Chapter 2

That night, my storage room was still as cold, dark, and hopeless as ever. Eric would never come to a place like this.

I didn’t toss and turn, unable to sleep anymore. Instead, I curled up tightly, gathering my strength to escape.

At first light, I slipped out to the black market, trying to find a way to leave.

I found a rough-looking broker. I traded a silver chain my mother had left me for a fake ID.

As dusk fell, I left the little shop. I walked over to a bakery that was about to close, hoping to buy some day-old bread to fill my stomach.

My eyes flicked to the expensive tavern across the street. I froze.

At the best table in the tavern, Eric was chatting with the beautiful Gianna. He was gently wiping a smudge of wine from the corner of her lips.

That look in his eyes – so focused, full of affection and possession – it stabbed me in the heart. I’d seen that look countless times, but it wasn’t for me anymore.

I turned to run but knocked over the bakery's trash can by the door, making a loud crash.

Eric looked up, staring straight at me. When he saw my dirty state, his eyes turned cold, filled only with annoyance and displeasure.

He stormed over to the bakery entrance, gripping my chin hard. "What are you doing here? Who told you to leave the manor? Are you following me?"

Before I could say anything, he ordered, "Gianna and I are mating. This is for the future of the family. A pathetic Omega like you should just behave. I told you, I can give you anything you want."

I wanted to explain I was just there to buy food, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Luna Anya’s warning from yesterday still rang in my ears: "Eric and Gianna’s union is the Moon Goddess’s will. It will bring glory to the pack. If you have any funny ideas, I’ll make you disappear!"

Mating? What did that have to do with me? What funny ideas could I possibly have?

"Eric, why bother getting angry over a worthless Omega." Gianna, gracefully holding her wine glass, also pushed open the door and came out. She smiled, but her eyes were like a snake’s. "So this is the Omega who 'took care' of you when you lost your memory? She's... not too hard on the eyes, I suppose."

She tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at her.

Like a puppet, I was forced to look up at her beautiful, cruel face, and at Eric’s cold, imposing face behind her.

"Miss Sera, what would you like to eat?" Gianna said in a posh voice, but then pointed to the bakery behind me. "The moldy bread they discount here every day must be a treat for you Omegas, right? Go on, eat up. Don’t be shy."

A wave of humiliation washed over me. All I wanted was to survive. Why couldn’t I even have my dignity as a wolf?

"I’m not hungry," I forced out through gritted teeth, my voice barely a whisper.

"What a pity." Gianna shook her head sadly, then said to Eric, "Oh, by the way, I hear some unclean Omegas smell quite bad. I wonder about this Miss Sera..." She trailed off, looking me up and down with contempt.

I felt dizzy, almost unable to stand. Gianna’s scent pierced through me, making my weak Omega scent even more chaotic.

Just as I was about to explain, Eric’s phone lit up. An elder needed him urgently.

He turned to take the call. His tall back was like a wall, completely separating me from him.

His black suit, embroidered with the pack’s totem, I once dreamed of smoothing its lapels for him. Now, it just felt like shackles, forever dividing us.

"Get rid of that disgusting scent of yours!" Gianna hissed, leaning close to my ear, her voice full of loathing. "Did you really think Eric’s little bit of interest in you would let you climb the social ladder? If he hadn’t been so dulled when he lost his memory, an Omega like you wouldn’t even be fit to lick his boots!"

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, just to keep from falling apart.

"Miss Gianna, we don’t even know each other. Why are you treating me like this..."

"Oh!" Before I could finish, Gianna suddenly shrieked, knocking the red wine from her hand.

She stuck her foot out and tripped me. Shards of glass dug into my hand, a piercing pain.

Eric rushed back in, grabbing Gianna’s arm, his eyes full of concern. "What’s wrong? Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine... Eric..." Gianna’s eyes welled up, her voice choked with tears as she clung to his arm pitifully. "It’s all my fault, I knocked over the wine glass... Is Miss Sera okay? Did I say something mean? Are you angry... I’m sorry..."

She cleverly shifted the blame to me, making it seem like I was some jealous, wicked woman.

Eric immediately frowned at me, his Alpha dominance pressing down like a mountain. "Seraphina! I warned you, don’t cause trouble! Do I have to punish you in public before you’ll listen?"

"I didn’t, it was her..." I tried to argue, but my voice was as small as a mosquito’s buzz.

"Enough!" Eric cut me off harshly, his voice full of disappointment and disgust. "Am I supposed to not believe my own eyes? When will you learn the humility and obedience an Omega should have? Stop embarrassing yourself!"

With that, he helped Gianna leave, without a backward glance.

Gianna, leaning on his arm, looked back at me with a triumphant, mocking smile.

I collapsed on the ground, soaked in wine, blood steadily seeping from my palm, a complete wreck.

The pain in my hand was sharp and deep.

But Eric only had eyes for the stain on Gianna’s skirt, gently brushing at it as if that skirt were more important than my life.

He left so quickly, he didn’t even spare me a cold glance.

But the Eric I remembered would hold me and comfort me with his body when I was in the most pain.

Three years ago, on that snowy night, when my heat was unbearable, he was frantic like a wounded beast, releasing calming pheromones, licking my forehead, and asking huskily, "Sera, are you in pain? What can I do to help you?"

Back then, his golden wolf eyes were full of worry and tenderness for me, his Omega.

The Eric of today couldn't see my pain anymore. His gaze only lingered on Alphas who could bring him glory and benefits.

He didn't care if I lived or died.