Elora, a 25-year-old Omega, is sold as a slave to Lycan King Alaric Greyhound. Despite her circumstances, she falls for him, but on their mating ceremony day, he rejects her for her cousin. Heartbroken, Elora discovers Alaric's rejection was part of a sinister plot against her and her family. Determined to reclaim her place and seek justice, Elora navigates the treacherous Lycan world, uncovering dark secrets and ancient rivalries. Will she overcome her past and forge a new future, or will the shadows of her rejection consume her?
Chapter 1 Unruly Fate
It was on the night of a full moon.
I had just returned from my usual secret hunt. Yeah, a secret hunt. My father would never allow me to even hunt or rally with the rest of the pack, just because of the condition I was born with.
I was known as one of the weakest Omegas in the kingdom, and being of royal blood only made the stigma worse. Well, it's not like they were wrong though. I am indeed weak and frail as a werewolf.
I could barely keep up with the bunny I caught tonight, even while being powered by the full moon. Only the heavens know what would have happened if it was on any normal night; that was why I always sneak out of the palace every full moon.
Sigh... I sighed depressingly as I knelt before a lake in the woods. The silver full moon shone on the rippling lake, and I could see my wavy reflection.
My black hair was dishevelled from all the running, and my blue eyes were pale - I was tired. I sighed once more, cupping my hands and dipping them in the lake.
I scooped out a decent amount of water and splashed it on my face. It was cold, it was rejuvenating. I poured another scoop on my face, then wiped it clean with the arm of my shirt.
I stood up and sprayed a lot of deodorant on and inside my clothes. I couldn't risk getting snuffed out by anyone at the palace.
My father wasn't usually around at this time of the month, making it easy for me to slip out. But if the guards or my mother caught the scent of the woods on me, they'd definitely tell him. I'd be dead.
After emptying the small deodorant bottle on myself, I turned in the direction of the palace. Thanks to my weak trait, my heightened ability to smell was almost dormant; the excessive body spray I used on myself didn't choke my nostrils.
I leaned forward a bit and burst into a sprint, running at my own supernatural pace.
It took me almost twenty minutes to get to the palace. I was really slow.
I snuck my way in and tiptoed into my room.
"Phew..." I sighed in utmost relief, taking off my shirt and trousers.
I rushed into the bathroom and had a nice, long bath. I couldn't tell how long I spent in there, but when I walked out of the bathroom, the full moon had been bloated by thick clouds.
I didn't give much thought to it as I openned my wardrobe and picked one of my 'elegant' dresses; my mother would kill me if she found me wearing mundane clothes.
It was as I fitted the dress on my body, that a subtle knock came from the door.
"Hm?" I raised a brow, zipping up.
But before I could say anything, the person that knocked voiced out, "Princess Elora, it's Damon."
"Oh..." I relaxed a bit, picking up the fluffy skirt of my dress and trotting towards the door.
Damon was a high ranking guard of the kingdom, specifically assigned to guard me. Mother said it was because he might be my potential mate or something. But we never got along in the first place, he was always so rash and short tempered - not my kind of man.
I unlocked the door and pulled down the handle, opening it as I took some steps back. Damon walked in immediately, towering at a height of 6ft. As usual, he was donned in his combat uniform, that was dominantly black, with laces of purple at the shoulders and other parts.
I took a step back away from him as he looked down at me. The last time we were in that position, he wanted to kiss me, but I was quick enough to react and turn my face away.
He ignored my precaution and bowed his head, "His Majesty awaits you at the Throne room. He requests your audience immediately."
"Huh?" My heart almost skipped a beat. Father was back?! Why now of all times? He always returned about three days later. Or did he find out about--
Before I could get lost in my panicked thoughts, Damon spoke again, louder this time, "Princess Elora, he wants to meet you now. You know how tardiness irks His Majesty."
I sighed, "I know, I know. Let's go, then."
He finally raised his head, stared into my eyes intently. For a split second there, I could have sworn to see worry in those black eyes of his. It made me shudder. This was Damon we're talking about, what could possibly get him so worked up?
He fully opened the door and gestured for me to exit the room, which I did, lifting my annoyingly heavy dress. He followed me aftwards and we walked towards the throne room in silence.
However, as the throne room came to my view, a sudden chill encompassed me. The hairs at the back of my neck stood taut like needles. I could feel... Danger.
Before I could process this sudden premonition, some figures blurred at me from all sides, and before I could blink, I found myself kneeling in the throne room. My wrists and ankles were also bound in thick ropes.
I could literally hear the sound of my palpitating heart. What the hell was going on?
One minute I was having an awkward walk alongside Damon, and now I'm suddenly thrown into the throne room, bound in ropes like some slave.
I lifted my gaze from my tied hands and looked ahead.
There he was, my father, Eric Cassius, the Alpha King of our kingdom, regally seated on his obsidian throne. Seated beside him was my mother.
Then just below the steps to his throne, were the six council members, seated opposite each other in pairs of three.
"F-Father?" I found myself stuttering as everyone had their eyes on me.
Just like with Damon, I could feel their worry and... Regret?
God, I just wanted to pry into their minds and find out what the hell was happening! The silence was unnerving!
Then came my father's voice as he leaned forward with interlocked hands, "Elora, my daughter. I'm just going to go straight to the point..."
'Thank you!' I appreciated inwardly; the suspense was killing me. Maybe it should have, because the next words that came out of his mouth shattered my heart.
He adjusted his posture and said, "I'm selling you off to the Greyhound Pack."