I wouldn't survive this fall. My life flashed before my eyes and desperation pooled my soul. Moon goddess, please. One desperate wish. One frantic prayer. 'Please. I don't want to die.’ Then I landed. I landed. And my eyes fluttered open as a gasp ripped out of my throat. I landed… on a bed? What the hell? The piercing beeps and whirs of equipment assaulted my ears, followed by the strong smell of antiseptic. Where was I?! This wasn't Valtaria. *** A shove down the stairs was the birth of a new life, an old soul, and a new body. Maya’s rebirth is her weapon, if a mere Omega can cheat death, then surely she can do a lot more. Like bringing her foes to their knees and making Valtaria plead her mercy. She can shame the man who once deemed her worthless but now finds her irresistibly desirable Slowly, Maya starts to realize her new life isn't all it pans out to be and her demons no longer lurk in the shadows. They manifest right before her eyes in ways she never thought possible.
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“Mayalupa!” The head maid’s voice pierced into my ears and I looked up, immediately jumping to my feet. No! No! No! She mustn't find me like this! I could hear her footsteps echoing from the corridor and my poor heart thumped in sync with every step she took. She would murder me if she found me doing nothing. Doing nothing equaled lazing around. Technically, I'd call it taking a deserved break! The rest of the maids had gone to scrub the corridors clean, in preparation for tonight's ball. For the first time in five years, the young Alpha would arrive from his voyage and would be meeting his mate tonight, under the blessings of the full moon. We already knew who that would be. None other than Lady Elenore, the daughter of the Pack's Beta. There were so many rumors surrounding their relationship, despite how he'd been absent for five years. No one talked about where or why he'd gone for so long. I didn't care, so why start now? Most of the maids said he wrote Lady Elenore letters every night and named everything he owned after her. Those two families were the closest and Lady Elenore had never forgotten to rub it in our faces that she would end up being the young Alpha's destined mate. But what do I know about mates, or destiny? I barely unlocked Sage, my wolf. Then again, how romantic would that be? The mere thought of love under the moonlight made my toes curl with excitement. But wolves like me, cursed and rejected, romance wasn't a luxury we dared to afford. Even excitement came with a price. I doubt there would even be a mate for an Omega like me. “Coming, ma'am!” I cried out, fastening my faded wrapper around my waist. I swear it used to be blue, but now it was a dead shade of brown and would ruin an entire school of fish if by mistake it dropped into a river. The only other shorts I owned got ripped yesterday while scrubbing the walls of the dungeon. “Maya! You little good for nothing!” She yelled again and I met her before she reached the door, my breath caught. Sapphire stood before me with a mean scowl gracing her expression. My stomach sank. Sapphire was the scariest woman in the entirety of this packhouse, after Lady Elenore. That one was the devil's seed herself. I only remembered she owned a heart when she spoke of how fond of the Young Alpha she was. He was just an idea to me. Never seen the man, and neither did I want to. He was a possession of Lady Elenore and that stood for a paramount of trouble. The entire clan could go fuck themselves for all I care. Back to Sapphire, her brown, threatening eyes locked on mine, squeezing an apology out of my throat. “I'm sor—” The words disappeared from my head when her palm hit my cheek, hard. Tears glistened in my eyes involuntarily. She'd slapped me with her core strength. This bitch! She was a full Valtarian, a third-tier wolf but stuck to clean the asses of the prestigious families with us. I wasn't surprised she was rejected by her mate with such a nasty temper and wooden face. A smile could only be carved into her. I choked the tears back, my hand involuntarily rubbing the sting. Crying would only make her feel stronger. “I'm sorry…” Sapphire pushed her index finger to my chest, “Daughter of a useless traitor!” She spat, eyes red with venom. “Are you done with all the work assigned to you? Have you come to be a useless piece of junk like your father was?” Anger bubbled in the depth of my chest and my fists turned balled. I'd love to throw her a punch across the face, just once. “Are you done with all the work you've been assigned!?” I reluctantly nodded and she continued to stab her index finger to my chest. That was enough strength to have me hitting the wall hard, repeatedly. “And you're here? Sitting and doing nothing, Tail-wolf?!” I hated when she called me that. Omega was condescending enough! “I-it's…” My voice trailed. “I'm to…wash the guard's bathrooms but it's…occupied so—” “Shut up!” She roared and I shook in fear. Sapphire, hovering over me, let her eyes roam my chest and her fingers curved around my necklace. She paused, as though admiring it. It was the only thing I'd gotten from my father before he was incinerated, right before my eyes, seven years ago. It was attached to a fading green locket that contained the only picture of my mother I owned. Though it had lost color, I cherished it more than life itself. I mean, it was confirmation that the sky didn't rip to puke me out. I wasn't lucky enough to meet her before she fled to Semtle— the human world— to live safely and I didn't blame her for it. It was better to think she was alive somewhere, than to be sure of her death if she'd stayed. We, werewolves and humans, were separated by a barrier, so they said. But any wolf who as much as asked questions about Semtle would meet the same fate as my father, burned to mere ashes and forgotten the next minute. I still owned a nasty burn scar on the right side of my face from trying to save him. I tasted a portion of his death, though minute. The scar spread from my nose to my ears, completely disfiguring whatever illusion of beauty I might have had. Now, I wasn't particularly pleasant to look at. Pretty wasn't a word I related to, never had. My skin was scaly and dry like the walls of the packhouse itself. That was my ill-fate. The price to pay when your father betrays his Valtarian legacy and falls in love with a Duskborn. A mere human. Now, you're stuck here, slaving away to make up for his sins. I didn't know who made the rules or what was so special about the human world, but I was desperate to prove to the pack that I wouldn't end up like him. I wouldn't ask questions about Semtle, ever, even though curiosity kept me up at night and gnawed at my insides. I wondered if the woman who birthed me was happy, wherever she was. All those questions simmered inside me but I mustn't be like my father. “This is a pretty piece. How dare you own that?” “It's mine!” “Not what I asked, stupid!” I jerked back. She mustn't touch that. “I'll go wash the bathrooms now, ma…” Too late. Sapphire grabbed both my arms and shoved me against the unevenly cemented walls. The pain from the scratch shot up my veins and I winced, unable to fight the tears this time. “I'm not done checking it, stupid!” “It's…” “Lady Sapphire?” Another voice called. It was Alya, the only friend I'd made in this hellhole. “The chief of guards needs your attention downstairs.” Alya winked at me before running off. I mouthed a quick Thank you to her. Sapphire released pressure on my arms. “I'll be back for you, scum.” She pushed a heavy bag into my arms. “Take this to Lady Elenore. Spread them on the hangers and have her pick her choice for the ball tonight. Mess this up and I'll have your head, Tail-wolf. The ball is in one hour!” I pursed my lips. “Yes, ma'am.” The packhouse was a fortress of stones and bricks. Well, the expensive ones. It was built like a maze, and even seven years of exploring the interior did nothing to lessen the confusion. I arrived at Lady Elenore’s room. It wasn't exactly her home, but she spent half her life in the packhouse rather than her father's, waiting for this day to come. I inhaled deeply before pushing the huge doors open. It conceded with a creak and I stepped in. Lady Elenore was nowhere in sight. I had never been happier. I moved to the huge table at the other end of the room and lit up a candle, then I unzipped the bag. “Woah!” My eyes glistened in awe. The dress was beautiful. Ridiculously so. I picked out the fragile material from the bag, my mouth still left ajar. A visual representation of paradise, it was. “Where'd they even…get this?” I held it to my chest and waddled to the mirror. I'd never seen anything more empowering. It felt like a crime holding it with these sinful pairs of hands. Would she find out if I wore this? Just once? She was the same weight as I was, though taller. We had the same straight black hair and, a similar petite physique. Just this once. It could be my dress too, for all I cared. I didn't want to, but my body loved pretty too. I slipped into the damn dress and stood before the mirror, admiring what I looked like. I raised my hand to my face and covered my scar. It could stay hidden for a second. It wasn't all I was. My hair fell to my shoulders in waves. “You can be pretty too, Maya…” My fingers brushed against the lazy fabric, glistening with sky-blue sequins. “Maya, you…are stunning…” My other hand shielded my scar from the mirror. “You're…beautiful. You're—” A knock rattled on the door and I almost fled from my own skin. Oh god! Oh god! What to do!? I was too panicked to move an inch! Heavy winds blew in the moment those doors opened and the candle went off. I was rooted to a spot, my heart trying to claw its way out of my chest. What to do!? Then it hit me, like a punch to the gut. That scent! It lit up something intimate inside of me, something carnal! I couldn't explain it! Whoever had just come in…wasn't Lady Elenore. I'd never picked up this scent in the entire packhouse. It… Aah! My veins were pumped with it, whatever this ecstatic feeling was. The scent of my own arousal soon filled my nose. My hands trembled by my side, but I couldn't have my body move even if I wanted to. It…killed me slowly, forcing its way up my nostrils and all the way up my nose, up my brain. I felt it everywhere. My senses were heightened and Sage…I- I…feel her! My wolf stirred awake for the first time in two years. Mate? Was… it my mate?! I couldn't turn. I couldn't move. I couldn't see a thing! I let the feeling burn me alive. The figure pulled closer, killing all the distance between us in just a few steps. Their body pressed against mine from behind and a small involuntary moan slipped out of my mouth. I can't fucking run away! "Mine," the voice whispered, his voice low and husky. "You are mine, Nore. My Luna. My mate.” No, wait! It can't be. Right? His hand trembled as he reached out to trace the curve of my neck. I shivered at his touch, my pulse pounding in my veins. With firm pressure, he tilted my head to the side, exposing the vulnerable skin of my neck. It feels so good! I can't fight it! “I'm…” I strained, blinded by pleasure. What was this feeling!? “I'm not Ele—” Argh! I felt his warm breath danced across my skin, and my heart skipped a beat. Then, in a swift motion, his teeth sank into my flesh. Pain and pleasure mingled in a rush of sensation as I felt his mark take hold. I was his, body and soul. I moaned loudly when he released me and stepped back. “Mate…” He said, voice full of satisfaction. “I knew it! It was you all along, Elenore.” His happiness would last until I turn.MAYA“You son of a bitch!”Atlas's anger boiled over as he continued to pummel Adam, who stood motionless, his eyes cast downward. “You're incompetent!”Atlas yelled, his fists flying. “You had one job! You're supposed to protect my wife, and you can't even do that!"I watched in horror as Atlas's rage intensified, his words cutting deep. I'd never seen him like this before, and it frightened me.“Atlas, stop!” I screamed, rushing over to him. “What's wrong with you?!”I cradled my stomach, my stomach hurting from yelling at him but he wouldn’t listen, almost as though the Atlas I knew had disappeared. What the hell? I was bewildered, my heart racing despite the fatigue that weighed on my bones. “Atlas!” Atlas finally released Adam, who stumbled backward, his face bloodied but his expression eerily calm. I turned to Atlas, my anger and fear boiling over.“Why are you acting like this?” I demanded, my voice shaking. “Why are you more concerned about yelling at Adam than checking on me
MAYA“Please…”It wasn’t Arzhel— I must be hallucinating. Why would he even be here? I wasn’t Maya, not anymore.I crumpled to the ground, the searing pain in my abdomen felt like a thousand knives stabbing me repeatedly. I couldn't catch my breath. Just as I thought I was going to pass out.“Hey, are you okay?”I tried to respond, but my voice was barely a whisper. The voice grew louder, and I felt a hand on my shoulder, rolling me onto my back. That's when I saw him, and that it really was him—Arzhel. His face was etched with concern, but I didn't want his help. I didn't want anything to do with him.“Go away, Arzhel,” I managed to croak, trying to push him away. “Leave!”But he didn't listen. He grasped my wrists, holding me in place. “No, I'm not going anywhere. You're clearly in distress. What's wrong?”If this were Valtaria and I was still the same woman I was, the one who would do anything for Arzhel’s car, I would have mistaken this look in his eyes for affection.Why…did he
MAYAQuestioning why I had woken up to a sinking feeling in the depths of my stomach would be avoiding the elephant in the room. Yesterday. Ugh. I had walked out on Atlas, denying him everything he had a right to.It wasn’t like I wanted to, but all the guilt I was being spoon-fed was toxic to my stomach, more than I gave myself credit to handle. My limbs were breaking and this notion of revenge wasn’t a strong enough motivation to haul me out of bed.Sitting there with the hurt and the toil of it all, the doorknob turned and it sprang open. My breath hitches, my ears ringing for no reason at all. Atlas walked in bearing a tray with an aroma that disclosed maybe not the reason behind it, but what it was.I saw no reason for breakfast in bed after I practically shoved him off me and locked myself up in my room last night. “Good morning,” he said, smiling with his eyes. I answered with a nod, instinctively pulling the sheets closer. Was there anything like being too aware of one’s body
MAYAIt was more than shock, this feeling that encapsulated me.It was raw, undefined fear, my nerves freezing and my heart pounding so intensely I was sure it would shatter if it beat any harder. Stepping into our home with my feet didn’t feel like I was doing it myself.It was almost as though I had tumbled into autopilot. I crashed into the chair and immediately asked the maid for a cup of water.This couldn’t be happening. With one hand supporting my stomach, guiding my baby while the other twisted my hair, I reeled. I thought I could handle this, but this weakness that I was subjected to made me feel nothing but disgust towards myself.I should be stronger than this. Even as I said all these, droplets of tears still spilled from my eyes urgently. I hissed, wanting to stop thinking about it.They moved into this estate? Why? And with Elenore. I wanted nothing but for her to be eviscerated, her organs bathing the streets. How dare she!? Just then, the sound of approaching footfall
ARZHELA FEW HOURS EARLIERThere were several things to marvel about in this big city but I never included my dead mate’s look-alike on the list. The contaminated air and noise had been the top of my priorities until this woman— Mara, came and sat right atop it, disorganizing everything in my head.I sank into the couch, gripping a glass of whiskey. How hypocritical of me to fault day drinking when it had become all I had resorted to?Her face haunted me. It took a bit out of my heart every moment and my wolf had known no rest. Such mental torture I hadn’t ever experienced.The way she looked at me with such bountiful hate in her eyes, it fizzled through me, bringing all that buried guilt to the surface, and it just tangled around my neck and knocked the breath out of my throat.Despite not despising Maya as much as I acted, I could have done better, and now that was all I could think of. This guilt would kill me. My suitcase still sat by the door in the huge, unfurnished living room.
MAYA Perhaps I shouldn't have phrased that question as I did because Atlas didn't look very happy about it. That confirmed it and piqued my curiosity even more.Atlas didn't stop walking to the kitchen, which was unnecessary because any of the maids could have done it. We had quite a number of them that I did, too, which made it easier for us to relate. His shoulders slumped, and he turned to me, looking fairly sad. “I was hoping we buried that in the past, but for people like us, our entire lives are documented in papers, all day, every day.”“Oh?”“I'll tell you all about it as we eat, my love, but be rest assured that divorce would have been the biggest mistake of our lives.”Rest assured? Oh please. I'd flipped into a full-blown panic while standing there. I knew nothing and had to believe whatever he said.Did Mara want to leave him? What the hell happened between these two? People didn't just…divorce. Something had to trigger it. As if on cue, Atlas’ voice crushed my thoughts i
MAYA“Honey! How was work today?” My face was met with sloppy kisses and a hug that clenched my intestines. Atlas really loved his wife— I could tell from how he looked at her.At me. My hands fell limply to my side as I didn't know what to do with them. “It was quite hectic but fun nonetheless.”I settled on the couch, and he sat next to me, eyes keen on my face like he was about to start reading my experiences of them. Atlas looked eager to hear me.I groaned, trying to decide what and what part I was going to tell him. Though it might not matter much, I was locked in an elevator with my ex-husband for minutes, and he held my waist, and it felt good.Against my will and defence kind of good. Atlas snuggled closer, brushing the tendrils off my face and tucking them behind my ears. It felt mechanical and cold.“Dinner is almost ready. You can get changed, and then we'll talk all about it, my love. Right now, let's get you showered.”Nodding, I stood up and headed to my room— with Atl
MAYAThe elevator lurched, and I stumbled. Strange noises—creaks, groans, and screeching — echoed through the metal box. My heart racing, I grabbed the handrail.“What's happening?” I demanded, panic creeping in.The lights continued to flicker, and it registered in my head slowly that I was screwed, literally. The elevator had decided to malfunction at the wrongest time— with Arzhel inside it!“Uh,” I looked around, trying to hide my distress. “What's going on?”Silence lingered between us, tense and rigid. It was frustrating how heavy everything was, but it got worse when the last light source went off, too, and the small box plummeted into a torturing black.Immediately, I fished for my phone and turned on my flashlight. I could hear my heart pound against my ribcage, dreading this situation. Arzhel, on the other hand, kept mute ,but I felt his eyes on me from time to time.Beads of sweat breaking on my forehead, I immediately dialed the maintenance number as I didn't have Cheryl's
MAYAThe sight of him caused my stomach to flip, and it felt like the walls of the room were closing in on me. It knocked the breath out of me, and I just stood there, staring blankly at the very bane of my existence.ARZHEL? Why was he here? How did he get there? The shock on his face mirrored mine. It wasn't every day you got to see the woman you'd killed.My blood went cold, and all the pressure clashed in, tightening my stomach and plunging me to the depths of hell. In just three weeks, he looked nothing like I'd remembered.His eyes, wide open in awe, were sunken, and his skin pale like he'd died for hours. One question: why was he here?I swallowed hard and hid my trembling hands, forcing myself to remember I wasn't Maya anymore. I wasn't the weak woman he'd once left behind. This was my turf, and I'd burn him in it.Straightening my face, I feigned ignorance and stepped forward to Arzhel’s presence. “From what I remember, you had your own company in this state, and I see no rea
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