Bound by Destiny: The Omega's truimph

Chapter 4 Beneath the Surface

Aria’s POV

Ahead the pack house loomed, it's dark stone walls reflecting the moonlight like a menacing fortification. As I ran over the woods, my feet hammered into the ground and my heart thumping in my chest. Liam had been far off for days, and the whispers of war got louder. Now I knew something was dreadfully wrong, Selene's nasty remarks haunting me and the obvious tension in the air.

Breath coming in shallow gasps, I skidded to stop just outside the pack house. Warriors with icy, keen eyes stood at attention. Since the tie had been exposed, I hadn't been this near to the pack's core. I could feel their glances, their judgment weighty in the air.

I lacked time to think about it, though. Not yet.

I pushed forward, across the large, open hall from the huge oak doors. I followed the murmur of heated voices coming from the council room, my pulse increasing with every step.

Liam was there, staring hard and unreadable from the head of the long table. Alpha Drax, his father, sat close by, his face contorted with frustration; the council members lined the room, each of them sporting the same slightly subdued contempt.

Not wishing to draw attention to myself, I stayed on the edge of the room, but Liam's eyes caught me practically right away. Something fluttered in his eyes—surprise, maybe relief—but it vanished as rapidly as it had shown.

He murmured, his voice tight, "Aria." "What are you working on here?

I hesitated, looking at the council. "I heard... something was under way. I wanted to be of service.

His father laughed, the sound slicing across the suspense like a razor. Assistance? You too? He stood, the room shadowed by his tall body. "Girl, this is a question of war. What possible contribution may an Omega make?

Though I stammered at his sharp comments, I forced myself to meet his stare. Hearing the same things all my life, I was reminded of my place at the bottom of the pack's hierarchy. Still, I was not going to back off. Not just now.

I said, my voice firm, "I may be an Omega," but "I'm part of this pack too."

The weight of my remarks hung in the room as stillness descended. Though Liam's eyes never left mine, I could sense the council's contempt and condemnation.

He moved forward, his face relaxing only slightly. "Aria, Alaric's invasions come under our purview. This is a risk. I cannot——"

"You can't keep pushing me away, Liam," I said, my voice harder than I felt. "We are bonded." I participate in this whether or not you enjoy it. I cannot sit by and watch everything collapse.

His jaw closed and I could sense turmoil in his eyes. Though he couldn't ignore the reality, he sought to shield me from the threats of the pack's mounting strife with Alaric. Fate bound us; nothing could be done to change that but constant pushing away.

One of the council members, an older gray-haired wolf called Callen, cleared his throat before he could answer. " Alpha, if I may," he said, his voice wary. "More than enough disturbance in the pack has come from your relationship with Aria." Our attention should be on Alaric and his army, the actual menace here.

"I am focused on the threat," Liam said, his voice tinged with irritation. Still, that does not alter the tie. Real and not going away is what it is.

Callen glanced at the other council members then turned back to Liam. "Then maybe it's time we give it another thought," he replied gently. "We cannot afford to remain split; Alaric's armies are getting stronger daily. If you really commit to Aria, the pack must view her as your equal—that of the future Luna.

At his words, my breath seized in my throat. The Luna of the future? Me? I had never let myself consider that prospect at all. It was unreal. The pack has never known an Omega as their Luna. How could I ever occupy that position?

Liam's gaze darted to mine, looking for something—probably comfort. But I was not sure what to say. The weight of what it would mean, the expectations, the scrutiny—was unknown if I could bear. However, I also realized that we would never be able to withstand the approaching storm if we did not stand together or show the pack that our relationship was unshakable.

"I...I hesitated; my head was racing. "I'm not sure if—”

"We don't have time for doubt," Liam remarked, his voice slicing through my uncertainty. Alaric is marching into our domain. He is trying our capacity. Should we delay, we might lose everything.

I took a hard gulp, the weight of the circumstances covering me like a thick mantle. This went beyond simply Liam and me now. It is related to survival and the pack.

My voice steadying, I answered at last, "I'm with you." " Whatever it takes."

Liam's face relaxed, and for the first time in days I sensed hope flickering in his eyes. He moved forward, his palm lightly brushing mine for a minute before he turned back toward the council.

"We have to get ready," he continued, his voice firm. "Alaric is coming; we cannot afford to be surprised."

Though I could still feel the discomfort in the room, the council mumbled in agreement. Still unsure where they were, I did not inspire their confidence. For now, though, that was not relevant. The important thing was that Liam and I agreed.

I glanced at Liam as the council members started to leave the room in readiness for the unavoidable confrontation with Alaric's army. He appeared tired, obviously under the weight of leadership. Though I wanted to get in touch to provide him some sort of consolation, I wasn't sure whether he would welcome it.

"Liam," I whispered gently, guiding his focus back to me. "I know this is not simple. For both of us. But we will get through it. Overall.

He nodded, but I could see doubt remaining in his eyes. "It's not just the pack Aria is worried about," he said softly. It's Alaric. He won't stop till he has what he is after.

And what is his desired outcome? Though I already knew the answer, I asked.

Liam's mouth constricted. "Power" Control is He believes you are the key to weakening us as he wants to do just that.

The idea made my spine shingle. Though everything was different now, I had never thought of myself as significant enough to be a target. I was not only an Omega now. Being Liam's friend made me a hazard to Alaric's goals.

"We won't let him win," I shouted, my voice strong despite the terror chewing at the margins of my will.

Liam stared at me, his blue eyes mixed with both thanks and uncertainty. "I hope you're right," he murmured quietly.

The night was silent, abnormally quiet as I stood by the pack house alone, the weight of the day squarely on my shoulders. The impression that everything was spiraling out of control and that my efforts would not be sufficient to stop the approaching storm persisted.

Leading the pack would be challenging, I had always known, but I had never imagined it would be like juggling the problems of being mated to an Omega with the protection of my people. Now, with Alaric straining our boundaries and Selene's treachery lurking just under the surface, it felt like I was battling on all sides.

The toughest thing was, though, the relationship with Aria.

I couldn't ignore what I felt for her, the tug between us, the way she pushed me in directions no one else had. I could not, however, overlook the reality of the circumstances either. As long as I was with her, the pack mistrusted both me and her. And Alaric knew it as well. He was guiding us into the brink utilizing that uncertainty to his use.

Footfall broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see Aria walking forward. She seemed unsure, her eyes darting about me as though she didn't know what she would find.

She paused a few steps away and whispered gently, "I didn't mean to interrupt." "I just wanted to check on you.

Though it fell short of my eyes, I gave a little smile. "I'm good."

She appeared unconvinced. You know, you do not have to accomplish this by yourself.

Her comments really connected with me, a vulnerability I wasn't sure I was ready for. I had spent my whole life developing the strength and leadership the pack required. But suddenly, with everything on the line, I understood that strength meant not excluding anyone.

I knew, I whispered softly, approaching her. And I apologize if I have been driving you away. It's simply... difficult.

Aria's gaze softened, and she stretched out with her palm gliding across mine. "We'll arrange.