Chapter One

Kiandra

“Fascinating … utterly fascinating,” I mused aloud, pacing around the expansive library while clutching a large brown book in my hands. “It’s completely—”

“Fascinating?” my sister, Solana, finished for me with a mocking tone.

I turned to her, finding her seated with a small pen, tapping it impatiently against a blank piece of paper while shooting me an annoyed look.

“It truly is,” I replied earnestly.

“I do not see the fascination with a big, boring brown book!” she exclaimed in frustration. “And I cannot concentrate on writing my last words down if you keep prattling on about this knowledge you’ve acquired.”

“But this is the solution. Perhaps you won’t even need to write down any last words. This might be our salvation!” I exclaimed before I slammed the book down onto the paper.

Solana groaned, reclining in her chair, and then extending her hand, signaling for me to continue.

“Do you see it?” I asked, pointing to the intricate symbols and letters that swirled into the corners of the pages. To the untrained eye, they appeared as nothing more than ornate embellishments, meant to lend the pages a touch of elegance, but I saw through them. I had deciphered their hidden meaning.

“I see you getting yourself worked up over mundane letters and symbols. May I write my letter now before I get rutted on this floor by an Alpha? Or before multiple Alphas rut me?” she retorted, acknowledging the impending storm descending upon our home.

“You’re not looking,” I scolded her.

“I’m looking,” she insisted.

“Look deeper. Into the pages. Follow the lines, do you see it?” I urged.

“I see lines.”

“Solana!”

“I know you believe that somehow this library can save us from the fate that has always confined Omegas to a single role: submission to Alphas. But let’s face it, this is where you’ve always ended up, and with the dwindling numbers of Omegas, we’ve known for a while that this is where our fate would lead us too. So, now I want to prepare,” she informed me resolutely.

“But there may be no need!”

“Kiandra, what surrounds our walls right now?” she questioned.

“Um, Alphas.”

“And not just any Alphas. That clan, the Tesarian Wolves, despite their numbers, have built a notorious reputation that has spread throughout Verocca. Even we’ve heard of them. They’ve crossed the Great Ocean and seek the Omega within these walls. Yet you believe strange letters and symbols are going to save us or our sisters from the life ahead. Who knows how many Alphas we’ll have to submit to? Who knows if they won’t turn this very room into a feast? We cannot escape what’s about to happen. This is our future,” she whispered somberly.

“But what if it didn’t have to be? What if there was a way out of this?” I countered.

“Perhaps in a dreamland,” she retorted, shoving my book away in frustration.

“But—”

“Kiandra, no more. I don’t care!”

“But you haven’t even looked.”

“Fine, what is it you want me to see?” she asked, pulling the book closer once more.

“The lines aren’t just lines. They are indicators of hidden tunnels.”

“Hidden tunnels? Here?”

“Yes, here. They were built by our ancestors, and they made escape routes.”

“Why would our father never tell us this?” she questioned.

“Maybe he never knew, but it’s right here, even concealed within the text: ‘When terror reigns, deep in the heart of home, you’ll find the way to the light’.”

“Seems like an insignificant poem to me,” she replied skeptically.

“No, it’s a message. I just need to decipher it.”

“Oh, so you’re not even certain about the existence of these tunnels?” she pressed.

“I...” I hesitated, my confidence waning.

“You don’t know where the entrance is, do you, sister?” she asked me pointedly.

“Well, I’m searching,” I conceded.

“It will be a miracle if those doors aren’t opened later in the night,” she reminded me. “They’ve waited us out, and we no longer have any more food. They’ve cut off our water supply. The city is hungry and demanding we give the Alphas what they want: us, the princesses.”

“I know, but I just need a little more time,” I informed her.

“There is no more time, Kiandra. Let it be.”

Solana pushed back my book so she could continue writing what she called her “last words”, though none of us believed anyone would ever read them. I understood that this was how my sister coped with the looming future, but I couldn’t bear to see them suffer a fate they had never asked for.

I grabbed the book and left the library, my sanctuary, before walking through the torch-lit hallways. The servants’ and guards’ eyes followed me. It was a rare sight to see me wandering around, but I was on an important mission to find these secret tunnels. I barely paid attention to where I was going, my eyes fixed on the words and symbols before me as I mumbled to myself.

“That could be a left by the Aradia statue … or perhaps down the corridor of kings…” I turned a corner, lost in my thoughts, and passed by the beautiful portrait of our mother.

Even though I often lost touch with the world when engrossed in a book, somehow my body knew when I was passing her portrait. I froze, turned my head, and gazed up at the woman depicted in the painting. Her hair had been so blond it was almost white, and her eyes the bluest of blues. But it was her radiant smile that drew you in. Even immortalized in the portrait, her smile made it difficult to look away. For an Alpha to lose an Omega, one he loved so deeply, I knew it must have been a terrible struggle for our father to continue in this world for as long as he did. But there was no denying that after losing his Omega, his body began giving up faster. He shouldn’t have left us as soon as he did, but the heart desired what it desired, and it called for someone who was no longer with us.

“I could use some guidance,” I whispered as I reached out to touch the portrait. When we were younger, we weren’t allowed to touch it, but after he passed away, that was the first thing I did. I touched her portrait, hoping to feel some connection, but there was nothing. I felt the roughness of the canvas, but there was no warmth as you would find in a living body.

I sighed and let the tips of my fingers graze the canvas before letting my hand fall away.

“I must do something,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “I know what will happen to them. Once the Tesarian Wolves breach the city walls, it will be a swift takeover. Your daughters will be left at the mercy of those Alphas.”

I knew the portrait wouldn’t provide answers, but speaking to it somehow calmed my racing nerves. Despite the castle being distant from the walls, which were surrounded by tents, it felt as if the attackers had already infiltrated the premises.

Soon, this place would be overrun, and it would never be our home again. This only fueled my determination to find a solution to save my sisters. I gazed at the symbols and delicate writing, pondering the meaning of “the way to the light.” It spoke of home, but what defined home besides the very walls I was already trapped within? My eyes turned to the portrait again, seeking guidance, yet there was nothing but silence from it. I returned my attention to the book, ready to resume my search through the long hallways, when an idea struck me.

“Home,” I whispered, turning back to my mother’s portrait. “But that’s ridiculous.”

The tunnels had been constructed centuries ago. Why would my mother symbolize home? Could it be that something else had once hung in this very spot? I reached out, touching the portrait again. Many of the books I had read spoke of hidden passages concealed behind seemingly ordinary covers. But would my father truly choose a picture to hide what lay beneath? Did this imply that he had always possessed knowledge of the tunnels?

Questions swirled in my mind as I slid my finger to the side of the portrait. With bated breath, I pushed, but when it didn’t yield to the slight pressure, I exerted more force. The portrait tilted, sliding off the thick nail it had been hanging on. A loud crash reverberated through the hallway as it hit the floor. I let out a scream, dropping the book to the floor, as the portrait tumbled toward me. I instinctively raised my arms to shield myself, but another loud thud echoed, and I felt no pain. Slowly lowering my arms, I saw the picture hanging above me, having collided with the opposite wall instead of me. I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful not to have been crushed beneath my mother’s portrait.

I bent down to pick up the book and prepared to seek help in rehanging the portrait when, as I glanced at the wall where it had hung, I noticed something unusual. It was subtle, just a small crack, but the crack was perfectly straight, making it appear out of place. I approached, running my finger along it, and then I felt it—a faint breeze coming from the other side.

I attempted to wedge my fingers into the crack, but it wouldn’t give way. I placed the book down and dug my fingers into the opening. It loosened a little but refused to open further. Moving my fingers lower, I realized the crack was expanding. The wall was not made of the same stone as the surrounding area. It was covered with a thin layer of softer material and colored to blend in. I pushed lower, sliding my fingers through the crack, making it wider. When I reached the bottom, I moved upward, sliding my fingers over the top part of the door. Then, I returned to the side and began pulling. This time, the door creaked and began to open slightly. I was sweating and panting, using every ounce of my Omega strength to pry it open. Finally, it released with a pop, sending me stumbling back and nearly tripping over myself. I clung to the door to regain my balance before cautiously peering around its edge.

Inside, I found nothing but a dark, narrow corridor. It was so small that an Alpha would have to kneel to navigate it, and even then, their broad bodies might get stuck. Even a Beta would have difficulty passing through. That’s when I realized the true purpose of these tunnels—they were designed to ensure that precious Omegas could escape.

I reached down and grabbed my book, flipping through the pages to the section with the lines and symbols that might help me navigate the tunnels. However, just like finding the hidden door, deciphering the guidance in this book proved to be a challenging task. I sighed in frustration, aware that time was running out before the walls would be breached.

My older sister’s warnings echoed in my mind. The hungry citizens blamed us for their plight, unable to provide for them. With the water supply cut off and the sweltering heat, the people would undoubtedly seek an escape, and my sisters would become the currency for that freedom.

“Well, those who do not dare to walk into the unknown might miss the treasures lying at the end,” I whispered to myself, reciting a line from my favorite fairytale. I might not be a powerful warrior queen, but I refused to be a coward. Or so I tried to convince myself as I ventured further into the darkness, clutching a tiny candleholder with a flickering flame. I closed the door behind me, concealing my secret passage for now, and then scanned my surroundings in the dim light, feeling the cool breeze brush over my skin.

“Follow the wind,” I told myself, believing there must be an opening somewhere in the tunnel. I proceeded down the long, narrow corridor, goose bumps prickling my skin, and the occasional cobweb brushing against my face. I spat and grumbled, swatting them away before continuing my journey. Small droplets of water ran down the stone walls, making the air increasingly humid and stifling. I forced myself to push through the suffocating feeling and the pounding in my chest, realizing that, after walking for a while, I had no idea where I was.

“Oh, by the Gods,” I whispered, my voice echoing through the echoing hallways. “No, focus on the book. You can find your way out.”

I urged myself to remain calm as I studied the intricate lines and symbols. I noticed one line that started beneath the word “light” and wound its way through the letters, eventually connecting with the word “lower.”

“‘Lower’, as in lower ground?” I wondered aloud.

I continued to follow the line as it climbed higher, connecting with the word “top.” My heart pounded as I traced the line to its final destination.

“‘Knowledge’. What does ‘knowledge’ mean in this context?”

I tapped the back of the book with my finger as I held it in one hand, carefully considering my options. My surroundings revealed a crossroads, and I glanced at the lines and symbols in the book, trying to make sense of them. One path led lower, while the other climbed higher. Following the higher route seemed promising, as it could potentially lead me to the elusive “knowledge” I needed to decipher. But first, I had to explore the lower path. I turned right and followed the tunnel, although I couldn’t discern if I was truly moving belowground. The darkness and thick air seemed to consume me, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. I quickened my pace, a hasty decision that only intensified the rapid beating of my heart.

“Slow down! Slow down!” I admonished myself, desperately trying to regain control over my racing body.

My body obediently froze at my command, and I took deep, calming breaths while watching the candle in my hand flicker. The wax had been steadily dripping, a clear indication that I had been walking for a considerable amount of time. I ignored the stinging sensation on my fingers as some of the wax had hit my skin, focusing on steadying my mind and body.

“You’re almost there,” I reassured myself, mustering the determination to take another step forward.

As I continued down the hallway, I noticed a gradual increase in brightness. I couldn’t quite comprehend how my surroundings were becoming clearer, but upon reaching the end of the tunnel, I discovered the source. High above, a clear, thick opening allowed sunlight to stream inside. It was a significantly wider crack, casting better illumination on my surroundings. I reached up, pushing my fingers through the opening to feel the invigorating breeze. Could it be...? I hesitated to complete the thought.

Instead, I pressed against the wall, grunting and exerting all my strength. The door remained stubbornly locked. I glanced down, searching for any obstacles, but nothing obstructed the path. My attention then shifted to the side of the door, where I spotted a thick iron rod wedged between two rocks. I extended my arm between the rocks and managed to grasp the iron rod. With determination, I lifted it and then slid it back, causing the lock to release.

The echoing sound of the door unlocking resonated through the tunnels. A smile crossed my lips as I pushed the door open with ease this time, allowing the powerful ocean wind to sweep me back. My long, dark-brown hair billowed behind me, and my dress fluttered in the breeze as I gazed at the vast blue sky and the waves below. I stood at a slight incline, the tunnel’s exit concealed within a cave. I nodded in approval, grateful to my ancestors for their clever construction.

End of sample chapter