~Two Years Earlier
~AMY~
"Mira's the one I've always wanted." Cyrus's words cut through the tense silence. Cold and thick with disdain. "You're just what was available."
The pain hits instantly. My heart constricts, and I wince visibly, recoiling like I'd been slapped.
Cyrus, my boyfriend of a year and best friend since childhood.
Today was supposed to be the day we would officially announce our relationship to the pack.
The day I would leave for Eclipsera Academy with him.
But it turns out to be the day I'm rejected twice. First, by the moon... and now, by him. In the presence of all his brothers.
Clayton, Corinthian and Casper just look on, wearing almost identical sneers of disgust.
"It's because I wasn't chosen, isn't it?" I ask, my voice trembling. "All along, you've been with me for the potential to be moon blessed."
"Gods, she's pathetic." Casper grunts, shaking his head. "What did you ever see in her, Cy?"
His words sting more than I expect it to. I never got along with Casper, compared to the rest of the quad, but I used to think our constant bickering was our own form of friendship.
How wrong I was...
Cyrus's eyes finally meet mine. His gaze mocking, "I'm a Prince, Amy. You couldn't even get your own destiny right, how can you be my Luna?"
My eyes water, lips trembling. I bite down harshly on my bottom lip to keep the tears in.
I won't let them see me cry. I won't!
"I'll leave the pack then..." I mutter, voice barely audible. "There's nothing for me here anymore."
Cyrus's expression darkens, "You can't leave. You're still coming with us to Eclipsera."
"Every pack has to send in three academy omegas and you will be one of ours."
My heart drops to the pit of my stomach. "But I'm not...an Omega. I'm a Beta's daughter..."
"Are you slow, Amy?!" Clayton who had been quiet all along hisses from his desk. "You failed the entrance ceremony and you've been disowned. You don't have a home to return to. Your parents took Mira in as their daughter instead...as for you, you are now an Omega."
The strength leaves my legs and I crumble to the ground, shaking my head in disbelief.
All my dreams and hopes had already crumbled before my eyes when the moon left me unmarked...but now, I'll have to live with that shame right in the halls of Eclipsera.
Not as a respected Luna-in-training, but as the lowest of the low...an academy omega.
~~~~~~
Present Day
~~~~~~
"Amy! Get your ass up here!"
Matron Sarah's nasally voice bounces off the walls of my shoebox room, jolting me awake. I quickly sit up, my eyes are still groggy as I glance over at the alarm clock by my bedside.
The panic sets in instantly.
It's 1:30am, which means one thing, I slept in!
Jumping to my feet, I swiftly grab my cleaning supplies from around the room and hurry over to the door of the basement.
The lowest of omegas live in the basement of Eclipsera Academy. We're not allowed to be seen around the academy, except when we go about our duties while the rest of the academy sleeps.
Or during the few basic classes we're allowed to take during the academic session.
On lucky days, the Quad and Mira are too busy to torment me and everyone else pretends I don't exist.
"You little bitch!" Matron Sarah snaps. "You must think you're still royalty, making me come down to fetch you!"
"Don't you know what today is?!" She hisses.
How can I possibly forget?
Today is Luna's choice. The day the moon blessed females for the year will receive their marks.
By nightfall, all current students would gather in the grand hall for the final announcement of all females chosen by the moon and new ranked males to join the academy.
Those Alphas and Lunas in training that aren't already matched would be scouting for prospective mates.
Luna's choice happens only once a year.
It's a major event where the younger generation gather together to watch dreams made or broken.
Like mine had been two years ago.
"The grand hall needs more hands! Get a move on!" Matron Sarah snarls.
I wince, muttering an apology under my breath before scurrying past the Matron.
The academy is quiet at this time of the day. But it won't be long before the enforcers in training are up for their morning run.
I hurry to catch up with the other academy omegas already cleaning up the grand hall of the academy.
The clean up takes a few hours and then it's time to face the most dreaded part of my day.
"Amy, hurry. Prince Clayton will be back from his morning jog soon." Denise, another omega reminds me. "And you know how he gets when his room isn't cleaned up before he gets back."
Today, I've been assigned to serve at the Northwest Tower belonging to the Alpha Princes.
Serving anywhere else is bearable, but the Northwest Tower is every omega's worst nightmare. Especially mine.
The Quadruplet Alpha Princes, Clayton, Corinthian, Casper and Cyrus are the most terrifying in all of Eclipsera Academy.
Cold hearted and ruthless. And I'm their preferred target.
"Denise..." I try to plead, "I..."
Denise shakes her head. "I can't swap with you again, Amy. I already got into trouble the last time."
I wince. Dread filling me at the thought of facing the quad. But it's more terrifying getting on their bad side by doing a poor job in my duties.
I need to get to Prince Clayton's room and tidy it up before he returns.
With that in mind, I hurry over to the Northern Tower.
_______
I'm breathless when I finally arrive at the Victorian Styled Palace that serves as a dormitory to the Alpha Princes.
The weight of my cleaning equipment stirs an ache in my shoulder but I ignore it.
I quickly show my ID to the guard at the entrance before I'm allowed in, and then I take the elevator up to Prince Clayton's room.
Prince Clayton is the early riser amongst the Quad. He's also very particular about the organization of his room.
I quickly get to work, wiping down windows, dusting surfaces and arranging shelves.
I'm just about to make the bed when I pick up on footsteps approaching.
The door knob turns and I freeze as the door swings open to reveal Prince Clayton.
He's shirtless, sweat beaded on his torso. His eyes settle on me and they narrow.
"Too slow, Amy." Clayton's tone is cold and biting. "When will you learn?"