Revenge of the Unwanted Omega

Chapter 4 - Standing Up for What Is Right

KYLIAN

As soon as Roman and Violet guided our esteemed guests out of our pack house, I felt like I could breathe again. I knelt in front of Cleo, grateful neither of them noticed the omega child. She didn’t deserve to hear the nasty words they would’ve said to her face. “Why don’t you go into the kitchen? I’m sure Megura has some cookies ready for you.”

Cleo nodded, not saying a word. She didn’t speak much, especially when others were around. She slipped into the kitchen, and I stood up, taking a deep breath.

There was something about Cyrenia that made Calhoun, my wolf, stir.

She’s hiding something, Calhoun said in my head.

I knew he was right, and I planned on keeping a closer eye on the couple while they were here. Roman and Violet were blinded by the strength of Alpha Myles, but I wouldn’t let strangers waltz into the pack and cause an upheaval, not when I had been working hard to change the pack.

I moved to the window that looked out onto the pack grounds and saw Roman and Violet walking our guests around. My eyes were immediately drawn to Cyrenia. When I first laid eyes on her, I swore I saw Nia crouched on the ground, but a single blink erased that image of her. She looked nothing like the mate I rejected years ago. Everything about her was different; her smell, her wolf, her eyes. Yet, there was something about her that reminded me of the girl who dared to stand up to Roman in front of the entire pack. She had the same fierce attitude of the brave omega.

Something strange was going on, and I planned to find out, one way or another.

***

CYRENIA

Violet practically had her nails digging into my arm as we trailed behind Myles and Roman. She pointed out the flower garden she had designed (which was in full bloom), and different decorations she added throughout the town. I couldn’t deny that it made the streets brighter and more appealing to the eye, but none of that mattered. Not when the conditions the omegas lived in were abysmal.

Myles and Roman walked ahead of us, talking about the ways they trained as children, but I only caught bits and pieces of the conversation because Violet continuously talked over them. Her voice wasn’t easy to tune out.

“Right now, my warriors are training for the Celestial Trials,” Roman said proudly. Violet was talking about how she wanted to change the sidewalks to cobblestone, or something along those lines, but I stopped listening to her all together. “My great, great-grandfather started the Celestial Trials. The Moon Goddess came to him in the middle of the night, telling him it was her will for Pack Fornax warriors to go through the trials to get stronger. Only true warriors can succeed in the trials. That’s why making an alliance with us is in your best interest.”

I pulled away from Violet, no longer caring enough to pretend to listen to her. When I was a small child, my mother used to tell me stories of the great warriors that emerged from the Celestial Trials. I had dreamed of what it would be like to participate, to show I was strong enough to be blessed by the Moon Goddess herself, but my mother had shut down those ideals. Omegas didn’t participate in the trials.

“I once heard that the Moon Goddess intended the Celestial Trials to be a way for any warrior—no matter the status or gender—to prove himself or herself worthy.” I had never heard such a thing. Growing up, it was always about the strongest man participating in the trials, but I wanted to test Roman’s reaction.

“You must’ve heard wrong. We certainly do now allow omegas to participate. They are too weak to handle the trials warriors must face. We try to discourage women from participating as well. Most are too fragile.” Roman slowed his pace and leered.

A low growl erupted from my throat. “That’s making some arrogant assumptions. Maybe if omegas and women were trained properly, they would be just as successful as the men.” I maintained eye contact with Roman, curious about how he would respond.

“How I run my pack is none of your business.” Roman kept a straight face, but he was simmering.

The corner of my lip curled as I sensed the alpha’s irritation. I wanted him to squirm. He didn’t like me the moment I stepped into the pack for no reason other than I was a woman, one in power at that. I was ready to give him every reason to hate me.

“We are here to see if our packs would work well in an alliance,” I said. “It’s a shame to know you won’t let women or omegas participate in a trial at their own risk.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. If you participated in the Celestial Trials, you likely wouldn’t make it out alive.” A muscle in Roman’s jaw feathered as he looked down at me. He was on the verge of cracking. If I pushed him a little more…

Careful, Cy. Myles’ voice filled my head with warning. If he decides this alliance isn’t worth it, then the past few months of planning will be for nothing. Myles’ warning was valid, but every part of me wanted to push Roman just a little. If he cracked and attacked me, it’d give me every reason to slit his throat right now, but that wasn’t the plan. It wasn’t just about killing Roman. It was about changing the way the pack was run and protecting the omegas. To do that, we needed more information. We needed to dismantle Roman’s rule.

“It’s a shame outsiders aren’t allowed to participate in the trials,” I said, deciding to stop pushing for the moment. “I would love to do the trials.” And show you that I am just as strong, if not stronger, than these men you hold in such high regard. I knew I couldn’t say that last part out loud.

“Yes, such a shame,” Roman said, but I could practically hear the words he didn’t say. I would love to see you die in the trials.

We continued walking, but the air was thick with tension. I felt Roman’s eyes on me as I walked next to Myles.

The sound of metal clinking together filled the air. Grunts and roars followed, and my entire body vibrated, knowing we were reaching the outside training center. I picked up the pace, the sound of the fighting reverberating in my bones. I stopped when we passed the last building blocking my view. I had seen the outdoor training center plenty of times from a distance when I was younger, but this was different.

The air filling my lungs was charged as I looked at the warriors training in both human and wolf form. “Impressive.”

Myles stopped next to me.“It is. It’s better than most training centers I’ve been to. Of course, mine is better.” He played the role of a cocky alpha better than anyone I ever knew, making it easy to hide the soft side of his heart.

“The obstacle course for the Celestial Trials is just on the other side,” Roman quickly added. He was trying to take control of the tour again. “The obstacle course is considered to be the most brutal ever created, and it is used in the Celestial trials. Only pack members who can complete Celestial Trials can become official warriors of the pack. It is why our pack is known for its strength.”

A feminine cry rang out from the training area, instantly pulling my attention. I stopped listening to Alpha Roman brag about things that didn’t matter. A small woman with dark hair stepped backwards as three warriors approached her. Her entire body shook as she clutched a stack of towels. She smelled like an omega, and the warriors approaching her looked at her like she was prey.

Roman droned on about the accomplishments of his warriors, but I didn’t care. I was only focused on the omega girl, waiting for someone to step in and help her.

“Please. I have to finish my work,” she stammered. She kept her eyes glued to the floor out of fear.

“Come on. We just want to have a little fun,” one of the warriors said. His tone made my stomach churn. There was only one thing he could have been implying, and it made my blood burn.

I moved without thinking. The three men continued encroaching on the omega. The one in the center was the largest of all of them, his muscles almost too big for his body. All of them were larger and more packed with muscles than I was, but that didn’t stop me.

“Cyrenia!” Myles called out, but I ignored him. We were supposed to keep a low profile, but I refused to stand back and pretend a young woman wasn’t in danger.

I slid between the warriors and the omega and straightened my spine. I had a dagger strapped to my thigh for emergencies. I didn’t want to use it, because then Alpha Roman and everyone else would know I was always armed, but I would pull it out if I had to.

“She told you to leave her alone,” I said. A familiar buzz swam through my veins as my wolf awakened. She was hungry for blood.

The warrior in the center chuckled. “Mind your own business, bitch.”

“Unless you want to have a little fun with us, too,” the one to the left chuckled.

I threw a punch at him, cutting off his laughter. The sting against my knuckles fueled my need to attack.

Kill them, Xia, my wolf urged. She craved violence.

I didn’t have a choice. The other two warriors lunged the moment they processed that their friend had been hit by a woman. I ducked and dodged. I blocked the next attack with my forearm and then grabbed his arm. I spun him around and swept his feet out from under him. I kicked the next warrior in the spine, and he stumbled forward, tripping over his friend.

The only one left to take down was the bulky warrior. He moved slower than his friends, making it easier to avoid his hits. I saw an opening on his torso, and I swung, hoping to stun him long enough to hit a more vital spot. Before my fist made contact, Myles swooped in. He grabbed the warrior's arm and spun him away from me. Myles easily pinned the warrior, immobilizing him.

I bared my teeth, ready to rip the warrior’s throat out.

“Enough!” Alpha Roman boomed. He used the full strength of his alpha energy, making me flinch. I pushed back, refusing to be subdued by the alpha.

Myles held onto the warrior, unmoving. I shifted so I was standing between Roman and the omega woman who was shaking behind me. I didn’t want Roman to look at her.

“How dare you attack my warriors without any kind of prompting.” Alpha Roman’s upper lip curled back, revealing his sharp canines.

The old me would have collapsed with fear if an alpha tried to subdue me like Roman did, but I was no longer that girl. I stood straight, knowing I wouldn’t apologize for my actions.

“This poor girl was being harassed by your warriors. Is this how you run your pack?” I pulsed my own alpha energy. I wanted Roman to know I was more than just some woman. When he looked at me, I wanted him to know that I was strong, and I wouldn’t put up with his bullying tactics.

“This is my pack. You have no right to come here and attack my warriors, especially when that omega b***h was in their way. She should know better.”

My hand hit Alpha Roman’s cheek with such force that the smack could be heard throughout the entire training area. Everything went silent.