Crestwood Wolfless Omega: He Rejected Her, He Could Not Reject The Bond

Layla's POV "Would you two stop looking at me like that, I'm fine," I muttered, pressing my back against the cold stone wall at the back of The Main Hall. The place was packed, elite dripping in tailored uniforms and silver accents that caught the moonlight like they were born for it. "Fine?" Natasha snorted, leaning one shoulder beside me. "You look like you're plotting to burn this whole damn ceremony down." "Nat, be nice." Lucy slipped her arm through mine. "Layla, ignore the stares. You need to positive about this, I mean we've got the best spot for people watching. Think of it as prime view of all the alpha egos colliding." "You mean prime view of getting stepped on," I kept my voice low as the drums began to rumble. "Look at them up there, daddy's money and wolf blood walking around like they already own the pack. Meanwhile, we're back here with the defective omegas." "Shh," Lucy whispered, squeezing my arm. "We don't want them to hear you. You know how it goes." "Sure we do," Natasha's eyes narrowed at a group of betas laughing too loud near the middle. "But if one more person side eyes us like we're some kind of disease, I might accidentally trip them during drills tomorrow." "Then you get yourself benched for the rest of the year?" I chuckled. "Let's just stick together, keep our heads down and survive another Rite like always. No wolf, no mate, no problem." "You say that, but..." Lucy tilted her head. "what if this year's different? The Moon Goddess sees everything. Even the quiet ones." "Lucy, the quiet ones get overlooked," I shot back, scanning the crowd. "Especially the wolflesss ones. I'm not holding my breath for some magical pull that's never come before." The hall buzzed with energy as more students came in. Expensive cologne mixed with raw magic filled the air. At the front, the alpha heirs stood, broad shoulders, sharp jawlines and that effortless arrogance that came with old blood and bigger bank accounts. Kayson Ashvale stood at the center, his dark hair tousled, making him look as dangerous as he was, his silver eyes scanning the room like he already ruled it. He was Crestwood's golden boy, the future alpha, a walking billionaire wrapped in alpha bloodline. "Stop staring," Natasha caught me looking and elbowed me. "He's pretty but trouble." "I wasn't looking," I lied, heat creeping up my neck. Before Lucy could tease me about it, heels clicked sharply across the floor. Emilia Elridge moved through the crowd, her blonde hair wavy hair bouncing lightly around her shoulders. Her uniform fit her so well, they might as well be glued to her skin, her minions were behind, giggling at nothing. She stopped right in front of our little trio, her lips curled into her signature fake sweet smile. "Well, well, well," She twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger. "The charity cases are all here together, again. How touching, still playing guard dogs for the wolflesss omega, Natasha?" I dug my nails into my palm, the words burned on my tongue. You know Emilia, your insecurities is starting to show. I wanted to say, but I bit them back, hard. One sharp reply to an elite like her and I'd be scrubbing floors for the rest of the semester, or worse. Lucy's fingers tightened on my arm. I stayed silent, staring just past Emilia's shoulder. "Don't you have somewhere better to be, Eldridge?" Natasha stepped forward. "Or do you need audience to feel important?" "Oh, please," Emilia laughed. "I'm just making sure the bottom feeders know their place before the Rite starts. We wouldn't want poor layla here getting any ideas when the Goddess skips her, again." I kept my mouth shut, pressing my lips together. "We're just here to honor the tradition, Emilia." Lucy spoke up softly. "Just like everyone else." "Tradition, right." Emilia rolled her eyes. "Enjoy the back row, leftovers." She spun around and walked off toward the front, her hips swaying like she was on some kind of runway show. The second she was out of sight, Natasha spoke up. "I swear on the Moon, one day I'm..." "She's not worth it." I cut in quietly, exhaling. "We know how the game goes. The Elites talk s**t and we take the shit." "You know you're stronger than all of them combined, Layla." Lucy leaned her head against my shoulder for a second. "Wolf or no wolf. We've got you." "Yeah I do, Lucy." I forced a smile. "No need for your motivational speech." The drums grew louder and Elder Melinda came up the stage, her silver robes catching the moonlight pouring through the massive glass dome. "Cadets of Crestwood!" Her voice moved across the hall. "The Rite of Recognition begins. Let us feel the goddess, let the bonds reveal themselves." A strong wave of energy moved through the hall like a storm, It made everyone gasps as pulls started hitting the front rows. A beta near us clutched his chest, his eyes locking on a she-wolf across the aisle and she gasped, telling everyone exactly what had happened. The thick heavy scents of new bonds filled the air. "See?" I crossed my arms, whispering to Natasha. "It's the same show every year. We'll sneak those pastries after and laugh about the drama after..." The words died in my throat, my arms dropped from my chest. I felt it slammed into me like lightning cracking through the bones. A brutal snap deep in my chest, yanking every nerve alive, heat exploded through my veins, pooling low and sudden between my thighs. My breath froze sharply and my skin was flushed. Across the hall, Kayson's head snapped toward me like a predator scenting a prey, those silver eyes locked dead on mine through the crowd. Shock flashed across his perfect face, then hunger. I felt it echo back through the bond, his surprise, his instant, scorching want. The hall faded to just him and this electric chain snapping tight between us. "Layla?" Natasha grabbed my wrist. "What happened? Why you so hot?" "Oh my goddess...." Lucy's eyes went wide. "Is that him? Kayson?" Kayson took one step forward, then another, the ceremony forgotten. The bond burned hotter, making my knees weak. The intensity of his gaze hit harder than the bond itself. Emilia whipped her head around, her expression twisting into something ugly as she followed his stare straight to me. This wasn't supposed to happen, not to the wolflesss omega at the back. The bond dragged me forward against my will, my body already aching for whatever came next and Kayson looked ready to cross the entire hall and claim it.