Chapter 3 – The Alpha on His Knees
585 Words
The entire gala froze.
Every Alpha, Luna, and warrior stared at the banished omega who had just walked in with an imperial army at her back.
Aarav stood up so fast his chair crashed backward.
“Riya… how…?” His voice cracked like a pup’s.
I didn’t answer.
I simply raised one hand.
Fifty crimson-caped guards dropped to one knee in perfect unison.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Then I spoke, loud enough for the whole pack to hear.
“Silver Claw Pack, three years ago your Alpha banished a wolfless girl.”
I let silver flames crawl over my arms, bright enough to light the night.
“Tonight, the Crimson Moon Empress returns to collect her debt.”
Gasps. Screams. Phones shaking in terrified hands.
Aarav’s father, the former Alpha, pushed forward.
“This is impossible! You were—”
I flicked a finger.
A thin whip of silver flame lashed the air an inch from his throat.
He shut up.
Aarav took one step toward me, golden eyes wide with something between fear and hunger.
“Riya… mate… I felt the bond snap back the second you walked in.”
I laughed. Cold. Sharp.
“You felt it snap back?”
I stepped closer until we were toe-to-toe.
“Funny. I felt it burn to ash the night you threw me out like garbage.”
His knees buckled.
He dropped to the ground in front of everyone.
“I was wrong. I was stupid. Please… forgive me.”
The blonde from earlier tried to pull him up.
“Aarav, what are you doing?!”
He shoved her away without looking.
“Riya… my Luna… my Empress… take me back.”
I crouched so we were eye-level.
Silver flames danced between us like a living wall.
“You want me back?” I whispered.
“Beg louder.”
He pressed his forehead to the ground.
“I, Alpha Aarav Singhania, beg the Crimson Moon Empress for forgiveness. I beg my true mate to give me another chance.”
Tears fell from his eyes, mixing with the dirt.
The pack watched their proud Alpha grovel.
I stood up slowly.
“Three years ago you said I was too weak to stand beside you.”
I turned to the crowd.
“Tonight, I stand above you all.”
Then I felt it.
A new scent (dark chocolate, smoke, and raw dominance) slammed into me harder than Aarav’s ever had.
Mate.
Second chance mate.
Every head turned.
A man stepped out of the shadows at the edge of the gala.
Taller than Aarav. Broader. Black suit tailored to perfection, silver cufflinks shaped like wolf heads.
Eyes the color of molten gold.
Alpha Ryan Knight.
Leader of the world’s strongest pack.
Worth billions.
And apparently… mine.
He walked straight to me, ignoring the hundreds of shocked stares.
Stopped two feet away.
Tilted his head, inhaling deeply.
“Little flame,” he said, voice like velvet and thunder.
“You smell like home.”
Aarav growled from the ground.
“She’s MINE.”
Ryan didn’t even glance at him.
He offered me his hand.
“Empress Riya, may I have this dance?”
My silver flames flared brighter than ever.
I placed my hand in his.
Sparks shot up my arm.
Behind us, Aarav roared in pain as the broken mate bond tore at him again.
I looked back once.
Smiled.
“Let the games begin.”
To be continued…
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- Writer
