Omega's Christmas Ball

The Invitation

The rhythmic swish of the broom against the worn wooden floor filled the New Moon Pack’s kitchen, accompanied by the faint scent of pine wafting through the window. River Smith straightened her back and pushed a strand of her unruly blonde hair behind her ear. She surveyed the spotless room with satisfaction. A small victory in a life filled with humble chores.

She was just about to put the broom away when the door burst open, slamming against the wall. Carmina, her best friend, skidded into the room, her face alight with excitement.

“River! You would not believe it!” Carmina exclaimed, practically bouncing in place.

River groaned, pointing at the clean floor. “Carmina, I just finished cleaning! What got into you?!”

But Carmina totally disregarded her comment, her eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together and hopped with glee. “We all got invitations for the Royal Christmas Ball!”

River’s broom hit the wall as she turned to give her friend a suspicious look. “Are you sure, Carmina? It must be a mistake. Only the high ranks are invited to that annual event, and never omegas. Unless...” She raised a skeptical brow. “They want us to act as servers. But the royal household already has enough staff.”

Carmina shook her head vigorously, her enthusiasm undimmed. “No, no! We’re invited as guests! Look!” She thrust a gilded envelope into River’s hands, practically shoving it against her chest.

With a frown, River took the envelope and pulled out the heavy parchment. Her eyes scanned the ornate script, her heart skipping a beat as she read aloud:

By Royal Decree, all unmated she-wolves of the Kingdom of Moon Heaven, irrespective of rank, are hereby invited to attend the Masked Royal Christmas Ball at Royal Palace. Attendance is mandatory. At this event, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Thas Nightshade, will have the opportunity to select a mate.

River blinked, reading it again to ensure she hadn’t misunderstood. Her hands trembled slightly as she set the letter down. “Mandatory?” she murmured, disbelief coloring her voice.

Carmina squealed and twirled around the kitchen, her energy infectious. “Can you believe it? We’re going to the palace! The palace, River! It is a once in lifetime event! It’s like a dream!”

River watched her friend’s exuberant dance with a mixture of amusement and dread. Carmina grabbed her by the arm, pulling her toward the door.

“Come on! We need to go to Mrs. Laz’s shop to secure dresses before they’re all gone! I am sure that all the she-wolves are already lined up for one! Hurry!”

River planted her feet firmly on the ground, halting Carmina’s progress. “Slow down, Carmina. Even if we went to Mrs. Laz’s, we can’t afford dresses from there. They’re ridiculously expensive.”

Carmina’s face fell, the light in her eyes dimming. “You’re right,” she said softly, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t have the money for a dress like that. I guess… I won’t be able to go.”

A pang of guilt struck River’s heart. Carmina’s disappointment was palpable, and it was rare to see her friend’s boundless energy falter. Placing a comforting hand on Carmina’s shoulder, River said, “Look, we’ll figure something out. The ball is a week away. Don’t be upset. I can see how much this means to you.”

Carmina’s eyes brightened a fraction as she nodded. “Of course I want to go,” she admitted. “I’m unmated, and it’s not every day we get a chance to mix with the higher ranks of the kingdom at a party. I’m not expecting to snag the Crown Prince…” She grinned mischievously. “Though I wouldn’t mind being called ‘Your Highness.’”

River couldn’t help but laugh at the antics of her best friend. “Is that so?”

“But seriously,” Carmina continued, “maybe I’ll meet someone else. Someone who could change my life.” She hesitated, then added, “Not everyone is as lucky as you to have a Delta courting them.”

River’s cheeks flushed crimson at the comment, and she glanced around nervously. “Shh! Keep your voice down! No one knows about that!”

Carmina smirked knowingly but held her tongue. River busied herself with folding the invitation back into its envelope, her thoughts swirling.

After bidding farewell to Carmina, River made her way toward her family’s home, a modest two-room house nestled at the edge of the village. Her parents occupied the main bedroom, while she and her older sister, Isabelle, shared the second room, which doubled as the living room during the day. Despite their humble conditions, River was content. They might not have much, but they were a family, and that meant everything to her. Even though the endless toil to make ends meet left them all exhausted, it was a life she appreciated.

As she neared the entrance, the high-pitched sound of her sister’s voice pierced through the quiet evening. River stopped for a moment, sighing as she instantly recognized the tone. Isabelle was excited and loud. Judging by the sheer intensity of her shrieking, she must have received an invitation to the ball as well.

When River stepped inside, her suspicions were confirmed. The small space was in chaos. Isabelle was pacing frantically, clutching the royal invitation like it was a priceless artifact. The moment Isabelle saw her, she ran over, grabbing River by the arm with a dramatic flair.

“River! You need to help me, I am begging you! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Please help me!”

River blinked, taken aback by her sister’s desperation. “How can I help you, Isa?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“I need 10 more silver coins,” Isabelle said, her words tumbling out in a rush. “I need you to lend it to me. Please, River.”

River crossed her arms, her confusion quickly morphing into incredulity. “Isa, 10 silver coins is a huge amount! I don’t have that kind of money. And what do you need it for, anyway?”

“Please, River, I am begging you!” Isabelle’s voice rose in pitch. “I would never ask you for anything else ever again in my entire life, but I already spoke to Mrs. Laz to reserve a dress for me for the ball. It costs 30 silvers.”

“Thirty silvers?!” River exclaimed, her jaw dropping. “Isa, are you insane? That’s Papa’s salary for three years working in the mine!”

Tears welled up in Isabelle’s eyes as she clasped her hands together. “Please, River, please. I need this.”

River shook her head, her voice firm. “I don’t have this kind of money.”

But Isabelle’s tears quickly turned into anger. “I know you do,” she snapped. “I saw you counting it a few months ago! You’ve been keeping it hidden instead of helping your family! Why are you so selfish?!”

A wave of fury washed over River at her older sister’s entitlement. She clenched her fists and took a deep breath before responding. “Isa, those coins are mine. I’ve been saving them for many years to gather a decent dowry. I’m sorry, but…”

Before she could finish, Isabelle cut her off with a bitter laugh. “A dowry? What dowry? You don’t have a mate anymore, and out of spite, you don’t want me to have one either!”

Isabelle’s words were like a slap on the face. River’s vision blurred as tears gathered in her eyes, her throat tightening. Their mother, standing by the small stove, looked on helplessly, her expression torn. The tension in the room was suffocating, and River could feel herself unraveling.

Without a word, she turned and ran out of the house, the cool evening air hitting her tear-streaked face as she sprinted toward the forest. The trees became a blur as she plunged deeper into the woods, her chest heaving with sobs. Her sister’s cruel words echoed in her mind, cutting deeper than she’d thought possible.

When she finally stopped, she collapsed onto the soft moss of a secluded clearing. The forest was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. River hugged her knees to her chest, her tears soaking into her worn dress. For the first time in years, she let herself cry freely, the weight of her family’s struggles and her sister’s accusations crashing over her like a tidal wave.

She had always done her best for her family. Always. Yet it never seemed to be enough.

As she sat there, her mind drifted to the fateful day that had changed her life forever.

--

It was a few years ago, shortly after she became 18 years old, on a normal afternoon when she had been helping her mother in the back garden. Out of nowhere, a searing pain tore through her chest. It felt like a hot iron rod had pierced her heart. The agony was so intense that she had collapsed to the ground, writhing in anguish, before losing consciousness.

When she woke up, she felt hollow. Empty. It was as though a vital part of her soul had been ripped away. The pack doctor had looked at her with pity as he explained what had happened.

“What you felt, River,” he had said gently, “was your fated mate passing away. The bond snapped.”

River had stared at him in shock, her world crumbling around her. Despair and disbelief had consumed her. From the time she was a child, all she had ever wanted was to meet her mate, the one destined for her by the Moon Goddess. She had dreamed of building a happy family, of sharing the burdens and joys of life with someone who truly understood her. But now, that chance was gone. Stolen from her. Her fated mate died without even getting the chance of meeting him.

--

Even now, the memory of that day makes her chest ache. Isabelle’s words had been a cruel reminder of the bond she would never feel again. She would never experience the electric mate tingles or the profound connection that others spoke of so fondly. The Moon Goddess’s blessing had been stripped from her, leaving her to navigate life alone.

River wiped her tears, her resolve hardening. She couldn’t change the past, but she could control how she faced the future. Let Isabelle have her dreams of grandeur and fancy dresses.