CHAPTER ONE

Aria's POV

I celebrated my eighteenth birthday in the laundry room, washing all the laundry of the pack house till my hands bled.

The pain and blood didn't bother me. I was happy, even. I'd always imagined my eighteenth birthday. The year I will get to be mated. I had dreamed about it ever since I was a little girl.

Being an orphan in Crescent Moon Pack means I'm all alone in this world. And that automatically made me an omega. The lowest of the lows in the pack.

I rushed out of bed, which was in fact just a torn and very thin blanket thrown on the floor. Even other maids didn't have such poor sleeping conditions. But who was I to complain? It's an honor to be a maid in the pack rather than a rogue.

I made my way over to the servant's bathroom. After a quick cold shower, I got dressed and headed to the laundry room for my duties for the day.

Even though it was barely 4 a.m., the pack house was already lively. I guess that's to be expected, as the blood moon festival is just tomorrow.

I felt a flutter of excitement in my belly. The blood moon festival, I had sneaked out to attend it years in the past. I would watch all these young wolves get their mates and feel the joy and celebration in the air. And I would get depressed because I couldn't partake in that joy.

But this year is different. I'm eighteen. I'm of age now. And I can barely contain my excitement.

I bumped into someone, too lost in my imagination to focus on where I was going. I raised my head to see who I had bumped into. He was so tall, I had to crane my neck up.

His amber eyes regarded me like I was a bug he could squash with his boot. A look of pure disgust was on his handsome face. Oh my goodness!

My heart ceased to beat in my chest. "A--alpha Kane!" I squeaked, shock plastered all over my face. The next thing I felt was my face being knocked to the side and the loud sound of a slap ringing out through the air.

"Don't your eyes work?!" He barked in anger. "You damned mutt. How dare you touch me with that filthy body of yours?!"

My ears rang from the force of his slap. I touched my cheek. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you."

"Get the f*ck out of my sight!"

I bowed and hurried off. Today of all days, I had to bump into him first thing in the morning!

My cheek felt red and swollen. It hurt so bad. But it was Kane. I could manage it. I turned and glanced at his back as he walked away. My heart ached in my chest.

For the longest time, I've had a crush on Kane. Long before, he became the alpha of the pack, taking over after his father died. I know my crush will lead nowhere. I know I'm just an omega, and he's the alpha. But it doesn't hurt to dream.

I walked back to the laundry room. The head of the servants, Emman, took one look at me and shook her head.

"You get slapped first thing in the morning. You must really hate your life," she said with disdain on her face. "You're lucky he just slapped you and didn't order you whipped."

Of course, she had to see that. I tried not to let it get to me. "I'm sorry," I said softly.

"You're working three times as much today." She said, pointing to a huge pile of laundry I had to do. "Congratulations for annoying the alpha."

My heart sank into my boots. It's always like this. Each time I so much as see Kane, my life gets worse. I get punished. I get whipped. I get given more and more work. I know he hates me. With a burning passion, hotter than my check burned right now.

By why? I didn't do anything wrong to him.

Tears gathered in my eyes. "Okay." I replied calmly.

It's fine. It's just until tomorrow. Once I get mated, my life will get better. I'll have someone to love me, and I'll leave this place for good.

I've held on for all these years. What's one more day?

****

I was so close to passing out as I walked over to the venue of the celebration.

It seemed like I was still being punished for yesterday, seeing as I was given even more work today. Today was the Blood Moon Festival, where everyone, including all the servants, was given time off to get ready and look their best for meeting their mates.

I looked like a child's rag doll that had been through hell and back. I had tried to brush the tangles out of my hair, washed my face, and wore the most presentable outfit I had, but still, it wasn't enough compared to the people surrounding me all dressed in their best outfits.

Even though I headed over to the venue, It's a few minutes to midnight, and all around me, all I can see is a sea of bodies waiting in shared anticipation.

I ignored the looks I got from people, pushing myself into a corner to be as invisible as possible. It's finally today. The day I get mated for sure.

Even though I was tired, I felt a spark of excitement in my belly.

A collective hush fell over the crowd all of a sudden. I felt it too, the clock had struck midnight. I raised my eyes to the night sky. The clouds parted, and the full moon shone in her full glory. I joined the crowd as we all gathered in the center of the venue.

Finally. I'll have my mate. Finally!

I felt it—a tug inside of me. My wolf rose up, her senses perking up. It felt like a pull dragging me to someone.

My mate!

I looked around, everyone else was looking around too. Searching for the scent of their mate. I felt it too—the scent of freshly made black coffee and hints of sandalwood. It was the most mouthwatering scent I had ever perceived in my life.

"Mate!" My wolf howled inside me. "That's our mate!"

"I'm looking for him, okay?" I said, my eyes darting around frantically.

A man and a woman met each other and hugged tightly, laughing and crying happy tears. All around me, everyone was meeting their mate. Shouts of joy and celebration filled the air. I felt myself smile.

After so many years of attending blood moon festivals and being depressed, I can finally share in the joy.

I pushed through the crowd, following that delicious scent that flooded my senses. I felt it get closer and closer. My wolf got more excited, howling and calling for her mate.

I hastened my footsteps, pushing apart a happy couple by mistake.

"Hey! Watch it!" The woman said.

"I'm so sorry!" I cried out to them, bowing in apology.

I'm so close. I feel it. The tug is getting stronger. The scent is getting stronger. I bumped into yet another person. I raised my eyes to see who it was. My heart started to race in my chest.

"MATE!" my wolf growled. "MATE! MATE! MATE!"

You can't be serious right now.