Chapter 1

The private room reeked of cigarettes and alcohol mixed with the distinct musk of werewolves, sharp enough to make me wrinkle my nose.

I'd just rushed over from the pack clinic, still wearing my moisture-wicking athletic shirt that clung to my frame and showed off my lean build.

It was unusual for an Omega. Most Omegas were delicate, but years of gripping scalpels had given me defined muscle along my shoulders and back.

Right now, that definition had become a target for Grace Sullivan's attacks.

"Ethan, you've got such 'unique' taste."

Grace sat dead center on the couch with her legs crossed, a cigarette pinched between black-painted fingernails as she blew smoke directly in my face.

She was a Beta warrior from the pack, dressed head to toe in black leather with battle scars visible on her neck. The hostility in her eyes was practically dripping.

Ethan Carter sat beside her, frowning but silent. He was my fated mate. We'd been bonded for three months, and things had been good between us.

This was his class reunion. Grace was his childhood friend who'd just returned from a border pack, so I wanted to make a good impression.

But before I could say anything, Grace raised her voice and addressed the entire room with dripping sarcasm. "You guys know Ethan's 'clinic sweetheart' here isn't actually a respectable Omega, right?"

The room went dead silent. They watched me with that distinctive werewolf scrutiny, sharp and assessing.

"I did my homework. She's just a Rogue who got exiled from her old pack!"

Grace slammed her hand on the table, sending ash scattering everywhere. "She used to leech off high-ranking werewolves for resources, threw herself at every powerful Alpha she could find because she's got a pretty face, and now she's conned her way to Ethan!"

My expression darkened. "Grace, if you're going to make accusations, you need proof."

"Proof?" Grace let out a mocking laugh and pulled out her phone, scrolling through her photos. "Right here."

She shoved the phone in front of everyone, and on the screen was a photo of me in the clinic office. In the picture, I was massaging the shoulders of a middle-aged man in a white coat.

That man was Damian Pierce, the head of the pack clinic. He was also my father, an Alpha with tremendous respect throughout the pack.

"Look at how she's fawning over him!" Grace zoomed in on the photo.

"We all know Mr. Pierce is a top-tier Alpha! And she's just an Omega. How else could she become a lead healer at the clinic? Obviously by playing these games and sweet-talking her way in!"

Someone chimed in with a jeer. "No wonder she's already doing surgeries when she's just this young! She latched onto the director.

"Rogues who are Omegas are the best at this kind of thing. Ethan, you'd better watch out."

I clenched my fists, my knuckles going white. "I got into the clinic on my own merit. Mr. Pierce simply recognized my skills. There's nothing inappropriate between us."

That only brought more mocking laughter.

In werewolf society, when an Alpha protected an Omega, it always carried implications. An Omega with no background earning the recognition of a top Alpha? No one would believe it was purely about ability.

"Recognized your skills?" Grace looked like she'd heard the funniest joke in the world. "My father, Thomas, was on the waiting list for half a month. One word from her, and suddenly a bed becomes available. You call that recognition?"

She pulled up a video. In it, I was smiling as I spoke to Father. "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Pierce. I really appreciate you taking care of this."

Because of the camera angle, it only captured me bending over to massage his shoulders while speaking in a soft voice. It really did sound like deliberate flattery.

"Listen to that tone!" Grace's volume shot even higher. "Still saying she didn't trade her body for resources?

"Mr. Pierce is someone important. Why else would he let her get so close and wait on him like that?"

I was about to explain when someone suddenly grabbed my wrist.

I turned to see Ethan's face dark with anger, his eyes full of disappointment. "Mina, were you really a Rogue before? You and Mr. Pierce, is it really what they're saying?"

"Ethan, you believe her over me?" My chest ached.

A faint stabbing pain came through the mate bond. Our connection was already starting to fray from his lack of trust.

"I was separated from my family for a while, but I wasn't exiled. I was studying advanced healing techniques!" I rushed to explain.

"Mr. Sullivan had wolfsbane poisoning, and the situation was critical. Mr. Pierce only arranged the bed because it was an emergency. It has nothing to do with anything else!"

"Wolfsbane poisoning?" Grace raised an eyebrow. "My father was fine yesterday. Stop trying to make yourself sound important."

She leaned closer to Ethan, her voice dropping to something more insidious. "Ethan, remember? Omegas who come from Rogue backgrounds are experts at using the mate bond to manipulate people.

"Look at what she's wearing, that tight shirt. She's obviously trying to seduce you. For all you know, she's been playing both sides this whole time.

"Stringing you along while climbing all over Mr. Pierce."

Ethan's gaze grew colder and colder, and his grip on my wrist tightened. I could feel it clearly. The bond with my fated mate was being torn apart bit by bit.

It hurt so much I could barely breathe.