I looked up before I could stop myself.
Black combat boots, a broad gait and the ends of a large black coat with a heavy hem. That was all I saw before he rounded the corner and disappeared with the whisper of a shadow trailing behind him.
The scent still clouded around the room and it took everything in me not to run after him. I wanted to know why I felt what I did. Why I wanted to inhale it like a drug and why it sent pulses of heat so raw that it made my thighs clench. What was happening to me? Did he feel the same way that I did?
It was the kind of feeling that I would expect meeting my mate would feel like. Or maybe it was because I was in intense heat. But neither of those options made sense right now since my wolf wasn't even fully awakened. I hadn't even shifted yet.
I gripped the pendant around my neck and rubbed the hard green stone until my fingers felt rough. It was a habit now, the only thing that helped soothe my thundering anxiety.
My knees were trembling. I hated how my body was responding to this.
I cleaned the rest of the floor with shaky hands.
I couldn't sleep a wink at night. My thoughts kept circling about the man in the black coat. He was so tall. I saw that much. Tall and broad. With the air of someone authoritative. But who?
The way he didn't hesitate while passing by me, didn't even take a pause, I was pretty sure he didn't go through that onslaught of need and emotions like I did.
After all, I was just an omega. And he definitely didn't seem like one.
I hated how it felt like my body was just waiting to fall apart for a stranger. The pulsing between my legs hadn't calmed down yet and it was taking everything in me not to touch myself down there. But every time I was about to, Valden's face came to mind and I immediately stopped.
I shouldn't think about him anymore like that. Not again.
By the time the sun came out, I had already depleted myself of all thoughts and was truly wrecked. Today was my first day, the day I definitely could not be late.
I was asked to report to Valden first thing in the morning. And he was to give me an initiation of sorts and direct me to my duties and anyone else I have to meet.
My feet wavered in front of his door at 6:59 am. I was supposed to meet him at seven. I checked the long wooden clock mounted in the hall. As soon as it struck seven, I gave a brief knock and pushed the door open to see him lounging on the beige couch with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
His black satin shirt lay unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up, and his legs spread wide. I swallowed slowly, thinking of what almost happened yesterday. Where I was almost ready to touch myself to him, relive everything that we used to do in his bed.
He looked at me with bored eyes and put his cup down.
"You're late."
"You told me to come at seven."
"Means you should have been knocking on my door five minutes ago. Let's not repeat that mistake from tomorrow, Lester."
My lips tightened. "Yes, sir."
He got up from his seat and scanned the morning light burning outside his high windows.
"You will be assisting me today. And by assisting, I mean doing whatever I tell you to do without so much as a sigh. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," I murmured.
"Didn't hear you Lester."
"Yes, Captain Malawitt," I responded louder, my teeth clenched.
He grunted.
"We'll be going to the omega training grounds today. You're not approved to start training yet, considering you haven't shifted into your wolf. But we'll see," he said, smiling in a way I didn't find very appealing now. "Let's see how you deal with your new life."
I gulped.
Everyone just acted so hell bent on making me regret coming here. Even if I was hell bent on making it the best thing that ever happened to me.
I followed Valden through numerous buildings through Parthenn until we reached the Arc, a wide cleared patch of ground surrounded by training pits and weapon racks, used specially for training in combat and weapons. The omegas had the privilege of training on the Arc for a short period every day, so I was already looking forward to this.
Teliff said I shouldn't even dream of setting foot in there without awakening my wolf but I guess she was wrong. Because here I was. Not allowed to participate but this was the closest I could get.
A small smile threatened to appear on my face as I saw the blue doors leading to the central clearing which I quickly covered up as Valden gave me a look.
I stuck to his side as we got in. Inside, several omegas were already out in groups, fighting each other and training with weapons. The moment they saw Valden, they stopped and stood ramrod straight, faces turning high.
"Let's see how hard you've been training. Position yourselves," Valden shouted.
They obeyed without another word, everyone scrambling to arrange themselves into a perfect ring around the central platform.
"As you all know already, the monsters in the mist are more powerful than you can even comprehend. More powerful than even the Alphas. So out in the mist, it's brutal and the only way to survive is to be just that, brutal. No remorse. That's important."
Everyone nodded and a few yelled out in agreement.
"So let's see how brutal you all can get today," he smiled, his eyes narrowing.
Then he suddenly turned to me.
"Lester, get up there."
My eyes widened.
What was he thinking?
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
I panicked and furiously shook my head no. And stepped forward onto the platform, facing the small crowd. My nerves were telling me to run the fuck out of that place. That it was dangerous.
But then my heart slowed down.
This was Valden.
It didn't matter if he didn't remember me. He'd never do something to hurt others. That's just not the kind of person he was, no matter what kind of mutations took hold of him to change him to this extent.
"I need another omega on the ground. Valeria, come on up."
A girl with platinum blond hair walked up onto the platform swiftly with deeply concerning speed and my stomach dropped.
It was her.
The girl who had threatened me yesterday about not sucking someone's dick. The someone probably being Valden especially considering he just called her out first.
Lovers first and all that.
I could feel Valden's stare between my shoulder blades as I faced her.
"Okay, now fight."
Shit.
I didn't know how to fight. And by the looks of Valeria's posture, she definitely knew how to.
She walked slowly towards me, each step predatory and measured, eyes gleaming with mirth. She looked like she was going to enjoy doing whatever she was planning to do to me.
The air shifted and everyone fell silent.
"Let's give them a show, shall we?" she said, smiling like a lunatic.