Lyra’s POV
I had crushed the doors of the room to find myself at the ceremony; how is that possible? I turned around to find the room where I had come from, surprisingly. It was the room where the chief maiden had almost beaten me to death. No way!! I was just running away from Sasha a minute ago. I had so many questions running through my mind.
I had to run away to get away from whatever Sasha had planned to execute on me. And some way or another, I ended up back at the palace after breaking through the door. Was it a dream? It felt like my mind was playing with me. I prayed it was just my mind playing with me as I decided not to think about what happened with Sasha and face the problem at hand.
I finally left my thoughts to find everyone looking at me. Everyone, including the main elders and the chief priest, It was very obvious that I had disturbed the ceremony, as everyone gave me that look. I never wanted this kind of attention.
"I am really sorry, hehe. You can continue, she said, forcing a fake smile while rubbing the back of my head. The chief priest ignored me as he continued his speech. Using the opportunity I escaped through the back of the crowd, the door would take care of itself later.
I kept my head low to avoid eye contact as I made my way through the back of the crowd. As I walked, I could hear them talking about me.
"Which kind of dress is that? She looks like a mental patient."
"She looks like someone who just came from the gutters; how did she even get here? Does she even know how she smells?
"I can't sense any strong aura from her. She's one of those weak ones, for sure."
"How did someone like that get into the palace in the first place?"
"Someone should call the guards; omegas aren't allowed here."
"She looks like she's planning to get a mate today; who would want an omega? Haha, she's a complete fool. Those who heard laughed as I walked behind them. The humiliation!!
This sh*it is something I had to pass through every day of my life; it had become something I was already used to. Long gone were the days I cried because of the insults and abuse.
The bullying of the weak ones was something normal in the pack, even if they were to bully me right there. I passed through them.
No one was going to save me.
I was hoping they hadn't started the "mate match" yet. I began walking faster as I could hear the chief priest preparing to finish his speech. I immediately stepped away from the crowd and ran towards the main room. There I would get a new dress—the main dress I was supposed to wear. They provided a dress for everyone who was getting their mates today, both men and women.
I had registered for the "mate match,' and that was where I was headed. The mate match was the main reason for the mating ceremony occurring. Every year, those who were of the required age in the pack where to register for the mate match. The mate match was the last event; here, the chief priest would announce everyone along with their mate through the holy book of gods, a book gifted to our ancestors by the moon goddess herself.
At the beginning of the ceremony, a sacrifice would be made to the moon goddess to thank her for taking the time to choose a mate for everyone. This included the killing of a werewolf from the pack—a weak werewolf or perhaps an omega. It was obvious that the pack didn't really care for the weak.
The sacrifice would then be placed in the middle of the palace, where the moon shined brighter than usual. The bright light would burn the corpse till only ashes remain, which would take two hours. During the burning of corpses, everyone would pray to the goddess for eternal life, peace, and more of her blessings for the pack.
When the sacrifice burns out, the mate match will then begin the announcement of mates. It was obvious that the chief priest would be ending his speech soon, which indicated that the sacrifice and the prayers had been done earlier before I came crashing in. The main event was happening soon.
I finally got into the main room. That was some strong courage I displayed there. Hehe. I opened the locker that had my name boldly written on it. Lyra Daxton, I would be getting my mate today—someone who is likely to change my life, someone who would protect me from the bullying and humiliation, someone who would take me away from here and put away my misery. My knight in shining armor. I wish my parents were here to see this.
I put on the black dress as I admired the quality of the fabric. It showed it was a very high-quality dress, thick with glitter at the front.
Walking up to the mirror, I admired the dress more as it displayed a little skin on the top of my breast, also bringing out all my curves. I never knew I had all these feminine features. I was always stuck in my maid's dress. The money I got from working at the palace was always being squandered by my uncle and his family, so I had nothing to wear except my maid's dress.
I reminded myself about the ceremony; I could admire the dress later. I took a deep inhalation as I accompanied it with a beautiful smile. I had been through a lot lately. I hoped for the best, as today would determine how my life would turn out. As I walked out of the room, I found myself face-to-face with a woman. She had the same gown as I had on, and her braided hair deciphered a combination of blue and black.
She had a familiar scent—a scent I knew too well.
"Athena ," I blurted out in shock.
"Well, well, look who we have here."
Lyra’s POVI was startled and took a step back. Athena was someone I’d never liked. She had put me through all kinds of pain and torture right from the days of our childhood.I bowed my head, not out of respect but because I was trying to avoid anything that would ruin my special day.“Lyra, dear, I wonder how you got that dress. Weak wolfless omegas aren’t supposed to wear the same quality of fabric as me, let alone the same design.” She smirked irritably as she spewed her rubbish.“I don’t have time for this; I don’t have time for any of this today. Get out of my way,” I said, trying to put on a tough expression. This was the one day where I wasn’t going to let anybody mess up things for me.“Are you… perhaps talking to me? You must have been beaten really hard this time. I think you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to.”She responded, standing in an intimidating posture with both her hands crossed.“It’s quite simple to understand; this is the palace, not your house. You have no righ
Lyra’s POV“Me?!” I asked another question; I needed an explanation. There was no way to explain what just happened; it had to be a mistake.“Did I stutter, Lyra?” The formally cloaked woman inquired with an eyebrow raised. I was so caught up in my own surprise that I didn’t realize that the room had become pin-drop silent. It was like a moment frozen in time. No one said anything; I was sure everyone had the same question on their minds at that point.“No, you didn’t; it’s just… I’m a lowly maid; I’m a weak omega,” I responded.“Questioning my knowledge?” she inquired again, moving closer to my face this time. I didn’t know how she got so close to me at the back, where I stood for a split second.“No, no, of course not; I’d never do that,” I said to her. What puzzled me the most was the fact that Alpha Alexander didn’t utter a word. He was expressionless, and he sat on the throne and tapped his fingers on the bronze arms.The room was still completely and utterly quiet. The moon godd
Alexander’s POV.I had a feeling that the moon goddess would play a dirty trick on me. I’m glad I told Jasper to carry out a background check on every maiden that was going to be present at the ball. I wanted to know for myself who I was being paired with. She paired me with the absolute best person in this room. The cousin of my lover.Sometime ago, I met Athena. I found her attractive, but I didn’t see her as someone I would want as my mate. Eventually I started sleeping with her; I loved her body and nothing else.Around the time we were together, I came across Lyra for the first time. I took a bit of interest in her, and I wanted to know what her body felt like too. At that point, I mentioned it to Athena, and I found out they were cousins.Athena took the time to explain everything to me, and I knew immediately that I didn’t want to be with someone like that.Her lips shook as she tried to speak; she was frozen at the sight of me kissing her cousin.“Why?” Lyra asked again in a s
Lyra’s POVI ran fast. I ran till I couldn’t breathe anymore, but I kept running. I couldn’t go to the place that I usually went whenever I was sad, so I just ran, hoping I could run till I just disappeared.“Why? Why is it always me? Mom and Dad, is this the life you wanted for me when you both left me all alone in this world? I’m suffering so much,” I agonized as I ran out of town and into the woods. I was struggling with breathing and talking at the same time. I couldn’t think, so I just voiced out all my thoughts. “Where am I even going? Do I have a home outside the sad one I know? At this rate, I am going to be salvaged by rogue wolves.”I kept running, much slower now because I couldn’t feel myself passing out. I lost my footing and fell again. Just in front of me, I heard faint country music and saw lights when I opened my eyes. It was a bar.I got up, dusted my clothes, and went in. It was a quiet bar, with two customers left: a woman and a strange-looking man.I asked for dri
Lyra’s POV“I get why you’d ask a question like that, but no, I do not practice magic,” he said, sitting on the side of the bed to make me feel tense. “I am going to transfer my life essence to you. It’ll help you heal faster.” The stranger added.“You’re talking about—” “precisely,” I was interrupted by him.“But I’m a weak omega you picked up in the woods. My body is too impure for you, too weak. You’re an alpha right; essence transfer is a skill that can only be used by alphas.” I concluded, clenching the bed sheets to myself.“I feel obligated to save you. I don’t know why; I just feel pushed to,” he responded.“But I don’t want to go home. I don’t want to go to my pack,” I agonized. “Do you have anywhere else to go then?” he questioned.I scoffed. He was indeed right; I had nowhere else to go. It was either going back home or dying out here in the woods. “If you can, then please help me,” I gave in. I pleaded with him. I grabbed the hands of a stranger I didn’t know.The way esse
Alexander’s POVIt had been the morning after the ceremony, and I was informed that Lyra still hadn’t returned to the pack. Nobody knew her whereabouts. Of course, I didn’t care if she died or if she was eaten by rough wolves.The only reason I was worried was because that video of the mating ceremony had gone viral online. If someone were to spot Lyra, they might just put her against the pack as an informant. Another reason I want her to be found is because she had the audacity to walk out on me while I talked to her.Anyone who sees that video would think that I am a bad leader. One not worthy to be the alpha of my pack. I needed to instill respect in her and restore my respect.I sat on the throne, waiting for Jasper to return with the good news that he had found Lyra. Athena sat beside me.I didn’t know much about the woman yet, but I knew that she was extremely good in bed, so that was okay for me, at least for now.“Alexander, I’m here.” Jasper’s voice came through as the door
Lyra’s POVIt was dark and cold when I came. I looked around. This is a part of the palace I knew too well. In the dungeon, I couldn’t count how many times I had been locked there in the past.“Hannah, Hannah, can you please come over here for a bit?” I called out to one of the female guards.She was someone I knew. I knew almost all the guards here, but that didn’t stop them from mocking me or giving me stupid nicknames just like the others.“What do you want?” Hannah asked me without even looking in my direction.“Can I please get water? A cup of water. I feel very parched.” I struggled to give out a longer sentence.“Beta Jasper said not to give you any. Orders from the alpha himself.” Hannah responded to me. I was walking away from my cell.“I see, this must be my punishment.” I had been through a lot in the past few days, and this was just another thing I had to get through. It didn’t affect me as much as I thought it would.I cried myself to sleep as usual, except this time, I d
Lyra’s POVShe was asking me to do what? Athena ordered me to put my tongue on her filthy feet. This was cruelty. Even slaves weren’t treated this badly.Was it a fetish of some sort? It’s totally evil.I hesitated, pretending not to hear what she had demanded.“Did you not hear what I just said?” She questioned me as she slapped me across the face. “Clean my royal feet with your tongue, you weak woman. You had your eyes set on the alpha, didn’t you? You thought he would choose you over me? Your existence is useless. Maybe I should have you do this in front of people”Just like that, she had called attention. Guards and maids came running into her room. Athena had a smirk on her face. Public disgrace. The way she liked to humiliate me.“Now, lick it like the hungry woman that you are.” She demanded it again.By this time, I had already been crying, and tears rolled down my eyes as a result of everyone present in the room laughing at me. Not a single person felt a shade of pity for me