Chapter Two—The Awakening Ceremony
I could smell the beaded sweat streaming down his jawline, probably because he was making his morning rounds from guarding the perimeter. I could hear the sound of his breathing as he spoke, the huff of his pure arrogance and audaciousness.
Nikolai Ashford, the one man I vowed to beat one day. An arrogant prick, responsible for the ugly scar on my left arm.
I scrambled away from the kitchen table as soon as I heard them come close to the back door, ready to head back up the stairs when I heard the disgruntled voice of my father,
"Anna!!"
Here we go again.
I sighed deeply, answered, "Yes father."
I turned around to meet the disdainful look on his face, the man who called himself my father, gazing upon me with so much hatred and disgust. I carefully evaded looking at the other man standing next to him.
"According to Nik," he stated, "You've been sparring again with those scums."
I frowned deeply, "Scums? You mean Omegas?"
"Exactly what I said."
I took a deep breath, "Yes."
"Pitiful," he spat on the wooden floor, "Your sister is out there, doing her best to make this family proud. Tonight she's going to bond with the Alpha and better our chances, and yet here you are—filthy, fighting with those scums to make yourself feel better about being a weakling."
My teeth gritted as my hands balled into a tight fist. I wasn't going to cry, he's said much worse things to me before but chastising me in front of my enemy?? It made my heart almost shred to pieces.
"I'm sure it was all in good fun sir," Nikolai finally spoke up, "After all she's not going to find a bond tonight, let her roam like the weak omega she is."
The urge to spit on his face filled me greatly, his false sense of superiority over me, I hated it. My father despised me, everyone knew that, the last thing I wanted was his overly indulged self sweeping in as if to save the day.
Father grunted as he brushed past me, I nipped my bottom lip, my cheeks flared with color just as I turned around to leave as well, when he called out my name,
"Anna"
"What?" I snapped as I sharply turned around.
He strode forward, placing a hand on my shoulder as he leaned close to my ear, "I'm bonding with your sister tonight. Don't ruin it."
I scoffed loudly and yanked his hands away from my shoulder, "I'll be out of your way. The last thing I want is being part of a stupid mating ritual anyway."
He grabbed a hold of my hand, fast as ever, even as I tried to maneuver my way out of his grasp, pinning my arms behind my back which made me wince in pain. He was the Alpha, the strongest of the pack and I—an omega, was no match for him.
"Pathetic as always," he murmured, finally letting go of my arm, "Tell Aria, my love, that I'll see her tonight."
I watched him leave. I tried to fight it, the pain and anguish I felt, but my eyes had already formed a glass shield and a stray tear found it's way out of my duct. I wanted to run away, leave everything and everyone behind but it was forbidden. Instead I made my way back into the bedroom, weaved into my bedcovers and curled into a ball of solitude as I sobbed into my pillow.
~~~~~~~~~
The old town square was dimly lit with lanterns hanging from poles all stringed together with fairy lights. The moonlight shone as bright as ever, although in its normal form. At the crack of midnight it was bound to become red, thus the awakening and every highly connected werewolf finds their one true mate.
I let out a sharp breath as I dusted the hem of my dress. Aria looked as stunning as ever, clad in a lavender dress with beautiful flower embroidery at the hem, she also had a crown of daises weaved carefully into her hair—the most beautiful woman at the occasion.
I frowned deeply at my simple green frock that looked like it had seen better days, wearing my fighting boots along with it, and staying still as the seams around the edges were too weak for support. Father refused to buy me a new dress as punishment for my negligence of my familial duties, in a simpleton's word….not getting any marital prospects.
The other townsfolk ignored me greatly as they rallied around their own kind—Betas, Alphas and Lunas, all forming a group and conversing whilst purposely leaving my kind out of the mix. The other Omegas remained in the shadows, close to the trees to avoid being ridiculed and I wanted to join them, but father ordered me to stay put thereby making me an outcast for all the town to see.
"It's starting." Whispers started to fill the town's square.
I looked up and marveled at the sight of the red moon taking over, like a fierce warrior coming to take it's rightful place. Gasps and cheers from everyone filled the air as both genders separated into two factions. A line was drawn in the middle as everyone stood quietly. The torches were blown out as a mysterious wind overtook the place. It was starting.
My eyes darted towards to my sister, bridled with pride and grace as chin remained uptight, waiting for the moon to do it's work. Then I caught a glimpse of Nikolai even though he was nowhere near, my heart thumped a beat which I found surprising.
Pathetic.
He was taunting me so much to the point where he was in my dreams now.
I shook my head vigorously as a piercing sound filled my ears. My eyes shut tightly from the glimpse of a bright light as my head throbbed. An excruciating bout of pain coursed through my veins, I fought hard to hold it back, grabbed onto the torch posts for support when it finally hit me—-
An exhilarating force, streaming down my bloodline, extremely painful and yet—Captivating, enthralling, a titillating magnet pulling me closer to something…or someone.
I still couldn't see as the bright light blinded my sense of sight, a cursing red light. My legs started to move against my will, I grabbed onto the branch, unwilling to let go but the force pulling forward was way stronger than anything I'd ever felt. I screamed in pain, a sweet loving pain as I felt the pacing of my movement quicken with time.
Then I stopped, my pain subsided and the bright red fog disappearing into thin air. My ears regained normalcy and I started to hear the murmurs and gasps from other townsfolk, I finally opened my eyes and—-
Nikolai.