Rescued by the Lycan King

I stood in front of the mirror, my heart beating as I adjusted the dress I’d borrowed from my cousin, Maya. It was all I owned: a light blue dress that fit my body a little too snugly. After my parents perished in that horrific accident years ago, my life had turned for the worse. My aunt, Clara, took me in, but she never let me forget that I was an inconvenience, a weak, undesirable Omega. But Maya seemed different to me. The only person who had ever shown me kindness and who didn't treat me with the same callous disregard as her mother was her. She always smiled at me and gave me the impression that she was on my side. I had trusted, no, believed, that she cared. Something about her smile tonight made me uncomfortable. It wasn’t the warmth I was familiar with. It felt... off. "Stop fidgeting, Aria. Maya's tone was a bit harsh. She took her comb tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, and stepped back, admiring her work. I murmured, "Thanks," but I had a bad feeling that something wasn't right. I have to get over it. It was meant to be the night my life changed, the night Carter, my partner, would at last take me back. This ritual would demonstrate to everyone that I was more than just a helpless Omega, after years of being mistreated, disregarded, and deemed worthless. Carter's approval would disprove their assertions. "Are you nervous?" Maya questioned, her tone sweet, but the look in her eyes was almost amused. I muster a fake smile to her but my stomach churned trying to make sense of that. "A little," I admitted. "But it’s a big night." With a head tilt, she smiled slightly, although it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, whatever happens, just remember—you’re still family." I nodded though something about her words sent a chill down my spine. What did she mean by that? Shaking off the feeling I went out into the cool night air. Soon everyone in the gathering area seemed very enthusiastic. The Moonlight Pack’s bonfire blazed in the center, casting long shadows around the clearing. I knew that Carter would come forward at any moment to claim me as his mate because everyone was watching the claiming ceremony tonight. His broad shoulders and firm attitude made my heart skip a beat as I looked over the throng and saw him standing tall at the front. Carter was all that I have always expected in a mate. Strong, confident, powerful. Tonight, he would make it official. Alpha Reed stepped forward raising his hands to calm the crowd. Tonight, we are here to witness the claiming ceremony. Our wolves will step forward and claim their mate. I held my breath, watching as Carter moved toward the center of the hall. My heart pounded in my chest. This was it, the moment I had waited for my entire life. Carter stood in front of me. For a second, I smiled and anticipated him calling my name and taking my hand. But, instead of healing me, the only words that came out of this mouth destroyed all I had believed in. I, cartel reject you Aria as my mate. The crowd gasped but I couldn’t process their shock. His words resonated in my mind, hitting me in my guts. Reject me? He... He couldn’t mean it. This had to be some kind of cruel joke. I stood there, staring at him, trying my best to find words, to ask him why he would have done such a thing. My throat was dry, and everything in the surroundings seemed to spin gradually. “I don’t want a weak Omega as my mate,” Carter went on, his voice colder than I had ever heard it. "You’re nothing to me, Aria." As I staggered backward, whispers reverberated around the assembly, causing me to become breathless. I had all eyes on me, observing, evaluating, and chuckling. My legs felt weak but I forced myself to stand and talk even though my world had just crumbled down. I could hardly utter a single word, “Carter,” I said softly. Before I could process what was going on, He took another step forward, and put out his hand but, not to me. He reached out to Maya. My heart stopped. It was quite shocking to see that. “I choose you, Maya, “Carter announced with authority. “You are the one I want as my mate.” The crowd erupted in gasps and murmurs, but all I could hear was dumb ringing in my ears. Maya moved forward a triumphant smile plastered on her face as she took Carter’s hand, interlinking her fingers with his. My chest tightened as I stared at her, betrayal slicing through me like a blade. "Maya... why?" I breathed out my voice shaking. With a sly smile, she cast a sidelong glance at me as though I didn't exist. “What were you thinking, Carter would choose you?” Her voice was laced with venom. ‘You have no right to even think that way, you are just pathetic Omega, Aria.’ You were never good enough." I staggered backward every part of me screaming to run, but my legs wouldn’t bulge. This was the girl I thought cared for me. The one person who showed me affection. I was a fool. Alpha Reed's voice cut through the noise, bringing me back to reality. "The choice has been made. “Let this ceremony continue.” I barely heard him. In the space of a few hours, I had lost everything – rejected by my mate, betrayed by my cousin. All I could do was stand there numb and shattered. Clara walked up to me, her eyes glistening with pleasure. "You'll compete in the female wolves' competition tomorrow since you don't have a mate." The ground felt like it was crumbling beneath me. The competition. A disgusting, dishonorable occasion in which the Omega wolves were taken for the Alphas and Lycan to select as their slaves. It was nothing more than a spectacle of nudity—one meant to r****f us our dignity. “Please...” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Don’t make me do this.” But she pursed her lips, “You don’t have a choice, you never did. “