THE ROYAL PRINCE'S CLAIM

THE ROYAL PRINCE’S CLAIM. 1- “The Abused Omega”. Aurora Black. “By the verdict of the Alpha King, everyone here shall be executed! No soul, young or adult shall be spared, for death follows that who dares to go against the King’s wishes!” That familiar, yet strange voice came yet again, booming. There was something about it that make one’s stomach churn, and no, it wasn’t just regarding the news delivered. That news was like arrows getting struck into one’s heart, deep down, letting its poison dig deep. The unsettling feeling was merely a topping to the dreadful news. Following the announcement, was nothing but a blur of people running away, blood being shed, the air heavy with the stench of blood and death. Death, dear old friend that one cannot run away from no matter how he tries, held them in its grip, relishing in seeing the life fading from their orbs. Screams, horrified screams came. The sounds collectively nothing but one’s horror. Everything felt as though it was swirling, the whole world is, unrelenting to one’s pain. Thumps on the ground as they ran fast for their lives, cries from children as their lives were taken, and they were forced to depart from their parents. It was a nightmare. A bloody, horrific, nightmare. Hands clasped onto mine, snapping me out of the whirlwind upon which I found myself amidst the chaos. Taking in a sharp breath, I snapped my gaze to the warm hands holding onto mine, appalled by the amount of blood now donning my arm…my body. My eyes shakily flicked to the owner of the hand, and my heart broke a thousand pieces more than it already was. “Aurora.” She breathed out shakily, her breath nearly about to be knocked out. Her eyes were hooded, and bloodshot red. Her grip around my hand was weak, yet strong at the same time. She was covered in blood as well, seemingly battered even. I wasn’t sure if the bloody stench is from her or the surrounding, but it was too much, it made my head spin. “Aurora.” She called out again fondly, her lips forming a smile that seemed to take much of her strength. If I thought my heart broke before, then at that moment, it was in smithereens impossible to pick up. The scene felt so familiar, and yet, something felt amiss. Like I’m missing something. I felt attached to it still, like there’s an invisible rope pulling me back into that very moment. I felt every bit of it. The immeasurable pain, the choking fear, and something else I couldn’t point a finger at. I stared at that woman, trying to pin that face. Yet, no matter how hard I try, I couldn’t decipher much about it. Still, my heart ached from the way she stared at me, and I felt this urge to wrap her in my arms and cradle her. “My child.” My mother. She has to be. She shakily reached out her hand, resting it on the side of my face. “My beautiful child.” She sobbed, still trying to hold up that comforting smile. “There’s something you should know…” I watched her lips move, as she uttered that which I apparently need to be aware of, but it doesn’t register in my mind. Despite how many times I try to decipher what exactly it is she told me in that moment, I couldn’t. It was muffled by the horrific screams in the background, coupled with howls of wolves. It wasn’t until she was done speaking that I heard another voice, clearly this time around. “Over there!” Declared a voice, and when I whipped my head around, I spotted a man a little far ahead. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize his uniform as that of the royal soldiers that invaded my home and declared death upon us all. “Kill those women!” My heart sunk the moment he said it. I felt tongue-tied, and rooted to my position. I couldn’t respond, nor could I react. I felt stupid even for being in such position. From the corner of my eyes, I saw a huge wolf approach us, but it wasn’t running. It took haunting steps, like a confident predator approaching its weak prey, knowing it has the prey cornered. He snarled, his razor sharp fangs on display. That hand around my arm pushed me to the side, urging me away. I looked at my mother, seeing a fierce look overtake her features as she met my gaze yet again. “Run, Amara.” She stated firmly. “Run as fast as you can. Don’t stop. Don’t ever look back. No matter what, run far away, Aurora.” She offered me a small nod, before she crouched low, facing the wolf, preparing to fight till her dying breath so it seemed. For the first time, I felt my mouth part, and a single word came. “Ma…” My voice broke, and warm tears cascade down my face. I wanted to stay, and fight with her. I felt as though that’s what’s required of me, what I should’ve done. And yet, like a coward, against that voice telling me otherwise, I turned around and ran. I didn’t turn around, even when I heard the toe-curling screams get louder, and a stab like feeling in my heart that no matter how much I tried to deny, was the tie between I and my mothered being severed as the life in her got drained out. As she died. I still didn’t turn around. My tears streamed down my face like waterworks, and my feet ache from running that much. Somehow, I managed to make it out of the lands without drawing anyone’s attention to me. Crossing no man’s land on aching limbs, and surviving the horrors of being rouge. I was on the very brink of death itself that made me wish I had simply died along with my people. Then, it happened. I stumbled upon a pack’s land, the pack where I seek abode, and I was taken in. Just not in the way I wished to be. Water came splashing, drenching me and painfully yanking me away from the dream I’ve had one too many times. Instead of that blood stench that overpowered my senses in that vivid dream, I was welcomed by the stench of the place I called my room—and from me, no doubt. I gasped, taking in deep breaths to recover from the sudden attack. My heart raced, and my mind struggled to put together everything as I came back to reality. “Get up, Mutt!” A hoarse, too familiar voice that had graced my morning for years greeted, in a tone that only changed when laced with mischief and malicious intentions. Swallowing thickly, I raised my head up, resting it on Derek, the wolf in charge of handling Omegas. He’s actually the Delta of the pack, but I believe he’s fonder of attacking and making the lives of those weak rather than pack duties. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen him get involved in pack duties and I’d still have a few fingers remaining. I hastily got on my feet, although wincing from the abrupt action and from the ache of the beatings I’d received the night before. My ribs hurt like hell with every breath I take, evidence of it being broken for the nth time. I’ve lost count already. You’ll eventually become that way when every day is like constantly living in hell. I hung my head low, so as to not meet his gaze directly. He hates it when one does that, especially not from someone of the same level as me. That will earn more dreadful events than that which normally occurs in a day. “Good morning, Delta Derek.” I greeted, keeping my voice low with my hands crossed in front of me. It’s a tradition sort of that he set up. Every morning is to be accompanied with a greeting, even if your vocal cords are strained, you still have to utter that greeting else he’d make your mornings hellish. You can say he reveres in feeling superior. His hand reached out, holding my chin in a tight grip with his thumb rubbed circles on my cheek. I felt appalled. I wanted to recoil from his touch. It wasn’t just him; I feel disgusted by every single one of them that lays their hands on me…on us. They call us mutts and yet, they never keep their hands to themselves around us. They use, and discard us as they please. My hands curled by the side, my eyes flicking close as I tried so hard to refrain from recoiling away from his touch despite every nerve in my being screaming so. I dare not, else I wouldn’t leave the cell they call our ‘rooms’. It’s prison really, with pale, dirty walls that no doubt has the blood of countless people staining it. You can go in, but there’s no escaping when they day ends. The day you leave the cells permanently, rest assure, you’re nothing but a pile of dead body. “My morning is hellish enough, and perhaps, a round with you would make it better…” He grumbled under his breath, his hold around my chin tightening. My stomach churned, my skin feeling as though insects were crawling on it by the mere thought of being in his arms again. I could puke at the thought, and I don’t have much in my stomach to say that. He roughly let go of my chin, making me take a few steps back from the strength that accompanied the action—the strength that comes with being a wolf. Every little action leaves a greater impact on people like I. “…we don’t have the time for that so get moving, we have a big day ahead.” He turned around, marching out of the cell with me in tow. He didn’t have to say it; I knew the drill. The moment I stepped out of the cell, I was lost in the sea of others like me coming out as well, to prepare for the day. There were quite a lot of us, some captives from lands conquered by the pack and deemed worthless, some rouges that weren’t executed, some are pack members without wolves and a few others I have no idea come from where. I kept to myself, having no interactions for I learned there’s no such thing as keeping meaningless relationship like friendships in a place like this where any day could be your last. Stepping into the pack lands—for we stay at a place a bit secluded away from them so as to not ruin their days as they claim, we were nothing but rows of torn, raggedy clothes and stinking bodied that could be scented a mile away thanks to werewolf heightened senses. I kept my head low, refusing to lift my gaze even as I heard the sound of pack members come as we approach where they are. Some threw snarky remarks, a few cursed, and others I’d learnt to tune out because paying heed to them wouldn’t do me any good. However, every single day I’m forced to live through this, I couldn’t help but wish I could go back to that moment in my dreams. I would’ve stayed, and rather died there with my pack than to keep living this pathetic life I’m living. It’s been eight years since I came into the pack lands of NightWind, one of the strongest packs in the East, and that much years since I’d been taken captive and forced to live like a slave. I wouldn’t have been bothered if I were merely an Omega. But, I’m a wolfless omega. That became obvious two years ago when I turned eighteen and all my hopes of getting my own wolf and running away disappeared into thin air. And since then, I’d lived every single day praying for my death because my life is worthless. I had nothing to live for. Till that very day when I heard a statement I had no idea would change my life forever. “The Prince will be coming to NightWind to seek his mate, and the Alpha’s son will be returning as well.” I thought that would have nothing to do with me, that it would not make any difference for those two men to make an appearance in my life. However, as we arrived at the pack house, and came to a stop outside as everyone else welcomed the Alpha’s son for his return from his three years long trip, an overwhelming scent filled the air, capturing my attention. I made the mistake of looking up, and looking around, trying to locate the source of the scent. My line of sight followed the source of the scent, and when my gaze fell on it, my lips parted as his gaze met mine as well. The Alpha’s son held my gaze, and though I have no wolf and could not hear a thing that others do in that moment, I understood what it meant judging from the look on his face. Mate…the Alpha’s son, Killian, is my mate. My breath got hitched in my throat, unaware of what exactly to do as he held my gaze, and everyone else disappeared. And so, everything began to change, including my life that shifted upon its axis, as I got thrown into a life where not a single day came without a something happening. It changed everything I’d ever known, forever. But, the heart is a fickle thing isn’t it. When torn between a battle of affection and hatred, it’s bound to take one side. I wasn’t prepared for that which mine took.