A sharp knock interrupted his actions, followed by a maid's cold voice slicing through the tension. "Omega Aria, the Alphas expect you to begin your assigned duties. Don't make the pack wait."
The interruption shattered the unnatural pull, breaking the strange spell of heat-fueled haze. The alpha in Eric flinched, and his wolf recoiled from the dominance he had tried to impose. His body tensed, before shame and regret washed over his face. He quickly stepped back, his hand falling away from her arm, now shaking faintly.
"I… I don't know what came over me," he muttered, voice laced with guilt, the alpha rumble in his tone subdued. "I'm sorry, Aria. That was uncalled for."
Aria's gaze hardened. The amulet — her wolf charm — which he had stolen from her, now sat in his palm, glowing faintly with a silvery hue only those attuned to lunar magic could see. Without a word, she snatched it back and fastened it tightly around her neck. As soon as the charm met her skin, a rush of calm flowed through her, her wolf easing beneath her skin, comforted by the reconnected magic. Despite her outward calm, her thoughts were wild, swirling with confusion and unspoken fear.
"Eric," she said sharply, cutting through his apology like claws through flesh. "You should leave."
His golden eyes shimmered with remorse. "Aria, I know things are… complicated between us now, but we can still—"
"Leave!" she snapped, her voice laced with pure omega fury, rising sharply. "Stay away from me. I don't want anything to do with you."
Her words were a blade to her own heart. The betrayal was still raw — a mating bond broken, her supposed fated partner now suddenly bound to her stepsister, Helena. And worst of all, no one had even consulted her. Her opinion had meant nothing. She was insignificant, just an omega with a faded title. And though deep down she knew Eric wasn't the sole one to blame… the pain had made reason impossible.
Eric opened his mouth to respond, but then closed it. His wolf, sensing the finality in her voice, retreated. He bowed his head, a rare sign of submission from an alpha to an omega.
"I'm sorry," he whispered before turning and walking out, his heavy footfalls echoing with regret and suppressed instinct.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Aria's shoulders dropped. Her hands trembled as she adjusted her dress, smoothing out the wrinkled fabric. The maid's earlier summons replayed in her mind. Ignoring it would only earn her the harsh end of pack discipline — and she'd had enough of humiliation for one moon cycle.
Aria arrived at the packhouse kitchens, where the rest of the omegas were already working. The scent of baked rootbread and calming wolfmint tea filled the air, but it didn't mask the tension. Whispered voices flitted through the space like poisoned arrows, and she caught fragments of their venomous words.
"She still thinks she's royalty."
"Look at her — acting all proud after falling from grace."
"Her own mate left her for her sister. That says everything, doesn't it?"
Aria clenched her fists, claws threatening to unsheathe. Her wolf growled low inside her chest, demanding she snap back, but she forced herself to remain composed.
As she neared her station, one of the senior omegas, a sour-faced she-wolf named Martha, sneered at her.
"You're late, Omega Aria. I suppose punctuality is too much to ask from a spoiled Luna-failure who's used to being pampered."
Aria's jaw tightened. She'd expected this. She lifted her chin, her posture straight, aura steady. "And I suppose you find comfort in belittling others because it distracts from your own inadequacies?"
The kitchen went still. Even the wolves in shift form paused mid-movement. Martha's face flushed red, a growl building in her throat.
"You dare—"
"Yes, I do," Aria cut her off, voice calm but steel-lined. "I may be nothing more than a disgraced omega now, but that doesn't mean I'll roll over for anyone's disrespect."
The silence deepened. Aria's voice, backed by her barely controlled aura, made it clear — she might be without status, but she was not without backbone.
"Enough," another senior maid said quickly, stepping in to cool the escalating tension. "Martha, assign her a task."
Martha glared daggers at Aria, then scoffed. "Fine. Brew a pot of moon-blossom tea and deliver it to the Second She-Wolf… the new Luna-in-training." Her voice dripped venom. "And don't take all day."
Aria turned without reply, her heart a bitter stone in her chest. She headed toward the brewing station, letting her hands focus on the motion.
As she prepared the tea, her thoughts spiraled. Helena. Her adopted sister. Always the adored one, the golden alpha pup of the palace. And now she had taken Eric — the last connection Aria thought she had to love or even simple comfort.
Behind her, the whispers continued, cruel as claws.
"Imagine being forced to serve your own sister after being cast out."
"She deserves it. She's a wolf without a howl."
"If she were even half the alpha Helena is, maybe she'd still have her mate."
Aria bit her inner cheek, hard enough to draw blood. Her wolf snarled quietly in protest, but she buried the sound. No one would see her break. She poured the steeped tea into a polished silver pot, each movement precise, ritualistic — the only control she had left.
With the tray balanced in her arms, she made her way to Helena's chambers.
The ornate double doors loomed ahead, scent-marked with fresh roses, lavender, and Helena's familiar alpha presence — sweet, sharp, commanding. Aria's steps slowed. She inhaled once, steadying herself, and pushed the doors open.
The sight that greeted her made her heart sink. The tray trembled in her hands. Her wolf recoiled, eyes wide. The vision before her twisted the knife already buried deep in her chest, and poured salt into the bleeding wound of her rejection.