Aria

My bag had been packed and I was ready, the woods were quiet as I ran through them to the main road.

I had left the house not long ago the next day, I didn't want Jessica to be able to reach me and so I had thrown my phone away, it was time to leave.

My unfortunate luck had taken so much from me, so many missed opportunities and dreams, not only was I the lowest rank but I also didn't have my wolf.

It was as if she was never there, whispering just a word in all my whole life.

I hated how much of a nonentity I was.

Then the goddess had also decided to give me an alpha as a mate, he had rejected me immediately.

He hadn't even given me time to process anything, he had seen how useless I was, just like I thought and rejected me immediately.

My thoughts had been true all along, I was useless and I didn't need anyone else to tell me. I was tired of rejection.

I stopped mid-walk, I wanted to see him again, I didn't know why but something pulled me to go see him.

It took a while before I recognized that I had changed direction and was heading towards his house.

I wouldn't go see him, of course I wouldn't but I wanted to see him one last time before leaving, I wanted to see who the goddess had chosen for me and if he regretted his decision.

I stood, staring from the woods when his familiar scent met my nose, he was close by.

I heard whispering before I heard footsteps, so I moved back to hide well so he wouldn't see me.

He walked into the woods with a lady, both of them holding hands.

"So what are you going to do?" She asked him, they stood both staring at each other.

"You're going to be my Luna of course, I never met my mate and someone has to be Luna for me to be Alpha" he told her.

The way he looked at her, so adoringly that it stung me deeply, very different from how he had looked at me, with disgust and annoyance at my presence.

His rejection hurt me all over again and I felt the tears slide down my face.

I knew I hadn't made a mistake in deciding to leave. With the way he was treating her, he would never have treated me like this.

She giggled at his words and pulled him closer, both of them making out.

The sight jarred into me, tearing me apart inside, I couldn't stand to look at both of them.

Gradually and slowly, I walked away from them, my two small bags in my hands.

I had taken only my essentials and some money to at least survive a week there before finding a job.

When I was far away from them, I let the sob that had been pulling at me out, the sound filling

the forest and the tears slid down continuously, blurring my vision.

What a failure I was, nothing was ever good for me.

I had lost my family, I was alone in this world,alone as an omega in a pack that didn't care about me.

Why was I so cursed?

Had I done anything in my past life to warrant this I wondered to myself.

All through high school, I had been bullied, never made any friend other than Jessica and definitely not a boyfriend.

This place held nothing for me in it, there was no choice but to leave. What did I have here anyway?

A few hours later, I could hear the sounds of cars moving on the highway and I knew I was close, so close to my freedom.

I would get a bus to the new city and stay there, find a new home away from the oppression here.

At least there would be nobody looking at me specifically, I wouldn't be suffocated with the pressure of everyone I had grown up with going up in life and me staying the same.

There, I saw it immediately, a bus parked and I saw two women going in.

I could see it was about to move and ran to catch up,

"Wait" I shouted as the bus began to move.

The last lady to enter spotted me and looked back inside, the bus stopped just then and I rushed in.

"Sorry" I muttered shyly as I stared at the occupants.

Fortunately, they didn't seem to notice me much.

I paid the fare and sat down in the empty seat close to the back.

Two ladies and a man were already seated in the row, quietly watching outside or their phones.

I leaned against the chair, shutting my eyes.

I had finally left. I had made the decision now and there was no turning back.

This was goodbye it seemed, to a place I would never come back to at least I hoped.

My eyes opened when the movement stopped, the car had reached its bus stop and we all came down.

I looked around, this new and unfamiliar place where I had come to run away from my past and failures.

The bustling city of strangers, I started looking around, lost. Where would I start from? Who would I approach to ask around?

I began to think then, what was I going to do first? Would I find an apartment or hotel? I wasn't sure and began to walk down the road.

I saw a sign, "Accomodation at cheap cost"

That interested me and I headed towards it, I had enough money for a few weeks for now at least, I didn't want to spend too much until I got a paying job.

The inside of the building was dingy and clearly cheap, it didn't bother me, after all I wasn't looking for anything exactly expensive but it was empty.

"Anyone here?" I called out looking around.

A few minutes later I heard footsteps and an older lady walked out of the hallway, she stared at me curiously.

"How can I help you?" She asked.

Her tone was dry and not impressed with me, "I came for the accomodation" I answered.

She nodded, her face brightened up.

"Yes, that. It's free. Want to see it?" She asked.

I nodded and followed behind her as she led us up to the room.

The inside of it was just as unimpressive as the inside. There was a bed with a surprisingly clean enough mattress, though uncovered.

The windows were boarded up.

"You can fix that" she said as she noticed where my gaze went to.

I shrugged, it didn't really matter.

"The toilet is down the hallway" she said pointing out the door towards where I had seen the door.

I went into the other room, I guessed it was the kitchen because it looked like it, there was the space for a cooker and everything, the cupboards as well.

To me, it was good enough, maybe not the best accomodation.

"I'll take it" I said to the lady.

She smiled, the first I had seen of it

"It's five hundred per half a year" she told me.

It wasn't too expensive so I paid it there, cash as I had and she left me alone to acquaint myself with the apartment.

There were cobwebs and dust of course due to the clear disuse, I wondered for how long this place had lain empty.

It looked desolated.

There were some old clothes laying on the floor around the floor and I threw them away, into a bag I had designated as the trash.

I didn't have a phone, I had thrown it away so that Jessica couldn't contact me, even though I had her number written in a book.

I decided I would go out to get one when I was done with arranging.

When I had finished, the room looked as good as it could considering the situation.

I also had to look for a job I decided, hopefully somewhere I would be paid well enough.

I washed my hands and left the room to explore the city.

I passed some houses that looked like they should be destroyed and some that looked like they should be somewhere in the suburbs.

Finally I reached the part that seemed more consistent, the houses looked much better, richer and even the bars and restaurants looked too expensive.

I knew I couldn't eat there but maybe there was a job for me.

I had walked for a while when I spotted what I was looking for originally, a phone shop.

I walked in, hoping it would be cheap enough for me to be able to get enough.

"What would you like?" The receptionist asked me.

I smiled, a nervous one, "A phone please"

"Any specific taste?" She asked.

I shook my head, "Although not something too expensive" I told her.

She smiled as if understanding and showed me to the show glass where a couple of phones had been put on display.

"These are our cheapest but still good brands"

I studied them carefully before choosing a good looking phone.

"That is six hundred" she said.

The price was more than I had expected but I knew it was the cheapest I would find anyway.

My savings were slowly going down.

"I'll take it"

We both went to the counter where I paid and before leaving I asked.

"Do you know where I can get a job, do you have any vacancies?"

She seemed to think for a while before she said, "Down the road, there was a vacancy for a bar woman and waitress for a club" she told me.

That brightened me and I thanked her profusely before leaving the shop, I would go where she had directed me to immediately, before the position was filled.

Aria

With my new phone, I headed towards the directions she had given to me quickly as I could. I didn't want to make a cut just because I was slow.

When I was sure I had arrived at where she had described, where the opening was, I stopped to stare at the building.

These type of buildings weren't too many around the former pack city, they were usually in the busier part of town, places where I wasn't allowed in but here I would get to work here.

I felt excitement at the idea and couldn't deny that I wished I would get the job here.

I went to the door and walked in, I didn't raise my eyes as I walked to the lady on uniform who I was sure was working here, I couldn't meet any eyes not with how lowly I felt.

How would they react if they found out an omega had dared to look them in the eyes. Even the energy in the room was more dominant than anything.

"Good evening, hi" I said to the lady in uniform.

She looked at me, her eyes going up and down on me as if checking me out.

Her eyes flashed with disgust when she had finished looking at me and it stung, it wasn't new but I hadn't expected it to be so soon as I walked in.

"How may I help you?" She asked curtly already turning away from me, as if she couldn't stand the sight of me. I wouldn't care, not now and especially not if I wanted to start afresh, she wasn't a part of my journey and I had to learn not to care about everyone's opinion.

"I'm here for the position of a waitress" I told her shyly.

She looked up at me, the disgust had reduced but she definitely looked at me as so much less.

"Well, there's none" she said.

I tried to speak but the way she stared at me, I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

I had seen the board with the advertisement, had it already been filled?

I could feel my hands shaking, I didn't know what to say to what she had said.

There was no way I could go back home without a job.

I heard laughter come from behind her before I saw the man come out from a door behind her, his eyes shining with mischievousness.

"Why do you play like this?" He asked shaking his head.

The lady smiled back, her eyes glinting with something I wasn't sure of.

Did it mean the vacancy was still open? I wanted to open my mouth and ask but slowed myself down, I didn't want to cause any more issues.

The man turned to me, he took a good look at me before speaking, there was no disgust in his eyes but I noticed the curiosity.

"Go in this door, the second office and there you'll meet your interviewer" he told me simply.

I thanked him, my voice small because I didn't want to be too loud and I hated the way my heart betrayed me, beating so fast here.

I couldn't help but wonder why the woman stared at me earlier with such evil eyes.

I shrugged as I followed the directions he had sent me to and knocked on the door where I was supposed to be interviewed.

"Come in" the voice said on the other side.

I took a breath, my heart racing as I walked in. I wasn't sure anymore, not as confident as I had been when I had walked in.

The man who sat on the chair when I walked was a huge man. His body was thick with muscles even as he sat down, I wondered how he would look when he wasn't sitting.

"Now's not the time Aria", I silently called myself to order.

"You're here for the interview?" He asked me.

I nodded my head and stared at him, wondering about what I should say.

"Take a seat, let's begin" he stated, his voice was deep and I hadn't heard anything like it on a while.

"Thank you" I said as politely as I could and sat back down.

He stared at me for a while before speaking,

"What's your name?"

"Aria Shawn sir" I answered, my voice was shaky but I held it tightly, I couldn't fumble this.

I had successfully changed my surname in the hopes of starting a new life.

"How old are you?" He asked next.

"Twenty one sir" I answered again, I crossed my fingers as I said that, I hoped that wouldn't cause me to lose this.

His face brightened slightly at my words, the age wasn't bad then.

"Are you here with your necessary documents?" He asked.

I shook my head in the negative, I hadn't expected to get an interview so quickly and hadn't come out prepared.

"When you resume, I need you to come with it" he told me.

At that I froze, his words had stopped me. When I come into work? Had I gotten the job?

"Have i-" I didn't finish my question when he answered.

"Yes, you've gotten it, twenty dollars per hour, a weekly pay" he told me.

His words brightened me up, twenty dollars per hour was huge.

"You'll take an evening to night shift, which is six in the evening to when the club closes and that is by six in the morning, twelve hours are you up for that?" He asked as a way to clarify I guess.

I nodded eagerly, I hadn't gotten this kind of pay even when I had worked in a hospital. They had given me so many hours of working and not with enough pay to match it.

"Yes sir, thank you" I said meekly, not meeting his eyes but hoping my voice could communicate that I really was grateful.

He shook his head, as if waving it off. For a big guy, he was definitely nicer than the lady outside.

"I'm expecting you Sunday evening then, see you" he told me packing the paper up on his desk and I thanked him.

I left his office, my face brighter than it had been when I had walked in.

My first task in the city had been done, finding a place and now the second which had been finding a job, it had been done as well and although it wasn't the best in the city, I loved it.

So far, it had been a good start and I was excited to see what else this new city had for me.

Maybe new friends if I was lucky or anything really.

I could find a better place as time went by as well, something better than where I was at currently, I didn't think I could live there for long.

When I got back home, the long walk draining so much strength from me, I knew I would have to eat soon but not now.

As I laid down, I came to the realization of something...

I missed Jessica.

I know throwing my phone away was more of a bad idea and I regretted it.

She was the only friend I had and I had just managed to push her away.

"I have to call her", I thought

I dialed Jessica's number.

She would be worried the moment she finds out i'm missing.

Her phone rang for a while and I had almost given up when I heard her answer it.

"Good evening?" She said in a questioning voice.

Her voice brought back memories and a wave hit me, I missed her so much.

"It's me" I told her, my voice soft, I already knew she would be pissed.

There was silence before she spoke, and I could already sense the anger rise even with all the distance between us.

"Aria?" She asked to be sure.

I nodded before speaking, "Yes, it's me" I told her.

She sighed,

"Where the fuck have you been?"

I opened my mouth to tell her what had happened but stopped myself, I didn't want to tell her any of it, that I had been rejected by who should have been my mate and he had sent me away without a second thought.

"I've left town" I said simply, I didn't want to say any more than that and she knew but still asked.

"What the fuck? When did this happen and why?" She asked, her voice had risen now.

I shut my eyes,

"I just needed a change of scenario, there wasn't for me anyway, everyone else is moving forward and I'm stuck here as little old aria"

I felt my eyes water as I spoke and my voice began to change, other than Jessica, I knew there wouldn't be any concern from anyone.

I was sure, Ryker had even forgotten that he had a mate that he had rejected, I wasn't needed.

"Fuck, Aria. You shouldn't have left and you didn't tell me" she told me, her voice was shaky, she was about to cry.

"Don't you dare cry" I told her before she could start.

She took a deep breath before speaking, "I'm going to miss you, I'll visit soon though" she said.

I shrugged, she couldn't see me.

She wouldn't be visiting until I had a better place, I couldn't let her come see me like this.

Things had been better than this back in town, she wouldn't approve of this living if she saw it.

"Sure, you will" I agreed, there wasn't a need to plan ahead yet.

"You should have told me before leaving though" she told me, her voice had turned back to the firmness it usually was.

I smiled, this was her way of showing she cared.

"I'm sorry" I told her.

We spoke for a while before the call ended. I was glad that I had spoken to her and at least she knew where I was.

I hadn't been sure to call her but now that I had, I didn't regret it.

Jessica was someone I relied on even though I tried to pretend otherwise.

She was my best friend, she understood me and even though things had changed, she hadn't treated me any less unlike any of the other friends I had.

Aria

I wasn't supposed to reusme to work till Monday.

So I had few days to explore the city I was going to live.

It was on a Saturday and I just finished hiking.

It was a popular hiking spot in the town and I decided to check it out.

I walked out, panting heavily while my stomach rumbled.

I was tired and I was also hungry.

I sighed a good truck just at the entrance of the hiking spot and I decided to get something to eat, hopefully it wasn't too expensive.

I walked to the window and a lady popped her head out of the truck.

“What would you like?", She asked.

“A burger and some coffee please" I told her.

She nodded and left to get it while I waited.

A few minutes later, she was back with the bag and I took it.

“How much is it?" I asked.

“That is seventy" she said simply.

My eyes widened at her words, I had the money but that had been more than I had imagined.

There was no choice but to give it to her and I handed the bills to her.

I found a space for me to eat, sitting down to eat and then I took time to reminisce on how easy I got the job.

I really wasn't expecting it to be as easy as that.

I had always imagined myself finding it hard to adjust in the human world.

And then I decided to put my past behind me.

Ryker was my past

Silverwood pack was my past.

I was starting a new life as a human.

I hadn't felt my wolf since the night I got rejected anyways.

It was the first and the last time I heard her speak.

When I had finished eating, I decided I would go buy some clothes especially for work.

I found a clothes store, it didn't look too sophisticated but I didn't need a sophisticated one anyway.

All I needed were good clothes to wear to work.

The lady I met inside was friendly and she helped me choose some appropriate clothes.

I paid and left with my clothes for my apartment.

So much had come together so quickly and easily, as if the stars had been perfectly aligned for me.

I got home after exploring the town and I laid to sleep.

I had to sleep on time to wake up refreshed for the next day.

It was my first day at work.

I had to make a good impression.

My phone alarm buzzed beside me and I opened my eyes.

‘Fucking hell” I muttered the moment I shot my eyes opened.

I had just stared right into the eyes of a rat right on my bed.

I stood up in fear and the rat scurried away.

I hated rats.

“I need to leave this shitty building”, I muttered as I glanced at my phone to check the time.

It was 12 noon. I had really slept in for a long time.

I had just few hours before my first shift.

I took a shower, the bathroom hadn't been what I had expected, it was even more modern than the rest of the building.

I used the hot water, the cold had gotten to me and I couldn't stand cold water as well.

When I had finished, I went back in and dressed.

Since I didn't have work until six in the evening,I decided to step out a bit, hopefully I could make some new friends.

It would cost me some money but at least I had a job that could afford some of it.

I entered a taxi after I had walked a while towards the main road.

“Where to ma'am?" He asked, the driver.

I looked at him, lost at what to say.

“I'm new to the city and I don't know where. I just want to know this area better" I answered truthfully, that was the truth and it sounded better than any other lie.

“Oh, alright then, I have the best place for you" his voice was high, as if in excitement.

I smiled and watched outside the window as we went towards the city, I was excited to see what else this city had to offer.

There were many more people in her than in the other side of town.

We stopped at a spot.

It was a park.

I looked around as I saw people walking in pairs, some holding little children, running round the pack.

The place was bubbly.

I got down from the taxi and asked him for instructions on how to get back, he gave me the directions for going back and then left.

I spent time in the pack just watching people have fun.

And occasionally I'd wonder if my life could be like that.

The perfect mate…which had already rejected me.

A perfect home.

But it wasn't looking like it.

After spending hours looking at people in the park, it was getting dark and I had to get to work.

It had been more than I had expected, so many different people and humans weren't segregated like they had been in my former town.

I liked it here, there was no special Attention to me and even though I would never forget I was rejected and unwanted, I knew I wouldn't have to be reminded of it every day. Here, people didn't care if I was a wolf or not.

Everyone else went about their day, not caring about the next person and it was just what I had wanted.

I didn't see myself regretting any of it.

I walked out of the park, checking the address I had been given when a horn blasted to my left and startled,

I turned and only then did I realize I had walked right onto the busy roads.

And a car was heading towards me so fast, I almost didn't make it out if someone hadn't pulled me aside.

My body froze as I got disorientated for a second.

“Well, you should definitely watch where you go”, the thick voice said.

It was a man.

He had pulled me away just in the nick of time and a rush of gratitude hit me.

"Thank you” I thanked him, looking up to see him clearly.

He was tall, dark and his face had hard edges to him but his voice wasn't as intimidating.

He smiled at me, "That's fine”

He introduced himself to me as Jason. He worked in a law firm around and immediately, I knew he was far above my standard.

He had no scent, I was pretty sure he was human.

"Alright then, I'm going to leave you, you're fine?" He asked.

I nodded, thanking him again.

I had begun to walk away when he stopped me, “hey, could I get your contact? I need a payment for resuing you don't you think?” His voice was light, a joke but I didn't mind.

I gave him my contact and we both went our seperate ways.

I rushed back to my apartment so I could change clothes and get to work.

I chose an appropriate enough clothe, making sure not to forget my ID, I didn't want to seem suspicious as if I had hidden it on purpose.

When I was ready, I left for work, the walk was long and so I went ahead of time, a few minutes to six, I stood at the back door or employees entrance.

When I walked in, there were only two men at the room there.

They both looked at me when I walked in, “what are you doing here?” The shorter man asked.

I showed my ID and said, "I got the new job of waitress”

They gave me a look and I showed them my employee letter.

They let me in when they saw I was telling the truth and I went into the main club.

The place had already been crowded to an extent when I walked in.

Packed with dancing bodies, I headed straight to the office where I had done my interview, he had asked me to come with my ID.

I knocked on his door and waited, he called out to me after a while, “Come in"

I walked in, my head down but enough to see where I was going to.

“Ah, you're here with your ID, good” he took it from me and read through it before handing me another card.

My name was on it and my age, coupled with my position because it made for easy identification whenever I came into work.

“Alright then, that's all. Be careful out there" he told me as I left.

Before I stepped back into the club I took a deep breath, my heart racing and wanting to calm down.

Thankfully, the lady I had seen here yesterday, with the uniform wasn't here. I knew she would be the only issue I would have working here and I would avoid her as much as I could.

Work began as smoothly as it could, everything going good.

I worked the tables, taking orders to those who had ordered in the VIP section, I was shy to go there but with time if became easier to did.

Nothing significant happened, not until the end of my shift, or close to the end anyway.

There a ruckus from the first VIP section were there were a group of men but very few women, I wondered they had fought.

I couldn't go in there, the male employees had to go in to seperate them and with them, a tall woman walked out.