Aria's PovToday was the annual mating ceremony, and also the day, five years ago, that I lost my parents to the cold hands of death. They were killed by rogue wolves, and all that remained of them were bits and pieces of their torn out flesh.Smack! I felt a sharp sting on my left cheek which snapped me back to reality."Ouch!" I winced in pain, as the slap echoed in my ears. I rubbed my stinging cheeks with my palm, as tears welled up in my eyes."Get your head out of the clouds, Aria!" Mrs. Beatrice, the person in charge of caring for the Alpha's quarters barked. "There's a lot of work to do before the mating ceremony tonight, and you are here daydreaming?!""I– I'm sorry Mrs. Beatrice," I bowed and apologized in a trembling voice, and got back to cleaning, even though my cheeks still hurt, there was no time to nurse that now."Sorry Aria," my wolf, Ava comforted me. "Just say the word, and I'd have her head rolling," she threatened."Yeah right," I rolled my eyes at my hot-headed
Aria's Pov"Mate!" Ava called again in a louder voice.My heart skipped a beat. "A- Ava are you sure?" I stuttered, not wanting to get my hopes up."Mate!" Ava said again happily, jumping excitedly in my mind."Are you sure about this?" I asked again. "Hope you're not doing this because I'm losing all hope of finding a mate?""Trust me Aria," Ava said. "He's here, I can sense him.""Why can't I sense him?" I questioned. "Cause your heart is finding it hard to accept," she told me. "Now let's go find out mate," she urged.I sighed in defeat. "Where is he?" I asked, even though I couldn't sense him yet. Well, I just have to trust Ava on this."Just walk straight ahead, and climb the first stairs you come across on your right," Ava described."Stairs?" I asked in disbelief. "Why go up the stairs? All the unmated werewolves are down here.""Quit complaining, Aria," Ava scolded me, with a hint of frustration in her voice. "Just trust me, will you?""Alright, alright," I said and did as Av
Aria's PovAs I said the official rejection words Ava howled in pain and we felt the mate bond severing. I stared at London with so much desperation, hoping against hope to at least see an ounce of pain or regret, but London was fine, and his expression remained cold as ice.London turned to Elsa and gave her a long, passionate kiss."Why can't he feel any pain?" I mumbled under my breath."People should learn to know their place," London said as he and Elsa walked hand in hand towards the stage. "The moon goddess clearly made a mistake," London said, staring at me with nothing short of contempt. The pack members nodded their heads in agreement. "An orphaned omega with no roots will NEVER be my mate, or future Luna of the great Startling Pack."There was no point trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks, so I just let it flow shamelessly. Maybe, just maybe, it would reduce the hurt I'm feeling."There's no other she-wolf worthy of being my mate, and Luna of
Ryder's PovTwo weeks Later...I was barely holding on to the remnants of sleep when a persistent knocking echoed. I was a light sleeper and any slight noise I could hear from a mile away."Go away Ma Levine," I grumbled half asleep, as I already caught her familiar scent of freshly baked bread."I'm coming in," she announced from the other end and turned the doorknob."Ugh!" I grumbled in frustration, burying my head deeper into the pillow.Ma Levine walked in and pulled the duvet I was wrapped in, off me."I just want to sleep some more," I protested and covered myself with the duvet again.Ma Levine chuckled. "Who would believe that the almighty Lycan King, Ryder Nixon was such a big baby?" She teased and pulled the duvet off me again. This time around, she tossed it far away, and the only way I could get it back was by getting up from bed, which I was clearly not ready for. "Get up boy," she instructed as she made her way to my bathroom to prepare a warm bath water for me."Go hav
Aria's POVEverywhere instantly went silent as the Lycan King grabbed my hand. A frown formed in my face as I heard the words that slipped out of his mouth. There was no way he had just called me... his mate.I turned to the crowd behind me and felt my knees begin to shake as I saw that all eyes were now turned to him. I caught sight of Amanda whispering to her minions and the look she had on her face showed that she was much more surprised at the sudden turn of events than I was. I turned to Elsa and saw that she had the same look on her face too. I was about to turn to the Lycan king whose hold on my hand had now tightened to know if he was being serious when I saw London at a corner, glaring at us. He held in his hands a glass of wine and I watched it crack under his grip. He brought the damaged glass down on the table beside him and licked his lips, putting on a smile that I knew was nothing more than a facade before slowly striding towards where we stood. 'What is he doing?' I
Aria's POV "Was?" Ryder asked as he raised one of his brows. "What do you mean by 'was'?" I turned to London and saw that he now wore a frown on his face. A smile formed on my face and the moment he saw that, he shook his head. I guessed he knew exactly what I was about saying. "I was mated to Alpha London," I said with a small nod as I turned to Ryder. "But he rejected me as his mate so we are not together anymore." "Hmm," Ryder grunted as he brought his eyes to the ground. He kept his gaze there for some time, as if brooding over what I had said before raising his head in London's direction. "You heard what she said, Alpha London." "Yes, I did," London replied with a small chuckle as he brought his hands behind his back. I could see the dark look beneath the fake smile that he wore on his face as he slowly strode towards where I stood. He continued, "but Aria must know that I was only playing when I said so." Playing? The slap that he struck showed his intentions and it definite
London's POVThe snickers from the omegas behind me ate at me and the low chuckle the Alphas gave only tore my ego the more. I knew that I didn't love her, I never did, but I wasn't just going to let him take what belonged to me in the first place. It was only going to be seen by the other pack alphas as an insult. I knew that my statement of Aria not accepting my rejection was the only thing that could turn things in my favor but Elsa just had to open her mouth and speak. I clenched my fist as I saw the stupid omega throw a smile at me.I gritted my teeth as anger flooded me. She didn't just know that I had lost but she was mocking my defeat too. They all were.I made to rush at Aria but Ryder was faster than I was, pulling Aria back and stepping in her place. I stopped short after seeing him suddenly begin protecting her."Go back Alpha London, she is no longer your mate," Alpha Ryder said to me as he gave me a low growl. Seeing the sudden turn of events, I backed away from the lyc
Aria's POVAll eyes were pinned on me as I walked across the dining hall to the door that led out of the mansion. I could feel the gaze of the other omegas pierce me and hear their little murmurs but I didn't mind. They could do whatever they wanted. I wasn't part of the anymore.I brought my head high, smile forming on the face as I strode towards the door. I pushed it open gently and sighted Alpha Ryder standing in front of a black sleek car with tinted windows. He had his hands crossed behind his back and I could feel this majestic aura come off him. His eyes landed on me and I gave him a small smile, one that he returned with a stoic expression. My smile faded upon seeing his response and I felt down. I pulled my bag close to my chest as my pace towards his car slowed down."You took longer than I expected," Alpha Ryder said as he raised one of his brow. I felt my cheeks plush under his gaze and I only buried my face in my bag. Alpha Ryder upon seeing my reaction gave me a small