Chapter 3 The Alpha's Choice

My legs ached, my stomach growled, and my heart felt like a lead weight in my chest. I wandered the streets, a ghost in my own city, until I stumbled upon a familiar building. It was a rundown apartment complex, the kind where the paint peeled and the hallways smelled of stale cigarette smoke. This was where Lily lived, a fellow Omega from the pack. We weren't close, but we shared a bond – the shared burden of our low status.

Hesitantly, I pressed the buzzer for Lily's apartment. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Lily's worried face. Her eyes widened when she saw me.

"Elara? What's wrong? You look... terrible," she said, her voice filled with concern.

I didn't answer. I just stood there, tears silently streaming down my face.

Lily didn't press. She just opened the door wider and ushered me inside. Her apartment was small and cluttered, but it was warm and smelled faintly of lavender. It was a haven compared to the cold, empty streets.

"Come in, come in," she said, leading me to a worn-out sofa. "Tell me what happened."

I sank onto the sofa, my body aching with exhaustion. I told her everything – Kai's betrayal, Anya's cruelty, the rejection. I spared no detail, laying bare the raw pain that consumed me.

Lily listened patiently, her brow furrowed with concern. When I finished, she was silent for a moment, then she reached out and took my hand.

"Oh, Elara," she said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"I... I don't know what to do," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I have nowhere to go."

Lily squeezed my hand. "You can stay here, for as long as you need," she said. "It's not much, but it's a roof over your head."

I looked at her, gratitude welling up inside me. "Thank you, Lily," I said, my voice choking with emotion. "Thank you so much."

Lily smiled. "Don't mention it," she said. "We Omegas have to stick together, right?"

Over the next few days, I stayed with Lily, trying to piece my life back together. It was difficult. The pain of Kai's betrayal was a constant ache in my heart. Anya's words echoed in my mind, reminding me of my perceived worthlessness. I felt like a broken doll, discarded and forgotten. Love, trust, hope... they all felt like distant, impossible dreams.

One evening, as we were sharing a meager dinner, Lily mentioned something about a ball.

"The Alpha's Ball?" I asked, surprised. "I didn't know there was one."

Lily nodded. "It's tonight," she said. "It's a big deal. Everyone has to go, even Omegas."

"I... I don't think I can go," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't have anything to wear. And... I just don't feel up to it." The thought of facing everyone, of potentially seeing Kai and Anya, made my stomach churn. I just wanted to disappear.

Lily frowned. "Elara, you *have* to go," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "It's important. Besides, who knows what could happen?"

I looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

Lily hesitated for a moment, then she sighed. "Elara," she said, her voice gentle. "I... I know you're going through a lot right now. But you need to understand something. Anya... she's not just your best friend. She's also... interested in the Alpha."

My heart sank. "Interested? You mean..."

Lily nodded. "She's been trying to get his attention for months," she said. "She thinks she's the perfect Luna. She's beautiful, she's ambitious... she's everything an Alpha is *supposed* to want."

I stared at her, speechless. It all made sense now. Anya's sudden interest in Kai, her constant criticisms of me, her eagerness to help plan his birthday surprise... It was all a calculated move to get closer to him, to position herself as the better choice.

"And you think... she'll try to use the ball to... to get him?" I asked, my voice trembling. The idea was sickening.

Lily nodded. "It's a perfect opportunity," she said. "The Alpha will be there, surrounded by all the pack members. It's her chance to make a move."

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. The thought of Anya and Kai together, as Luna and Alpha, was unbearable. But it wasn't just about them. It was about me. It was about the finality of it all. It was about accepting that I was truly alone, unwanted, unloved.

"I... I can't," I whispered, shaking my head. "I can't go. It's too much. I'll just... I'll just stay here."

Lily looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of pity and determination. "Elara, you can't give up," she said. "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that you're not good enough, that no one could ever love you after what happened. But that's not true."

"It is true, Lily," I said, my voice flat. "Kai didn't love me. Anya thinks I'm nothing. They're right."

"No, they're not!" Lily insisted. "They're wrong. You're kind, you're compassionate, you're strong. You've been through so much, and you're still standing. That makes you incredible."

"But I'm an Omega," I said, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. "I'm at the bottom of the hierarchy. I'm... I'm less than nothing."

Lily stood up and walked over to me, her eyes blazing with intensity. "Don't you ever say that about yourself again," she said fiercely. "You are not less than anything. You are worthy of love, Elara. You deserve to be happy."

"But how?" I asked, tears streaming down my face. "How can I be happy after everything that's happened?"

"I don't know," Lily admitted. "But you have to try. You have to go to this ball, Elara. Not for Kai, not for Anya, but for yourself. For your future."

"I don't have a future, Lily," I said, my voice choking with sobs. "My future was... it was with Kai. And now... now it's gone."

"Then make a new future," Lily said, her voice firm. "Don't let them take everything from you. Don't let them win."

I looked at her, my eyes filled with doubt. "I... I don't know if I can," I whispered.

"You can," Lily said, taking my hands in hers. "I believe in you, Elara. And you need to believe in yourself."

Her words gave me a flicker of hope, a tiny spark in the darkness. Maybe... maybe she was right. Maybe I could start over. Maybe I could find happiness again.

That evening, as I was getting ready for the ball, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Nervousness, fear, anger... but also a flicker of hope.

I put on the only dress I had, a simple blue gown that I had worn to Kai's birthday dinner last year. It wasn't much, but it was clean and it fit.

Lily helped me with my hair, braiding it into a simple but elegant style. She even lent me a pair of her earrings, small silver hoops that added a touch of sparkle.

As I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. I looked... different. Stronger. More determined.

I took a deep breath and walked out the door, ready to face whatever the night held.

The ball was held in the pack's grand hall, a vast space decorated with shimmering lights and colorful banners. The air was filled with music and laughter, the scent of expensive perfume and delicious food.

I scanned the crowd, searching for Kai and Anya. And then I saw them.

They were standing near the front of the hall, talking to a group of pack members. Anya looked stunning, her dress a shimmering red that accentuated her curves. Kai was by her side, looking handsome and confident.

My heart clenched at the sight of them together. But I refused to let it break me.

I took a deep breath and walked towards them, my head held high.

As I got closer, I noticed a group of people standing near the back of the hall. They were all looking in one direction, their faces filled with awe and... fear?

I followed their gaze and saw him.

The Alpha.

He was standing on a raised platform, his back to me. He was tall and muscular, his broad shoulders covered in a dark, fur-trimmed coat. He exuded an aura of power and authority that was almost palpable.

He turned slowly, his eyes scanning the crowd. And then, they landed on me.

My breath caught in my throat. His eyes were... intense. They were a deep, piercing blue, filled with a strange mixture of curiosity and... recognition?

He looked at me for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. Then, he started to walk towards me.

The crowd parted, making way for him. A hush fell over the hall. All eyes were on him, on me.

I stood there, frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't believe what was happening.

The Alpha stopped in front of me, his eyes still locked on mine. He was even more imposing up close. His presence was overwhelming.

He looked at me for a moment, then he spoke, his voice deep and resonant.

"Mate," he said.

The word echoed through the hall, silencing the music, silencing the chatter.

Mate.

He had called me mate.

I stared at him, speechless, tears welling up in my eyes.

He reached out and took my hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through my body.

"I've been waiting for you," he said, his voice soft, but firm.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Anya's face contorted with rage, her eyes flashing daggers at me. Kai looked stunned, his mouth agape.

I still couldn't speak. I was in shock. And so was every other person here.