The Alpha's Omega Slave

THE FIRST NIGHT

The night was silent. Too silent.

Aria lay on the cold stone floor of her room, staring at the ceiling. The chain had been removed hours ago, but she still felt its weight on her wrist. A phantom weight that wouldn’t disappear.

The mark on her skin glowed faintly in the darkness. A constant reminder of the bond she never wanted.

I should sleep, she thought. I need to be strong for tomorrow.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her father’s body on the ground. Saw her mother’s blood. Saw the rogues with their yellow eyes and sharp teeth.

And she saw Kael.

His silver eyes. His scarred chest. The way he looked at her like she was both his greatest weakness and his greatest threat.

Aria sat up with a gasp.

The door opened without a sound.

Kael stood in the doorway, silhouette dark against the torchlight from the hallway. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. Again.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Aria said, voice hoarse from disuse.

“I couldn’t sleep either,” Kael replied.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Aria pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them like it could protect her from him. “Get out.”

Kael didn’t move. “The bond is keeping us both awake. It won’t let us rest until we acknowledge it.”

Aria laughed without humor. “I’m not acknowledging anything.”

Kael crossed the room slowly and sat on the edge of the bed. Not too close. Not too far.

“The first night after the bond forms is the hardest,” he said quietly. “The pain is worst. The pull is strongest.”

Aria stared at him. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared of you.”

“No,” Kael said. “You’re scared of what you feel for me.”

Aria’s heart stopped.

Kael looked at her then. Really looked. And for the first time, Aria saw past the Alpha mask. Saw the exhaustion in his eyes. Saw the pain he was hiding.

“I don’t want this either,” he admitted. “I’ve spent years building walls around myself. Years making sure no one could get close. And then the bond chooses you. A human. A girl who hates me.”

Aria’s throat tightened. “Why me?”

“Fate doesn’t ask permission.”

Silence stretched between them. Heavy. Thick.

The mark on Aria’s wrist pulsed, and she winced.

Kael noticed immediately. “It hurts, doesn’t it?”

Aria nodded, unable to lie. “Like fire.”

Kael stood up and walked to her. Slowly. Carefully. Like he was approaching a wild animal that might bite.

He crouched in front of her and reached out his hand.

Aria flinched but didn’t pull away.

“May I?” he asked quietly.

Aria stared at his hand. At the scars on his knuckles. At the gentle way he was asking permission.

She nodded.

Kael’s fingers brushed over the glowing mark on her wrist.

Heat exploded through Aria’s body, and she gasped. The pain intensified for a second, then slowly began to fade.

The mark’s glow dimmed slightly.

Aria looked up at Kael in shock. “What did you do?”

“I eased the pain,” Kael said simply. “The bond responds to touch. To acceptance.”

Aria pulled her hand back. “I’m not accepting anything.”

Kael smiled for the first time. It was small. Sad. But real.

“Not yet,” he said. “But you will.”

He stood up and walked toward the door.

Aria watched him go. “Kael?”

He stopped and looked back.

“Thank you,” Aria said quietly.

Kael nodded once and left without another word.

Aria lay back down on the bed. The pain in her wrist was gone. The mark was still glowing, but it was soft now. Warm instead of burning.

For the first time since she arrived, Aria closed her eyes and slept.

And she didn’t dream of blood.

She dreamed of silver eyes.