The Birthday No One Remembered

Elara's POV

The hot soup splashed across my hand, making me yelp in pain. I quickly put down the heavy pot before I could spill more.

"Watch it, stupid omega!" Chef Margo growled, her eyes flashing yellow with anger. "That's dinner for the Alpha's table. Spill one more drop and you'll go hungry for a week!"

I bit my lip and nodded, blowing on my burned skin. It would heal soon thanks to my wolf, but it still hurt badly.

"Sorry, Chef Margo," I whispered.

Today was my 21st birthday, the most important day in any werewolf's life. It's when we come into our full powers. But as usual, no one remembered. No one cared.

I'd been up since dawn, working in the hot kitchen with no breaks. My back ached from scrubbing floors, and my hands were raw from peeling potatoes. Being an omega wolf meant I was at the bottom of the pack. We got the worst work, the smallest rooms, and the least food.

"Elara!" Chef Margo snapped her fingers in my face. "Stop thinking! Take these plates to the Alpha's dining room now!"

I carefully picked up the tray filled with steaming food. The wonderful smell made my stomach growl. I hadn't eaten since morning, just a small piece of bread that another kitchen worker had snuck to me.

"Don't you dare sniff the Alpha's food," warned Chef Margo. "And remember to keep your eyes down. No one wants to look at an omega during dinner."

I nodded again and walked slowly toward the big dining room, trying not to spill anything. The silver platter was heavy in my small hands.

Through the kitchen doors, I could hear laughing and talking from the Alpha's private dining room. Alpha Kaiden, our pack boss, was eating with his family and friends. I'd seen him a few times from far away, but omegas weren't allowed to speak to alphas unless spoken to first.

I pushed the door open with my back and entered the warm dining room. Instantly, everyone got quieter. No one liked having an omega around during meals, like I was some kind of bug.

"Finally," said a cold female voice. It was Beta Sabrina, from the friendly Mountain Ridge Pack. She was meeting with her family to discuss pack business. She was beautiful with her long blonde hair and perfect face. Rumor was that Alpha Kaiden might choose her as his Luna, his wolf mate and queen.

"Put the food down and leave, omega," she ordered.

I kept my eyes down as I'd been taught and placed the dishes on the table. My hands were shaking a little. If I dropped anything, I'd be punished for sure.

"Is this the best servant you have?" I heard Sabrina ask someone, possibly Alpha Kaiden. "She looks half-starved and dirty."

My cheeks burned with shame. My clothes were old and torn, and I hadn't had time to wash my face after cooking all day.

"Omegas are only good for basic work," a deep male voice answered. Must be Alpha Kaiden. "Nothing special about them."

I put the last dish down and was about to leave when I heard someone say, "At least serve the wine before you go."

Taking a deep breath, I picked up the wine pitcher and started to pour into the fancy glasses. I went around the table carefully, still keeping my eyes down.

When I reached the head of the table where Alpha Kaiden sat, my birthday suddenly felt important again. Something made me lift my head, just for a second.

Big mistake.

My eyes met Alpha Kaiden's dark ones, and the world stopped spinning.

A jolt like lightning shot through my body. The wine pitcher slipped from my hands and crashed to the floor, splashing red wine everywhere, including on Alpha Kaiden's expensive clothes.

But I barely noticed. My wolf was suddenly awake and howling inside me, jumping and spinning with pleasure. One word burned in my mind: Mate. Mate. MATE!

Alpha Kaiden was my fated mate! The one the Moon Goddess had chosen for me! My best match in the entire world!

My heart nearly burst with happiness. This changed everything! No omega in history had ever been matched to an Alpha. I would become Luna, and no one could treat me badly anymore. I'd have a place, a family, love...

But then I saw his face.

Alpha Kaiden was looking at me with pure horror. His beautiful face twisted into a look of disgust so strong it felt like a slap.

"What did you do?" he hissed, jumping up from his chair. "You stupid, clumsy—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening. He must have felt it too—the mate link snapping into place between us, unbreakable and sacred.

The room fell totally silent. Everyone was looking at us. I could feel the mate bond humming between us, a silver thread tying our souls together.

But Alpha Kaiden's face showed no joy, only rage and... fear?

"Get out," he whispered, his voice shaking. "GET OUT NOW!"

I backed away, confused and hurt. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Finding your mate was supposed to be the best moment of your life.

"Kaiden?" Beta Sabrina stood up, looking between us with suspicious eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he snapped, still looking at me like I was something awful. "This omega just ruined dinner. Someone clean this mess up!"

Two beta wolves rushed to clean the spilled wine. I stood frozen, tears filling my eyes.

"You," Alpha Kaiden pointed at me. "My office. After dinner."

My heart raced. Maybe he was just shocked? Maybe he didn't want to announce our bond in front of everyone? Hope flashed inside me again.

I nodded and rushed out of the dining room, my mind spinning. I was Alpha Kaiden's mate! Me, Elara Stone, the lost omega! On my birthday!

For the next hour, I waited outside his office, my mind thinking up wonderful dreams of my new life. No more sleeping in the tiny room I shared with three other omegas. No more cleaning floors until my knees bled. No more hunger or cold or loneliness.

When Alpha Kaiden finally came down the hallway, I stood up quickly, my heart pounding. Up close, he was even more handsome—tall with dark hair and strong features. My mate.

But his eyes were cold as ice.

He unlocked his office door and motioned for me to enter. When the door closed behind us, I finally found my voice.

"Alpha Kaiden, I—"

"Shut up," he growled, cutting me off. "I don't want to hear your voice."

My wolf whimpered in pain at his rough tone. This wasn't right. Mates were supposed to be kind to each other.

"Let me make one thing very clear," he said, leaning close to my face. "Yes, you are my mate. I can feel the link, and I hate it."

Each word was like a knife in my heart.

"But I am the Alpha of Silver Creek Pack, and I will NOT have a beta as my Luna. Do you understand? It would make me look weak. The pack would never respect me."

Tears slid down my face. "But the Moon Goddess chose us—"

"The Moon Goddess made a mistake!" he shouted, making me flinch. "Listen carefully. You will tell no one about this link. No one. As far as anyone knows, you spilled wine and are being punished. I will continue dating Beta Sabrina as planned."

My world collapsed around me. "But... we're mates..."

His eyes softened just a tiny bit. "Look, I won't kick you out of the pack. You can stay working in the kitchen. Maybe... maybe sometimes we can meet in secret. But officially, you're nothing to me. Just an omega helper. That's all you'll ever be."

He turned away from me, like he couldn't stand to look at me anymore.

"Now get out. And remember, tell no one. Or I'll make sure you regret it."

I stumbled out of his office, tears blinding me. The mate bond between us pulsed with pain.

My perfect birthday gift had turned into the worst nightmare of my life.

And somewhere deep inside, my wolf, who had been so happy just an hour ago, began to growl with something I'd never felt before.

Rage.