RECLAIMED BY FATE

They say the air in Verauno carries the whispers of wolves long gone. On nights like these—ceremony nights—I believed it.As I lingered in the shadow of the Great Hall’s towering arches the weight of a thousand of unseen eyes pressed down on me.Music and rhythmic, wove through the air, mingling with the rattling sound of the goblets and the low hum of conversation. Tonight, like every other, I was an afterthought. The hall was a marvel of ancient craftsmanship, its grandeur designed to inspire awe. Moonlight cascaded through stained-glass windows, splintering into shards of silver and gold that painted the polished stone floor. Tapestries depicting the kingdom’s most glorious battles adorned the walls, their woven figures frozen in triumph. The stories they told were as fantastical as the prophecy that loomed over us: the tale of fated mates. “Just an old wolf’s bedtime s********e would say, while others swore the bond of soulmates could bend fate itself. For most, it was little more than a flicker of superstition. For me, it was a distant, unattainable dream—a cruel one, given my rank. An omega. The lowest in the pack. I stood stiffly near the edge of the room, trying to blend in with the ornate stone pillars. My presence here wasn’t a privilege but a protocol, a show of unity in the kingdom. The Alphas and Betas mingled, their laughter and chatter easy, unburdened. Every move they made seemed deliberate, as if their mere existence carried significance. I envied it in ways I didn’t dare admit. “Trying to disappear again, Aria?” I didn’t need to turn to recognize the voice. Liana, a Beta who relished the chance to remind me of my insignificance, appeared at my side, her red lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not disappearing,” I replied evenly, though my fingers curled into fists behind my back. “Just observing.” “Observing,” she repeated with mock amusement. “What exactly are you hoping to see? Maybe the Alpha King will glance your way and decide to elevate an omega to glory?” Her laughter was sharp and bright, designed to sting. I didn’t let it show. “I’m not here for glory, Liana. Just to witness the night.” Her smirk faltered. I wasn’t the timid wolf I’d once been, and my calm responses unsettled her. With an exaggerated flick of her hair, she sauntered off, no doubt searching for another target. I released the breath I’d been holding and focused on the room. The energy shifted then, a ripple moving through the crowd like a collective shiver. Conversation hushed, and heads turned toward the grand entrance. My gaze followed. Alpha King Asher had arrived. The first time I saw him with my eyes, I couldn't comprehend the power that emanated from him because I was too young. Now, I felt it like a physical force. Asher moved with an ease that belied the authority he carried. His presence dominated the room, making it impossible to look away. Dressed in ceremonial black and silver, the colors of the royal family, he was both a vision of elegance and raw, unyielding power. His dark eyes swept across the hall, assessing. My chest tightened as they passed over me—no, through me. I was invisible to him, as I had always been. “Look at him,” someone murmured nearby. “Carrying the weight of the prophecy on his shoulders.” “Prophecy?” another scoffed. “It’s superstition, nothing more. The Alpha King doesn’t have time for myths.” I lowered my gaze, feigning disinterest, but my ears drank in the conversation. The prophecy of fated mates was a tale as old as the kingdom itself. It promised a bond so profound it could shape destiny. But who in Verauno truly believed in destiny when alliances and bloodlines dictated everything? Duty, not love, ruled our world. Asher took his place at the head of the hall, his voice cutting through the murmurs. “Tonight, we honor the unity that makes us strong. Together, we are unbreakable.” The crowd roared its approval, but I caught the tension in his jaw, the faint shadow behind his eyes. Did he truly believe the words he spoke? Or was he, like so many others, shackled by expectations? The ceremony unfolded in a blur. Vows were exchanged, pledges of loyalty sworn. I should have been focused, attentive, but my mind was elsewhere—on the restless energy that had persistently annoyed me for weeks. It was difficult to understand at first, like the faint hum of distant thunder. Then came the dreams, vivid and wild, and the extreme pain that left me breathe laboriously in the dark. It didn’t make sense. I was an omega, a wolf with no claim to magic or power. And yet, I felt something stirring within me, ancient and unyielding. I hadn’t told anyone. Who would believe me? More importantly, who wouldn’t laugh? “Aria?” Maren’s voice pulled me back. He was one of the few who treated me with kindness, his pale blue eyes filled with concern. “You’re pale. Are you unwell?” “I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a weak smile. “Just overwhelmed by the crowd.” Maren opened his mouth to respond, but the room stilled once more. Asher had risen, his gaze sweeping over the gathered wolves. My heart thudded painfully when his eyes locked on mine. “Aria,” he said, his voice a quiet command. The murmurs that followed were immediate. Heads turned, their gazes heavy with curiosity and disbelief. Why was the Alpha King addressing me? My legs felt deep-rooted to the floor, but somehow, I forced myself to step forward. “Yes, Your Majesty?” My voice was steady, but my insides churned. Asher’s expression betrayed nothing. “Remain after the ceremony. I have matters to discuss with you.” Shock rippled through me. What could I possibly have to offer the Alpha King? The whispers around me were deafening, but Asher’s gaze didn’t waver. Slowly, I nodded. “As you wish.” The ceremony concluded, and the hall began to empty. Asher remained at the front, his condition at that time is commanding, his presence is unshakable. When the last wolf had gone out, leaving only the two of us, I felt the burden of the moment settle on my shoulders. “You’ve felt it,” he said with low voice but firm. My breath caught. “Felt what?” He stepped closer, his dark eyes piercing. “The change.” I couldn’t refuse to acknowledge it, not under his unrelenting intent look. “I don’t understand,” I said, though we both knew I was lying. Asher’s lips curved into a faint,uncomic smile. “You will,” he said simply. “Soon.” His words hung in the air as he turned and left, leaving me alone in the silent hall, the weight of his promise sinking deep into my bones.