10. No Turning Back

Silas's Pov

After I ran away from home at the age of thirteen, I had my first heat three years later. I was young, alone and scared out of my mind. I didn't understand what was happening to me at first, until I finally realized I was in such condition because apparently, I was one of those omegas who could give birth. That was the worst day of my life.

That's what I thought. Today is actually worse.

I would get married to the Lycan King tonight.

This was really happening.

The thought spiraled endlessly in my head as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I kept my hands tightly clenched into fists, staring straight ahead at the full-length mirror, but I wasn't really looking at my reflection. My thoughts were spilling over all over the place, spinning in a frantic circle that I couldn't stop.

Servants moved around me like ghosts in a nightmare I couldn’t wake from. Their not so gentle hands dressed me in the ceremonial attire prepared for this cursed night. Layers of white and embroidered Royal blue thread slid over my skin, every touch made me flinch inwardly. And even though I kept my face blank. my heart hammered so violently I was sure they could hear it.

In a few minutes, I would stand before the entire Lycan court and bind myself to the King who despised me.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to run.

But instead, I stood there like a doll being prepared for display, my fingers trembling as they clasped the silver necklace at my throat. My suit was beautiful in a haunting way, the beautifully decorated sleeves fitted perfect around my wrist, the collar of my shirt felt like it was slowly choking me. Then a royal cape, blue and beautiful, was placed over my attire, the servants fastened the collar around my neck, arrange the ruffles and letting it flow to the floor behind me.

My inner Omega hummed beneath my skin, restless and confused, it was the most frustrating part of all this. Despite the terror, despite the bruises on my wrists and the burning ache on my back, that stupid fated bond was still pulsing, yearning for him. It made me want to scream in frustration. How could my body want someone who looked at me with so much disgust?

My mind wouldn’t stop racing. What if I fainted during the ceremony? What if the bond flared so strongly I embarrassed myself in front of everyone? What if tonight he finally claimed me fully, and my body betrayed me by responding to the monster who broke it?

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back fiercely. I had cried enough these past days, abd it changed nothing. I was still here, still doomed.

When the servants finally stepped back, murmuring approval at their work, one of them, a quiet older woman, draped a sheer white veil over my head. It obscured my vision just enough to make the world feel distant and dreamlike. They led me through the halls in silence, the same halls I had been dragged through roughly on my first day here, until we reached a pair of massive glass doors that led out to the courtyard where the ceremony was taking place.

A flower bouquet was placed into my hands and my cape was adjusted again. The evening air blew softly against my veiled face, carrying the scents of the flowers in my hands and cooling the heat that was beginning to consume me due to nervousness.

“You must wait here until the music begins, when you finally hear it, you can proceed to walk forward, just follow the litted path.” the older servant instructed softly before they all retreated, leaving me alone with the pounding of my own pulse.

I stood there alone, staring out at the artificially lit path that lead toward the ceremony space. Soft golden lanterns floated along the edges, casting everything in an ethereal glow. The evening breeze brushed against my face again, cool and carrying the distant scent of pine and wild earth. I closed my eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath, letting it fill my lungs as if it could somehow steady me.

I could already imagine the rows that would be filled with definitely rich and noble people, all seated and whispering among themselves, no doubt waiting to see the pathetic male Omega who was about to become their Queen.

For one fragile, stolen moment, I let myself imagine a different life, a kinder one. I pictured walking down this same path toward someone whose eyes didn’t burn with hatred every time they landed on me. Someone whose touch didn’t carry threats and disgust, someone warm, gentle.

Someone who might look at me and see a person worth loving, not a vessel to be used and discarded, not just a worthless Omega. In my mind, he smiled at me with real affection. His hands would be careful as they took mine. His voice would whisper promises instead of commands.

A specific face suddenly flashed into my mind, vivid and startlingly clear.

I opened my eyes immediately, my breath catching violently in my throat as I shook the imagination away, my heart beating rapidly at the face that had just come into my head.

Panic flared deep in my chest. I actually didn't have anyone who I had feelings for. I’ve spent my entire life hiding in the shadows, staying away from relationships because a mate was a danger I couldn't afford. I had never loved anyone, never even looked at an Alpha with desire. So I would expect just a random, imaginary face to appear in my head during a silly daydream.

But it wasn't a stranger. It was him.

Why did his face appear? Why would my mind even dare to go there?

What could this possibly mean?

No, I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t let myself dream when reality waited just beyond these doors. The Lycan King, my tormentor, my fated mate, ready to chain me to him forever in front of the entire kingdom. The golden bond pulsed mockingly in my chest, as if reminding me that no kinder future existed. Only him.

The soft strains of music began to drift through the courtyard, deep, haunting strings. It was beautiful, but it haunted me.

My stomach did a violent flip as I clutched the bouquet in my hands tighter, my fingers trembling so hard I thought I might collapse right there. But there was no turning back.

So I took one last, desperate breath, and stepped out onto the path.