The Omega He Couldn't Reject

Freya POV

The moment I stepped into the banquet hall, the air changed.

It thickened with command and authority, the kind that reminded you exactly where you belonged in the order of things.

I couldn’t perceive their auras, not like the others could. I had no wolf. But I didn’t need one to know how powerful they were.

Tonight, the newly chosen Alpha of the Crimson Moon pack, Alpha Darius, was here with his Beta and some of his people for the mating ceremony happening tomorrow.

Rumor has it that Alpha Darius is cruel and unforgiving. He never spares anyone who crosses him, and the thought of being in the same room as him tonight scared me.

Alpha Theron, my pack Alpha, sat at the high table, and I instantly recognized the man to his left as Alpha Darius.

I walked cautiously to the long table, and in the corner of my eye, I spotted my father, the Gamma, seated right after Beta Cain.

He didn't look at me. It was as if I wasn't there, like I was invisible. And truth be told, I was invisible, not only to him but to everyone else, I was an Omega after all.

I got to the table and bowed my head respectfully, even though no one acknowledged it nor spared me a glance.

I glanced at Alpha Darius.

He looked handsome, but in a devilish way. Like he was carved by darkness itself, and his frame was broad.

I snatched my eyes away from him before he could notice and order me killed for daring to look at him.

Carefully, I began to pour the wine from the goblet into Alpha Theron’s cup and Beta Cain’s. I got to Alpha Darius' side and picked a different goblet from the tray.

Mrs Norwen, the head maid had repeatedly warned me not to serve him the same wine as the others, but the separate goblet set aside for him.

As I poured into his cup, I felt his gaze shift on me, and I almost froze. He was watching me.

It was strange that he had even noticed someone like me. I was not the kind of woman men like him looked at.

I was round where most wolves were slender. My dark hair was pinned back poorly and my servant's dress was hanging loose on my full frame.

I carefully filled his cup with the dark wine, afraid I might spill it as my hand shook slightly.

After serving him, I proceeded to the next person when suddenly someone barged into the hall.

“Stop!"

Everyone looked up in surprise at the sudden interruption.

I looked up to see whoever dared to interrupt the Alpha's banquet.

Sloane—my stepsister stood in the middle of the hall, her face flushed like she had run all the way here.

The guards came after her swiftly and attempted to drag her out but Alpha Theron lifted a hand to stop them.

My eyes widened, shocked at her audacity. What was she doing?

“T—The wine…” Sloane breathed, her words inaudible.

“Speak clearly!” Alpha Theron’s voice cracked across the hall.

“Alpha Darius, the wine is poisoned!" She shakily declared.

The hall erupted with noise.

Alpha Darius set the cup down slowly, his expression unreadable. My heart stopped. Poison?

"She poisoned it." Sloane's finger lifted and pointed directly at me.

Their eyes came to me all at once, and the tray nearly slipped from my hands.

"No—" The word tore out of me. "No, I didn't. I swear to the moon goddess I didn't touch anything—”

“I saw her,” Sloane said louder. “She put wolfsbane in the Alpha’s drink. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“No.. n—no way… I—I wouldn't dare to poison the Alpha…" I tried to speak clearly, but my tongue betrayed me.

I looked at Sloane and my father. He looked bewildered, but he said nothing.

Why would she accuse me of poisoning the Alpha?

Panic surged through me.

“I would never do such a thing!” I said hysterically, my heart slamming against my ribcage.

A bead of sweat was already forming on my forehead.

They were going to kill me. I was nothing. An Omega whose life or death meant nothing accused of poisoning the Alpha?

“She's lying, Alpha Theron. I swear.” I almost screamed, my mouth went dry.

" Treason!’’ one elder at the table muttered, and noises erupted again at the table.

" Order!” Alpha Darius suddenly slammed his fist against the table, and the hall went dead silent.

He picked up the cup which he had dropped back at the table and examined the content.

" No strange smell,” he paused, his eyes drifting to me.

Everyone watched with rapt curiosity.

He then poured the contents of the cup on the table linen and immediately the liquid came in contact with the linen, a sizzling noise followed and the linen burned.

Murmur rippled from the table.

My knees weakened as I stared at the table linen. It was indeed wolfsbane.

Guards!" Beta Cain called. “Seize her!"

My blood froze.

“No please. I didn't do it, I swear to the moon goddess!" I sobbed, backing away, but a guard grabbed me roughly, knocking off the tray in my hands and pinning both my hands painfully behind my back.

"You filthy pig dares to poison my guest?” Alpha Theron's voice thundered in the hall as he stood up. “Who sent you?"

"No one! I swear by the moon goddess. Please believe me,” I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Execute her!” One of the elders muttered, and others followed.

My entire body went cold.

No!

"A question, if I may?” a voice said.

It was an elder. An old wolf with sharp eyes and grey beard, seated near the far end of the table. He wasn't looking at me, but at Sloane.

The room went still, and everyone turned to Sloane.

I glanced at my father, who was also watching. Disgust, and anger flashed across his face.

“How did you know this?" the elder asked.

Sloane blinked, like she hadn't heard him clearly. " I—I saw her—”

" You said that," the elder pointed out calmly. " I'm asking how. The Alpha's kitchen is only accessible to the servants and the head maids. What would a lady of high-rank like you be doing near the kitchen?"

A ripple of noise moved through the hall.

Sloane's composure cracked slightly, just for a second, but I saw it.

“I—I was looking for my father," she said, her jaw tightened.

All eyes shifted briefly to the Gamma. He looked up, his expression mixed between confusion and something I couldn't read.

"I didn't send for her,” he breathed.

There was a suffocating silence. Every head turned to Sloane, waiting.

She lifted her chin with the confidence of someone who had prepared for this moment.

"Does it matter how I saw it? The linen is burning. The wolfsbane is real." She looked directly at Alpha Darius.

"I came here to protect you, Alpha. I risked walking in uninvited to save your life. Is that the act of someone with ill intentions?”

Typical Sloane. Always had a way with words.

It was a good answer. A very good answer, and the room seemed to accept it.

Before I knew what was happening, Alpha Theron picked up the goblet and walked towards me.

My arms were beginning to bruise as I struggled against the guard.

"You shall drink from the goblet to prove your innocence.” Alpha Theron's eyes darkened as he looked down at me, his mouth curled up in a devilish smile.

"And if you die, we shall find whoever sent you. They would beg desperately for the moon goddess to take their life” Alpha Theron announced, his voice loud and clear.

My heart was pounding loudly in my ears, my vision blurred with tears as I stared at the burned table linen.

"Open your mouth,” he commanded.

"No…. please," I sobbed, shaking my head , but the guard grabbed my face in his hand and forcefully separated my lips, tilting my head backwards.

I whimpered helplessly as I shut my eyes, expecting a burning liquid in my mouth.

I didn't want to die. Not today. Not when I was falsely accused.

“Stop!" a loud voice growled.