Pain.
I feel pain throughout my body. But why?
Chains clinging to my body as I see his face, gazing down on me. "You're mine Athena."
No… I am not!
Just then a hand gripped my throat from behind. He whispered , "You think he's going to keep you safe from me?" I heard him laughing, "You need to die, Athena." His grip on me tightened, tearing my throat. "I'll kill you!"
"Don't trust the Alpha."
Athena woke with a sharp gasp, her sheets tangled around her legs, her body slick with sweat. The fragments of her dream clung like cobwebs… The cold bite of chains, Xavier's face looming over her like a captor, and Kraven's hands soaked in her blood.
And above it all, Fiora's words lingered in her ears, chilling her spine. "Don't trust the Alpha."
She remembered now. She clearly remembered her last words. Did she know?
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her racing heart. The manor was quiet now, morning light spilling through the tall windows of the omega chamber. For a moment, she could almost pretend she was back home.
Almost.
A soft knock pulled her back. Gina stepped inside, carrying a neatly packed bag.
Athena frowned. "Is that bag yours?"
Gina shook her head with a polite smile. "No, Luna. It's yours. I've packed your clothes and other essentials for the journey. And…" she leaned closer, lowering her voice, "don't forget to use this."
She held up the small bottle of perfume. "Keep it and apply it at all times. Especially around Alpha Kraven. No one outside of Alpha Xavier's trusted omegas can know what you really are."
Athena stared at the bottle. It felt absurd, like some twisted fairy tale. Hide your humanity with perfume. Hide yourself or die.
She muttered, "Great. Just what I always dreamed of."
_____________________
Outside, the courtyard buzzed with movement. Sleek black cars lined the stone drive, engines rumbling, soldiers and omegas moving with disciplined efficiency. Athena paused on the steps, startled by just how many there were.
All this just for them? She walked ahead. Are they really… royalty?
At the front, Xavier emerged with his right hand man beside him, his expression carved in stone. He didn't so much as pause, only spared Athena a single fleeting glance before slipping into the first car.
Cold.
Is this how the Alpha treats their Luna?
But his earlier words echoed in her chest, unwelcome and heavy with promise.
I am, your home now.
Athena clenched her jaw, pushing the thought away.
"You smell different today."
Her breath hitched. She turned and nearly stumbled back.
Kraven stood much too close, his presence filling the air like smoke. His eyes roamed over her, sharp and knowing, and his smirk was the kind that promised danger.
"Yesterday," he murmured, "you smelled different and… welcoming. Today on the other hand… just usual. Tell me, darling… did you wear perfume last night, or are you wearing one today?"
Her stomach plummeted. Shit. Thank God she wore the perfume. The carefully crafted scent Xavier had given her to cloak her humanity.
"I don't wear perfume, Alpha Kraven," she said quickly, forcing her voice not to shake. I hope he believes.
His chuckle was low and mocking, sending a shiver down her spine. "So you're saying I was wrong? That takes courage. Or stupidity." He leaned in, just enough for her to feel the heat of him. "You really have the guts to tell me that."
Athena's pulse thundered. She needed to think, to say something… anything at the least before she gave herself away. "I… I didn't mean that, Alpha. I only meant… I don't normally wear perfume."
Kraven's smirk widened, a predator savoring the tremble of prey. His gaze lingered on her throat, on the quick flutter of her pulse beneath her skin.
"What's going on here?"
The voice cracked through the tension like a whip.
Athena turned sharply. Xavier stood a few steps away, eyes hard as stone, his presence shifting the air.
Kraven didn't so much as flinch. His grin only deepened as he straightened, turning lazily toward his brother. "And he's here," he groaned, voice dripping with mock fondness. "Hello, brother."
Kraven's voice curled with amusement, his sharp grin directed at Xavier as though Athena wasn't standing between them like prey caught in a wolf's trap.
Xavier's eyes flicked to where Kraven stood far too close to Athena, and in a swift motion, he pulled her back, his hand firm around her arm. The heat of his grip made her shiver, but the steel in his tone froze her in place.
"We are getting late, Kraven. Why don't you get in your car already?"
Kraven's smirk deepened. "Why so possessive, Xavier? I only wanted to invite Athena to ride with me."
Xavier's jaw tightened. "Athena is an omega. She will ride with the others. There's no need for her to ride with an Alpha."
The words hit Athena like a slap. Omega. A slave. That was what she was to him?
Just another pawn in this hierarchy. Her throat tightened, and her stomach twisted painfully.
She looked up at Xavier, silently searching for something… the subtle softness, reassurance but his face was unreadable, his frown carved sharp and cold.
"Go sit in the car," he ordered.
Her steps faltered but before she could reach the door, Kraven moved ahead and opened it with exaggerated courtesy. He leaned down, his lips brushing dangerously close to her ear. "We will have our moment very soon, darling."
Athena's heart leapt into her throat. Before she could respond, the door shut, sealing her inside with his words echoing in her mind. Through the window, she caught sight of Xavier still standing there, watching her car disappear down the path.
Kraven strolled towards his own ride, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "You've never stopped me from entertaining your chosen omegas before," he drawled at Xavier. "So tell me, why suddenly be protective towards her? Is she… special to you?"
Xavier's gaze hardened like steel. "I'm only doing this because she's new to our kingdom. Imagine if other jealous omegas find out you're fond of her… the teasing, the bullying… You know how ruthless they can be."
Kraven tilted his head, considering it, then smirked again. "Well you're right about that. But it seems my ride to the kingdom just got boring." With a mock sigh, he turned and slipped into his sleek black car.
Xavier's fists curled tightly at his sides, his teeth grinding. His chest heaved with restrained fury as he muttered under his breath, "How dare he lay eyes on my mate."
______________________
The car rolled forward in silence. Athena stared out the tinted window, fighting back the sting in her eyes, but the tears spilled anyway, hot and bitter.
Gina's gentle voice broke through. "Luna, what happened? Do you need something?"
Her frustration snapped. "Stop calling me that! My name is Athena Taylor!" The words came out harsher than she intended, but she couldn't stop herself.
"Don't call me Luna… I just… I don't want Kraven or anyone else to know what I am to Xavier."
The other two omegas in the car froze. Gina blinked, her lips pressing together, but she nodded. "You're right. It's dangerous. I'll call you Athena from now on." She studied her closely, lowering her voice. "But… are you okay?"
Athena's chest heaved, her voice breaking in sadness. "No, I'm not okay! I'm being kidnapped by wild animals who either want to marry me or kill me. I am not okay!"
Her words hung heavy in the air. The omegas had no reply… just worried glances traded between them.
Gina's eyes however softened with something close to pity. She reached out, resting her hand carefully on Athena's. "I know this world is cruel. But you're not alone anymore. Even if the Alphas don't see it, some of us will be here for you."
Athena stared at her, lips parted in shock, her chest still heaving heavily. No one had said something like that to her since… Fiora.
The car drove on, silence pressing down thick and suffocating.
Suddenly one of the girls sitting near the window straightened, pointing outside. "Look… we've reached."
The car slowed, engines rumbling low as the gates loomed into view. Black iron bars, taller than anything Athena had ever seen, swung open smoothly as if the world itself bent to let them through.
Her breath caught when the cars finally stopped. Before them stood a sprawling mansion of pale stone, its walls stretching high with towering windows, the architecture both modern and regal.
Gardens unfurled around it in perfect symmetry, fountains spilling crystalline water, and guards lined the steps with unnerving stillness. Athena stared, her chest tightening seeing the sight.
Gina leaned toward her, voice hushed, almost reverent. "This is Alpha Xavier's estate. From today… this will be your home."
Home.
Athena's fingers dug into her lap as she stared at the towering structure. To her, it didn't feel like home at all.
It felt like a cage.