Elara's POV
The bucket slipped from my hands and crashed to the ground. Dirty water splashed everywhere. I froze as the sound echoed through the quiet morning air.
"Clumsy omega!" Maya laughed from behind me. "Can't even carry water without making a mess."
My cheeks burned hot. I dropped to my knees and started picking up the wooden bucket. The other girls giggled as they walked past me. Their clean dresses swished while I wore my old patched-up clothes.
"Leave her alone, Maya."
I looked up. Theron stood there with his arms crossed. He was one of the beta boys who was always nice to me. Maya rolled her eyes and walked away with her friends.
"Thanks," I whispered to Theron.
He helped me up. "Don't let them get to you, Elara. You're worth more than they think."
I wanted to believe him. But it was hard when everyone treated me like I was nothing. My family used to be important in the Moonveil Pack. That was before everything went wrong. Before my parents died. Before my brother Fenric got kicked out for something he didn't do.
Now I was just the broken omega girl who cleaned floors and carried water.
Theron picked up my bucket. "Come on. I'll help you get more water."
We walked to the well together. Other pack members stared at me as we passed. Some looked sorry for me. Others looked at me like I was dirt on their shoes.
But lately, something strange was happening. Some of the older women would stop talking when I walked by. They would sniff the air and look at me funny. Then they would whisper to each other.
"Elara," Theron said softly. "Have you noticed people acting weird around you?"
My heart jumped. "What do you mean?"
"My mom was talking to Mrs. Blackwood yesterday. They stopped when I came in the room. But I heard your name."
I felt sick to my stomach. "What did they say?"
Theron looked around to make sure no one was listening. "They said something about a special smell. About how it only happens once in a hundred years."
The bucket almost fell from my hands again. I had heard the old stories. Every little girl in our pack knew about the famous omega scent. It was supposed to be so strong that it could drive any alpha crazy with need.
But that was just a fairy tale. Right?
"That's silly," I said, trying to sound normal. "I'm just regular old me."
But even as I said it, I remembered the strange looks. The way some of the guys would stop and stare when I passed by. The way they would take big breaths like they were trying to catch something in the air.
We filled the bucket with fresh water. As we walked back, I saw him.
Alpha Kaelen.
He stood on the steps of the pack house talking to some of his troops. Even from far away, he took my breath away. He was tall and strong with dark hair and beautiful eyes. Every girl in the pack dreams about him.
Including me.
I knew it was stupid. He was the most powerful alpha in our area. I was nobody. But sometimes, late at night, I would dream about him noticing me. About him thinking I was special.
"Elara, you're staring," Theron warned.
I quickly looked away. But it was too late. One of Kaelen's soldiers had seen me looking. He whispered something to the others. They all turned to look at me.
My face went red. I wanted to run and hide.
Then something impossible happened.
Alpha Kaelen turned his head and looked right at me.
His bright eyes met mine across the courtyard. For a second, the whole world stopped. I couldn't move. I couldn't move. I couldn't think.
He frowned like he was confused about something. Then he took a deep breath through his nose.
His eyes went wide.
"Oh no," Theron whispered next to me. "Elara, we need to go. Now."
But I couldn't move. I was frozen like a deer in front of a shooter. Kaelen was still looking at me. His hands were clenched into fists. The other fighters were looking back and forth between us.
"Elara!" Theron grabbed my arm. "Something's wrong. Look at him."
I looked. Kaelen's whole body was tense. His eyes were getting brighter and more golden. Like his dog was trying to come out. The fighters around him stepped back.
That's when the wind changed.
A breeze blew from where I was standing toward the pack house. I saw Kaelen's nose flare. His head snapped up like he'd been hit by lightning.
Then he smiled.
It wasn't a nice smile. It was the smile of a predator who had found his meal.
"Run," Theron said quickly. "Elara, we need to run right now."
But before I could move, Kaelen was already walking toward us. His long legs covered the distance fast. Too fast. His soldiers followed behind him like a pack of wolves.
My heart was beating so hard I thought it might burst. Every instinct in my body was yelling at me to run. But my feet felt like they were stuck in mud.
Kaelen stopped just a few feet away from me. Up close, he was even more beautiful and frightening. He was breathing hard like he'd been running. His golden eyes were locked on mine.
"What's your name, omega?" His voice was deep and rough.
"E-Elara," I stammered. "Elara Winterbane."
His eyes flashed with surprise. "Winterbane? You're Fenric's sister."
I nodded, too scared to speak.
Kaelen circled around me slowly. Like a cat studying its prey. I could feel his eyes on me. Other pack members were starting to gather around us. Everyone was staring.
"Interesting," he whispered. Then he leaned close to my neck.
I felt his warm breath on my skin. My whole body started shaking. He took a deep breath right next to my ear.
When he pulled back, his eyes were totally gold. Not even a little bit human anymore.
"Tomorrow night," he said in a voice that made my knees weak. "The moon celebration. You will be there."
It wasn't a question. It was an order.
"Yes, Alpha," I whispered.
He smiled again. That same scary smile. Then he turned and walked away with his troops.
I stood there shaking as everyone stared at me. Whispers started flying through the crowd.
"Did you see his eyes?"
"She's the one. She has to be."
"Poor girl has no idea what's coming."
Theron put his hand on my shoulder. "Elara, what just happened?"
I looked at him with wide, scared eyes. "I think I'm in big trouble."
But deep down, in a part of me I didn't want to admit existed, I felt something else too.
Excitement.
Because for the first time in my life, the most powerful man in our world had noticed me.
Even if it might destroy me.