The Omega He Rejected, The Luna He Could Not Forget

"Get up!" Serena shouted.

The kick landed hard on my ribs.

A gasp escaped my lips as I rolled across the pavement outside Silver Crest's training grounds.

Laughter erupted around me.

"Look at her," one warrior mocked.

"So pathetic," another pack member sneered.

"She can barely stand for herself," someone else added.

"How is she even a wolf?" a female wolf laughed.

My hands trembled as I pushed myself upright.

The afternoon sun beat down on the training field,dozens of pack members surrounded us,some were warriors,others were ordinary wolves.

None of them looked surprised because this wasn't unusual.

This was my life,standing in front of me was Serena Thornfield.

Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders as she stared down at me with obvious disgust.

She folded her arms. "You dropped the supplies again," Serena said coldly.

My gaze fell to the boxes scattered on the ground.

"They were too heavy," I admitted.

Serena laughed. "Too heavy?" she repeated mockingly.

The crowd laughed with her.

"You hear that?" Serena asked the spectators. "Our precious Omega thinks that's an excuse."

I lowered my eyes,looking directly at stronger wolves often inviting trouble.

Serena stepped closer,her expensive perfume reached me.

"You're embarrassing," Serena said.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Sorry?" Serena scoffed. "You're always sorry."

She shoved me and I stumbled backward. Another shove followed.

My balance finally gave out.

I hit the pavement hard,the crowd erupted with laughter again.

Some wolves pulled out their phones.

"Leave her alone," a familiar voice demanded.

My best friend Selina pushed through the crowd.

Her curly brown hair bounced as she hurried toward us.

"That's enough, Serena!" Selina said firmly.

Serena rolled her eyes.

"Oh look," Serena drawled. "The Omega healer is here."

Selina positioned herself between us.

"Go find someone else to torment," Selina snapped.

Everyone knew Serena hated being challenged,especially by another Omega.

Serena tilted her head. "You seem brave today," Serena said.

"I'm tired of watching you bully her," Selina replied.

My chest tightened because Selina was risking too much.

Serena's smile vanished. "Careful," Serena warned.

For a moment, I thought they might actually fight,then a deep voice echoed across the training grounds.

"What is going on here?" the voice demanded.

The crowd instantly parted.

Alpha Ragnar,the training grounds became completely silent.

Ragnar Blackthorne strode toward us.

His black hair was neatly styled,his broad shoulders filled the space around him,cold grey eyes surveyed the crowd.

I quickly dropped to my knees,Ragnar stopped in front of us.

His gaze swept over the scattered boxes.

His eyes met mine,then they moved away.

"What happened?" Ragnar asked.

Nobody answered,his expression hardened.

"I asked a question!" Ragnar said.

Serena stepped forward.

"Aurelia dropped important supplies," Serena explained.

"She was careless."

It was a lie and everyone knew it.

The boxes had been overloaded but nobody would contradict Serena.

Ragnar looked at me.

"Is that true?" Ragnar asked.

This was my chance,I could explain and tell him what happened.

But years of humiliation wrapped around my voice.

"Y-yes, Alpha," I whispered.

Beside me, Selina looked horrified.

"Aurelia..." Selina started.

I quickly shook my head,please don't.

Ragnar's face remained unreadable.

"Then clean it up," Ragnar ordered.

"Yes, Alpha," I said quietly. Ragnar turned away then paused without looking back, he spoke.

"Weakness is not an excuse for failure," Ragnar said coldly.

"Do better."

He walked away.

Conversations resumed and Serena smirked.

"You heard the Alpha," Serena said.

She leaned closer.

"So pathetic."

Then she followed Ragnar.

I remained frozen.

Selina crouched beside me.

"You should have told him the truth," Selina said.

"It wouldn't matter," I replied bitterly.

"It would matter," Selina insisted.

I shook my head."No," I said.

My eyes followed Ragnar's retreating figure.

"Not for someone like me."

Hours later, after finishing every task Serena assigned, I finally left the training grounds.

The sky had turned orange,every muscle in my body ached.

All I wanted was sleep. "Aurelia."

I froze and slowly turned around.

Luna Helena Blackthorne stood beside her vehicle.

One of the few people who never treated me like garbage.

"Good evening, Luna," I greeted respectfully.

Helena studied my face.

"You look exhausted," Helena said.

I forced a smile. "I'm fine."

Luna raised an eyebrow.

"That was a terrible lie," Helena replied.

I looked away, her gaze landed on my arm.

The skin torn earlier during my fall,blood stained my sleeve.

Helena frowned. "You need treatment," Helena said.

"It's nothing," I replied.

Ignoring my protest, Helena gently lifted my arm.

A strange look crossed her face.

"What is it?" I asked.

Helena continued staring at the wound.

It looked smaller,almost healed and confusion flickered in her eyes.

"If it gets worse, come see me," Helena said softly.

"Thank you, Luna," I replied.

Helena smiled.

She climbed into her SUV and drove away.

I watched her leave.

One of the only people in Silver Crest who ever treated me like a human being.

The walk back to the servants' quarters felt longer than usual.

Darkness slowly settled over the territory. Distant howls echoed through the air,usually, the sound comforted me.

Tonight it didn't because tomorrow marked the beginning of preparations for the annual Mating Ceremony.

The ceremony every unmated wolf dreamed about,the ceremony that could change everything or destroy everything.

For years, I imagined finding my mate,someone who would finally see me,someone who wouldn't care about ranks,who wouldn't see weakness when they looked at me.

Maybe destiny had someone waiting for me or maybe it didn't.

I pushed open the door to my room.

The small space was empty.

I sat on the edge of my bed, and I noticed something.

A folded envelope,my name was written across it.

Aurelia Nightbane,confusion filled me.

Nobody wrote letters to me. Slowly, I unfolded the paper.

A single sentence was written inside.

The handwriting was unfamiliar but the message made the blood drain from my face.

"The Mating Ceremony will reveal a truth Silver Crest has buried for twenty-two years... and someone is willing to kill to keep it hidden."