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TRIVIA'S POV.

The sun had barely crested the horizon when my mother burst into my room, her expression taut, her hands clutching a small bundle of our belongings. I sat on the edge of the bed, muscles still aching from yesterday’s humiliation, hair damp, clothes stiff with grime. Fear and anticipation coiled in my stomach.

“Trivia,” she began, voice steady but urgent, “ We have to leave, now! But there’s something you need to know before we leave,” she announced, line of frowns etched on my temples immediately 

“Leave? Where, why?” I asked almost immediately.

“ I’ve been seeing someone… someone important. His name is Derek. He’s the beta of the Shadowfang Pack. We’ve been involved for months, and now he’s arranged for us to move to his pack. You’ll be safe there, protected.”

I froze. Shock and anger tore through me. “You’ve been… seeing him? And you didn’t tell me?” My voice cracked, betraying the mix of betrayal and disbelief.

Mother’s eyes softened. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you. Derek… he’s loyal, kind. He has ensured our safety, even when you didn’t know. The alpha is ruthless, feared across every pack. They whisper his name in fear. But Derek… he is different. You’ll understand when we arrive.”

I swallowed hard, trying to reconcile my mother’s words with the torrent of anxiety and betrayal inside me. Nothing at my old pack remained for me; humiliation, heartbreak, and betrayal had left me raw. I had no choice but to follow her.

The carriage ride was tense. Each jolt over uneven roads tightened my chest, my thoughts spinning. Mother explained more about Derek, how he had been careful to protect me from the Shadowfang’s notorious cruelty, and how  the Alphas' hatred of weakness was legendary.

 My pulse spiked with each description, dread pooling low in my stomach. She added, almost apologetically, that Derek had visited our  pack for months, checking on me, preparing for this move, and now it was time for me to meet him in person.

The pack mansion loomed ahead, Its stone walls, jagged and towering, cut through the mist that clung to the forest floor. Guards lined every path, alert, watchful. Mother’s hand squeezed mine. 

“My betrothal to Derek grants you safety here, Trivia. But remember, the Alpha notices everything. Weakness will be punished.”

I stepped down from the carriage, stomach twisting. Derek was waiting, calm, his posture alert yet warm as he greeted my mother. He kissed her cheek and gave me a small, encouraging nod. My pulse raced. Derek was the only anchor of comfort in a world that promised danger at every corner.

Inside, the mansion was a vast, suffocating blend of opulence and authority. The air seemed to hum with power. We were guided to the dining room, where the table gleamed with crystal and silver. Derek seated my mother, then gestured for me to sit. I perched uneasily, eyes sweeping the room, noting every shadow, every silent observer.

Dinner was tense. Mother explained our arrangement, the move, and Derek’s protective role. I tried to focus on the food, but my mind raced. Derek caught my gaze across the table, a small smile flickering, a reassurance that cut through my fear. Between courses, our whispered conversation was a lifeline.

“I know this is… sudden,” Derek murmured, voice low, carefully measured. “But you’ll see, I mean you no harm, I know of your… wolf being doormat but I’ve ensured the guards and this mansion will keep you safe.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I… I hope so. Everything I knew is gone, thank you Derek but I'd like to rest now.” I lied, seeing the yearning gazes he and my mother exchanged made me want to retch, Derek cleared his throat awkwardly, passed me a gentle smile and gestured for an omega.

The omega appeared to guide me to my room, but the moment the door was partially closed, it slammed open. 

A man around my age stood there, all predatory grace and danger. The maid froze. “Out,” he growled. They disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone with him.

He stepped close, towering, and I stumbled back. His hand gripped my chin, tilting my head up to meet his eyes, dark and assessing. His gaze swept over me, analyzing, calculating. Then he sniffed me, a predator marking prey. My body stiffened, terrified.

“You are weak,” he whispered, low, dangerous. “Disgusting in your fragility. Yet… you will be fun  to test.” He slammed me against the wall, pressing into me, hand at my throat. Breath left me in a strangled gasp.

“Who are you?”I asked, worry etched into my tone as fear crept down my nerves.

“Erebus.. The only true son of beta Derek.  I have no idea how your mother did it, here I may condone, but I would not share my house, my father and my status with nobody like you!, I won't let you taint the image and status I've built for myself” He snapped. Disgust evident in his tone, as he dragged his gaze from my feet back to  my hair.  

“You think you can survive without your wolf? Foolish girl. You’ll begin training tomorrow but don’t delude yourself, Trivia. You won’t make it. The alpha hates weakness. He  will break you if you falter and maybe…it's better that way, you won't even last a day” he spat viciously, his words dripping with mockery laced with venom.

I tried to shove him, to strike, to resist, but he caught me by the chin again, forcing my head back. 

“You are twenty-two,  the same age as me except pathetic. You’ll learn quickly or  you will fall.”

I trembled, heart hammering, chest tight. Erebus’s presence was suffocating, terrifying, and yet there was an undeniable energy,  tension buzzing in the air. He leaned closer, lips brushing my ear, voice a lethal whisper. 

“Train tomorrow sister, or die. Your survival is your own choice. Remember… I do not want you, not truly. Without your wolf, you are nothing but the alpha? He will ensure you feel every second of what it means to be prey.”