Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

AYLA

”Ayla.” Astrid jolted, her eyes sweeping over me as soon as I stepped into my room. ”What are you doing back here? And out of your dress? Where did you go?”

”There is no time to explain,” I said, crossing to the wardrobe. ”Help me into the dress.”

”Prince Cassian came looking for you.” Astrid set the linens she was holding down, her brow creasing. ”Something about wondering if you were okay.”

”I am fine, Astrid. The dress, please. I will explain everything later, I promise.”

”Your mother was also here.” Astrid continued.

”My mom? What did she want?”

”She said nothing to me only that when you return, I am to tell her.”

”I will find her myself” I said. ”Just bring the dress. I need to return to the hall now.”

Astrid studied me a long moment and then nodded, reaching for the dress. I let out a breath as her fingers worked the laces at my back.

Her fingers brushed the silver necklace at my throat.

”This is lovely,” she said quietly. ”I have not seen it before.”

”It was a gift.”

She was quiet for a moment before she asked again.

”Are you sure you are all right?” she asked.

”I am fine.” I met my own eyes in the mirror. ”Truly.”

Her mouth set in a line that said she did not believe me but she said nothing, and I was grateful for the silence.

My thoughts kept circling back to the archives room and my father with the keys to the room in his hand. He had said he was considering things he could not disclose but what if there was something else entirely.

What if it was something that had to do with the rogue king masked as working towards plans for the pack?

”All done.” Astrid declared, stepping back.

”Thank you” I muttered, slipping out of the room and heading to the banquet hall.

The music had slowed and people were eating and drinking with some making conversation.

I walked in and my eyes found Damon at the far end of the hall by the wine table.

”Hey” he smiled at me as soon as I reached him.

”Hey”

”Are you okay? You are trembling.”

”I am fine” I shook my head. ”I was just thinking.”

”Dangerous habit.” He handed me a glass of wine. ”Here, take a big gulp. You will be calmer.”

I did as he said.

The wine was bitter at the back of my throat but the warmth of it spread through my chest like slow fire. I dropped the glass back on the table with a soft clink and looked around the hall.

”So? How do you feel?”

I was about to answer when a body slammed into me from behind.

The force drove me into the table, my hip catching the edge hard enough to hurt, and wine sloshed over my knuckles. I spun around to see Celeste, her lips curved in a bright smile.

”Oops,” she said. ”I did not see you there.”

”Celeste.” Damon’s voice was flat. ”Not now.”

”Not now?” Celeste’s eyes glittered. ”Of course, Damon. When, exactly? Because I have been waiting all evening for a moment of your attention, and it seems you have been rather busy.” Her gaze flicked to me, taking the flush in my cheeks no doubt caused by the wine. ”Very busy indeed.” she intoned.

I did not want to stand between them. I did not want any part of whatever old wound this was or cheap score she had come to settle. I reached for my glass on the table.

”I will leave you both to it,” I said, and I walked away without looking back.

I took another sip of the wine as I moved through the crowd.

Just then a hand closed around my arm.

I turned to Cassian, his blue eyes searching my face.

”I came searching for you,” he said.

”Astrid told me.” I murmured.

He looked me over slowly, taking in my dress, the necklace at my throat, the color in my cheeks. Something in his face tightened.

”You did not do it, did you?”

”Do what?”

”Fuck Damon.”

The words hit me like cold water. ”Cassian...”

”It is not like that,” I said, shaking my head. ”It is not what you think.”

”Then what is it?” His voice was low. ”Why Damon, Ayla? After everything he did to you. After the way he mocked you in front of the whole pack, the way he treated you. I would not think you were that fickle.”

”Cassian, I cannot do this right now. I have...” My voice trailed off as the room tilted slightly around me.

I blinked, trying to steady myself.

”Ayla, listen to me...”

But I was not listening. I was looking down at the glass in my hand, watching the wine swirl, and something was wrong. My heart had begun to pound against my ribs, fast and hard like a bird beating itself against a cage.

”Ayla?” Cassian called out but his voice sounded so far away.

I blinked hard, putting a hand to my chest. I could feel my pulse hammering against my palm.

”Ayla, what is it? You are pale... Ayla...”

My nose watered. I wiped at it with the back of my hand, and when I brought my hand down, there was blood on my knuckles.

I stared at it.

What is happening?

The glass of wine slipped from my fingers and shattered at my feet.

I raised my head to Cassian.

His mouth was moving but I could not hear him.

The music and the voice, all of it had gone silent, swallowed by the roaring in my ears.

My knees buckled and I fell to the ground, tasting blood on my tongue. My body jerked, convulsing, and foam bubbled from my lips, and the last thing I saw was Cassian’s face above me, his mouth open and his eyes wide with horror before the darkness swallowed everything.