Ezra
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't sure where I was for a second. The room looked the same, and the bed felt the same, but something in me felt… different. I couldn't explain it.
I heard light footsteps outside the door, and then it opened. The same elf maids walked in.
Seris smiled at me. "Young omega, it is time."
"Time for what?" I asked, it was like my memory was new or something.
"The ceremony," she said. "We will guide you to it."
Elira stepped forward. "We must remind you of a few things before we leave this room."
"Okay," I said.
"First," Seris said, "your responses must be respectful. If the king or the princes speak to you, answer clearly. Do not mumble."
Thalen added, "Do not lower your head too much. You are an omega of the palace now. You are not a lowborn omega."
I nodded. "Alright."
"Walk slowly," Riva said. "Do not rush or fidget. Move like you know who you are."
"Do not allow anyone to touch you unless they are permitted," Solenne added.
"If someone tries, our guards will remove them."
"And your expression," Nemea said softly, "should stay calm. Even if the crowd stares too much, which they will ."
I took a deep breath. "You're basically saying I should act like a royal."
"Yes," Seris said without blinking.
"Because you are."
The thing is… I believed her. I didn't know why, but I did. There was this sudden burst of confidence that I didn't know where it came from but it was there.
"Now," Elira said, "the ceremony has already begun. They are waiting for you."
They guided me out of the room and into a long hallway which was lit with floating lights.
Two palace guards waited at the end of the hallway. They wore silver armor with blue patterns and had long spears. When they saw me, they bowed slightly.
"We will escort the omega," one guard said.
Seris turned to me and gave a small nod. "We will follow from behind."
They led me down a final flight of stairs. As soon as the doors below opened, I heard noises. There was talking, laughing, clinking plates, music. It was just like a full blown party.
When we entered the large hall, the place was packed. Hundreds of people were scattered around long tables.
And in the middle, a long carpet stretched all the way down to a raised platform where what I assumed was where the royal family sat.
Normally, I would have been panicking but I felt so… different. Something was wrong somewhere.
We made our way to a small waiting area on the right side. The ceremony people were already calling out titles and names.
"Presenting the newly awakened alpha of the royal bloodline—Prince Adrian of the Northern Star!"
Everyone clapped loudly. He walked in with so much aura, there was this sudden feeling of jealousy. He was tall, had pointy ears like the others. His build was immaculate and his red hair shone as he walked.
Something inside of me wanted to reach for him and stab him with a sword but I held back. I didn't know why but if I wasn't sure before, I was sure now that something wasn't right in my body.
Then the announcer raised his voice.
"And now, we welcome the royal alpha heirs—Prince Allen, Prince Williams, Prince Richard, and Prince Xenon!"
From the way the atmosphere changed, you could tell that people were excited. Some omegas stepped forward a bit too far, trying to get noticed.
The doors opened and the four princes walked in.
Allen—the one who had visited the other day had bright white hair that almost glowed under the lights.
Williams, the one who was there when I awakened, had orange hair so clean it looked like the color of sunsets. Richard had black hair, neat and smooth. Xenon had black hair too, but his was messy in a cool way.
Xenon was the one who had a mark on his eyebrow and damn, he looked so good with it. Their elf ears only added to their hotness.
All four of them were disgustingly handsome, to the point where every omega there looked like they were ready to faint. Some actually fanned themselves with their hands.
The princes didn't care. They walked past everyone like they already knew they were the center of attention. They bowed slightly to the king and then sat beside him.
The king looked like the older version of them but damn, he'd make a fine ass sugar daddy in my other world.
He had a mix of all their hair colors in such a beautiful way and from only looking at him, you could tell that he was really strong.
Then the hall quieted again. The announcer raised a different scroll.
"And now… the new omega of the palace. Ezra Emberlock!"
For a moment, I forgot that was supposed to be my name. The guards gestured for me to move. I stepped onto the long carpet and walked forward.
As soon as I took the first step, the hall fell silent. Everyone turned. I could feel the aura of everyone in the room.
It was like my senses had heightened. I could tell what they were whispering, the energy exuding from them too but one energy was higher than the rest and it was jealousy.
I kept walking. I kept my steps straight. Where the air of confidence came from, I didn't know but I was sure of one thing—I didn't feel intimidated by anyone in this room.
The look on the four alpha's faces was full of interest and I could tell they weren't thinking clean thoughts and truth be told, neither was I.
I reached the middle of the hall where the circle for the ritual was drawn. I stood inside the circle.
The king rose to his feet. He stared at me with a strange expression—part surprise, part curiosity.
"The new omega will now be blessed," the king said.
Two elders came forward. They wore long robes that had gold patterns. They lifted their hands, and the circle came alive. I felt a small breeze move around me.
They murmured a chant. Then one elder placed a hand over my chest.
"The omega stands firm," he said. "He carries no rival hormones."
The other elder nodded. "His womb is alive and ready for conception."
Not this again.
"The blessing is complete," the king said.
I thought that was it.
But no.
The elder unrolled another sheet, and I knew something dumb was coming from the way the crowd leaned forward.
"And now," he said loudly, "the final ritual. The unveiling of the omega before the royal bloodline."
My brain stopped working for two seconds.
Unveiling?
Wait—what unveiling?
The elder turned to me. "Young omega, remove your clothing."
I blinked slowly.
Remove my what?
He repeated, calm as ever, "Your clothing. All of it."
He had to be kidding me. I stared at the faces of the Alphas and the king. Matter of fact, everyone here and none of them looked like they were joking.
There was absolutely no way I was going to strip in front of an entire crowd, absolutely no way.