Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

AYLA

”I cannot believe you convinced me to do this,” Ares murmured against my ear.

I smiled, tilting my head back to look at him. ”You are going to be their Alpha soon. You should see how things are with them.”

He let out a low breath. ”Fair.”

The horse moved at a steady walk, carrying us through the outer gates and onto the packed earth road that led into the heart of the packlands. I sat in front of Ares, his arms bracketing me whilst he held unto the reins.

When we reached the edge of the settlement, I touched Ares’ hand.

”We need to dismount.”

He pulled the horse to a stop, frowning. ”Why?”

”We do not want to draw attention to ourselves. You are not dressed for this.”

Ares swung his leg down from the horse and dismounted then reached to wrap his arms around my waist, pulling me down.

”What is wrong with my clothes?” he asked.

I arched an eyebrow. ”I can smell a high-born from a mile away, and I am sure they will too if you strut into the market like this. We need to get you a coat.”

”A coat.” he echoed.

”Yes. A coat.” I said. ”One with a hood or something that does not scream, I am royalty, please come steal from me.”

The corner of his mouth twitched upward.

”Why do I have the feeling you are enjoying ordering me around, Ayla?”

I grinned. ”Immensely. You are on my turf now, your majesty” I inclined my head in a mock bow.

He shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips.

We found a horse keeper at the edge of the market square and Ares negotiated the price with the ease of a man who had done it a thousand times, though I noticed he paid double what the man asked. The old man’s eyes widened, and he quickly produced a worn woolen coat from the back of his cart.

It was brown, threadbare at the elbows, and smelled faintly of hay and sweat. Ares held it at arm’s length, inspecting it like it might bite him.

”Put it on,” I chided.

He did.

The coat swallowed him, the hood falling low over his brow, casting his features into shadow. He looked like a common traveler now.

”Better.” I nodded in approval.

”I feel like a scarecrow.” he grumbled.

”You look like one too. That is the point.”

The market was alive with noise. I guided Ares through the throng of bodies, stopping in front of a small stall where a woman was frying dough.

”Have you had this before?” I asked him.

Ares shook his head in the negative.

I turned back to the woman and bought two, handing one to him.

”Try it.”

He looked at the thing in his hand. It was still steaming, the sugar glistening in the sunlight.

”What is it?”

”A fried cake. Just try it.”

He lifted it to his mouth and took a bite and his eyes widened,

”This is...” He chewed, considering. ”This is good.”

”Of course, it is.” I laughed. ”Come, we need to get you to try some more. Enough of what you have in the royal kitchens” I lowered my voice at the last parts.

Ares took another bite of the cake and this time he did not hide his enjoyment.

I watched him, a warm feeling settling in my chest. There was something satisfying about seeing him like this, stripped of his armor and titles. He was just a man eating fried cake in a borrowed coat.

”What?” He asked when he caught me staring.

”Nothing.” I looked away, still smiling.

”You were staring at me. Why?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but the words would not come.

”Never mind” I shook my head, clearly flustered.

He stepped closer, tilting my chin to meet his eyes.

”Tell me” He said.

”I don’t think I have ever seen you so carefree.” I said. ”You have so many responsibilities and I just wanted you to have this one time to not think about all you have to be as the Alpha’s heir.” I breathed.

His lips parted and something flashed through his eyes.

”I...” he murmured then cleared his throat.

”How is your stomach?” he asked instead, changing the subject. ”Does it still hurt?”

”It is fine. It does not hurt a lot anymore.”

”Good.”

We stood there for a moment, the noise of the market swirling around us. Ares held unto my hand, tracing lines in circles at the center of my palm while my breath hitched in my lungs.

My mother’s voice floated to my head.

What if she was right? Did that mean Ares was in love with me? Did he see me now as not just an obligation but...

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud scream.

Ares’ hand tightened around mine.

”What is that?” I whispered.

”Stay close to me.” he said.

Gone was the man in the coat and in its place was the prince of the pack bent on investigating where the noise had come from.

He pulled me through the crowd, his body shielding me from the pressing bodies around us.

The screaming grew louder until we emerged into a clearing near the center of the market and I finally saw why everyone was gathered around.

There was something there, a bloodied mess that was a dog’s body laying in a crumpled heap on the stones.

Its head had been severed and placed on top of its body and a crude crown woven from twigs and wire perched on its skull.

And on the wall behind it, written in the same blood, were the words:

Your Alpha is weak and dead just like this dog.

My hand flew to her mouth.

”Ares,” I whispered, turning to face him.

His jaw was tight as he stared at the mess then he turned to me, pulling me backward.

”Come.” He murmured in a low voice. ”We need to leave now before we are seen.”