Omega's Christmas Ball

Dissapointment

The morning of the grand ball dawned bright and crisp, but the mood within the pack was anything but calm. Excitement buzzed like a living force through the entire territory. Everywhere River turned, the ball was the only topic of conversation. The grandeur of the event, the anticipation of seeing the Alpha King and the Crown Prince, the splendor of the castle had every member of the pack in a whirlwind of enthusiasm.

But for River, the excitement felt hollow. Her heart was caught in a painful tug-of-war, torn between her obligations and her emotions. Since their last argument two days prior, Damon, the Delta of the pack, had been giving her the cold shoulder. His distant demeanor stung like a thorn lodged in her heart, and the pain of his indifference weighed heavily on her. To make matters worse, home offered no solace. Isabelle, her older sister, had been fuming since their spat, lashing out with scornful jabs at River at every opportunity.

Isabelle’s frustration was no secret. She had always viewed herself as deserving of a life far beyond their omega status, dreaming of riches, luxury, and a life of leisure. Isabelle's lofty aspirations clashed starkly with their harsh reality, and her bitterness was palpable. It left River on edge, caught between wanting to soothe her sister's discontent and yearning to escape the constant hostility.

By midday, the pack's preparations were in full swing. River found herself in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes after lunch, a familiar chore that grounded her amid the chaos. The clatter of pots and pans was interrupted by the sound of soft, hurried footsteps. Turning, she saw her best friend, Carmina, enter the kitchen, her face full with joy.

“Few more hours, River!” Carmina said, her eyes shining with anticipation. “I can already imagine the food, the music, the castle… oh, Moon Goddess, I can’t wait!”

River forced a tense smile, her inner turmoil bubbling under the surface. Carmina, ever perceptive, picked up on her friend's unease. Her gaze turned sly as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “What are you going to do?” she asked, her tone laced with intrigue.

Before River could muster a response, a commanding voice cut through the room, making her jump. “River,” Damon called from the doorway, his voice steady and authoritative. “Can I have you for five minutes in my room? I need some help.”

The kitchen fell silent as everyone froze, turning to look at the unexpected interaction. River’s cheeks flamed, her heartbeat quickened as she met Damon’s intense gaze. Barely managing to nod, she set aside her cloth and followed him out of the room, her heart racing with trepidation and hope.

Damon led her through the winding halls of the pack house, his broad shoulders and confident stride commanding attention. River’s thoughts swirled. Was this about them? Did this mean he had spoken to his parents? She could scarcely contain the flicker of hope blooming in her chest.

As they climbed to the upper levels of the pack house, they crossed paths with Luna Cara. The regal Luna arched a brow at them, her sharp gaze assessing.

“What’s going on here?” Luna Cara asked, her voice cool and authoritative. “Why is one of my kitchen staff on the upper levels?”

River quickly dipped into a small bow, lowering her eyes, but Damon remained relaxed. “I needed someone to help me iron my shirt for tonight,” he explained smoothly. “The rest of the staff were released early to prepare for the ball, and there’s no one else available.”

Luna Cara’s lips thinned as she considered his words. “Hmm. Make it quick, Damon,” she said, her gaze lingering on River. “You should have planned better. She needs time to prepare as well, as she can’t embarrass us at the ball; remember, the first carriages leave in two hours.”

“Apologies, Luna,” Damon replied with a curt nod, steering River away before she could feel the full brunt of the Luna’s scrutiny.

The air felt heavier as they entered his room. For a moment, River stood frozen, taking in the space that bore Damon’s unmistakable presence. His scent, earthy and warm, with a hint of pine, was potent, stirring her wolf inside her. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.

“Look at me,” Damon’s voice was soft, almost tender, drawing her gaze to his intense eyes. The vulnerability she saw there made her heart ache.

“River,” he began, stepping closer. “You know you’re the one for me. I know I’ve been distant, and I’m sorry. But the thought of losing you… it’s driving me crazy.”

Her breath hitched as his words sank in. But before she could respond, he continued, his voice pleading. “Please, don’t attend the ball. Stay for us, for our future.”

Her heart clenched painfully. The Alpha’s orders were clear, yet Damon’s earnestness pulled at her. His distressed expression broke through her defenses, and despite the voice in her head urging her to stand firm for her sake and her family’s, she found herself conflicted.

“But my family might be punished. It was an Alpha order and a Royal decree”, River spoke in a small voice.

But Damon laughed, amused, “Yeah, right, like they would allow the Crown Prince to choose an Omega as mate. No one will notice your absence.”

For a moment, River felt his words like daggers to his condescending tone, and he noticed his mistake. “Don’t be a child, River, is not like this, so please don’t make drama from anything. You know how much I hate non-sense. You will be mine soon, and the wolf inside me is demanding his mate. So, please be reasonable and see from my point of view. Plus, consider this as a test of your feelings and commitment to becoming my mate.”

After a longer pause, River replied in a deflated voice. “Okay, Damon,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I won’t attend.”

Relief flooded his features, his tension easing visibly. “Thank you,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude. “You don’t know how much this means to me.” He hesitated before adding, “I would kiss you right now, but… the scent. You understand.”

River swallowed her disappointment, nodding. “I understand.”

Before leaving, she mustered the courage to ask what had been haunting her. “Did you… speak to your parents?”

Damon’s expression flickered briefly, an unreadable expression crossing his face. “Yes,” he said after a pause. “We’ve had some discussions about my future mate, but… we can’t be official yet. There’s a lot going on with the pack and my responsibilities. It will take a few more months than initially estimated, my love.”

Her heart squeezed again, as she felt confused about the delay and its reason, the fragile hope she’d been nurturing shattering. “I understand,” she murmured, her voice barely steady, despite a feeling of unease that engulfed her.

“You’re the best, River,” Damon said with a small smile as he winked at her, brushing his hand against her arm. “I’m a lucky wolf, and I can’t wait to be together, to have you in my arms and make you mine. After this ball, I will fully mate with you, River, so prepare yourself; I can’t wait anymore, and I don’t want to hear another ‘no’. You belong to me.”

She forced a smile, nodding as she turned to leave. The moment the door closed behind her, the tears she’d been holding back began to spill, her throat tight with the knot of emotions she could no longer suppress in disappointment.

River stepped out of the Pack House, her emotions a swirling storm within her chest. She avoided the busy kitchen entirely, not wanting to face the other omegas who were busily preparing for the day ahead. The fresh air outside was a stark contrast to the suffocating weight she felt inside. Finding a quiet spot near the water pump, she splashed cold water onto her face, the icy shock grounding her. She pressed her palms against her cheeks, as if the cold could numb the ache in her heart. But her tears, rebellious and relentless, threatened to spill over.

“River,” came a familiar voice from behind her, gentle but tinged with concern.

She turned, startled, to see Carmina standing a few steps away. Her best friend’s brows were drawn together in worry as she approached. “What happened?” Carmina asked softly.

River hesitated, but the worry in Carmina’s eyes undid her resolve. She let out a shaky sigh and finally confided, “It’s Damon. He… he asked me not to attend the ball…again” Her voice wavered. “It wasn’t even a request, Carmina. It was like… an ultimatum.”

Carmina’s face darkened as she folded her arms. “River, I didn’t want to say this before because I know how much you love him, but… I don’t like how he treats you, Delta or not.”

River’s eyes widened slightly, startled by her friend’s candor. “Carmina…”

“No, hear me out,” Carmina interrupted gently but firmly. “He’s practically asking you to defy an Alpha’s order, not to mention a Royal order. Do you realize what kind of punishment could come down on you, and your family, if you don’t go? Here is not about your chances to be a possible mate for the Crown Prince, but about the idea of defying our hierarchy.”

River opened her mouth to protest, but Carmina held up a hand to stop her. “And don’t say it’s out of love. If he truly saw you as his mate, River, he wouldn’t be putting you in this precarious position. He would have gone to Alpha Taylor and spoken to him about sparing you. He wouldn’t leave you to take all the risks.”

River felt her throat tighten. “He told me… he told me this was a test,” she said quietly. “Of my feelings. Of my commitment to him.”

Carmina’s expression shifted to one of exasperation. “That’s bullshit, and deep down, you know it,” she said, her tone sharp but not unkind. “River, wake up! You’re one of the smartest people I know. I know you can sense there’s something strange with his reasoning.”

River’s chest constricted with the weight of her friend’s words. She let out a long, trembling breath, her voice breaking as she admitted, “I’m so confused, Carmina. He told me he’d speak with his parents, and I was expecting us to become official next week. But today… today he said it would take a few more months till the official announcement.”

Carmina’s gaze softened, her eyes shimmering with emotion as she stepped forward and pulled River into a tight hug. “I know you love him, River,” she murmured. “But I need you to think this through. You’re an omega. We can’t afford to defy Alpha or royal orders without facing severe consequences. It’s not fair, but it’s the truth.”

River didn’t reply, her heart too heavy to speak. Carmina stepped back, giving her a small, encouraging smile. “I know you promised him, but please rethink this. We’re not going to have an opportunity like this again, River. Wolves like us don’t get invited to royal balls. We might never see the castle, especially as guests.”

Her words hung in the air as she glanced at the horizon, where the sun was climbing higher. “I need to go prepare,” Carmina said gently. “The first carriages leave in two hours, and the last ones at four. Despite everything… I hope I see you there.”

With a final squeeze of River’s hand, Carmina turned and walked away, leaving River standing by the water pump. The weight of her conflicted emotions bore down on her. She stared at her reflection in the rippling water, searching for an answer in the depths of her own troubled gaze. But all she found was the same confusion, the same ache, and the same question she had been asking herself all morning: What should I do?