Dina stood in the center of the pack house ballroom, staring at the sparkling balloons and ribbons hanging from the wooden ceiling. She takes a few steps back, wiping the perspiration and check her just-finished decoration work.
Tonight is the inauguration ceremony of the new Alpha team, the whole werewolf league hasn't been holding big days for too long, and today all nearby packs have come to visit, even including noble members!
A group of kids suddenly clung to her waist, playing hide-and-seek, then quickly ran away.
"Olivia, be careful please. Liam, would you help me keep an eye on your sister? " She asks, knowing herself would never get tired of them. But the 12-year-old maid beside yells back at the kids while handing Dina the bucket of silk bowknots.
"Hey! Don't get yourselves hurt again! If your parents complaint to that old bitch, Dina would definitely be beaten and starved till this weekend!"
"Language, Aurora. Our head maid was just..... Well, curse is not good for lady anyway." Dina finally can take a good look at the scratches on her hands before other maids come back.
"I will never be as nice as you do." Aurora glared, "Old bitch beats you, other maids leave us here to finish their whole team's work. You already got these pups to babysit, why you agree to decorate here?"
"Princess Charolette has been exhausted after a long journey to arrive here, surely she needs to fresh up her look. "
"Oh bullshit, no one on earth needs 8 maids to dress up. "Aurora continues, "They were just tricking you..."
"It's okay, Aurora." Dina hisses while checking small cuts which were caused by the ribbon edges. "They're smarter, prettier than me, suitable to be around nobles. Besides, if I don't do the work, they'll punish you instead."
Dina paused, pet Aurora's head because she didn't mean to put any stress on her, "Well, sometimes good things fall on Omega orphans like us too."
As an Omega, Dina has getting used to ordinary life, she's definitely not attractive or unique.
Being invisible is good, and safe. At least others won't bully her because she has no parents. Dina has planned, as her simple life keeps going, she'd finish high school, get a real job in pack. Even further, someday rent a small place and become officially guardian of Aurora.
She's satisfied, knowing herself reached the best life she can do. Therefore, she never dreams of anything out of her league, except one: her crush on Sebastian.
Sebastian, the boy of every girl's dream. Tall, strong, with mysterious eyes and soft waves around his face. Don't even mention he's becoming beta at tonight's ceremony. Everytime he passes by, Dina's heart melts a little bit. Everytime he smiles at her of polite, that seemed to stare straight into her soul.
Dina had never told anyone about her feelings, and she thought it would never be more. However, she found their mate bond a few days ago. She almost couldn't help the urge to scream out the secret then. Tonight is not only the inauguration ceremony, but also Sebastian's 18th birthday. At midnight, when he turns 18, Mate Bond would double-surprise him. He'd belong to her forever.
Think of that, Dina couldn't help but show a smile. Kids gather around her in a big box, with a handmade cute dress in it, "Dina, we have a surprise for you!"
"Oh, it is beautiful! Did you sweeties make this for me?" Dina touches the obvious stitches and the bowknots. They are all made by love.
"We helped Aurora with it, thank you for taking care of us." Little Liam mumbled, hiding behind Aurora. "Also, we're sorry you got hurt because of our parents. "
"Oh, I'm all recovered, nothing hurts me now. Thank goddess your father didn't beat you. "Dina holds all the kids in her arms. "This is the most wonderful gift I ever received. Thank you all for preparing it for me."
Dina secretly wipes her own tears. If she still wants to impress Sebastian with her best look, she'd better start now.
As Dina takes Olivia and Liam with her to the ballroom, the moonlights are brighter, the woods are fresher, and a giddy excitement bubbles up inside her, as she looked forward to the night ahead, unable to contain her joy.
Suddenly, Dina hears a rustling in the bushes ahead of them. It must sneak into the pack while everyone focuses on the ceremony. Before she could tell kids to escape, a large, snarling creature bursts out of the bushes and takes Olivia. The red light in its eyes glows, and Dina realizes that they're face-to-face with a teenage rogue.
Without any hesitation, Dina pushes Liam away, then lungs at the rogue, unlike Aurora, Dina doesn't even have wolf, so she has no choice but throw her body between it and Olivia. As she provokes it, she leads it to an old statue that contains a trap. When the rogue bumps into the trap, with all her strength, she pried its jaws open and wrenches Olivia free.
The rogue escapes back into the forest while Dina is checking kids. Dina was bruised and battered, the fancy dress was totally ruined, but thankfully, both kids are safe, crying in her arms. Dina finally breathes a sigh of relief, knowing that she has a fated mate to catch. She's been expecting it for too long, now she's so close.
As midnight approaches, they arrive at the ball. Dina pushes against the heavy wooden doors with trembling hands, then she's enveloped by a sense of calm and tranquility.
The hall was filled with the soft glow of candlelight and the gentle hum of music, and Sebastian standing on the stage, the old Alpha is about to give him the sword that symbols of the new Beta. Dina made her way down the aisle, into the crowd. The world outside the ceremony hall faded away, replaced by the dreamy atmosphere when Sebastian waves that sword and smiles at the crowd.
Suddenly, he looks surprised and starts searching for someone above the crowd. She sees a real slide turn of his sight, and finally, their eyes meet.
That second seems like a century, her heart heavy with the knowledge that he would never notice her, but not anymore. A jolt of electricity runs through her body. She knows, without any doubts, he discovers their mate bond. In that moment, all the efforts she made, all the steps she took, all the pain she had suffered was worth it.
Sebastian, the dream of her life, walks toward her through the bustling crowd, even his eyes never leaving hers.
"Seb..." As Dina says his name, Sebastian suddenly pauses in his track, stares at Dina from a few steps away, seems to wake up when he finally recognizes her face. In all the gasps, he walks directly to Princess Charlotte, then takes her hand.
"Your Highness," he says, bowing deeply to Princess Charlotte. "I have admired you from the moment we met. Even though you arrived at our pack last week, my heart counts its own time. I have come to confess my love for you."
Dina's heart breaks a little part as every single word Sebastian says. The mate bond has begun to burn her body, but Sebastian intends to ignore all her reactions. He takes a few seconds before recalling her name, "Therefore, I reject you...... Dina? "
Dina falls and lays curled up in a ball, her body shaking with sobs that she couldn't control. The pain of his rejection was like a physical blow, tearing at her heart and soul. It only leaves her marked for all time as the one who had been unworthy of love. She doesn't have a wolf to take over her body to escape the pain.
“I sincerely hope you can find someone, you know, who fits YOUR style. "Sebastain looks her up and down before using the fake-pity tone. "I know I will choose the one I love, not anyone that I never notice in my whole life. "
Then he starts making the scene into his own speech, and starts saying more about his risk of rejecting mate, till everyone is moved by his fancy words. Princess Charlotte is impressed too, she naturally accepts his confession. Everyone begins to praise and bless them, not even bother to take a look at Dina.
Dina lies on the ground, watches a pair of thin stiletto heels land over her sight. Adorning the back of each heel was a shimmering silver accent, catching the eye with its dazzling sparkle.
"Sorry Ms.Nobody, it's not your day. " Dina vaguely hears a sweet voice above, Princess Charlotte doesn't even look down while stepping over her, "It's always MY day."
The high heels are so noble and gorgeous, just like their owner. They both step over her trippingly at the same time, not only on her body, but also on her heart and dignity. Everyone is so busy clapping hands for the gorgeous new couple, only a bunch of kids come near her as their parents don't notice.
Sebastian takes Princess Charlotte's hand, leading her onto the dance floor. The last scene Dina sees before she faints is they begin to sway to the light music, gaze into each other's eyes with joy.