Ezra breathed deeply, staring at his reflection in the silver-adorned mirror. His ceremonial robes were white and gleaming, reflecting the soft moonlight that streamed in through the open window. His violet eyes, almost expressionless, perfectly concealed the feelings within his heart.
Today was the day he had waited for his entire life. The day of the ritual. The day he would finally be marked by Rael Valmont, his alpha, the heir to the most powerful dukedom in the kingdom. Yet he felt neither happiness nor anxiety, only a deep emptiness.
"Ezra," his mother's cold voice echoed behind him. "Remember your place. Today, your life takes on meaning."
He nodded silently.
Vivienne looked at him briefly, expressionless. Then she left, leaving a cold distance behind her.
Ezra lowered his gaze. It had always been that way. His parents saw him only as a tool to rise in the social hierarchy. But today, that feeling became unbearable.
The door opened softly, and a tall figure entered. Damian, his older brother, who had just returned from abroad, appeared reflected in the mirror.
"Brother…" Ezra looked at him in surprise. "You're back."
Damian smiled warmly, reaching over and touching his shoulder.
"I promised I'd come back to be by your side today. You're not alone."
Ezra felt a strange calm fill his chest. For the first time, someone seemed to matter to him.
But the moment was brief. The door opened abruptly, and Liana, the youngest of the three, ran in.
"Ezra! Quick! Rael has arrived."
Ezra took another deep breath before following her.
---
The ceremony was splendid, filled with nobles watching silently. In front of the altar, Rael waited, imposing and beautiful. His intense eyes searched Ezra's, with desire and possession.
But just as Ezra was about to ascend the altar steps, a shout broke the silence.
"Stop!"
Liana appeared from the crowd, fake tears in her eyes, pointing at him dramatically.
"Ezra isn't pure! He was marked by another alpha before the ritual!"
A murmur rippled through the room like wildfire. Ezra felt a cold pang in his chest.
Rael felt his world crumble. Shock and betrayal struck his heart instantly. He approached Ezra with purposeful but shaky steps, roughly pushing his robes aside and exposing his neck to everyone. A second mark was visible, burning into his skin.
"No... I didn't..." Ezra stammered in confusion, feeling his throat close with fear.
Rael tried to maintain his composure, but his voice trembled with anger and disappointment.
"Why did you betray me, Ezra? Did our destiny mean so little to you?"
"Rael, I swear... I don't know how he got there," Ezra pleaded, his voice cracking, looking at him desperately.
Damian quickly stepped forward from the crowd, standing between Rael and Ezra with determination.
"This must be a misunderstanding! My brother would never do such a thing!"
But Aldric, Ezra's father, immediately intervened, holding Damian firmly.
"Damian, do not intervene. Ezra has brought shame upon this family."
"Father! This is not fair! Ezra will never..."
"Enough!" Vivienne shouted with cold authority. "Our name will not be stained with dishonor."
Rael closed his eyes in pain and opened his mouth, his voice cracking.
"Ezra Valtieri, you are disowned and banished. May you never cross my path again."
As the guards dragged him from the hall, Ezra looked desperately at his brother, who struggled uselessly against his father's grasp. Liana's triumphant smile shone through the crowd.
He had been betrayed. For the first time in his life, the perfect omega felt something clearly: anger, pain, and a burning, unknown desire for justice.
Ezra was thrown onto the cold stone floor outside the palace. The night was cold and cruel, as if the moon itself were mocking him. He tried to stand, but his knees gave way, and he fell back to the ground with a groan.
The door closed with a thud, leaving him alone in the darkness.
Reality dawned on him. He was exiled, abandoned by his family and by the man he had been trained to love. His hand slowly rose to his neck, touching that unfamiliar mark. A shiver ran through him as he wondered how he had gotten there.
He looked up at the sky,
Ezra walked slowly toward the forest; each step was heavy, not necessarily from sadness or pain, but from exhaustion and the tension accumulated during the ceremony. The moon shone brightly overhead, indifferent to the human tragedies, dimly illuminating the path that disappeared into the trees.
He stopped at the edge of the dark forest, looking back one last time. The palace glittered in the distance, a beautiful sight, but for him it had always been a gilded prison. His sister's betrayal had been unexpected, yes, but Ezra wasn't devastated by the loss of Rael. The truth was, he had never loved that man; their betrothal had been merely political, an agreement decided by families who had never cared about what he truly desired.
Ezra felt relief in his chest, mixed with disbelief. He wasn't tied to anyone now; he was finally free. A bitter smile crossed his lips. He, Ezra, was different; A soul reincarnated in an alien world, trapped in this body and this life filled with rules and obligations he'd never wanted.
However, while he didn't regret the broken engagement, the family betrayal was a deep wound. He couldn't believe his own blood sister had plotted all this just to take his place by Rael's side.
As he moved forward, fatigue finally overcame him, forcing him to stop again. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and think clearly.
A branch cracked near him. Ezra looked up, his senses alert.
"Who's there?" he asked in a firm voice, quickly regaining his composure.
From the shadows emerged a tall, powerful figure, with golden eyes that shone brightly in the moonlight. It was clearly an alpha, but not Rael. This man emanated something dangerous and seductive at the same time.
"Easy," the stranger said, his voice deep and authoritative, yet strangely warm. I'm not here to hurt you.
Ezra slowly stood up, watching the alpha with curiosity and caution.
"Who are you?" he asked, not letting his guard down.
"My name is Alerion," he replied, approaching slowly, keeping his movements visible. "And I've come to offer you a chance."
Ezra felt his heart race. A new opportunity was what he needed most, especially now that he could finally decide his own destiny.
Ezra's heart pounded against his chest, each beat a reminder that this was real and not a fevered dream. The stranger—Alerion—stood calmly before him, tilting his head slightly, as if waiting for Ezra to speak.
"What do you mean, 'a chance'?" Ezra asked cautiously. The moonlight caught sharp angles on Alerion's face, highlighting the confident curve of his lips.
Alerion didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied Ezra silently for a moment, his golden gaze scanning the torn ceremonial robes and the faint bruises on his arms. There was no compassion in his eyes, only a calculated curiosity.
"You need shelter," he said finally, his voice low. "I can offer it."
Ezra's throat tightened. Shelter. If I'd heard that word a day earlier, I probably would have dismissed it with disdain. But now, with nowhere to go, it sounded like a lifeline.
"A refuge... under what conditions?" Ezra wouldn't trade one prison for another.
Alerion's expression darkened slightly, a flicker of unreadable emotion crossing his eyes.
"You're cautious. Fine. But I'm not here to lock you into an agreement you can't refuse. The reality is, I rule a territory where the rules of the high nobility don't hold as much weight. Omegas, betas, alphas... things work differently."
Ezra exhaled slowly. "So you're offering me a place to hide?"
Alerion shrugged. "To heal, rebuild... and decide who you want to be, now that your path has been destroyed." He paused. "I'm not going to force you." The forest is vast, and there are many ways someone in your position could… disappear.
Ezra frowned. The word "disappear" didn't sit well with him. His skills had been utilized for years by his family. From a young age, he excelled in mathematics, architecture, and strategy. He designed building plans, calculated structures for home improvements, and yet every accomplishment was attributed to his younger sister. His parents used him as a tool in the shadows, crediting Liana for making her shine as the perfect daughter.
"What do you gain by helping me?" Ezra persisted, refusing to let his guard down so easily.
Alerion smirked. "You're getting to the point, I see. I need someone like you. Intelligent, well-educated… and unafraid to challenge the system that cast you out. My territory is not without threats or political intrigue. An omega with your education and skills could be very valuable."
Ezra pondered silently. His intelligence had been his greatest weapon, though he was never allowed to use it for his own benefit. Now he had a chance to harness his knowledge for himself, not for the family that scorned him.
He looked up to meet Alerion's golden eyes, the steel reflected in his own violet pupils.
"Fine. I'll come with you."
Without waiting for a reply, he started to follow the alpha. But he stopped suddenly and looked toward the distant palace lights, flickering through the trees. A pang of regret pierced his chest; not for Rael or his position as future duke, but for Damian, the only member of his family who had ever shown him true warmth.
I'll find a way to see you again, brother, he promised silently. Next time, I won't be a helpless pawn.
Alerion cleared his throat, regaining Ezra's attention. "You won't regret it," he said simply.
Ezra gave a wry smile. "I doubt my life can get any worse."
The alpha nodded. "We'll see," he murmured, turning on his heel to head deeper into the woods.
As they walked, Ezra's thoughts drifted between bitterness at the betrayal he'd suffered and the strange relief of being freed from an unwanted commitment. But deep down, a new fire burned: a determination to learn, adapt, and forge his own destiny in a world that had never given him the chance to choose.,
.....
🌎 Explanation of the World: Hierarchy and Society
Ezra's world is governed by a society structured in hierarchies of power, based on the biology of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas, but with a nobility and political system that influences their lives.
🔹 Alphas → They are the apex of society. They are warriors, leaders, and heirs to noble titles. Only alphas can rule and control packs or territories.
🔹 Betas → They are the middle class. They do not have the same dominance as alphas, but they are in charge of administration, trade, and diplomacy. Some betas can obtain titles, but they rarely rule.
🔹 Omegas → They are considered valuable in the nobility, but their main purpose is to be strategically paired with alphas to strengthen alliances between families. They are highly protected, but also lack true freedom.
Marriages between omegas and alphas are arranged from childhood. The idea of "destiny" and "marking" is sacred in this society, and any dishonor to this system is punishable by exile or death.
🔹 The Red Moon → This is a mystical event during which bonding rituals are performed. During this event, alphas can permanently mark their mates, creating an unbreakable bond.
🔹 Noble Clans → Each family has its own pack, led by a pureblood alpha.
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🏰 Ezra's Family: House Valtieri
The Valtieri are one of the oldest and most prestigious families, but their influence has waned in recent years.
👑 Father (Duke Aldric Valtieri, Alpha) → Cold and calculating, he sees Ezra only as a pawn to cement an alliance with the Valmont family (Rael). He prefers his eldest son because he is the heir and views Liana as his "precious princess."
👑 Mother (Lady Vivienne Valtieri, Omega) → Despises Ezra for not being "submissive enough" as an omega should be. She raised Liana as a precious jewel, but ignored Ezra completely.
🔹 Older Brother (Damian Valtieri, Alpha, 20 years old) → The only one who ever showed affection for Ezra. Destined to inherit the duchy, he traveled abroad for years in training. When he returns, he discovers his brother's betrayal and exile.
🔹 Younger Sister (Liana Valtieri, Omega, 16) → Spoiled and manipulative. Jealous of Ezra because he "had everything" (despite not being loved by his family). She wants to marry Rael and plans to get rid of Ezra to take his place.
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