ARIA'S POV

I've been in the Moonlight Pack house for two weeks now. While everyone has been nothing but nice to me, I still can't help the feeling of deep distrust. The feeling like something will happen and would yank everyone back to reality.

The omegas here didn't get treated like they didn't matter. They wore good but old clothes, and they freely mingled with other members of the pack. They were submissive and respectful because there was an order to how things are done in this world.

The maids addressed me as “Miss Aria” and the most surprising thing was that they bowed slightly when addressing or serving me. I was still patient out, waiting for the day when they would see that I was just an ordinary omega. In my former pack, I was the lowest of the lowest omegas. Even rogues were treated better than me.

Being there and being here now in only three weeks was a very big adjustment for me. I still regarded my mate, who is apparently the Alpha here, with a deep-seated sense of distrust. I couldn't trust him not to switch on me. He's an Alpha, just like my former mate, Alpha Kane. He couldn't erase all the trauma Alpha Kane and my former pack members had left me with for over sixteen years of my life in just two weeks.

I still remember the deep feeling of worry etched in his face when I refused to wake up two weeks ago. According to the nurses in the hospital, he didn't leave my side at all for those two days ago I was in a coma.

They were right because the first person I laid eyes on when I cracked an eye open was him. He held my hand over the several bandages I was covered in. I fought down the urge to scream at him to get away from me. I felt it was unwise because my throat felt hoarse from all the scratching I had done before I passed out.

He had seen the panic in my eyes, so he removed his hands from mine. “I'm sorry, little mate. I just wanted a reminder that you were still here with me. You don't know how long I've waited for you.“ My only response was to turn away from him. I know he must be feeling hurt, but that was nothing compared to the hurt I would feel when he eventually sees that I'm not worth his time and attention.

I sighed. I don't know how to act around him. Lucas was walking on eggshells around me, and I didn't know how to tell him to stop.

Three days ago, I had felt bold enough to explore the pack house when I bumped into him. My heart skipped a beat at how good he looked before my brain kicked in. I had just shamelessly ogled him instead of averting my eyes and greeting him.

“G…Good morning, Alpha Lucas.“

He exhaled harshly as if he couldn't be bothered with me. “Little mate, how many times do I have to tell you that you should call me by my name. You and I, little mate, we're equals.“

“I'm sorry.“ Tears rushed to my eyes, and I tried to blink them away, but one still managed to escape.

“You don't have to be sorry. Why are you crying?“ He stepped closer to me, but that only made me whimper in fear.

“I'm sorry.“

He sighed. “Aria, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone now, okay?“

He brushed past me, which made my nostrils fill up with his alluring woody scent. His scent was calming, which was weird because I had just finished crying. I seriously needed to get a hold of my feelings.

Today, I finished taking care of my body and hair, and I was feeling a little bit confident, so I decided to suck it up and go into the garden. I could see the garden from my room upstairs, but when I reached the ground floor, I had no idea how to get there.

I stood outside in confusion, not wanting to bother any of the maids who were milling around the compound.

“Aria?“ I swerved around to see who was calling me, and it turned out to be Beta Cole. He was sort of the only person who I could slightly relax around.

“Beta Cole.” Out of habit, I bowed slightly. He looked horrified.

“Aria, I mean, Luna Aria.“ He stumbled over his words. “Please don't ever do this again.“

I instantly panicked, thinking that I had done something wrong. “I'm sorry.“ I looked around to check that no one else had seen my blunder. “I don't know how things are done here yet. I promise I'm going to learn.“

“What are you talking about? You didn't do anything wrong. What I mean is that you should never bow to anyone. You're going to be the Luna soon. We should all be bowing to you.“ He explained, and I felt my shoulders sag in relief.

“I'm going to be the Luna?“ I asked, and I realized that it was probably a stupid question to ask.

“Of course.“ His eyes were kind and understanding. “You're still not accepting the fact that you're mated to him?“ How did he know?

I could only nod dumbly. “You're going to get used to it. I can't think of a better match for my best friend and Alpha.“

“But I'm just a rogue.“ I say quietly, afraid that anyone else would hear. “I can't be any good to him.“

He smiled. There's something about this Beta Cole that makes me want to tell him all about my past and insecurities. “He's going to be very angry if he hears you say that. Don't worry, sweet girl, he's not going to be mad at you but at himself.“

“Why? He didn't do anything.“

“He's going to blame himself for not looking for you before whoever hurt you did. He's going to be mad at himself for not protecting you.“

That sounds ridiculous, and I told him just as much. “He didn't even know me then.“

“He's not going to use that as an excuse. He's very protective of you, and you don't know how worried he is that you won't even talk to him without crying.“

“I… I don't mean to make him feel that way.“

“Aria, please trust that Alpha Lucas and I are on your side. He would never hurt you. Give him a chance, will you?“

For the rest of the day, I stayed in my room and thought about what Beta Cole told me about my mate blaming himself for what happened to me even without knowing what. I had to admit to myself that it was sweet.

I decided that for me to move on from my experience with Alpha Kane and the pack members who hated me for no reason, I had to slowly open myself up to new experiences in the Moonlight Pack.

So the next day, when a maid came up to my room and told me the Alpha was waiting to have dinner with me, I went with an open mind.