2. Saved or Captured?

I don't know how long I had been unconscious, but the sky was still dark when I opened my eyes and felt pain all over my body. I could smell blood, though I wasn't sure what part of me was injured. My body lay on broken branches and twigs that had miraculously saved me.

"Oh... my Goddess," I whispered hoarsely.

I didn't dare move, the pain was unbearable. Maybe I had broken bones, I wasn't sure. If I had been a normal human, I would have been dead.

Then everything that had happened came rushing back to me and I felt a deep shock. Benson and Tracy—I never thought they would betray me like this. We cared for each other all this time.

If they had been cruel to me since our parents got married, I wouldn't be surprised to end up in this terrible condition. But they were so kind, which made their betrayal even more heartbreaking.

My body sensed something else. There was a powerful insting, sharp and almost intoxicating. The aura felt strange, exuding strength, passion, sadness, and yet a sense of security.

Whose scent is this?

I tried to move, but the pain made me scream. Then, I heard the sound of a branch snapping—heavy footsteps approaching.

My eyes searched desperately for the source of the sound, and fear crept into every inch of me. My insting sense danger.

This time I'm really going to die.

From above, the footsteps stopped and I heard a low growl. I closed my eyes and surrendered. Maybe I was always meant to die so quickly.

"Look what we have here?"

The deep voice made my skin crawl. The scent of this man was so overwhelming that I couldn't even speak, paralyzed by a strange respect. Where did such a powerful being come from? I'd never encountered anyone like him before.

"Please..." I choked.

He crouched close to my head, his fingers running through my hair. "Please?"

"Don't hurt me."

Then, a few more footsteps approached, and the man scooped me up in his arms in a matter of moments. The pain in my body continued to throb, but it was overwhelmed by a sense of safety as I realized I would live.

All because of the promise of this stranger who was now carrying me through the dark forest, with others following behind.

*

I awoke to a soft bed with the fresh scent of linen. Sunlight streamed in through the large window with the curtains drawn. The pain in my body had eased, though I could still feel traces of bruising.

I had no idea where I was. The last thing I remembered was someone carrying me out of the forest, and now I was here.

"You're awake?"

The voice startled me, and I quickly sat up. On the other side of the bed sat a man, relaxed on a daybed. He was wearing a white shirt, his dark brown hair combed back neatly, and his eyes were fixed on me.

The man's irises were dark gray, his lips thin and red, and his nose sharp and defined. He was incredibly handsome, almost perfect, but his expression was that of a cold-blooded killer.

His gaze made my body weak, and I began to feel short of breath.

What kind of terrifying aura was this?

I didn't dare meet his eyes again, so I nodded weakly, keeping my head down.

He got up from where he was sitting and came to stand next to the bed. My heart started to race, and I felt goosebumps all over my body.

"What's your name?" he asked, staring at me intently, emphasizing the last word, "Omega."

"De-Delilah Ramones."

"Delilah Ramones, King Elijah," he corrected. "You should know your manners."

A king, he said? Could he be...

"I am the King of all Alphas," he declared.

I could only stare at him. The king of all Alphas, right here in front of me?

Oh no. This was really, really bad. There was no way I could get away from someone as powerful and influential as Elijah!

Suddenly, he grabbed my arm a little roughly and pulled me to sit on the edge of the bed. We faced each other so close. But I kept my head down because his eyes felt like they could pierce through my veins.

He frightened me.

"Tell me, Delilah, how did you end up at the bottom of a ravine?" he asked.

"I-I..." My voice trailed off.

The thought of Benson and Tracy stirred up a storm of emotions in me.

"Answer me!" he demanded.

"My siblings tried to kill me."

A low chuckle escaped his lips. "Interesting. Conflict within a pack where you're supposed to protect each other."

Yes, I should have died like Tracy and Benson wanted. Being rescued by this king named Elijah felt worse than death.

"And why would they want to get rid of you? An Omega isn't that important in a pack," he scoffed. "Especially a scrawny little one like you. You wouldn't have many cubs."

His words were cruel!

I could feel his gaze on me, probing, and his aura grew stronger. My whole body felt the weight of his emotional pressure.

Was he going to kill me? Because I sensed real danger from this man. What should I do?

“I was supposed to be the Luna of the pack,” I said honestly.

His hand gripped my chin, and I could feel his warm breath against my face.

“You’re trying to save yourself by claiming to be the future Luna? You dare, Omega?”

“Please…” I sobbed. “That’s the reason they wanted me dead.”

There’s no point in lying.

"Don't lie to me," he hissed. "You are not the Luna your pack has been waiting for. Aren't you ready to admit you've been cast aside, Omega?"

"No, I'm telling the truth!" I protested loudly.

He shook his head and looked at me cruelly. Instantly, I felt myself fall off the bed and collapse to the floor as if all my energy had been drained.

"I could end you right now for lying to me," he said.

I struggled to breathe, shaking my head as I tried to defend myself. "I d-didn't."

Elijah moved closer, and my body shook. He leaned down, his dark gray eyes staring intently into mine.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. "I was the one who was supposed to be Luna for Jeremy. Please, I have to explain; I'll prove I'm not lying to you."

He touched my neck, his grip tightening. "And how are you planning to do that, Delilah?"