Chapter 1 The Night I Should Not Exist
1360 Words
Chapter 1
The Night I Should Not Exist
Aria Vale’s POV
My knees hit the ground again so hard and the pain shot up my legs, but I didn’t cry out because I already knew better.
Blood filled my mouth, I tasted iron and it burned my tongue and then I swallowed it fast before anyone saw.
A sharp heel then pressed down on the back of my head and I froze.
“Stay down, Aria,” Lyra said above me and her voice was sweet, but her foot dug deeper into my skull. “Omegas don’t stand beside Alphas.”
Laughter spread around me, they were low, mean and familiar.
I then pressed my fingers into the dirt and my nails broke, but I didn't stop, if I moved wrong, she would press harder.
“I said stay down,” she repeated.
“I am down,” I whispered and my voice sounded small, I hated it.
“Then act like it,” she snapped and her heel pushed harder.
My face almost hit the ground and the crowd watched, they always watched but no one helped, no one ever helped.
I blinked fast, my eyes burned, but I refused to cry, not here, not in front of them, I was used to this.
That thought came easy, too easy, I was used to the whispers, used to the way they look at me like I was nothing, used to being pushed, ignored, stepped on.
I was an omega, the lowest, the unwanted, the mistake.
My fingers moved into the dirt again and I told myself to breathe, in and out but something was wrong tonight.
I didn’t know why, but the air was heavy, it was like something was watching.
I then closed my eyes for a second, maybe if I stayed still, she would get bored, maybe she would walk away.
Maybe tonight would pass like every other night.
“Look at her,” someone said. “She really thought she could come to the ceremony.”
More laughter.
“An omega at the Prince’s ceremony. How shameless.”
“I heard she cleaned the hall this morning. Maybe she forgot her place.”
My chest tightened, I didn’t forget, I just wanted to see, just once.
I then opened my eyes slowly and all I could see was dirt and Lyra’s red heel. It was clean, perfect, with no single scratch.
Everything about her was perfect, her hair, her dress, her smile, she was everything I was not.
“You should thank me,” Lyra said gently. “I am helping you remember who you are.”
I then bit my lip and blood filled my mouth again.
“I remember,” I whispered.
“Do you?” she asked and her heel pressed harder and then pain shot through my head and my vision shook.
“I do,” I said again and my voice broke this time and I hated that it broke.
She then finally lifted her foot and I gasped and air rushed into my lungs and for a moment, I thought it was over.
Then…
The air changed and it happened so fast and the laughter stopped, the whispers died and even the wind seemed to hold still.
My heart skipped. What is that?
A strange feeling spread through my chest, it was heavy and strong and every wolf around me dropped.
Knees hit the ground all at once, heads bowed and no one spoke and fear spread like fire.
My breath caught but I didn’t need to look to know.
The Prince was here.
Kael Draven.
The future Alpha King.
I then lowered my head quickly, I was not allowed to look at him, not even someone like me.
My hands shook against the ground and I tried to make myself smaller and invisible, if he didn’t see me, I would be fine.
If he didn’t notice me, I could leave after this and everything would go back to normal.
“Lyra,” someone whispered. “Bow.”
She then dropped to her knees beside me and even bowed.
No one dared to stand and silence filled the space, it was heavy and waiting.
And then I heard footsteps, slow and steady and each step hit the ground like a warning and my heart started to beat faster.
I didn’t know why, I just squeezed my eyes shut, I didn’t look, I didn’t move and I didn’t breathe too loud.
And then the footsteps stopped, right in front of me.
“No. No, no, no. Please don’t stop here. Please move. Please go.”
I then pressed my forehead closer to the ground, maybe if I didn’t move, he would ignore me.
Maybe…:
“Lift your head.”
The voice broke through me, it was deep, sharp and commanding and then my breath stopped.
He was talking to me. No. Maybe not. Maybe there was someone else.
Then I stayed still, I didn't move.
“Did you not hear me?” he said again, he was closer and he was right above me and my body trembled.
“He is speaking to you,” Lyra whispered beside me, and her voice was tight. “Move, Aria.”
My hands shook and I pressed them into the ground.
I couldn’t, I shouldn’t, but his presence was heavy, it was pressing on my chest. And then I slowly lifted my head, just a little bit, my eyes stayed down and I didn't look at his face.
“Look at me.”
The command was stronger this time and my heart slammed against my chest and I swallowed.
My throat was dry, I didn’t want to, I was not allowed to.
But my body moved on its own, slowly and very slowly and I raised my eyes.
And then…I saw him and everything stopped.
My breath, my thoughts and even the pain in my body faded.
He stood in front of me, tall, powerful, untouchable and his eyes were locked on mine, they were dark, deep and unforgiving.
I should look away and I should drop my gaze but I could not, something held me there and something pulled me in.
My chest tightened and my heart beat faster.
“What is happening?
Why can’t I look away?”
His eyes narrowed, like he was seeing something strange and something he did not understand.
The air between us changed and it grew heavier, hotter and then my wolf, my wolf moved for the first time in years and it stirred inside me.
It was weak and shaking but awake and then my breath caught
No.
That was not possible, my wolf never responded. Never.
But now it rose and then…it screamed .
“Mate.”
The word crashed into me, it was loud and clear.
Impossible! My eyes widened and my heart stopped.
“No. No, this is wrong. This cannot be happening. Not to me. Not with him. The Prince.”
My lips parted and I tried to speak but no sound came out.
His gaze darkened and he took one step closer and my body reacted before I thought.
I then leaned back and fear ran through me but my wolf….
My wolf moved toward him, calling him, reaching for him.
“Mate.”
The word echoed again and it was louder this time.
I then shook my head slightly.
“No no no,” this was wrong, this was a mistake and I was just an omega, nothing more and nothing special.
This could not happen to me, his eyes stayed locked on mine. Sharp and searching.
It was like he could hear it too, like he could feel it too and then silence fell again.
It was heavy and dangerous and then my heart rang so loud I think everyone could hear it.
No one moved and no one spoke, all eyes were just on us.
And in that moment.. I knew everything was about to change.
Or…
Everything was about to break.
My wolf screamed again.
“Mate.”
And this time… I knew he heard it too.
- Writer
