THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO

ARIA'S POV

Everyone feared death.

It was a nightmare.

A cruel, terrifying nightmare.

But it was real.

And I had just witnessed why.

My gaze fell to the blood pouring from the wound in my chest. It stained my trembling hands as the warmth slowly slipped away with every passing second.

Painful memories crashed over me, blurring my vision until hot tears streamed down my cheeks.

If only I hadn't been born an omega.

If only people hadn't looked down on me because of my rank.

If only I had been allowed to live like everyone else.

Most of all...

If only my wolf had shifted.

But she never did.

So many if onlys.

Yet, despite everything, a sorrowful smile found its way to my lips.

Soon...

I would finally be free.

Free from the cruelty of this world.

Back to the Moon Goddess.

Back to the one who had sent me here.

And I had so many questions.

Questions only she could answer.

But I was leaving my soulmate behind...

The only person who had ever seen me for who I truly was.

"Shadow... I'm sorry."

The whisper escaped my lips, heavy with pain and regret.

No longer resisting death, I closed my eyes...

...and let it claim me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I knew I was dead.

I had watched death claim me with its cold embrace.

So...

Why was I still thinking?

I was supposed to be dead.

Silence surrounded me.

The world around my lifeless body had gone completely still.

What was happening?

My eyes flew open.

Smoke...

Or perhaps clouds.

They stretched endlessly in every direction.

I shot upright, my hands instinctively clutching my chest.

The wound.

It was gone.

I searched my body in disbelief.

My hands.

My legs.

My clothes.

There wasn't a single trace of blood.

Was this a dream?

No...

I had died.

I knew I had.

A deafening thunder suddenly echoed through the endless mist.

I gasped.

A violent shiver ran down my spine as my heart pounded wildly against my chest.

The sound came again.

Softer this time.

I slowly turned in every direction.

No one.

Nothing.

Only endless clouds beneath my feet.

A chill crept through me.

Swallowing hard, I forced my trembling legs to move.

One step.

Then another.

And another.

Yet no matter how far I walked, the clouds stretched endlessly before me, leading me deeper into an unknown destination.

The longer I stood there, the colder the place became.

Maybe...

If I spoke, someone would hear me.

"Hello!"

My voice echoed through the endless clouds before fading into silence.

No response.

"Is anyone here?"

Nothing.

I turned in every direction, but no one came.

Nothing had changed.

Or...

Maybe something had.

The clouds were moving.

I watched as they drifted together, slowly taking the shape of enormous squares that surrounded me from every direction.

Doors?

Or...

Was I supposed to solve some kind of riddle?

"Aria... you good-for-nothing."

I spun toward the voice.

It came from one of the floating squares.

The park matron.

I remembered her vividly.

I was only fifteen.

"Aria, can't you be like your mates?"

Another voice echoed through the clouds.

I turned sharply.

My father.

"I regret ever giving birth to you."

My breath hitched.

I turned again.

My mother.

"You can never be my sister, Aria."

Another square.

Another voice.

Another memory.

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

My chest rose and fell with every shaky breath as I turned from one voice to another.

"Why do you even exist, Aria?"

"Aria... why can't you just die?"

My chest tightened.

It felt as though invisible hands were squeezing the life out of me.

"Aria, I hate you."

"No..."

I clamped both hands over my ears.

"Go where you belong, Aria."

"Aria!"

"ARIA!"

"ARIA!!"

The voices grew louder...

Closer...

Until they swallowed every thought in my mind.

"No..."

My knees buckled beneath me.

"Please..."

"Please, stop..."

Suddenly...

Everything fell silent.

For a brief moment, I thought it was over.

"Mate."

My heart stopped.

That voice...

It was his.

No.

Please don't let this be another torment.

I had already failed him.

I had failed my mate.

"I will walk every path with you, if that is what the Moon Goddess desires."

I remembered those words.

Every single one of them.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

It really was him.

Shadow.

He had done nothing but care for me.

Love me.

Protect me.

Sacrifice for me.

Even though he was the Alpha...

...and I was only an omega.

Tears blurred my vision.

"Shadow... I'm sorry."

My voice broke.

"I only wanted to protect you."

The words escaped my lips as though he were truly standing before me.

When I looked up again...

My heart nearly stopped.

Shadow was bound in heavy chains.

"No..."

Panic seized me.

"No... no..."

Why was he chained?

"Why is he chained?"

I looked around desperately.

I didn't care who answered.

Just someone.

"Answer me!"

Silence.

"Answer me... now!"

My voice cracked as anger consumed me.

A bolt of lightning ripped across the sky.

A deafening clap of thunder followed, shattering every floating square around me.

"Ahhh!"

I screamed, squeezing my eyes shut.

Then came the wind.

It was unbearably cold.

My entire body trembled.

My teeth chattered violently as the icy air wrapped itself around me.

I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes.

Then...

A voice called my name.

"Aria.”