When Aria's wet hands let go of the wooden spoon, it smashed against the stone floor in the kitchen like thunder.
When she froze, her heart hit her ribs hard.
Mara Quinn's sharp, sure laughter could be heard all over the training grounds from the window. Aria thought bitterly as she picked up the spoon,
"Perfect timing." When she's around, even my clumsiness has to stand out. As Mara fought with the other fighters, her voice could be heard through the open window.
"Derek, is that all you have?" "My grandmother fights better than you!" More laughing.
When Mara was around, I always laughed. Like flowers need sunlight, the Beta's daughter demanded care. Golden hair that caught every ray, green eyes that sparkled with mischief, and a smile that could melt ice.
Aria put her nose up against the glass and watched as Mara did something that looked impossible: she flipped Derek over on his back.
The crowd cheered. Someone whistled.
Even the Alpha's kids had stopped their own training to watch.
Of course they did.
"Aria!"
Mrs. Henderson's voice cracked like a whip. "Those potatoes won't peel themselves!"
Aria jumped, spinning around so fast she knocked over the water bucket. Cold liquid splashed across her bare feet, soaking through her worn shoes.
The older woman shook her head, gray hair slipping from her messy bun.
"Honestly, child. Your eighteenth birthday is tomorrow, and you're still thinking like a pup." Eighteenth birthday.
The words sat heavy in Aria's stomach. Tomorrow she'd finally become an adult. Tomorrow she'd learn if she had a mate or if she'd spend her life alone, serving others.
"Sorry, Mrs. Henderson." Aria grabbed a towel, cleaning up the mess.
"I was just"
"Watching Mara show off again." Mrs. Henderson's expression eased slightly.
"That girl's been planning to be Luna since she could walk. Born for it, everyone says."
Everyone says.
The same three words Aria heard every day. Everyone says Mara will marry one of the Alpha's twins. Everyone says she'll be the perfect Luna. Everyone says the pack will be lucky to have her. Nobody ever says anything about Aria.
"Back to work now," Mrs. Henderson continued, moving around the kitchen.
"The Alpha family expects dinner at sunset, and these vegetables won't cook themselves."
Aria nodded, taking up another potato. Her hands moved unconsciously, peeling skin in long strips while her mind wandered. Through the window, she could see the three Thorn boys heading toward the training ring.
Kael walked in front, shoulders broad and assured.
Kieran followed, calm and calculating.
Kade brought up the rear, grinning at something only he found funny.
The twins. Eighteen years old, future leaders of the pack, and totally out of her league.
Kael reached the ring first, his dark hair catching the afternoon light. He said something to Mara that made her laugh again.
The sound twisted something painful in Aria's chest. What did you expect? she asked herself.
That one of them would notice the silent omega girl? She'd been invisible her whole life.
Her parents died when she was three, leaving her to be raised by the pack. She had no special talents, no important family links, no reason for anyone to remember her name.
She cooked, cleaned, and tried not to get in anyone's way. The perfect life for someone who didn't matter.
"Aria, dear." Mrs. Henderson appeared beside her, voice gentle. "You're gripping that potato like it owes you money."
Aria looked down. Her fingers were white around the small knife, and she'd carved the potato into an unrecognizable shape.
"Sorry. I was thinking." "About tomorrow?" The question hung in the air between them. Tomorrow night, under the full moon, any eighteen-year-old without a mate would feel the pull if their destined partner was close.
Most wolves knew by then who they belonged with. But some, like Aria, had no idea. "What if nobody wants me?"
The words slipped out before Aria could stop them.
Heat flooded her face. "I mean, what if I don't have a mate at all?" Mrs. Henderson set down her mixing bowl, watching Aria with sharp blue eyes.
"Every dog has a mate, child. The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes." Then why do I feel like one?
Outside, Mara had moved on to sword training. She spun the blade like it weighed nothing, metal singing through the air. Kael watched her with clear approval.
Kieran nodded at her skill. Even Kade looked impressed. Aria's grip tightened on the knife again. A knock at the kitchen door made them both jump.
"Come in!" Mrs. Henderson called. The door creaked open, and Aria's heart stopped.
Alpha Calder Thorn filled the doorway, his presence making the large kitchen feel tiny. Gray streaked his dark hair, and lines around his eyes spoke of years leading the pack.
Behind him stood his three kids, their faces unreadable.
"Mrs. Henderson." The Alpha's voice rumbled through the room. "I need to speak with Aria." With me? Aria's mouth went dry.
In eighteen years, Alpha Thorn had never spoken directly to her. She wasn't even sure he knew her name.
"Of course, Alpha." Mrs. Henderson shot Aria a supportive look. "We were just finishing up here."
Aria set down the potato with shaking hands. She'd never been this close to the Thorn brothers before.
Kael stood at his father's right, green eyes fierce and focused.
Kieran flanked the left, his eyes thoughtful and calculating.
Kade lounged against the doorframe, but his casual stance didn't hide the awareness in his posture. They were all looking at her.
Why are they looking at me? "Aria Vale," Alpha Thorn said her name like he was tasting it.
"Tomorrow is your eighteenth birthday." It wasn't a question, but Aria nodded anyway. Her voice had obviously decided to take a vacation.
"Elder Thalia has asked your presence tonight. She wants to... prepare you for tomorrow's ceremony."
Elder Thalia? The pack's old seer rarely spoke to anyone, let alone lowly omegas.
Aria's confusion must have shown on her face because Alpha Thorn's expression changed slightly. "She didn't explain why," he continued. "Only that it was important. Vital, she said."
Kieran stepped forward, his gray eyes studying Aria like she was a problem he needed to solve. "She seemed quite urgent about it." "Urgent?"
Aria finally found her voice, though it came out as barely a whisper.
Kade pushed off from the doorframe, a strange smile playing at his lips. "The old woman was nearly vibrating with excitement. Said something about destiny and old predictions." Prophecies? About me?
Alpha Thorn nodded curtly. "You're to meet her at the holy grove after sunset. Don't keep her waiting." He turned to leave, then paused. "And Aria? Whatever she tells you tonight... remember that some secrets are kept for good reason." The warning in his voice sent ice through Aria's veins.
The Alpha and his boys filed out, leaving Aria standing in the middle of the kitchen with her heart racing and her mind spinning.
Mrs. Henderson bustled around, pretending she hadn't heard every word, but Aria caught her worried looks.
What could Elder Thalia possibly want with me? Through the window, the sun began its fall toward the horizon. In a few hours, Aria would walk into the sacred grove and learn why the pack's most powerful seer had called an invisible omega girl. In a few hours, her life might change forever. But first, she had to survive the wait.
The wooden spoon clattered to the floor again, and this time, Aria didn't bother picking it up.