ARCANE DESIRES: THE BLOOD BOND Book 1

Evyths Thorne recoiled in he spot, her eyes to the ground as Ryker Rockwell, the alpha of Crescent pack, stalked closer. His fingers seized her face, digging into her cheeks.

"You're nothing but a weak link in our pack," Ryker sneered, his face dampened by a frown. “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 gaze on the ground. She had learned her place. The pack's dynamics were clear: Ryker ruled with cruelty and control and she was nothing in the pack. Just an Omega, a crumb beneath their boots.

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 finally said; "Eva, scrub the hall’s floor for our… mating ritual ceremony tomorrow,”

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

He enjoyed it, every bit of it. He loved to see her tears, to see her break down.

But was this really her mate chosen by the goddess? Could the goddess be wrong?

When the pack dissipated with Alpha Ryker, the hottest beta, Selena, remained. Her smile 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 Crescent Pack, Evyths was cursed and rejected by the goddess herself. Unknowingly to them, she was the goddess’s chosen one.

“I will be frank with you, Ryker would never love you," said Selena, her voice breathy. "Do not get your hopes too high in the future..."

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

“Oh, he is mine already!” 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 alone.

On the other hand, Selena straightened herself, “See you around.” she smirked 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.

….

The next day, Evyths 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 a sacred day that they would be joined as one. It meant a whole lot to everyone but not to Ryker nor Evyths.

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, and he would leave her be, she thought to herself.

By the time she had finished, the hall smelled like lavender fragrance and fresh twigs. Her back ached. 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, forcefully absorbing the sight.

Ryker and Selena were kissing passionately, his hands squeezing her ass.

Selena’s giggles filled the air while he continued to tease. And when the corners of his eyes caught Evyths staring, he continued.

They had confirmed Evthys’s suspicion, something intimate and deeper existed between them and no one dared to question the Alpha of the 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 challenged yet she knew the impending consequences of her actions.

Ryker scoffed, his hands forming tight fists.

He frowned. “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 do not feel the connection between us, no spark at all. I will make it easy for the both of us,” She swallowed the invisible thorny lump in her throat. “I, Evyths 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.