LILITH
The arena fell into absolute silence. My chest rose and fell far too fast as I struggled to understand what I had done. Slowly, I became aware of the countless stares directed at me. I lifted my head without meaning to, drawn by a force I did not understand, and the moment our gazes locked, the rest of the pack ceased to exist.
Alpha Jaxon Talon was no longer a distant figure bathed in moonlight. His stare burned into me with such intensity that my breath caught painfully in my throat.
It seemed like it was just both of us floating above the arena. Was this even possible? Was this real? I ached to touch him and bathe myself in his scent. We remained spellbound until a low sound rumbled from his chest.
In a flash, the Alpha dashed across the arena. Wolves stepped aside instinctively, some bowing, others staring in pure disbelief. I remained frozen. My body refused to respond. By the time he reached me, my limbs felt numb.
He stopped directly in front of me and inhaled slowly.
Up close, his presence was overwhelming. Power radiated from him in waves. I had to tilt my head back to look at him. He was more handsome than I'd imagined. His thick dark hair framed his face, making his charcoal dark eyes even more menacing. He was also bigger than I expected, his muscles strained beneath the shirt he was wearing. His gaze swept over me, slowly, then it softened.
"Mate," he growled softly.
My breath hitched and my body thrummed with a delicious feeling.
He seemed to notice, because he smirked, bent down, and whispered into my ear, "Mine!"
A collective gasp swept through the arena.
"That's impossible—"
"An Omega?"
"Alpha Jaxon's mate?"
I could not breathe. Because this had to be a cruel joke. I was the Omega who scrubbed floors until her hands bled, slept in crowded quarters, and ate last, if at all. The Omega they pushed aside without consequence. And Alpha Jaxon Talon, the tyrant of the West End Pack, who loathed weakness, especially Omegas, had just claimed me as his mate.
My vision blurred.
I had always believed I would meet my mate someday. I had foolishly believed that fate would lift me from misery and place me somewhere safe. But never in my wildest imagination could I conjure what was happening to me. Alpha Jaxon was everything I had been taught to fear, and yet, here he stood, looking at me as though the world had rearranged itself around my existence.
The murmurs grew louder.
A snarl tore from his throat that automatically silenced every sound.
Without warning, he reached down and pulled me to my feet. I swayed, feeling dizzy crashing over me, and before I could fall, his hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me into his chest. My wolf purred excitedly within me.
He pulled back slowly and traced a finger down my jaw then smiled. I suddenly became conscious of how dirty I was.
Suddenly, he turned to two high-ranking females standing nearby. "Take her," he ordered. "Clean her. Feed her. Prepare her."
One of them hesitated. "Alpha—"
"I said prepare her," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I want to see her properly."
They bowed immediately.
This could not be real. My body shook uncontrollably, though I did not know whether it was from fear, exhaustion, or shock. My thoughts tangled into a useless knot. Was this a cruel joke? A test? Some elaborate punishment?
As the women led me away, the pack parted once more.
Some laughed quietly, shaking their heads at the irony of it all. Some looked at me with pity, while most looked at me with certainty that my life was over. I believed the latter mostly, because we all knew that Alpha Jaxon Talon was capable of anything.
By the time we reached the packhouse, my hands were shaking.
The Moon Festival had ended by the time they led me into the great hall. Only high-ranking wolves remained. Alpha Jaxon leaned casually against a table, a cup in his hand. Most of the wolves surrounded him, laughing and drinking.
His eyes found me instantly and something dark and pleased flickered across his face. My breath hitched and a slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. He beckoned to me and I stumbled forward.
A few wolves laughed openly.
"I never thought an Omega could look like that," one of them said loudly. "So regal and eye-catching."
Another nodded. "Seems a waste, doesn't it?"
Alpha Jaxon's smile vanished. In less than a heartbeat, his cup shattered against the wall and he surged forward, with bared fangs and a snarl ripping from his throat.
Fear flashed across the faces of the wolves who had spoken. Both of them stumbled back and whimpered. His hand closed around the first speaker's throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
"Say another word," Jaxon said quietly, "and I will tear your throat out."
The wolf choked out a frantic apology.
Jaxon released him with a shove and turned back to me.
Without another glance at anyone else, he reached for my hands and pulled me away from the crowd. I followed, stunned at his reaction and realization that he had just defended me.
He led me down a quiet corridor that was far from the noise and stopped. When he turned to face me, his expression softened slightly, though the intensity in his eyes remained.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Lilith," I replied quietly. "Lilith Travers."
"Are you comfortable?" he asked. "With what they dressed you in?"
"Yes," I whispered.
"Did they treat you well?"
"Yes, Alpha."
"Jaxon," he corrected. "When you are alone with me."
I swallowed hard and nodded.
He studied me carefully, as though committing every detail to memory.
"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on," he said.
My chest tightened. Tears gathered before I could stop them, spilling silently down my cheeks.
His eyes widened in concern.
"Why are you crying?" he asked sharply, stepping closer. "Did anyone hurt you or do anything to you?"
"No. No one did anything," I muttered.
"Then what is it? What is making you cry?"
"I—I don't know," I admitted, overwhelmed. "I've never been spoken to like that before."
He frowned, then reached up and wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb. The simple gesture sent a wave of comfort through me so powerful it nearly brought me to my knees.
"You should never have to cry," he said quietly.
Everything I had endured suddenly felt insignificant, as though it had all led to this moment. His presence was warm and made me feel safe in a way I could not explain. I didn't know what to do with all the many emotions running through me, or the way my body wanted to be close to his.
Sighing, I looked away.
He lifted my chin gently. "Look at me."
I did. His words were like a drug that intoxicated me.
"You're so…" he tried to stifle a groan.
He rested his forehead on mine and closed his eyes. Then slowly sniffed my neck and sighed.
I completely forgot how to breathe. My body was buzzing like a live wire.
He chuckled to him then looked into my eyes again.
"You're so beautiful and you're mine, Lilith."
With that, his lips landed on mine and he kissed me softly. The kiss deepened slowly at first, then with growing intensity. His hand slid to my waist, while the other cradled the back of my head. The world narrowed to the press of his mouth against mine and the way my body responded far too eagerly.
"I want you," he murmured against my lips.
A shiver ran through me. I wanted him too. I wanted him so much, it hurt. His presence alone made my thoughts scatter. His touch felt intoxicating, as though my body had recognized him long before my mind could catch up. Every place he touched seemed to hum, sending warmth spiraling through me until my knees weakened.
He pulled back just enough to look at me. Then, almost reassuringly, he said, "I won't touch you in any way you do not want. You will tell me if you wish me to stop."
His care and patience made me want to weep again.
His thumb brushed my jaw. "Are you comfortable, Lilith?"
"Yes," I breathed, the word leaving me before I had time to think.
A small smile tugged at his mouth and pulled me along. I almost laughed. This was so exciting!
His chambers were large and dimly lit. I had barely taken it in when he kissed me again.
"Tell me if you change your mind," he said once more, guiding me backward.
"I won't," I whispered, laughing softly, drunk on his attention and the way he looked at me as though I were something precious.