Aria shut her eyes and blew out the cupcake's single candle. It was the same wish she made last year: Please make something different. "Happy birthday!"
In the soft light of their secret hideout, an old garden shed behind the omega apartments, Dorian smiled. His dark eyes were warm. "Eighteen big ones." Do you feel different?"
"Not really." Aria tucked away a silver hair behind her ear.
Nothing ever changed for omegas in the Draven Pack. The small gift box that Dorian pushed toward her caught her violet eyes.
"Open it before someone makes us go clean something," he said.
Aria opened the package to find a simple leather bracelet. "It's beautiful," she whispered, slipping it onto her wrist.
"Made it myself. Took three tries." Dorian beamed with pride. "Now even when we're stuck doing different jobs, you'll remember your best friend."
A howl echoed across the pack grounds, making them both jump. "Break time's over," Aria sighed. "I've got kitchen duty."
They slipped out of the shed and rushed across the grounds. Omegas weren't supposed to have birthday parties. Omegas weren't meant to have much of anything.
"One day," Dorian mumbled, "things will be different." Aria just nodded. They said this often, but neither truly believed it.
The pack kitchen buzzed with activity as omegas prepared for tonight's feast. Not for Aria's birthday – no one but Dorian cared about that. Tonight was for Liana Voss, the Beta's daughter, who'd just been named head of the youth council. Another award for Liana. Another day in the background for Aria.
"You! Silver hair!" The kitchen boss snapped her fingers at Aria. "Stop thinking. Wash those veggies. We need them ready in ten minutes."
"Yes, ma'am." Aria dipped her hands into the cold water.
Through the kitchen window, she could see Liana in the main courtyard, surrounded by fans. Her golden-brown hair caught the sunlight, her honey-colored eyes sparkled with laughter. She wore a new jacket that probably cost more than everything Aria owned. Aria didn't hate Liana. Not exactly. But watching her perfect life was like looking at a beautiful picture you could never touch.
"Scrub harder!" the boss barked. "Those carrots won't clean themselves."
The kitchen door burst open as three young omega girls rushed in, faces flushed with joy. "The triplets are back!" one squealed. "Their hunting trip ended early!"
Every omega in the kitchen froze for half a second. The Alpha's three kids! Even Aria felt a flutter in her stomach.
"Back to work!" the boss yelled. "Those Alpha boys won't eat air for dinner!"
Aria's hands moved faster. The Draven triplets rarely came near the omega apartments. They lived in Moonhold, the stone castle on the hill overlooking the pack lands. Sometimes Aria caught glimpses of them during rituals – three tall figures with their father's proud stance and their mother's striking features. Caleb, the oldest by seven minutes. Cyrus, the flirt. Caden, the quiet one. Alphas all, destined for fame while Aria was destined for... this. Forever washing veggies for others to eat.
Laughter floated through the window. Liana had spotted the triplets and was now walking toward them, her friends following behind like loyal pets.
"Of course she gets to welcome them back," mumbled a girl next to Aria. "Bet she ends up as Luna someday."
Luna – mate to the future Alpha. The highest place a female could reach in the pack. Aria couldn't even picture it.
"Aria!" The kitchen boss pointed to a tray of cleaned veggies. "Take those to the main hall. Now!"
Aria's heart sank. The main hall meant potentially running into higher-ranking wolves who might sneer at her or worse, not see her at all. But orders were orders.
"Yes, ma'am." She wiped her hands on her worn apron and picked up the heavy tray.
The walk to the main hall took her past the training grounds where young Betas trained fighting moves. Past the healers' den where only the smartest dogs worked. Past all the places Aria would never fit. She kept her eyes down, the right position for an omega. Silver hair fell forward, hiding her face. Better to be unnoticeable than to attract the wrong kind of attention. The main hall doors loomed ahead.
Two Beta guards stood watch, barely glancing at Aria as she neared. "Kitchen delivery," she murmured, the right words for an omega on duty. They waved her through without speaking.
Inside, the huge hall was being decorated for tonight's feast. Betas hung flags while other omegas swept floors and polished tables.
Aria headed for the side door that led to the preparation room. Almost there. Almost safe. "Watch out!" Too late. Someone crashed into Aria from behind. The vegetable tray wobbled in her hands. A carrot rolled off. Then a potato. Then everything tipped sideways despite Aria's desperate attempt to balance it. Crash! Vegetables spread across the polished floor. The noise made everyone in the hall stop and stare.
"Sorry! My fault!" A female voice said, not sounding sorry at all.
Aria looked up to see Liana Voss standing there, perfect in her new jacket, not a hair out of place.
"Clumsy omega," Liana sighed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You really should be more careful."
Heat rushed to Aria's face. She dropped to her knees and began gathering veggies with trembling hands. "I'm sorry," she whispered, though she'd done nothing wrong.
"Let me help," said a voice that made Aria freeze. She looked up into a pair of ice-blue eyes. Caden Draven, the youngest triplet, knelt beside her.
"No!" Aria gasped, scrambling back. An Alpha should never help an omega with such a job. "I mean... no thank you, sir. I can do it."
Caden tilted his head, studying her with curious eyes. "Everyone needs help sometimes." The hall had gone deadly quiet. Even Liana seemed shocked.
"Caden!" A sharp voice cut through the quiet. Caleb Draven strode across the hall, golden eyes narrowed at his brother. "What are you doing?"
Caden stood, his face calm against his brother's disapproval. "Nothing important."
Aria kept her head down, grabbing veggies as fast as she could. This was bad. Being noticed was bad.
"Really, brother?" Cyrus emerged with a lazy grin, green eyes dancing with amusement. "Making friends with the help?"
"Just being decent," Caden answered coolly.
Aria wished the floor would open and swallow her. She piled the last veggie on her tray and stood, keeping her eyes down. "Excuse me," she whispered, trying to slip past the three tall figures now surrounding her.
"Wait." Caden's voice stopped her. "What's your name?"
The question hung in the air like a dangerous spell. Omegas weren't supposed to be recognized. They weren't supposed to have names worth knowing. "Aria," she said softly. "Aria Callen."
"Aria," he repeated, as if testing how it felt on his tongue.
Something strange fluttered in her chest. No one except Dorian had ever said her name like it mattered.
"Come on, Caden," Caleb growled. "Father is waiting."
Caden nodded but his eyes stayed on Aria for another second. "Happy birthday, Aria Callen."
Her heart stopped. How did he know? No one knew except Dorian. Before she could speak, the three brothers walked away, leaving Aria frozen in place, holding her vegetable tray with white knuckles.
Liana stepped close, her honey eyes cold despite her smile. "Know your place, omega," she whispered. "They're not for the likes of you."
Aria hurried away to the kitchen, her mind racing. The youngest Alpha son had noticed her. Had spoken her name. Had wished her happy birthday. And scariest of all – she had felt something when he looked at her. Something that made her blood warm and her heart beat.
As she pushed through the kitchen doors, a sharp pain stabbed through her chest, making her gasp and drop the tray again. This time, no one was watching as Aria doubled over, grabbing at her heart. The pain faded as quickly as it had come, leaving behind a strange, hollow feeling – like something was missing.
"Aria? You okay?" Dorian appeared at her side, worry etched on his face. "I don't know," she whispered. "Something feels...wrong."
Outside, a wolf howled – not the normal signal howl, but something primal and searching. As if it had lost something valuable. Or was about to find it.