4- MEET MY WIFE

ARIA 

  

     "Everyone, file out!" Madam Kate commanded the girls, her voice cutting through the atmosphere like a sharp knife.  

  

     They all hurried away except Aria, who had been told she wouldn't be attending the festival. The other girls were clothed in luxurious fabrics and adorned with glittering jewels. In festivals like this, most she-wolves ended up finding their mates, and this one was no exception, especially with members of other packs joining. Aria went to the sink, filled with piles of dirty dishes, and started washing as the girls moved out. Since she wasn't allowed in the ballroom, she decided to tackle some of her chores tonight and have a bit of freedom in the morning. 

  

She had barely adjusted to the solitude when footsteps approached. She ignored them and focused on her task. But the person entered the kitchen, and she turned to see Madam Kate. 

  

     "Madam? Is there something you want me to do?" Aria asked with a tinge of caution. 

  

Madam Kate eyed her with scorn. "Move out, you should be in the ballroom, now." 

  

     "What?" Aria panicked. She looked haggard, and pain was spreading throughout her body. She couldn't go into the ballroom looking like that. "I will just go and change and come out." 

  

     "You will do no such thing. The whole pack is waiting for you, and you are not even worth it." 

  

Aria's heart plummeted into her abdomen at Madam Kate's statement. Why was the entire pack waiting for her? Madam Kate was right about one thing; she wasn't worthy of that kind of recognition. She quickly wiped her hands on her worn gown and followed Madam Kate. 

  

The whole room fell silent when Madam Kate opened the door of the ballroom, ushering Aria in. Every eye turned to look at them, and Aria felt as if she were sinking into quicksand. Her legs grew heavy and unresponsive. With a curt shove, Madam Kate propelled her further into the room. 

  

     "Alpha, I found her hiding away. She never intended to be here," Madam Kate lied. 

  

Aria's jaw dropped in disbelief at the audacity of the older woman's blatant lies. She opened her mouth, but no words came. She was paralysed by the scrutiny of the crowd. Who was she to counter in the presence of all these people? Her heart raced, and she tried to remain calm, so as not to go into crisis. When she looked at Xavier, who was donned in royal attire, his cold eyes pierced her as usual. 

  

In a silence that felt almost deafening, Xavier stood from his seat and headed straight towards Aria, furious at her audacity. The room remained dead silent as he approached, only his footsteps reverberated through the room like a death knell. Madam Kate sidled away, disappearing among the array of maidservants, leaving Aria to her fate. All eyes stayed on the Alpha and the Omega. 

  

Aria quickly bowed her head, knowing that it was taboo to meet the Alpha's eyes. But Xavier grabbed her chin when he stood before her and raised her head, forcing her to lock eyes with him. 

  

     "You ignored a direct command from your Alpha," he seethed, his eyes aflame with untamed fury. His lips twisted into a menacing snarl. 

  

Aria didn't know what to do. Madam Kate would kill her if she made her out to be a liar in front of all the people in the room. She couldn't tell everyone that Madam Kate had asked her not to be there in the first place. 

  

     "I am sorry, Alpha," she apologised, trying hard not to look into Xavier's eyes. The resentment in his eyes was enough to kill her. 

  

     "And you think sorry can fix everything?" He chuckled with venom, releasing her chin. "You are quite an attention-seeker, despite being an Omega. How many times have I encountered you today alone?" 

  

Aria bowed her head, shut her eyes, and fought back tears and the wave of unconsciousness that was threatening her. It was way past the time for her painkillers and her body needed them. She clutched her hands before her tightly, praying the attention would shift from her quickly. She didn't know that Xavier had paused an entire festival just to bring her in and humiliate her. He clearly didn't care about her, so why did he notice her absence? 

  

     "I am sorry," she whispered with a voice cracked with tears, but she was the only one who heard it. 

  

     "Kneel," he commanded. 

  

She quickly dropped to her knees, her head still bowed and her knuckles almost white from how tightly she clutched them together. 

  

     "Give me your eyes." 

  

Aria heard subtle gasps from some pack members, but she slowly raised her head and met his eyes. His eyes disoriented her. Those eyes had once stared at her with so much love and passion, now they only held hatred and fury in them, and those emotions were only for her. 

  

    "You seem to be a stubborn Omega, right? I see that this pack treats you well." He leaned closer. "But read my lips. I, Xavier Stone, will break you." 

  

His words hit her like a punch in the gut, and she let the barricade she had put over her emotions break, and the tears poured. She was the only one in the room who actually knew what he meant. The only one who knew the gravity of those words. They were promises made with a grudge. Maybe she deserved it all. He walked away, leaving her there, shattered. Aria lowered her head again, trying so hard to contain her tears. 

  

     "Resume the festival," Xavier said, settling down on his chair once again. 

  

The festival resumed in earnest as if it were never interrupted. Dancers in colourful attire marched out, moving to the beat, and making love to the air with their movements. Aria tried to leave the room but noticed Xavier's eyes on her, so she stayed put. Her head was pounding, and she was beginning to see double. 

  

After a few minutes, the dancing and the loud music stopped, offering her some cool relief. The noise made her feel worse, and no one cared about her, or her wellbeing. Everyone else was busy entertaining themselves, and no one paid her attention, except for HIM. 

  

When the music stopped, the host announced that it was time for Alpha Xavier to select servants. The exchange of servants would leave many heartbroken, but it had to be done to acquaint the two packs with each other. Servants from Xavier's pack lined up, while Aria and the other servants lined up at another end, all with their heads lowered, awaiting Xavier's selection. 

  

    The room grew quiet again as Xavier walked between the rows of the warriors first. These were not just any warriors; they were titans hewn from the very marrow of battle, each man a design of scars, sinew, and survival instinct. His former pack had nurtured a breed of fighters that made the Winter pack’s warriors seem almost boyish in comparison. They reeked of blood and death, men who looked as if they had torn their way out of the underworld and were ready to raze heaven itself. Xavier himself looked like that too. He selected some of them that would be going back to his pack. Those not summoned felt the exclusion like a physical blow but maintained their stoic facades. He did that to all the male servants and then it was time for the female servants.   

  

   "If you hear your name, step forward," he announced and held up a piece of paper. 

  

Aria shut her eyes as names were being mentioned, and she heard sniffles beside her. She didn't know how to feel about leaving. She needed to speak with Xavier in private; they needed to talk about them. He couldn't keep pretending he didn't know who she was. 

  

     "Ariana Star!" 

  

Her heart sank as she made her way out of the rows. Every eye fell on her as she joined the girls who would be leaving Winter Pack. Maybe, it was for the best, maybe things would get better in her birth pack, without Xavier for one year. Was he this mad at her to the extent of not wanting to even see her? Her heart sank even further when she realised that Celine, her tormentor, was selected. Celine would not stop bullying her in Snowpack. She was no longer with Amy, but there was no doubt she would make new allies to torture Aria. 

  

     "Is she the one?" Xavier asked. 

  

    "Yes, Alpha. But she is Aria, not Ariana," Madam Kate said. 

  

Xavier eyed Madam Kate and then looked at Aria. "I know what I called. Isn't Aria the short for Ariana?" 

  

The room remained silent. Her original name was Ariana, but Xavier had shortened it to Aria for an endearing reason. She swallowed hard and thought it was best to answer his question before he flared up again. 

  

    "You are right, Alpha. My original name is Ariana." 

  

Xavier looked away from her. "Those of you selected will be staying back in Winter Pack while those who were not will go to Snowpack." 

  

There were gasps and little squeals of excitement from some girls by Aria's side. They were glad to be retained in the pack. Aria didn't know if she should feel happy or sad. She thought she wouldn't see Xavier again for a year or so. But he had retained her for reasons known only to him. 

  

     "The Omega will work as my personal maid," he announced as he walked back to his throne. "Alexa, you will stay here for some time and teach the Omega everything she needs to know about me." 

  

The girl who was Alexa bowed her head. "Yes, Alpha." 

  

The servants dispersed into the crowd of people again as the host took over, announcing that Xavier had a special announcement to make. Xavier stepped down from his throne, holding the hand of the woman Aria had seen earlier, and people began to applaud. 

  

    "I thank you all from Winter Pack for receiving me with open arms and going to lengths to ensure I am comfortable. However, I have come here to stay and hope we all work together for the betterment of this pack. I am introducing you all to Sasha." Sasha waved her hands at everyone, wearing a smile. "Those of you from Snowpack already know who she is. I am introducing her to the members of the Winter Pack. This woman standing right here is my heartbeat personalised. She has been there for me through thick and thin, even when I thought I would die of heartbreak." As he spoke, his eyes rested on Aria. This time, Aria did not remove her eyes. 

  

     "This is Sasha Stone, my lovely wife and Luna of my pack. I implore you all to treat her with the same reverence as you treat me." 

  

The room erupted in applause and cheers as Xavier drew Sasha into his arms and kissed her passionately. Aria's heart felt like it had been twisted with a knife. She had no right to hurt the way she was hurting. She had no right to hurt over someone who was not hers— who would never be hers. 

  

    "Me and my wife will now dance to my favourite song," he said, emphasising "WIFE" and glancing at Aria as the song began to play. 

  

Aria felt like her head was spinning. Her temple thudded faster, the room began to reel, and she began to gasp for breath. The song brought back floods of memories, now painful as she watched the two people dancing. She managed to tear her eyes away from them. She needed an escape and fresh air, a chance to clear her mind and reclaim her composure. 

  

    That was her favourite song. She made it become his favourite.  

  

With a fleeting glance back at Xavier and his wife, Aria ducked into the crowd of happy dancing people and sought escape.