ARIA’S POV.

Something cracked against the ridge of my nose and a foul smelling liquid spattered on my face, flowing down to my lips and neck before I even knew it. Someone had stoned me with a spoilt guinea fowl egg.

I didn't shake. It was as though my feet were rooted to the ground.

Nobody gave me the chance to speak my part of the story. On the words of the only man I thought loved me, I was condemned, cloaked with shame and cast away.

The tears streamed down my cheeks freely. I couldn't say anything, my throat seemed clogged. I couldn't move, my limbs felt useless.

So, forcefully, I was dragged across the hard floor without pity, my skin scratching bleedingly through rocks and debris.

It was not just my skin that bled, my heart bled more from the unexpected betrayal.

Alpha Liam knew I was pregnant. He knew when my pregnancy passed the usual maturation duration. In fact, I had complained to him as he was responsible for it anyways.

"Take it slow. Let's watch what finally happens. I will always stay by your side to support you."

Those were his exact words that evening.

Never did I think a burning anger would replace the ease I felt whenever I remembered those words.

I want to ask him why.

I want to know what changed and why he publicly humiliated me after he promised me the world.

After being dragged out of the celebration hall, blindfolded and bundled into a carriage, I listened as the drumming and screams of jubilation resumed.

As a lowly Omega, I was nothing to begin with. How dare I dream of becoming Luna and rising above the dust of being a lowly omega born?

The celebration had continued like I never existed.

That night, as I lay numb inside the carriage while it squeaked away through the dark to a destination I knew nothing about, Alpha Liam marked Mira's pup as his own and declared him his heir.

Pregnant, rejected, betrayed, embarrassed woefully, and then given in exchange for a load of weapons like a worthless card, my ill fate overtook my life.

After so long, the carriage squeaked to a final stop.

"Get off!" a deep voice thundered.

I jerked, pain shutting through my ankles to my head. This was as a result of staying cramped up all through the journey.

I was still blindfolded securely, but I managed to stand, ignoring how lifeless my legs felt, and with my hands, I tried to guide myself through space and out of the carriage.

I was unlucky, because I missed my step and came crashing down against the floor, dust burying my face whole.

Loud laughter erupted from the people around me.

They kept cackling and making fun of me until another person stepped into the space.

This new presence caused a still silence. I could tell whoever it was that just walked in was an authority amongst the rest.

I managed to stand upright from my shame, gently dusting off my clothes.

I didn't know what would happen next. I didn't even know where I was or the people with me, but I didn't care. My life was ruined and that was it.

"From the Bloodridge pack, master! They said our delivery was only worth this," one of the other persons spoke, his voice sharp in respect.

I swallowed. I didn't care anymore. My life was ruined.

"She is pregnant, and she looks weak," another voice spoke.

This particular voice was deep, but it was accompanied by a certain kind of stillness I couldn't quite explain.

It was audacious, like a silent killer, like sweet poison, every air of his word spelt power.

I quivered.

I promised myself to not care, but more than anything now, I wanted to be free of the blindfolds.

"Not even a sick male warrior? This in exchange of our supplies is as good as giving them out for free," the voice spoke again.

My fingers balled in fists beside me. More than the fact that whosoever he was outrightly called me useless, I was more agitated by the fact that he said it like I wasn't even worth his attention.

His words were careless, inconsiderate, out of the wind.

Just then, I heard a flap of a flowing robe. Then, heavy footsteps receded almost immediately.

"Move it!" came the same voice that ordered me out of the carrier. Then, someone nudged my shoulders roughly from behind causing me to almost trip.

I moved.

I didn't know where I was going but I kept walking. Still blindfolded, nobody guided me, but occasionally, I was dragged to keep to direction.

"Stop right there!" the voice came again, causing me to stop in my tracks.

The blindfold was peeled out of my face roughly. My eyes were painful, and my vision, evenly blurred. I rubbed my eyes instinctively.

Everything gradually came into focus to reveal a woman I guessed was in her late sixties, standing in front of me, with her hands pinned to her waist and her bulgy eyes investigating my entire existence suspiciously.

I looked around. There was no other person in the room that looked like it was a wine storage.

There were heavy jars of wine pots around, lots of calabashes of wine balanced on a raised surface behind the woman, empty ones hanging here and there and lots of wine cups. There was also a wine machine, and the air smelled of a mix of varieties of strong liquor.

"Here! Take that to the Alpha. Make no mistakes as it may even cost you whatever life you have left."

Her voice was weak, because I could tell she was stretching her voice to achieve that unique strong air of command.

I could tell the old lady wished I wasn't here. So, quickly, I picked up the wooden tray containing the fine crafted glass cup and bottle containing liquor and then proceeded out of the door.

"Dumb as much. Only room on the second floor. Be sure to guide those wares with your life."

I bit down on my lower lip in frustration. I forgot to ask which room I was going to serve and now she thinks I'm dumber than she had thought at first.

My legs ached as I climbed the stone stairs. My chest still felt hollow from the pain. And my heart burned from the love I never truly had.

The only room on the second floor.

The door was slightly ajar. I knocked once and when no answer came forth, I proceeded in.

As soon as I stepped, my eyes fell on it.