My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 24: The Inner District

Violet

Goosebumps riddled my skin. I reached out to tap Lyra.

"Lyra. I would like to move somewhere else."

Her face flushed as she looked around. Whether she was embarrassed to have not noticed the situation until now, or was embarrassed to be seen with me, I couldn’t care less.

I wanted to get away from here.

"I am so, so sorry for this." She grabbed onto my hand and pulled me deeper into the crowd. We wove through more pathways, climbed a few stairs, a bridge and soon, we were on another street.

Lyra’s hands drifted to her braid, and she began to twist the end. Repeatedly. Again and again until the top was a jagged mess. Her face was pale with shock, and she repeatedly murmured under her breath.

"That wasn’t... that wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t supposed to happen. What were they thinking?"

My eyes widened.

I was supposed to be the one panicking. Why was she so out of sorts?!

"What—"

"Lyra." I grabbed her arm and she stiffened, her head jerking to face me. "Stay calm. It is fine... Please, be calm."

"Uh?" She slowly looked around. The street was quieter and less crowded. Some wolves cast odd glances towards us and it took everything in me not to be bothered by them. But they continued their business regardless.

We continued walking and Lyra slowly seemed to calm down.

"Did someone threaten you?"

She flinched and looked at me, immediately waving her hands across her face. "What? No. No!"

I frowned slightly. "Then why...?"

She played with her fingers and lowered her head. "I’m sorry about that. It’s nothing. Really..."

The colour returned to her face, but her shoulders were still tensed.

’This is depressing.’

I did not want to think about the stares more than necessary, even though they were more fleeting than the ones in the crowded area.

"How did you know the number of wolves living here?" I asked her.

It sounded like a foolish question, but anything to get rid of the heavy atmosphere.

"Oh, I study under Madam Tow."

I blinked. "Study?"

I didn’t know she was a teacher.

"No. Not like that." The tension in her shoulders seemed to ease as her face brightened just a little bit. "She opens these special classes once every two years that are very difficult to get into..."

We passed a shop, and the scent of fresh bread made my stomach churn. I couldn’t help but look at the building. I hadn’t forgotten how good bread tasted like. A middle-aged woman stood outside, dusting flour off her apron. She watched us, her eyes tracking our every step despite her neutral expression.

I looked away, my mood immediately souring.

"Please, don’t mind the stares," Lyra whispered nervously, tugging at her braid. "No one will do anything. And we hardly see omegas—" she immediately gave me a panicked look "—please I do not mean that as an insult."

"No. I understand." My lips stretched into a wry smile. "It’s not an insult. It’s just what I am."

Or did they actually see that as an insult here? I wouldn’t be surprised.

"Still, I don’t think you’re weak... If anything, you are pretty tall for an Omega. Most Omegas are small..." she said hurriedly, desperately trying to find something to compliment me with.

"Yes..." I merely answered.

Maybe my height was already an indicator of my bloodline despite being born an omega. One would hardly see any omega at six feet.

Then again, I didn’t want this to be a discussion.

"You mentioned Tow teaching?" I asked her, redirecting the conversation. "Wouldn’t she be too busy with her duties as a beta?"

Lyra smiled. "She is, but she is so caring. She offers this opportunity..." She paused, staring into space as she toyed with her fingers. "It’s—I still can’t believe she chose me. I’m just a regular pack wolf and my parents work in the markets in the outer district. Usually, apprenticeships go to wolves from higher families. I don’t think I’m worthy enough to deserve that."

My mouth dried up and I couldn’t help but frown again.

Worthy. Unworthy. I hated those words.

Why did she have to say that?

I noticed children playing around a large structure I had never seen before. Numerous streams of water merged at the base of a pool where a thin statue stood, water constantly sprouting from the tip and back into the pool below.

It was mesmerizing.

"What is that?" I asked, my eyes on it. "Do people drink from it?"

"Oh, no." Lyra chuckled and I immediately knew I had asked something very silly. "That’s a fountain."

"I see..." I pursed my lips inward, embarrassed.

"Sorry for laughing," she said, still smiling. "You’ve never seen something like that before?"

"No. Never."

"We can stay and watch if you want? There aren’t a lot of people here..."

I immediately shook my head. "I would prefer if we kept moving."

Staying here would just attract people over time. I did not want that at all. And I was sure the wolves wouldn’t appreciate that either.

"Al—alright." Lyra nodded and we continued moving.

A part of me felt sad we were leaving the beautiful fountain behind. The children still frolicked behind us, apparently too occupied with their play to have noticed me. Then again, I don’t think their senses were that mature yet to be able to do that.

I pursed my lips and glanced sideways at Lyra. She was playing with the end of her braid again, smoothening out the mess she had made earlier this time.

She was odd.

"But Tow chose you anyway..." I murmured, wanting to continue our earlier conversation.

"Hmm?" She turned her attention to me, her hands pausing what they were doing.

"You said you didn’t think you were worthy, but Tow still chose you."

"Oh!" She let go of her hair and smiled sheepishly. Her voice softened with a strange reverence. "She said I had potential she couldn’t ignore. I honestly don’t know what she saw in me, but I’m trying so hard not to disappoint her."

The earnestness in her voice made my chest tighten. Did she panic earlier because she didn’t want to disappoint Tow?

We walked in silence for a while before passing underneath a shaded street. Branches of large trees formed a perfect archway over the quiet street. Bits of light filtered through the leaves in dazzling dotted patterns.

I stopped.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"