Moon blooded: The Omega's Rise

Elinor’s Point of View I wasn’t meant to be seen. Omegas like me belonged in shadows, tucked away in packhouse basements where our existence wouldn’t offend anyone’s pride. Yet as I tossed and turned on my bed, sweating through my nightgown in the suffocating heat of the basement which was usually cold all year round, I began to think of sneaking out. Within seconds, I made my decision to just get a little air. Sitting up, I spared a glance at the quarter moon through the small window above my bed as I wiped the sweat from my forehead and got out of bed. I threw a light shawl around my shoulders and tiptoed to my room door here in the basement. The door creaked as I opened and closed it again before going upstairs. The pack house was as silent as usual at this time of the night because everyone was asleep. I rushed to the back door of the pack house and stepped out into the freezing night, the cold wind embracing my heated body. I exhaled and strode away from the pack house with all its black windows as the stillness wrapped itself around me like a blanket. As I walked further away to my usual spot, I realized the usual night sounds of crickets chirping and owls hooting were not there. The world was silent. My fists clenched at my shawl a little harder as I edged towards the trees. I drew in deep breaths, trying to calm myself down, but I froze as a strange scent lingered in the air, and made the hairs on my arms rise. With the smell, came low voices and footsteps. I had turned at the sound and seen five of the pack warriors coming out from behind the line of trees with their eyes burning in the darkness. They were not welcoming-looking, and my body tensed, my wolf growling deep at the back of my head. I should have turned around. It was too late. What's an omega like you doing out here alone?" One of them said, his voice full of amusement. My pulse pounded in my ears. I backed away. "I—I just wanted some fresh air." The tallest one tilted his head, his grin widening. "Fresh air? In the middle of the woods?" I took a step back, my breathing quick, but they moved nearer. The atmosphere around us thickened, as if fog had rolled in. I imagined that something was going to go horribly awry and nobody else would be present to help save me. My heart thudded in my ears as I looked them up and down and noticed I could not fight them, not by myself at least. “You shouldn’t be wandering alone.” Another said, his tone mockingly sweet. “Bad things happen at night.” “Stay back.” I tried to say, but my voice cracked and barely rose above a whisper. They laughed. One lunged. I dodged, my feet flying as panic overtook reason. Branches slapped at my skin as I tore through the forest with my lungs burning and my legs aching. I ran between the trees and ignored the branches which lashed at my skin. I didn't look back—I couldn’t out of fear of being able to see them coming behind me. However, I could hear their footsteps behind me becoming louder with each passing second. I wasn’t strong enough to fight them as I hadn’t been trained to fight, but they on the other hand were trained, seasoned warriors. Panic clawed in my throat as I slowly realized I was going to die out here. And then, boom! I crashed into something solid. Strong arms caught me before I could hit the ground, and held me steady. I gasped for breath as I began to struggle out of the hold. However when I looked up, I froze. I blinked severally as I couldn’t believe who it was, and my heart raced as I stared into the eyes of the familiar icy blue eyes of Lucian Blackthorne, the Alpha. “Alpha Lucian.” I gasped and immediately threw my head in front of me in a bow. “Elinor. Raise your head.” I heard him say as he let go of me. I swallowed, hesitating slightly before obeying. Behind me, the warriors skidded to a stop. Turning to look at them, I saw their smug grins had vanished. “What exactly do you five think you’re doing?” Lucian’s tone was as cold as ice, his gaze directly on the warriors. “Alpha, we were—” “We just thought—” “We saw someone out here and thought it was a rogue or something.” Their excuses tangled over each other like a pack of frightened pups. “Leave.” Lucian growled in a very authoritative tone. They all stopped talking. I glanced back at them subtly. One looked like he might protest—until Lucian growled, low and lethal. The sound sent a shiver down my spine, and without another word, they all lowered their heads and slunk into the trees. Lucian’s gaze fell back on me. “Are you hurt?” "No, no, I'm not.” I shook my head quickly. “Thank you, Alpha." Lucian raised a brow at me like he didn’t believe me and then looked at the forest around before returning his gaze to me. "What were you doing out here?" "I couldn't sleep." I admitted. “I come out sometimes when I'm not able to sleep. The air helps." He stared at me for a second and then gave a short nod. "Then, I suppose we should take a walk." He said with a small smile that sent a strange warmth through me. “Let’s walk.” I hesitated. Being alone with Lucian was dangerous. Not because he’d hurt me—but because my heart didn’t stand a chance. Still, I found myself walking beside him, a mix of emotions as we walked together side by side. The only sound between us was the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. Lucian had always watched me—but never spoken to me. Not really. A nod here, a stare there. Nothing I could ever read clearly, though sometimes, I wondered if he saw something in me others didn’t. My heart still raced from before, but having Lucian at my side felt safe, the same as he always did when he defended me against pack members in the past. He had forever fascinated me, and now here he was, next to me. We walked farther than I realized, the pack house long behind us, until we reached the edge of the woods. A cave yawned in the shadows. “It’s safe here.” He said softly before entering it. I paused for a moment before I nodded and trailed after him. The cave was small, hardly space for both of us, the coolness a pleasant change from the heat outside, and the walls were smooth beneath my fingers. Lucian leaned back against a rock, his gaze on me, and I suddenly felt shy. “I like you.” I blinked and my eyes slowly drifted onto his face as I wasn't certain if I had heard correctly. Perhaps, it had to be the wind outside fooling my ears. "Did you say something, Alpha?" I inquired. He stared at me for a moment before he gradually came closer to me. The nearer he came, the harder my heart beat in my chest. "I said, I like you, Elinor." This time, it was clear and there was no mistaking it. He had said it. My heart slammed against my ribs as I thought I was imagining things. “You’re joking.” I murmured. “I’m not.” Heat rushed to my cheeks and I held my shawl tighter. “I—” “You’re nervous.” His lips twitched slightly, like he was amused. I shook my head quickly. “I’m not.” “You are.” He stepped even closer, and his woodsy scent wrapped around me. Lucian’s eyes darkened as he looked at me, like he saw something he hadn’t expected. “You smell… different tonight.” He put up his hands and the second his fingers grazed my cheek, I inhaled sharply. “We shouldn’t…” I whispered, trembling. “You’re the Alpha. I’m… nothing.” He cupped my cheek gently. “You’re not nothing to me.” And somehow, I believed him as he leaned down and immediately captured my lips with his. I was rigid for a moment. Then gradually, I started moving my lips on his. With the deepening of the kiss, his hands caressed my body, and sent shivers down me. “We shouldn’t… we really shouldn’t.” The logical part of me tried its best to stir up in me once again as I pulled back. “Someone might see you with an omega.” He however held me, preventing me from moving further from him and began trailing kisses down my neck. A soft moan escaped my lips. "No one will see us." He whispered on my skin before pulling away for a second and looking at me with those mesmerizing blue eyes of his. "And even if they did, I don't care." His words awakened something in me and before I could say another thing, his lips were back on my neck as his hands slid under my clothes. His touch made me dizzy, and my body responded to him in ways I did not expect causing the resistance I had against him to stop. So, when his hands drew down my pajamas, I did not fight it. I let him.