One - The Omega's Secret

Aria's POV

"My Princess."

"My Princess!" The voice called out, frantic and much louder this time. It was Papa. He wasn’t supposed to be back until nighttime—something was wrong.

"Papa?" Fourteen-year-old me called out from my room just as my door flew open and Papa ran in, breathing heavily as his eyes scanned the room like he was expecting to see someone else here other than me.

"Papa?" I called again, confused.

"Princess, we have to go now," he said, adjusting his stance once his eyes landed on me. He rushed over to my bedside, quickly helping me up.

"What's happening, Papa?" I asked shakily, grabbing my teddy bear from the bed. Papa always said he got it for me so that I could cuddle it whenever I was scared and remind myself that he would always come to save me.

"Some really bad people are here, and you need to hide so they don't hurt you, okay?" Dad answered softly as he led me out of my room and toward his office, where the safe room was.

"But Papa, you always say I should never run from a fight," I murmured.

"I know, my Princess, but not this fight, and not now. When the time comes for you to fight, you will know. But for now, I need you to hide and stay safe, alright?" he responded, inputting the code to the safe room that only Dad, Mum, and I knew about.

"Okay, Papa." I nodded.

"Stay here and don't make any noise," he instructed, tucking me safely inside the small bed at the corner of the room before turning to leave.

"Papa," I called out, grabbing his hand before he could go far.

"You will come back for me, right?" I asked as a drop of tear fell from my eyes, an unusual feeling of fear engulfing me.

"Of course, my Princess. Who else would protect you if I don't come back?" he asked, turning and crouching to my level.

"No one," I answered meekly, blinking away my tears.

"Exactly. So please don’t cry. I will be back before you know it." He pulled me into his arms, the scent of his perfume calming me like it always did.

"Okay, Papa. I will be waiting," I responded, much calmer now.

"That's my Princess." He placed a kiss on my forehead, beaming at me.

---

“Aria!”

His voice cracked through my dream like a whip. The memory of my father dissolving as I was pulled back into the harsh reality of life.

The door flew open as Jack walked in with bloodshot eyes.

“Where is my breakfast?”

“I—I overslept,” I stammered, pushing myself up from the bed.

“Overslept,huh?” he repeated, tasting the word like it was poison. “I keep telling your mum she is being too soft on you.”

I bit my tongue refraining myself. The last time I answered, he’d left a bruise I had to hide for a week.

“Ten minutes,” he hissed. “Any longer and you’ll regret it,trust me”

I nodded, keeping my gaze to the ground to avoid stirring him up anymore.

He finally turned to leave, muttering something about ‘worthless wolves’ as he walked. You hate them yet you are dating one.

Hypocrite.

My hands trembled as I held the sheets. One deep breath. Two. This house,this room they all still remind me so much of Papa and the love he always showed me,maybe it is part of the reason I keep holding on.

It's been three years since the attack, and I still can't stop dreaming about that day. I still remember it like it was yesterday—the day I lost my Papa, the day I lost my family, and the day I lost a piece of myself I would never get back.

Mum didn’t even bother to mourn or attend her mate’s burial. It was like she had hoped for that day to come all her life. She disappeared for a whole month and appeared one morning with Jack, instructing that I always attend to his every need like some slave she left behind and came back to keep using. I never really got any genuine motherly affection from her, but her treatment towards me before Dad died can never be compared to her treatment now.

You said you’d come back for me, Papa.

I can't continue this way.

“Where is she?” My ears picked up their conversation.

I stood, spine straightening. “Ten minutes,” I whispered. “I can survive ten minutes.”

---

"There is my favorite best friend in the whole world," someone said behind me as hands circled my waist, pulling me back until we were touching. His addictive scent of fresh pinewood hit me,as I breathed in relief,my heart fluttering in my chest. Peace at last.

"Well, technically your only best friend, but it’s fine," I chuckled, turning so I could face him.

"Hey, you," I beamed, nestling into his chest.

"Hey. How are you?" he asked softly as he moved his free hand to my hair, playing with it.

"I have been better," I answered, leaving any trace of emotion out of my voice.

Lev is the Beta’s son and, most importantly, my best and only friend in the whole wide world. Lev and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember—even before Dad died. Everyone believes we are destined mates and are just waiting until I turn eighteen to confirm it. I have always hoped it would be true because Lev has been there for me, even when I didn’t think I needed anyone. He has been my anchor through everything. If not for Lev, I may have lost it long ago. He knows everything about me,except one thing.

"How is your Mum and her beloved?" he joked, oblivious to how much even talking about them breaks me.

"Being the lovers that they are, as usual," I answered, playing along.

"Please tell her I’ll be coming over tonight. I can’t wait to have beautiful mooncakes once again."

"Tonight?" I asked, my heart leaping in excitement,my first smile of the day finally gracing my face.

"Yes, Ri, tonight. Don’t you want me to come?" he asked, his face dropping a little.

"Of course I do. When have I ever not wanted you to come over? I’m just surprised, you know, considering your parents will be around tonight, and I know you love to have dinner with them," I quickly answered.

"I hope your Mum wouldn’t mind if they come over for dinner too. I know it wasn’t planned," his eyes were so hopeful it shattered me to lie to him every time.

Of course she minds. She has never once agreed to any of the dinners we’ve had with them. But I couldn’t raise any suspicions, so I always lie to him and then take the fall for it. Mum would have me killed the moment she found out someone in the pack knew about the ill-treatment I get from her and her human lover and as much as I hate my life so freaking much, I really don’t want to die.

"Of course she doesn’t," I said sweetly, the fear in my heart a sharp contrast to the expression on my face.

Guess I have mooncakes to bake tonight.