Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

AYLA

"Hi"

What was it about this man that had made me decide, without a second thought, that I could trust him enough to hide me from Amara?

I did not know him. At least, I did not think I did and yet my hand was still in his. His fingers were wrapped around mine, and instead of pulling away, I found myself holding on.

He was devastatingly handsome.

That was the first thought that came to me.

His hair was dark, thick and slightly tousled, as though he had run his fingers through it one too many times. His jaw was sharp, his nose straight, his mouth shaped into a smile that somehow made him look younger than the hard expression he had worn moments ago.

He looked like a man who could smile at you one moment and break someone’s neck the next and for some reason... I was not afraid of him.

The woman behind us cleared her throat and my eyes swung to her.

"It’s you" I said pointedly at the maid.

She grinned, rushing toward me.

The man stepped aside as she enveloped me in a hug.

"I cannot believe it" she wailed. "I thought you were dead, Ayla. I could not forgive myself for leaving you all alone."

Dead?Leaving me?What was she talking about?

I could not put meaning to a word she was saying but I hugged her back, a familiar warmth bubbling in my chest as I laughed.

"I am alive, Astrid" I murmured.

Then I froze.

Where the hell had that come from? Was that her name? How did I know that?

My hand went to my temple. I tried to rub away the ache that was not spreading there.

I glanced up at the man in front of me. He seemed to have caught the name too because he was staring at me intently, way too intently. So much so that I could not breathe under his gaze.

The girl released me finally, sniffling.

"I missed you."

"What is your name?" I asked her.

She frowned at me.

"You just called it, my lady. It is Astrid."

A hand flew to my chest.

The other woman whose eyes had never left my face stepped forward.

"Ayla" she said carefully.

I looked at her then at the man willing him to help me. I did not understand what was happening.

As if he noticed my distress, he stepped forward and put a hand forward so I slipped mine in his.

The moment our palms touched, something inside me settled.

Just like that.

My breathing slowed and frantic pounding of my heart eased.

I looked down at our joined hands.

"Ayla seems tired, Brenna" he said.

Brenna? Brenna...

I repeated the name over and over in my head, feeling a dull ache bloom inside my skull.

"We should leave her be for a while. I will explain everything later."

"What is wrong with her?" the woman asked.

"Brenna, I promise we will speak about this." He said it gently, but there was an unmistakable finality in his tone.

Brenna looked like she wanted to argue but instead, she nodded.

The two of them walked away.

I watched until they disappeared before I turned to him.

"What is going on?" I asked in a small voice.

"Come with me." he said.

He pulled me to himself, down the corridor and straight to a set of doors which he flung open.

I stopped short as soon as I entered. The room seemed very familiar to me.

The man came around to face me.

"I am Ares" He said finally.

I recognized the name. Lucius had spoken about him...the first born son, one he tagged the blood prince.

He had said this man right in front of me had killed so many of our people that he had lost count and that is what earned him the nickname.

I gasped, taking a step back.

"Ayla" he called out.

"I do not want to be part of whatever this is" I squeaked, looking to the door which was closed behind me.

Ares took a step forward and I backed away, reaching for the hairpin in my hair which I held up as a weapon.

"Stay away from me."

Ares took a step toward me.

I backed away immediately, my fingers reaching for the hairpin in my hair. I pulled it free and held it out.

"Stay away from me."

His eyes dropped to the pin then, to my surprise, his lips curved in an amused smile.

"You may not remember me but you haven’t changed a bit." he said.

I frowned at him, my hand dropping to my side.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am your mate, Ayla... or at least one of your mates."

I waited for him to laugh and tell me he was just jesting but he did no such thing.

"Are you crazy?" My voice rose. "I know there are a lot of things I don’t remember, but you really think I will not be able to recognize my own mate?"

"Ayla..."

"I have one mate." My voice hardened. "And that person is Lucius."

"Is it?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest and regarding me with a knowing look on his face.

"Excuse me?" I muttered in indignation.

"If you truly believe what you are saying then why did you hide from the woman. I assume she is part of your visiting party? Why did you not go with her when she came looking for you?"

I swallowed at this. I had no answer.

How could I explain to him that nothing had made sense since I opened my eyes and was told I had fallen.

That I was so sure I knew this place and it mattered to me.

Amara had said it was me being delusional. What if she was right?

"I just wanted to explore the place and she would not let me." The lie sounded weak even to my own ears.

"Is that really all it is, Ayla?" Ares’ voice had dropped and he was now standing mere inches away from me.

I should have backed away but I did not. I could feel the warmth coming off his body.

His scent reached me and something inside me pulled. The exact same pull I had felt with the men in the garden. I hated that part of me wanted to close the distance instead of creating it.

"Tell me you are not a little bit curious about everything."

His gaze dropped briefly to my face.

"I can see it in your eyes."

My eyes widened.

His lips had not moved but I had heard him speak and worse, my mind did not seem shocked that this had happened.

It was almost as if it had happened before... in this room.

I was just about to ask him to tell me everything when the door burst open and there stood Lucius with Amara behind him.

His eyes moved from me to Ares to our close proximity and something dark flashed across his face but it was gone almost immediately.

"Ayla, I was worried you had gotten lost in the palace."

He crossed the room and pulled me to his side.

I went willingly. Mostly because I did not know what else to do.

"I was just..." My voice trailed off, not knowing exactly how to explain what it was I was doing.

"Lord Ares" he inclined his head toward Ares.

There was nothing friendly in his greeting. I could feel the tension coming off both men in waves.

"Lord Veyr" Ares answered. "I found Ayla wandering the palace."

"Did you now?" Lucius muttered. "You will have to forgive my mate. She had a really bad fall some days ago and still insisted on coming with me. She must have wandered away from Amara who is supposed to be watching her."

"I see"

Ares’ eyes moved to me and his expression softened.

"I do not mind showing the lady around if she wants. Instead of getting lost of course."

"That will not be necessary." Lucius cut in. "Right Ayla?" he turned to me.

I swallowed, my eyes darting from one man to the other

"Yes, I have seen quite enough" I muttered.

Lucius smiled wide, casting Ares a sly grin.

"We should return back to our quarters"

He turned away, dragging me along with him.

I glanced back once. Ares was still watching me and the look in his eyes made something inside my chest ache.

The moment we were back in the room, Lucius spun around.

"I asked you to do one thing, Ayla." His voice cracked through the room. "Stay put!"

I stumbled backward. The anger in his face frightened me.

For one brief second, I saw something beneath his usual gentleness. Something cold and dangerous

He seemed to notice my fear because he stopped and sighed, rubbing a hand across his face.

"Listen... I know what is happening with you" he began.

I looked up at him.

"You believe you have been here before and everything seems very familiar to you" He said.

"Yes" I whispered. "Everything is."

He was silent for a moment then he stepped closer.

"That is because you have been here before, Ayla."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

"I did not want to bombard you with so much information considering your state of mind."

He reached for my hand and I let him take it.

"But I should tell you the truth."

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