/-Aria-/The cry of the baby sounded like a melody to my ears. I did it! I gave my mate a child! The curse was broken! Happy tears streamed down my cheeks. I was not the useless omega after all. Finally, my mate would be able to present me to the Elders with pride. No one would look down on my tiny weak wolf anymore. Most importantly, I would stop being Alpha's dirty secret. “You did it, Aria. It’s a beautiful girl. She has her father’s eyes and your smile,” Mary, the nurse told me. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. All those months of humiliation had been worth it. When I became pregnant with the baby, Asher pleaded I keep it a secret. That his father would never let him take over the pack if he discovered he’d impregnated a cursed omega.I tried not to be hurt by that. Everyone called me cursed because no one knew my parents or where I had come from. I was a stray who stumbled into their pack years ago and since then, I have been doing my best to serve them so they don’t s
/-Aria-/My eyes fluttered opened. An excruciating pain shot up my sides and I hissed in pain. My mind was foggy and a terrible migraine shot through the sides of my head. What is happening? The last thing I remembered was the anguish of burning to death. My chest tightened as I remembered the shrill cries of my baby. I glanced around but all I noticed was the surprisingly large bedroom with a strange girl sleeping by my side. This didn't seem anything like the afterlife. I looked down at my body, expecting to see a burned skin but I was taken aback by the flawlessness of the pale milky skin. “W…what is happening…” I croaked. My throat hurt from extreme dryness. The girl by my side raised her head and yawned tiredly. When her eyes connected with mine, she let out a scream, startling me. “Jasmine?!” She was already off the bed, at a reasonable distance. Her green eyes were wide in shock and slight panic.“You're awake?” She mumbled skeptically. Who is Jasmine?“Aria…” I drawled
/-Aria-/My entire being froze. “Excuse us,” he ordered and everyone left the room without questioning him. They were even more afraid of him than I was. He took a sit by my bedside and his cinnamon scent messed with senses. I shook my head, refusing to give in to that sweet temptation. The last time I gave into a sweet scent, I was ultimately disgraced, accused and incinerated. The thought of the innocent life I brought into the world, only to be cruelly snatched, made my heart ache. I would never forgive them for that. One way or the other, I will make them pay for what they put me through. They will suffer and cry for help but no one will listen to their pleas. “Jasmine,” my attention was drawn back to the scary gorgeous man before me. “What you did yesterday was over the top…”I was startled by the hardness in his voice. “Your family proposed this treaty and I agreed despite the protest from my people. I didn't come to your doorstep to declare a marriage or buy you from you
/-Aria-/I didn't know what to say to him or how to respond. Dammit, I didn't even know who he was!“We can leave now, Jasmine. We don't need to wait for the…” I pulled away from him and he looked up in surprise. “I am not running away…” I was going to say his name but I realized I didn't know it. “I am engaged to Adonai as you know and he is already furious enough about the incident.”I didn't know how deep his relationship with Jasmine ran but I was trying to be cautious to avoid attracting problems and doubts. “But you have never cared about what my brother thought. Why now?” He asked. I blinked. Jasmine was sleeping with her fiance's brother? Could this day get more complicated? Before I could answer the door opened and Ariel walked in.Her eyes darted between the man and me and I could swear I caught a glare. She walked to him and draped herself around him. “Darling, where have you been? I've been searching all over for you. I wanted to inform you about the good news but it s
/-Aria-/Join the line of mistresses? That line didn't make sense until three days later. I was currently surrounded by maids, dolling me up to grace the King's bed.Frankly, I was not looking forward to it. This was not how I planned it out. It felt like my bad luck was messing with my plans once again. Either that or the goddess was using me as entertainment. “You look beautiful, my lady. With a face like this, you will quickly become the king's favorite,” one of the maids said. I didn't want to become his mistress. I wanted to be Luna! But I couldn't tell her that. If only the goddess sent me back a day before the wedding. Things would have been easier.“How many mistresses does the King have?” I inquired. I needed to know my competitors before venturing in. “Just three. Agatha, Vera and Lara. Vera is his favourite and from what the rumors say, she's the only one that can satisfy his sexual urge,” she answered.“And why is that?” I was piqued now. She looked at me in surpris
/-Aria-/At the first trust I discovered my mistake. Jasmine might have been cheating on him but she was a virgin. The pain cut through me like a double-edged sword, with a cry erupting from my throat. I didn't sign up for this. Another thrust and I felt like I was dying. Worse, his arms trapped my waist securely in place as he slammed into me. “Please stop…” I sobbed, but almost as the words left my lips, another thrust followed.It was then the servant’s words replayed in my head. Once he starts, he will never stop. I am doomed! I barely had the time to dwell in regrets as the thrusts came faster and deeper. I screamed, struggled and pleaded but nothing could stop this man. He continued thrusting without mercy, allowing occasional curses slip off his lips. In no time, my legs were trembling and my core throbbing from how hard he pounded me but he didn't seem anywhere near done. My breathing became laboured and soon enough, my lungs began closing up on me from the impact of
/-Aria-/No.The word was at the tip of my mouth how do I deliver it without being suspicious?“Dante…”“Are you going to refuse me again?” He dropped my hand. “You know, sometimes I don't understand you. You act like you're in love with me but in reality you are just using me to spite my brother.”He walked out of the room in anger and I didn't bother to stop him. It was good riddance!Prisca walked back into the room almost immediately and I was confident she heard everything we discussed. I expected her to ask me about it but instead, she returned to our earlier conversation.“So what happened last night?* “You're not going to ask about Dante?” I raised a brow and she sighed. “Is there any point? You won't listen to what I have to say anyway. You prefer chasing a man who is cheating on his mate when you can easily have a fresh relationship with the King,” Prisca said. I immediately added her to the list of people to keep around me. “I know I should ask you to follow your heart
-Vera-I sat with the other mistresses, Lara and Agatha as I recounted the account of the previous night to them.“As it seems, the new mistress, or should have been Luna,” I expressed visibly, extending my hand and allowing a moment to sink in her titled description. The other ladies snickered at it and I continued satisfied. “Happens to be a weakling who is no match for the alpha. So he had to send for me when she passed out.”“Oh poor Lady,” Agatha said without any sympathy in her voice. “You mean she could not take it that she passed out.”“Yes of course,” I nodded the affirmation. “And the alpha had left her unconscious there while we were at it. When I left his room, she was still there.”Another round of laughter echoed within us.“But seriously,” Agatha said when the laugh subsided. “You cannot blame her. We two have not been able to handle the alpha as well.”“Speak for yourself,” Lara quickly snapped as if the statement had pricked her like a needle on the bare skin. “You ar
-Prisca- Yes! My plan has finally worked. I am going to exchange marital vows with Adonai and legally be his wife.It does not count that I am impersonating Aria. He is not going to be tied to Aria in reality but to me.I sat beside him, before the crowd with my face veiled and a sly smile across my face which no one could see.A few people had suggested I take off the veil so they could behold my face but Adonai politely declined. No one pushed it, and I successfully got tied to Adonai.I had feared that Dante would have wanted to expose me because he didn't seem pleased with the plan, but he didn't.I was led to Adonai's room while the party continued in the hall. There I took off my veil and sat comfortably on his bed.He was not here yet, for he was still having some drinks with his visitors. I chuckled happily. Alas, my dream has come to pass.The door opened and I quickly adjusted. I hissed when I saw it was Ariel."What are you doing here?" I asked sharply. She did not reply b
-Adonai-It took a while before what she said registered in my head."Are you insane?" I retorted, placing a finger on the side of my head."No, I am not," she responded confidently."How then can you say such a thing?""I am only trying to help you, alpha," she said. "Think of what the people at the table will say when you return there without a bride.""And have you thought about what it would be when they also realize that you are not Aria?""They wouldn't have to know. A bride can be veiled. You are not under any law to reveal your face to anyone. I believe that they might think that is what you want and they will respect it."I hesitated, trying hard to think about what Prisca had said. She was right. I would be seen as a fool if I returned to the people with the news of Aria eloping with another man and there would be no wedding.It would be the second time I gathered people and something ruined the ceremony."You know what, you are right. But this is just for the ceremony. You
-Adonai- I took in a deep breath to steady myself when Maria approached me, her face strained with worry and told me Aria was nowhere to be found.I had asked her to go get her since the ceremony was about to start."What do you mean by she is nowhere to be found," I asked, my voice in a low whisper so the people at my table would not hear."Even I don't understand myself," Maria said. "But she is not in her room and no one seems to have seen her."No, this cannot be happening now. I braced myself and tried to remain calm."Uhm, gentlemen, I will be right back," I addressed the men at my table."Is everything fine?" Dominick asked as I excused myself and I told him all was well. All was not well at all. A few minutes to the start of my wedding the bride is nowhere to be found.I walked with long strides towards Aria's room with Maria following steadily behind me."I was wondering if she had to quickly do something outside the palace because it doesn't seem like she..." Maria trailed
-Aria- I groaned in pain as I opened my eyes. I tried to move but discovered I couldn't, I was tied firmly to something I could not see, a pole or something.What's going on? I tried to think. The last thing I remembered was being prepared for my wedding and then strange faces appeared in my room.I looked up sharply when I realised what had happened. I was in an empty room that was void of anything normal in a location I could not fathom.I recognised the faces in the room as the ones who had walked in on me."Who are you and why did you kidnap me?" My throat was dry, as well as my voice. None of them bothered to give me an answer."Hey, say something. Who sent you?" I pushed."Keep it down Aria," a very familiar voice said. "This is not the palace where you speak anyhow you like and everyone is answerable to you.""Prisca?" I muttered under my breath but she heard."Tis me, yes," she stretched her hands out in a show of dignity. "Flesh and blood."I looked on in shock. Is this a dr
-Aria- I was being dressed by the maids for the wedding when Adonai walked in, and they all trooped out to give us a moment."Is anything the matter?" I asked, searching his face."Not really," he replied with a small smile on his face. "I just wanted to see you."I rolled my eyes at him."You see me every day," I pointed out."Yeah," he replied with a sigh as he walked to a stool and sat in front of me, his eyes watched me tenderly."What?" I shook my head with a chuckle."You know, there is this old story we heard while growing up," he said."Okay?""That you become too excited and overwhelmed about someone or something because you are about to lose it.""Hmm." I breathed out. "Never heard about that before. But why are you talking about that? Are you thinking I might leave you?""No. I am relating it to how excited I am about getting married to you," he said and took my hand in his. "Are you ready to become Mrs. Adonai and Luna of this pack?""You think I am ready?" I threw back a
-Adonai- Today is the day I officially get married to Aria. I was sure my face radiated the joy I felt within. I could not hide it.I walked around the building, watching as the maids and guards ran around to put things in order. It is going to be a very big ceremony. Invites have been sent far and near, and all the provinces and clans, big and small packs, would be gathered for the wedding.Werewolves coming from far distances had arrived the night before. Dante approached me with a grimace on his face."So you are finally getting married to Aria," he commented."So am I," I said with the same energy."Well, how does that make you feel?" He wanted to know and I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to discern his reason for asking."Complete, I guess. A man with a family.""Mmm," Dante hummed and nodded. "True.""And after this, you also have to settle down as well. You have a fiancé already, so that wouldn't be hard, I guess?"He chuckled."Well then, after you."While we spoke, alpha Do
-Aria- My heart skipped a beat when I lifted my eyes to the door and saw Adonai. He walked in with a blank expression on his face, approaching us slowly."Adonai, Zafa here was just telling me that he was leaving the pack. It was what we were discussing before you walked in," I jumped in to explain hurriedly when he had not asked me anything.Adonai did not respond. I tried to read his expression, but he hid it well. He stood beside me and faced Zafa, who looked back boldly as if Adonai had not walked in on us almost about to kiss."Is that so?" Adonai finally spoke, addressing Zafa."It is indeed so," Zafa confirmed, unshaken."But you did not tell me," Adonai said dryly. "You came to my wife to tell her but I am not aware of what is going on.""She was the one that sent for me first," Zafa replied. "And I did plan to tell you, though, she is the reason why I came to this pack. Either way, you would have known anyway."I was worried about the way the two were going. I wouldn't want
-Aria-I moved away from the view of the window and sucked in a deep breath. I was getting better already, but health came with its problems. I was not on good terms with both Zafa and Adonai, and the two avoided me.I had thought Zafa was acting up because of his feelings for me, but when I found out what happened, it was already too late.I confronted Adonai, too, and now he was upset with me even though he had taken off the sentence on Zafa and he was a free man again. That did not solve anything.And it is funny to think that the wedding ceremony was just in two days and the couple were not talking to each other. Adonai might as well as just call off the wedding for now, or postpone it. I loved him and can not wait to get married to him but at least, not like this."Never have I seen a bride looking like this a few days before her wedding, except, of course, she doesn't love the groom, which is not the case for you," Prisca commented."A lot of things are going on in my head," I t
-Adonai- I couldn't help the joy that radiated all over me, happy because both Aria and my baby were safe and in good condition. I quickly took my bath so I would return to Aria and spend some time with her. She was all that mattered to me and not this ungrateful pack I led.I would take a break from everything and create a special date for me and her. I have put plans for all the wedding preparations to kick start with immediate effect. I am wasting no time in making her my wife, whether the pack likes it or not.I walked into the room to meet her talking with Prisca, who excused us immediately after I walked in."Hey love," I greeted Aria brightly as I dragged a stool and sat close to her."Hi," her voice was less enthusiastic than before but I decided not to dwell on it."So how are my babies doing," I asked as I rubbed my hands against each other."Good," she answered shortly."Okay..." At this point, I was sure something was wrong. "Is everything alright? Why are you sounding th