Aria — POV
The royal horns did not fade after the first call.
They rolled again across the territory — deeper, heavier — like thunder trapped inside metal. Every note pressed against my chest, my ears is heated up and my hands is tightly wrapped in a fist. Wolves were already running toward the central grounds when I stepped outside.
No one looked at me. That helped.
Omegas without wolves were useful only when invisible.
Torches burned in a wide circle by the time I arrived. Warriors formed the outer ring. Ranked members stood by order. The air smelled of pine smoke, leather, and rising fear.
"Stand back," a guard told me without meeting my eyes.
"Last row."
I nodded and moved near the supply carts.
The warmth inside my chest — that impossible pulse — still hadn't disappeared. It beat slowly, like something sleeping but aware and every time I try to calm myself down, my heart betray me as if it won't bother like the other beings.
You're imagining it, I told myself. You are empty. You've always been empty.
The ground tremored lightly.
Royal guard entered first — twelve betas in black and silver armor, moving with silent precision in a straight line. Their presence alone forced lesser wolves to lower their gaze.
Then he stepped through the torch line.
Lycan King Devin Silver.
He did not hurry. Power never does.
Tall and broad-shouldered, built like a war carved into human shape. His long dark coat moved with controlled weight, silver thread catching firelight at the edges. His hair was black touched with steel at the temples. Not weakness — command. A ruler aged by battles, not years.
A scar cut across his brow. His jaw was firm, expression restrained.
His eyes —
Silver. Bright as drawn metal.
The entire pack bowed.
My body bent too — but slower — because something inside me resisted lowering my head to him. I am in the last row because this thing goes unnoticed, if i would have been in the front, definitely I will get the attention of King.
That frightened me.
"Rise," he said.
His voice was not loud, yet it reached everywhere.
Alpha Marrek stepped forward he belongs to blue moon pack, he is around the same age as Lycan king and close acquaintance of silver pack, he is wearing the casuals jeans and normal white dress shirt hai eyes is blue colour same as mine, he has been kind to me ,but as we say rank parted ways.
He said in a low rumble voice
"Your Majesty, our pack welcomes the Silver Throne."
"I am not here for ceremony," the King replied calmly. "Border reports first. Assembly present teaches truth."
No wasted politeness.
Only authority.
His gaze moved across the formation — measuring, weighing, dismissing — until it neared my side of the ranks.
The pulse inside my chest flared.
Pain followed — sharp and bright.
I inhaled hard.
His eyes shifted back.
Locked.
On me.
The reaction hit like lightning through bone.
My heartbeat doubled. My skin heated. The hollow space inside my ribs tightened — then pushed outward as if something inside wanted air.
I grabbed my chest.
"What—" I whispered.
"Awakening Rite was tonight?" the King asked without looking away.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Alpha Marrek said. "All qualified wolves presented."
"All?" The single word carried weight.
A pause.
"Step forward," the Alpha ordered suddenly.
Me.
Of course me.
I walked through parted ranks under open stares and lowered my head before the throne stone.
"Name," the King said.
"Aria."
"Rank."
My voice stuck.
"Omega," the Alpha answered. "Unawakened."
A ripple of murmurs.
Then another voice cut across the circle —
"I formally reject any future mate eligibility involving her."
Dex, he is my mate he can't just break the mate bond.
Alpha-heir Dex stepped forward — tall, powerful, bronze-skinned, every movement confident. His wolf scent was strong even to human senses. Pack pride embodied.
He did not look at me.
He spoke to the King.
"A wolfless omega weakens bloodlines. I submit pre-rejection for record clarity."
Gasps.
Shock.
Approval from some.
Lana's lips curved faintly in satisfaction.
Something inside me went very quiet.
Not breaking — just… closing.
The King turned his head slightly toward Dex.
"Your mate has not been assigned," Devin said evenly.
"Prevention is cleaner than correction," Dex replied.
The King didn't answer him.
He looked at me again.
The pulse exploded.
Heat surged through my veins. My spine straightened without permission. My senses sharpened — torch smoke, leather oil, night air — everything suddenly vivid.
Inside —
I heard it.
A sound.
A breath.
A low, distant wolf growl — from within my own chest.
My knees weakened.
I would have fallen —
—but something held me upright. Not touch. Not force.
Presence.
The King had taken one step closer. I can hear his heart beat, feel his strong presence and can feel his aroma around,
Dominance rolled outward from him like pressure. Every strong wolf nearby stiffened instinctively.
Apex.
He inhaled slowly — like catching a rare scent on cold wind.
His pupils narrowed.
"Interesting," he said quietly.
"I have no wolf," I managed.
His gaze did not soften.
"No," he said. "You have a silent one."
The elders stirred in alarm.
"That is not possible," Dex said sharply.
The King finally looked at him — and Dex fell silent mid-breath.
Not obedience.
Instinct override.
My heart pounded painfully. The inner presence pressed again — not awake — but aware of him.
Aware. Answering.
The King turned back to the Alpha.
"Do not mistreat this wolf," he said calmly.
Not loud.
Absolute.
Alpha Marrek bowed at once. "Of course, Your Majesty."
No claim. No declaration.
But protection — implied — royal — dangerous.
The King stepped away.
My body reacted like something being pulled apart.
Because the hollow space inside me —
Was no longer hollow.
It was listening.
End Hook Line:
And when the Lycan King passed me —
whatever lived inside my silence tried to go with him.