"Are you certain of what you saw, Liam? This is far worse than all the crazy stuff you do, and who was that girl? Did you know it's all over town that you brought a slave to your facilities? And why are you here? Shouldn't you be home?" Lucas lectured.

I understand what he's saying, but I don't want to give the impression that I'm unprepared. If Odette is preparing to ask the Elders to untie her knot when we marry, I will do the same, but much worse.

"He's not just any other girl, Lucas; she's special to me," I said to him.

"Ah, so you like filthy, not bathing, and look like a begging woman now?" Lucas remarked as he tossed the can of soda to me, which I grabbed and popped.

"I can't tell you the details, but please watch what you say."

"Dude? Acting like that for an Omega?" Lucas inquired, and I simply motioned for him to toss me another can of beer to drink.

I'm not sure how it happened, but that girl looked familiar. I only knew she was close to me, but the look she gave me after she took a bath and dressed nicely stayed with me. I had no idea she was that stunning sans the muck and baggy clothes. She had the appearance of someone classified as Luna.

"Are you even ready for tonight? Have you talked to Odette yet? You know you're going to walk on the first remark of the ball," Lucas asked.

I'm not sure whether Lucas is a friend or my father. He's obnoxious and frequently lectures me, but what would I do without him? Odette had been acting normally for a few days before my intervention. Odette asked about dinner, but I feigned to be late and forced her to eat everything.

I was disgusted to see her lie to my face, but I was also broken within knowing that the woman I loved had grown tired of me and had chosen another man. Worse, the Alpha is on the opposite side of the border.

"Yes, I'm prepared; all I need to do now is check on her."

--

I was still in the chamber, and my 13-year-old was terrified.

"Being an omega is a disgrace," my father told my mother. "You should've decided to have that child aborted."

I had no idea, but I ran and ran till I didn't realize I was in the forest and tripped. I was astonished and stunned when a wolf leaped in front of me. I had no idea I'd come across one.

I was astounded by his pitch-black fur and those blood-red eyes. Some people would flee the scene if they knew it was an Alpha, but I was there, still looking at how lovely it was when a sack was placed on top of my head and my body was beaten badly by individuals I didn't even know.

The last thing I knew, the giant werewolf was fighting those men, and I was being pulled, and then I became blind.

It was cold in the chamber where I was. I took a deep breath and forced myself to stand up to see if there were any others around. Mom and Dad were correct; being an Omega was not easy. You have no idea how long you'll live or when you'll die.

I was ready to heal myself when I heard a scratch somewhere inside the dungeon, so I grabbed a rock and tossed it at a boy older than me who emerged in front of me.

"Ouch! I'm not a bad guy!" he said, and I burst into tears when I saw the enormous cut on his forehead. Then I felt bad.

"Please don't tell anyone about this," I murmured to him as I closed my eyes and began to cure his wound, but I'm not sure if I entirely healed him before.

"In exchange, I'll set you free," he added, and he was the first person who wasn't disgusted with me and even extended his hand to shake mine.

What made me think it was him? I was hesitant to approach him because there was a procession and he was sitting next to the late Alpha, but I had no idea the deity could be so cruel that I was seated next to the guy I cured and fell in love with years ago.

"This is just a simple contract, only for tonight," he explained, and I agreed, happy to be able to continue my normal life.

"Can I ask what your name is?" he asked again, and I sighed.

"Annalise, just call me Annalise," I murmured as he walked away.

We hadn't talked again, and her maids made me ready. I wore this gold tube dress, and my hair was hung down. My heart skipped a beat whenever he was talking to me, but I don't know why, that I was the one he chose.

When I arrived at the event, there was quite a stir when I noticed him with another woman, his Luna. The ball was packed, and I had no idea what it was like to be among the ball's highest ranks.

After they stepped onto the stage, Liam looked at me, as if staring into my soul, and I froze.

"We are gathered here to witness the untying ceremony of Odette and Liam Koam." The Elders weren't sure, but they were all gathered to observe the aforementioned occurrence, and everyone was startled and befuddled over what was going on.

"Do you agree to the severing of the ties that bind you and Odette?"

"I accept the removal of ties," Liam stated, startling the audience.

"No, Liam, this is outrageous!" the man who was always with him exclaimed, and then as I looked at Odette, who was crying, he flashed a grin that left me speechless.

"Are you sure you don't have any objections?" inquired the Elder again.

Odette smiled with a joyful heart at being able to be free of the Alpha, who was sterile.

"No objections, but I want to be tied with another Luna!" Liam declared authoritatively, and Odette's grin faded.

Liam extended his hand toward me. I'm not sure why, but my feet took action on their own. I didn't approach him since I could advance to a better rank. I moved closer to him because my heart prompted me to.

"She's the one I want to be tied with," Liam remarked as he grabbed my hand and smiled quickly at me, but I could see in his eyes that he was in a lot of suffering, and everyone was astonished, knowing that the maiden was unknown to them and would become their Luna.

I returned Liam's grin and bowed to everyone around us, behaving naturally, but in the middle of the night, I accept to tie a bond with the La Sierra Empire's Alpha.