ARCANE DESIRES: THE BLOOD BOND Book 1

Evyths Thorne recoiled in he spot, her eyes to the ground as Ryker Rockwell, the alpha, scolded her in front of the pack. His words cut deep, a constant reminder of her inefficacy.

"You're nothing but a weak link in our pack," Ryker sneered, his face dampened by a frown that threatened Evthys. “You're a burden to us all," he added without a tinge of compassion in his tone.

Evyths’s heart ached, but she kept her head bowed, knowing better than to defy Ryker. The pack's dynamics were clear: Ryker ruled with an iron fist and cold heart, and Evyths was at the bottom of the hierarchy—a mere omega. A crumb, the others would call her.

As the alpha's rant continued, Evthys’s mind wandered to her past. She'd always dreamed of being a powerful, respected member of the pack. But Ryker's cruelty had crushed her spirit.

The pack's beta, Selena Osborne, smirked, enjoying Ryker’s little show, her eyes darting at Evthys. She thought she saw a glimmer of sympathy for a moment, but it was quickly extinguished.

Ryker's final wreck was harsh: "Eva, scrub the hall’s floor for our… mating ritual ceremony tomorrow,” he said.

The pack’s gruesome laughs escalated, leaving Evyths at the brink of her own tears.

Ryker loved to humiliate her, it was his usual pun. He loved to see her tears, to see her break down.

Most times, Evyths questions the moon goddess about Ryker and how he had to be her mate. It was no secret to the pack, Evthys was Alpha Ryker’s mate. The soon-to-be Luna of the Crimson Pack.

It was the dream of every girl in the pack to be Ryker’s mate, but Evyths was his mate. One that the goddess had chosen for a reason that no one knew about.

When the pack dissipated with Alpha Ryker, the hottest beta, Selena remained. Her smile was poisonous, just like her intentions.

When Evyths attempted to leave the foyer, Selena placed a foot as Evyths tripped and fell, the basket of oranges rolling away.

Evthys whimpered, struggling to get the oranges as fast as she could as Selena stepped on her hand again.

Evyths winced in pain, suppressing the stinging pain from Selena’s thick boots while the beta pulled Evyths red hair.

Evyths was a unique in appearance; she had red long hair and green eyes. According to Crimson Pack, Evyths was cursed and rejected by the goddess herself. Unknowingly to them, she was the goddess’s chosen one.

“Not so fast, fucking crumb! I have yet to talk,” Selena’s voice was unhurried, breathy, and low-pitched. “You must be excited about your ritual, isn't it?” she scoffed. “Who would want a red headed witch with green eyes like you by the way? A curse to our pack?” Selena huffed. “Well, let’s see how far Ryker goes with his decision to make you Luna of our pack,” Selena chuckled dryly, applying more pressure, causing Evyths to whine in pain.

“You can have him for all I care, Selena, just… leave me be…” cried Evyths, eyes brimming with tears.

“Oh, he is mine already, for starters!” Selena said with a smug smile, taking off her foot as Evyths quickly snatched her hand, massaging it carefully.

Evthys was meant to be submissive in nature, but not her—she knew that she was capable of something greater. Something better than being an omega.

But in the end, her freedom revolved around Ryker’s choices.

On the other hand, Selena straightened herself, “Not a word to Ryker,” she firmly sounded a warning and headed away.

One thing was clear to Selena, Ryker was not her mate. Although she's liked Ryker since childhood, she couldn't change the fate of the man she loved with her life.

…

Around midnight, the moon was full, casting shadows across the mansion’s floor. There was a bang on Evyths’s room door.

The small room she shared with her mother.

“Who could that be?” his mother asked, sitting up almost frantically.

Evyths had a hunch, she could tell that Ryker was behind it although he would not stoop so low as to walk through this side of the mansion—the quarters for the omegas like herself.

“Don't worry Mom, I'll get the door…” Evyths assured her sleepy mother while the bang persisted.

Gently opening the door, her eyes landed on the Ryker’s guard.

“Alpha Ryker demands to see you now,” the stern man said, his voice resonating.

“Okay! I’m going to change into something presentable,” she turned to leave as the guards grabbed her hand tightly.

“You can't keep our Alpha waiting,” he said, dragging her with him.

The night was very cold, Evyths was only wearing a sheer dress with no shoes on. In fact, she wasn't granted the opportunity to grab a pair.

Hugging herself, rubbing her arms while her feet grazed the cold marble floors.

Once they were situated before Ryker’s room, the guard walked off.

Evyths, brimming with uncertainty and terror in her frail green eyes—a gift from the moon goddess—she managed to knock.

The door opened as if someone had been waiting.

It was Ryker himself.

Basked in his glory and beauty. His ego followed his steps with each walk, pouring himself some whiskey that sat on the table across from the room.

He was only wearing light pants and nothing else. His mullet flowed past his eyes, the tattoo of a full moon and his wolf etched across his broad back, a figure that made women’s panties drool.

No matter his cruelty, she had never imagined herself loving a man like him. But, who was she to question the goddess? A part of the premonition that must be adhered to?

“Strip,”

That one-word syllable struck a chord. It was his usual demands. Sex.

He was a fierce monster during the day and ruthless sexgod at night—so she heard.

Gently, Evthys fearfully grabbed the strap of her dress, letting it fall freely.

He took another sip from his potent drink, his eyes darting to her body.

The more he stared at her intently, the more she quivered, her feet barely holding her body.

Once the sheer dress had fallen off completely, Ryker emptied his glass of potent drink, relishing her nakedness with his eyes.

“Come closer,” he ordered, his voice a depth of evil and pleasure.

Before him, Evyths’s hands fiddled shyly as he parted them forcefully, spinning her to face him fully.

By now, her back against the wall while his fingers traced the corners of her body.

“Mas- master, we can't do this—”

He struck her face, his gaze darkening. The shrill sound in her ear distorted her thoughts.

“I speak, you obey!” he clarified sharply as Evyths nodded.

Evyths loathed the idea of being fucked with no ounce of emotion attached. Unlike others and their mates, there had never been a spark between them, a connection that could pull them closer.

His hands dug into her cheeks, her eyes widening a bit. Ryker licked her face like a predator to a prey, his breath reeked of strong whiskey.

“You are right, let’s save this for our ritual tomorrow,” he said, freeing her nonchalantly.

Evyths held her face, feeling the scratches he had left on her cheeks.

“Get out,” he ordered, his initial disgust cascading his face as Evyths grabbed her dress, rushing to the door.

“114 reasons why I would never love Ryker,” Evyths vowed to herself, denying the almost invisible pull between them.

….

The next day, Evthys was scrubbing the floor just like Ryker had ordered yesterday. It was the day of their mating ritual ceremony yet it meant nothing to Ryker.

According to their tradition, it was sacred day that they would be joined as one. In their case, Ryker was an Alpha while Evyths was an omega who would become the Luna of the Crimson pack. It meant a whole lot to everyone but not to Ryker.

Yet, he never got tired of making her an object and subject for his humiliation or reminding her of how weak she was.

Her hands clawed at the sponge in her hand, applying as much pressure as she could to make the floor sparkle, maybe it would please the Alpha, she thought to herself.

By the time she had finished, the hall smelled like Jazmine fragrance. Her back was aching due to the hard work. She grabbed the bucket and sponge to leave. Then, she heard noises busting towards the entrance.

She didn't have to be reminded, it was Alpha Ryker and the rest of the pack. While the members scattered around, surveying the large hall that she had just cleaned.

And just like every other time, Selena was there with him, and this time, clawing a hand around his arm like his Luna or whatever her actions meant.

Evyths watched. Evyths remained planted in her spot, shocked at the ugly sight, forcefully absorbing the sight.

Ryker and Selena were kissing passionately, his hands squeezing her ass like a religion to him.

Selena’s giggles filled the air while he continued to tease and kiss her passionately, his fingers gradually gradually beneath her dress.

They had confirmed Evthys’s suspicion, something intimate and deeper existed between them and no one dared to question the Alpha of the crimson pack.

Evyths stood there, still watching. Her heart tightened leaving a pang, at least they didn't have to make her witness their session knowing fully that she was there.

Tears crammed the corners of her eyes, her fingers were tight around the sponge, and her chest was clenching now and then, something was pushing her to confront them even if her heart was shattered like shards of glass.

He was her fated mate, she had the right to question his actions in their tradition. An additional reason was that they were about to be joined as one in the coming hours.

Not minding her level in the hierarchy, Evyths dropped the sponge and bucket, the thudding sound interrupted everyone causing them to halt as Evyths moved toward Ryker and Selena. Her hands balled into fists, anger coursing through her veins.

“I have had enough of you, Ryker, and your little games making me your object of constant humiliation. Your infidelity and disrespect to our union,” Evyths groaned boldly, scolding the alpha, leaving everyone, including him, speechless and baffled by the omega’s actions.

The muttering amongst the pack members began to escalate, Evyths had just had enough although she knew the impending consequences of her actions.

Ryker scoffed, his hands forming tight fists.

His tight frown surfaced, making him look more evil and unquestionable.

“How… dare you, fucking crumb?” he asked, unable to digest what Evyths was doing—embarrassing him before the pack. A mere omega.

Before Ryker could speak again, she continued, her voice battling for a place for its own. The supposed Omega Luna took a deep breath, yet her voice was shaking as she managed to speak.

“Let's not lie to ourselves, Alpha Ryker, you don't feel the connection between us—no spark. I will make it easy for both of us,” She swallowed the invisible thorny chunk in her throat and proceeded with a final resolve. “I, Evyths ‘Eva’ Thorne, reject your claim as my mate…”

There, her rejection before the pack left an imprint on the Alpha, yet, a danger that Evyths would never forget.