Mating Season In Walls Street

Love and Pain.

Nala’s POV.

Excitement bubbles within me as I paddle my bike down the road that leads out of Walls Street and into Malhel Street, the most beautiful place other than the Alpha’s mansion in the whole pack.

Lucian, my boyfriend and mate live across the lake in Malhel Street, but we found a way to always meet at an abandoned store right in the middle of the forest that separates my home from his home. So it’s been a bit easy to see him without having to worry about our class restrictions.

Yes, my family and I, along with almost everyone living in Walls Street are Omega’s, the lowest ranking wolves and deemed to be the weakest. We had no right to go beyond our territory (Wall Street) and punishments were severe.

Lucian and I have no future together, our fate had been sealed at birth but we were going to defy all the odds and be together.

Today, today is the day he is going to introduce me to his family as his mate. My heart keeps beating so fast that it scares me, but the excitement cannot be contained.

I have waited for this moment for a very long time. Finally, after nine good years of constant rejection, I would be able to face his family and prove myself worthy of his love regardless of my class.

Lucian’s father is the beta to the current Alpha, his elder brother is going to be the beta to the next in line to the throne, Prince Killian. His family is also in charge of the best Fashion institute in the region so yes, his family is a really big deal.

Now, you can imagine what they would say when their son brings home an Omega.

But I have a good feeling about this. I just received a letter from the Fashion Institute this morning that I have been accepted to study fashion there. After nine good years of struggling against the rigid caste system and dreaming big, they finally decided to give me a chance.

My bike comes to an abrupt halt in front of the store and I get off. I gently tap my pocket just to be certain the letter is still in there.

It has been my dream to become a fashion icon just like my mother but unlike her, I want to break down the boundaries and build a name for myself far beyond the high walls surrounding Wall Street. This letter is my first step to achieving that.

Other than that, this letter would help me prove to Lucian’s parents that I am worth it. That I can fit into their circle and I belong there.

The fashion institute doesn’t accept Omega’s so that’s the reason for the constant rejections but Lucian, Lucian pulled a few strings and with my good designs, I got in.

Normally, he is always waiting for me outside the store but he isn’t there today, so I push open the door and it squeaks open slowly, the whole place is dusty and dark. I peer into the empty space.

“Hello! Lucian…are you there?” I call out but there’s no response, only the returning sound of my voice echoing around the empty space.

He is not in there and we don’t have much time left. I glance down at my watch and begin to bite down on my nails nervously.

The party would soon end and this is the only opportunity he has to introduce me to his family before he leaves for warrior training tomorrow.

We’re supposed to leave together, the training institute isn’t far from the Warriors Institute. We have planned everything out and I can’t just stand by idly like this.

What if he couldn’t get away and he is expecting me to show up at his house. It’s a bad idea but it’s the only option I’ve got.

He is about to introduce me to them after all.

Without another thought, I pick up my bike and paddle towards the lake. Lucian has taught me how to get past the guards on the other side of the lake and I am a very good swimmer so it isn’t a big deal.

I would just ask him for a change of clothes when I get there, the lake is the only way. And with the letter neatly wrapped in a plastic bag, I jump into the lake and swim across to his house.

The security isn’t as tight as I had expected it to be. As soon as I am out of the lake, I make my way into their garden and from there, I find myself inside the main building. The house is even larger and much more breathtaking than in the pictures he has shown to me.

I could get lost in it. The large chandeliers and the expensive interior decor took my breath away.

It totally slips my mind that I am leaving a trail of water behind me until I walk into a hall containing a large crowd, chattering and feasting.

Lucian said his mom decided to celebrate his acceptance into the Warrior Institute so that explains the festive mood in the house.

I am about to step back out when I bump into a guard and he grips my arm immediately with a heavy frown on his face.

“Servants are not allowed here.” He growls, “And did you just take a bath and forget to dry yourself off or what?” He looks me over but I don’t respond, I am struggling to free myself from his tight grip.

“I am not a servant, I am here for Lucian."

I have not even completed my sentence when he lands a very heavy slap on my face, I stagger backwards and collapse on the floor.

My cheeks sting and a loud ringing sound explodes in my ears.

“That should be Master Lucian to you.” He glares right at me, “What is it with you Omegas and not knowing your place.” He approaches me slowly and that’s when I notice the silence that has taken over the hall.

Everyone is silent and everyone’s eyes are on us. The music has stopped and the murmuring and whispers among the crowd are all I can hear.

A young man steps forward from the crowd and the guard bows before him.

“Sorry for the interruption Master Tyler, I would have this sorted out immediately."

Tyler? This must be him then, this must be the prince’s beta and Lucian’s elder brother.

“Take her somewhere else and sort this out. Today is my brother’s wedding and I won’t allow anything or anyone to ruin it.” Tyler instructs the guard.

I freeze. Did he just say today is his brother’s wedding? As in, my Lucian’s wedding? Lucian is the only brother he has so which brother is he talking about.

“That can’t be possible, I am Lucian’s girlfriend.” I blurted out and Tyler’s eyes slowly turned in my direction. His gaze is so cold and harsh that my breath actually gets stuck in my throat.

“How dare you…” the guard raises his hand to hit me again but Tyler stops him with just a wave of his hand. The guard steps back and Tyler signals for me to get up.

I manage to get up on my feet even though I am trembling really hard and my legs now feel like jelly underneath me. Every single eye in the hall is on me.

“What did you just say?” Tyler asks with a raised brow and an amused glint in his eyes.

I don’t know how but I open my mouth and the words actually come out, “I am his girlfriend.” I repeat confidently.

Tyler bursts out laughing and so did everyone in the hall including the guard. What is so funny? Why are they laughing? I glance around in confusion.

“Oh am so sorry, pardon my manners. It’s really nice to meet you. I am Tyler, his elder brother and you must be one of those delusional omegas he messes around with.” A sly grin stretches his lips.

He looks up behind me and smiles broadly, “There he is. The man of the hour.”

Lucian’s scent fills my nostrils and my instincts kick in instantly. He is behind me, I can feel it.

I turn around slowly and I sigh in relief when his cheerful and handsome face comes into view. I am so happy that he is here to clear the air and let his brother know that he is wrong. I open my mouth to speak to him but the words get stuck in my throat when the beautiful, dark-haired woman beside him comes into view.

She has her hand wrapped around his arm and the wedding ring on her finger has such a large diamond on it that it is practically impossible to not see it.

My heart skips a beat and a sharp pain cuts through my chest. I look up at Lucian’s face and I can’t recognize him anymore. His eyes are now dark and void of the emotions I saw all those days we spent together.

“What are you doing here?” His voice is even much colder than his brother’s and I can’t believe how someone could change this much.

How can he be this different from the guy I meet every day in front of the store.

“I…I…” I will myself to say something but I am speechless.

“Did you really think that I would give up everything to be with a lowly Omega?” He scoffs and turns to the guard, “Take this thing off the premises.”

“Wait! But I am your mate.” I cry out. I just can’t believe that Lucian would treat me this way, “Is this because of your family? Are they forcing you to say this?”

That must be it, his family must be responsible for this. This isn’t the Lucian I know.

He takes a step closer to me and whispers, “You were never my mate Nala. You were just one of those naive Omegas desperate to dig their claws into a son of the upper class and escape the reality of their wretched lives.”

“It was so easy to get you to open your legs now, wasn’t it Nala.”

I look up at him sharply, disbelief evident in my expression.

“But just in case you don’t get the message, then I would break it down for you. I, Lucian Lockwood reject you Nala Gonzalo as my mate.”

If there is any pain that accompanies the rejection of a mate, then I probably can’t feel it because the emotional pain that took hold of me immediately after Lucian said those words to me, is much more painful than anything else.

“Time to go bitch.” The guard grabs me by the hair and drags me out of the hall.

“No! No! No!” I yell at the top of my lungs but no one pays any attention to me. “Lucian, wait, I got the…”

Just as the guard drags me out, the last thing I see is Lucian kissing his bride and everyone clapping and smiling cheerfully.

They all belong there except for me.

The tears flow down my cheeks effortlessly. I don’t fight the guard anymore, I just let him drag me out and toss me back into the lake.

“Go back the way you came, you swine.”

I don’t try to swim, I don’t fight it. I want to end it right there and then. The bliss of oblivion and the fact that I won’t be able to feel this pain anymore if I let go of everything and drown is so tempting.

I close my eyes.

Suddenly I feel someone’s arms around me, my eyes fly open immediately and an unfamiliar face comes into view, right before everything becomes dark.