almost suffocating. 

He kneels right by my bed, "First, I'm your mate you will not call me Alpha", I gulp at his tone, "And I have the right to be scared, you're my mate for heaven's sake, Jessica is one of the best female warriors we have and worse with Beta blood flowing in her veins."

"I can even find a way around it and prevent the contest as a whole", he continues with so much conviction. 

"Wait a minute so you're implying that I am weak?", I growl, "Not even the benefit of doubt, you feel she will definitely win, right?"

"You know that's not what I mean, I care about you, she just has years of experience and training on you", he tries to reason.

The keyword "tries", funny how my mate feels like Jessica is better than I am, that's all I can hear.

"We'll show him", Willow states deep in my mind, "In fact we need this trial, mate, needs to understand that we are not some fragile wallflower that needs his saving, the moon goddess made us his mate and Luna for a reason, we'll work our way to the top."

"Thank you, Willow", I answered, "We're in this together."

I pull myself from my thoughts, "Alpha", I mutter a little too sweetly, "I'd like to join the pack's training sessions, as you mentioned I have a lot of catching up to do", I said gritting my teeth in annoyance. 

He gives me a thoughtful gaze for a few seconds, "Sure thing, it would even help you socialize with your pack members before I announce you as Luna."

My eyes roll to the back of my head at his assertion, but I'm too tired to argue. I hum softly in agreement. 

This will definitely be fun, I'm tired of being in the shadows and hiding myself, I think this is my second chance at life to make better decisions and find myself. 

"I'll let you rest a bit, your eyes are drooping already", he says, "Good night, Kitten". He pressed a firm kiss on my forehead before I could move away.

I shoot him a menacing glare which he just winks and chuckles in return to.

My eyes close almost immediately. I hear faint footsteps leave my room, and the door closes shut.

***

"I'm happy my bestie is finally discharged", Martha giggles, trotting beside me.

My lips stretched to a full blown smile, "Same here, shorty", I replied with a wink.

"How dare you, Ria", she says, exasperated, pointing her fingers in my face, "You're just a few inches taller, idiot."

"You sure about that?", she gives me a hard jab.

"I am planning to run away, if you continue at this rate", she continues, "You're worse than I ever was, and they call me a menace."

We burst out in a fit of giggles. Martha has a way of making me feel completely at ease, as we are heading towards Kael's office. He has been trying to dissuade me from competing with Jessica for my position, but I'm aware that it's our tradition and it must be done.

Our feet pad softly against the wooden floor. My palms feel sweaty, I feel so nervous to ask my mate to join in training with other werewolves in the pack.

We arrive at his office door in comfortable silence. Martha threw me a wink and said, "Have fun, kiddo." She leans against the wall, folding her arms.

Just as I was about to knock on the door, his deep voice reached my ears, "Come in, Kitten."

My hands twist the door knob, pushing the door open. My feet slowly step into the office. My eyes reach his blue orbs, he leans back on his chair sporting a teasing smirk.

"I was almost sure you wouldn't come", he says, "You've been running away from me, after being discharged."

I give him a glare, "No, I've just been busy."

"Busy? I've missed you so much, especially your sassy mouth", he finishes with a grin.

"Is that all you called me here for?" I say with an attitude.

A sigh escapes his lips, "I want to spend some time with you, this was the only way I could combine you to meet me."

"I told you I've not been running away, I've just had a lot on my plate these days", I answer. 

"Aria, you said you would give me a chance but you haven't even spared any time for us to get to know each other, please give me a chance I won't ruin it again, please", he utters with so much conviction. 

Butterflies fill my belly, I have missed my mate. Even my wolf, Willow howls at the back of my mind, eager to be close to him.

"Fine, I'll put in effort to make this work", I reply, "Just don't push me away again because of your fears, okay?"

"I can't even push you away now that I have had you so close to me, it's taking every ounce of my strength to push back the urge of holding you in my arms." He says, looking at me intently. 

My cheeks turn beet red at his confession.

"You know that's what has been on your mind though you put on a tough front", Willow says with a smug smile in my mind.

"Shut it, stupid", I retorted, "No one asked you."

She chuckles sweetly, drifting deep into mind. 

Kael stood up from his chair, his solid footsteps approaching me swiftly with ease. I try shifting my gaze away from him but his fingers grip my chin mildly, making me face him.

"I do not want to ruin the moment but I'm scared of you getting hurt during the tournament, would you at least consider pulling out for the meantime."

My defensive walls came up, "I won't do that....."

"Wait, let me finish", he interrupts me firmly, "I will let you compete against her but on one condition." 

"Okay, what's the catch?"

"I would like you to begin training at the pack grounds, so that it'll be a fair fight at least", he says staring into my eyes, "You are the strongest woman I know, please don't think for one second that......."

A thrill of excitement shoots through my veins, without thinking I throw my arms around his neck in a tight hug.

"Thank you, thank you so much", I interrupted him before he could finish. "Thank you for believing in me and even considering this, I accept."

He gets out of the shock at my actions and wraps his arms around me tightly. 

"It's so hard for me to keep my world at bay and make this arrangement but at least, this is a compromise", he says with a smile. "The smile on your face though makes this decision totally worth it."

I try to pry my hands off him, but he pulls me closer to him, holding me against himself.

"Maria mentioned that Aldin is in charge of training with the Enforcer, so who would be my trainer since I'm starting completely new", I ask.

He chuckles softly, "You think I'd let anyone else train you mmmmmm?"

My brows knot in confusion, "I don't understand?"

He rolls his eyes, "You're mine in every way and mine to train, now do you get it?"

I blush deeply "S...sure", I stutter and get shy.

A smile lit his usually cold demeanour, his scars making him look so handsome. 

"I have one last request to make of you", he says, getting nervous all of a sudden. 

"Shoot", I say with a reassuring smile.

"Will you go on a date with me?"