#1.

ATHENA

Pain shot through my stomach as I pushed myself off the cold floor. The ache was sharp and deep, the kind that made breathing feel like work. Every movement reminded me of what Alpha Lucas had done to me yesterday. My ribs burned. My legs shook. My body wanted to give up.

But omegas didn’t get rest.

If I wasn’t in the kitchen before sunrise, there would be another beating waiting for me. I clenched my teeth, swallowed the pain, and forced my feet to move. Step by step, I made my way down the hallway.

The kitchen lights were already on.

“Oh, look who’s still breathing.”

Lily’s voice hit me the second I stepped inside. I didn’t look at her. I didn’t need to. I knew that tone too well. She stood near the counter, arms crossed, watching me like I was something dirty that had wandered in.

She was dating the beta. Alpha Lucas’s brother. The pack loved her. The golden girl.

My nightmare.

“Good morning,” I said quietly.

“What’s good about this morning when I have to see your ugly face first thing?” she snapped.

I said nothing. Talking back never helped. I moved past her and went straight to work. Pots, pans, knives. My hands started moving on their own. Chop. Stir. Knead. I focused on the food because it was easier than thinking.

The smell of roasted meat slowly filled the kitchen. My stomach tightened, but I ignored it. Soon, footsteps echoed down the stairs. Wolves filled the dining hall, laughing, talking, loud and relaxed. I carried tray after tray, placing plates in front of them.

No one thanked me.

Some didn’t even look at me.

“Why are you walking like that?”

Alpha Lucas’s voice stopped me cold.

“Stand up straight,” he said. “You move like a broken dog.”

Laughter burst around the room.

I straightened instantly. My back screamed in protest, but I forced my steps to look normal. I kept my face blank and kept walking.

Ryan sat near the Alpha. The beta. Once, he used to smile at me. Now his eyes were flat, distant. When his gaze landed on me, his mouth tightened like he’d smelled something bad.

I dropped my eyes and turned away.

When the pack finished eating, I scraped leftovers into a bowl. My hands were shaking. My stomach growled, loud and desperate. I ate quickly, standing, not caring how it looked. Just enough to quiet the hunger.

“Athena.”

My body froze.

Luna Becca’s voice cut through the room. My heart started pounding as I turned to face her.

“Yes, Luna,” I said, bowing my head.

Her eyes dragged over me slowly, from my face to my shoes. Disgust sat clear on her face.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” she said. “I don’t eat large portions anymore. And I’m vegetarian now. Are you deaf?”

“I’m sorry, Luna—”

“Sorry for yourself,” she cut in.

She grabbed her plate and tipped it over me.

Warm food slid down my dress, soaked into the fabric, splashed onto the floor. I stood there, stiff, staring at the mess.

Alpha Lucas caught her wrist gently. “Don’t upset yourself over this filth,” he said calmly.

She leaned back in her chair, still glaring at me. “If you’d broken her bones properly last night, she wouldn’t have forgotten.”

The words settled in my chest. Heavy. Quiet.

“Go make me something light,” she added. “Oatmeal. Be quick.”

I nodded and turned away.

Back in the kitchen, my hands shook so badly I had to grip the counter for a second. I breathed in, then out, slow. I grabbed the oats, the water, the bowl. My eyes burned, but I blinked hard and kept going.

Omegas didn’t cry where anyone could see.

My wolf stayed silent, curled up deep inside me like it always did. I healed slower than the others. Bruises stayed longer. Broken ribs took weeks.

I stirred the oatmeal and focused on not spilling it.

Tonight was the full moon. The initiation festival. Tonight, I would turn twenty. Tonight was when I was supposed to meet my mate.

The thought sat heavy in my stomach.

Would my mate even want me?

I didn’t shift like the others. My wolf barely spoke to me. Still, something stirred faintly inside my chest, restless and unsure.

Please accept me, I thought. Just enough to let me leave this place.

I carried the bowl back to Luna Becca and placed it in front of her. She looked at me the same way she always did. Cold. Sharp.

For a brief second, I met her eyes. Then I looked away.

Night fell fast.

I stood in front of the mirror in my small room, smoothing down my dress. It was old and faded, but it was clean. That was the best I could do. I tugged at the hem, then let my hands fall.

A knock didn’t come. Lily just walked in.

She leaned against the doorframe, looking me over. “You look really ugly right now. Hope you know that.”

I stayed quiet.

“Are you deaf?” she snapped, stepping closer. “I said you look ugly.”

I took a breath and lifted my eyes. “I know,” I said. “You don’t have to remind me.”

Her brows lifted, surprised. Then she laughed softly. “Such a sharp mouth for something so weak.”

She leaned in. “Your mate’s going to reject you. I can already see it.”

She turned and walked out.

I stood there for a second, then wiped my face quickly. I stepped outside before anyone could see me.

The festival grounds were alive. Fires burned. Wolves stood in groups, laughing, touching, holding hands. New mates clung to each other, smiling, glowing. My chest tightened as I watched them.

Then a scent hit me.

Strong and sudden.

My wolf surged awake, sharp and loud in my head. Mate. Mate.

My heart started racing. I moved forward without thinking, eyes scanning the crowd.

Then I saw him.

Ryan stood near the center, tense, looking around. His head snapped up to mine and his eyes narrowing.

“No,” he muttered. “No. No.”

The scent wrapped around me completely.

My legs felt weak.

You can’t be my mate, he said, voice low and angry.

“Ryan—”

He lifted a hand. “Don’t.”

People nearby turned toward us. Whispers spread fast.

He laughed, harsh and bitter. “You? This is a joke.”

My hands curled into fists.

“I reject you,” he said, loud and clear. “I Ryan, the brother of alpha Lucas and the beta of this pack reject you as my mate.”

Laughter followed. My knees almost gave out.

I didn’t hear anything else.

I turned and ran.