HIS MATE, HER FATE

The feast was winding down, laughter and chatter filling the grand hall as the Alphas from neighboring packs conversed over drinks. Father was among the top 5 most powerful Alphas his presence demanded respect, but from stories and whisperers have heard the most feared and respected was the lycan king, known for his ruthless nature in the battlefield. Without any friends or family that cared I never knew much about pack matters. In short I was just basically a human living among predators. I moved quietly, blending into the background with the other omegas as we began clearing the tables. Even among the omegas, I was treated like an outcast. A whisper here, a nudge there—it was subtle, but the disdain was evident. No one liked me not even my own family.

 I gathered a stack of plates, my head bowed low, careful not to meet anyone's gaze. My father sat at the far end of the table, deep in conversation with the visiting Alphas. His commanding presence dominated the room, his laughter echoing as he shared stories with them. Daisy sat beside him, radiant in her blue dress, the picture of a perfect family only I wasn't one of them. 

Beside her was the Alpha's son she had danced with earlier. He was tall, with dark hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to pierce through everyone he looked at. His charm was undeniable, his confidence radiating in every movement. But as I worked, I noticed something unsettling.

He was staring at me.

I kept my head down, pretending not to notice, but the weight of his gaze was impossible to ignore. My pulse quickened, and my hands trembled as I picked up more dishes. Why was he staring at me? I was nobody—less than nobody.

Needing to escape, I clutched the plates tightly and made my way to the kitchen that was empty. The door swung shut behind me, and I let out a shaky breath. The kitchen was warm and bustling, but it felt safer than out there under the scrutiny of the hall.

I focused on the task at hand, scrubbing dishes as the sound of running water drowned out the noise of the feast. The repetitive motion helped calm my nerves, though the unease from earlier lingered.

---

It wasn't long before I felt the air shift behind me. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and I turned to find him - the guy daisy had been cozy with standing in the doorway.

"Um can I help you?" I asked hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart was filled with dread for whatever reason.

He didn't answer right away, his green eyes scanning the room before settling on me. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he stepped closer.

"You're Arianne, right?" he asked, his tone smooth but laced with something that made my stomach churn.

"Yes," I said cautiously, gripping the edge of the sink. "Do you need something?"

"You caught my eye earlier," he said, leaning casually against the counter. His eyes darkened as he spoke, a predatory glint flashing in them. "I couldn't help but notice how pretty you are."

The compliment felt wrong, dripping with an insincerity that made me want to bolt. I took a step back, the edge of the sink digging into my spine.

"Thank you but I have to get back to work" I said quickly, hoping to end the conversation.

But he didn't leave. Instead, he moved closer, his smirk widening.

"You don't belong here do you?" he said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "The way they treat you... it's a shame. Someone like you deserves better."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "I... I should really get back to work."

As I tried to step around him, he blocked my path, his hand reaching out to grab my arm.

"Don't be in such a hurry," he said, his grip firm but not painful. Not yet anyway. "I just want to talk."

His proximity made my skin crawl. There was something in his eyes—something dark and dangerous—that sent a jolt of fear through me.

"Please, let me go," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

But he didn't. Instead, his grip tightened, and he leaned in closer his breath fanning my face. "Don't be like that. I'm just trying to get to know you better."

I pushed against him, panic rising in my chest. "I said let me go!"

Before he could respond, the kitchen door swung open with a loud bang.

"Arianne?" Daisy's voice rang out, sharp and filled with confusion, anger and hatred. She stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes darting between me and the Alpha's son, who immediately released my arm and stepped back.

"Daisy, I—" I began, desperate to explain because I knew pretty well how this would turned out if it got to father.

"She was flirting with me," the Alpha's son said smoothly, cutting me off. His tone was laced with false innocence, but his eyes gleamed with malice. "I tried to tell her I wasn't interested, but she wouldn't listen."

My heart plummeted.

"What?" Daisy's voice was cold, her expression unreadable.

"He's lying!" I blurted out, tears stinging my eyes. "I didn't—"

"Enough!" Daisy snapped, her glare silencing me. She turned to the Alpha's son, her expression softening. "I'm so sorry about her. She doesn't know her place."

Her words felt like a slap, but I couldn't find the strength to defend myself even if I did no one would listen anyway. The Alpha's son smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"It's fine," he said with a shrug, as if he were the victim in all of this.

"How can you lie with a straight face, you're the one who cornered me trying....." Before I could finish my words a hard slap fell on my cheek leaving me in shock.