#2.

ATHENA

That night, I cried until my throat hurt and my eyes felt raw. I turned from side to side, clutching the blanket tight against my chest like it was the only thing keeping me together. Breathing felt hard, shallow, like something heavy was sitting inside me and wouldn’t move.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryan.

His face. His voice. The way he looked at me like I was nothing.

I pressed my face into the pillow, biting my lip to keep the sounds down. Crying too loud only caused trouble. I stayed quiet, even when my chest shook. Even when my hands trembled.

Eventually, the tears stopped on their own. My face felt tight and dry. I lay there staring into the dark until my body finally gave up.

-

Morning came too fast.

My head pounded as I pushed myself upright. My body felt stiff, sore in places I tried not to think about. I sat there for a moment, feet on the floor, breathing slowly. Being late wasn’t an option. Omegas didn’t get second chances.

I washed my face with cold water, scrubbing until the swelling went down a little. My eyes still looked tired, but they always did. I tied my hair back and straightened my dress before leaving the room.

The kitchen was quiet when I walked in. Cold, too. I preferred it this way. I knew what to do here. My hands went to work without thinking. Vegetables. Pans. Coffee beans. I lined everything up neatly. Routine helped keep my mind still.

Then I noticed someone else in the room.

Ava stood near the doorway, fresh from her morning run. Her cheeks were pink, her ponytail damp. She paused when she saw me and smiled softly. It wasn’t forced. It never was with her.

“Hey, Athena,” she said.

“Hi,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the counter as I reached for a knife.

She stayed quiet for a second, then sighed. “I saw what happened yesterday.”

I stopped for just a moment, then kept moving.

“I don’t know what to say,” she went on. “But I’m sorry.”

I turned toward her slowly and gave a small smile. It didn’t feel real on my face. “There’s nothing to be sorry about,” I said. “It already happened.” I shrugged lightly. “Ryan is a beta. I’m just… me.”

My voice dropped at the end. “It wouldn’t make sense for someone like him to be tied to someone like me.”

Ava studied me, her expression serious. “You say that, but it still hurt you. Anyone can see it.”

I looked down at the cutting board and started chopping again. My movements were steady. Careful. “I’m fine,” I said quietly.

She didn’t argue, Just sighed again.

I glanced at her. “Did you meet your mate yesterday?”

Her shoulders tensed. “Yeah. I did.”

Something in her tone made me pause. “You don’t sound happy.”

“It’s complicated,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “I don’t know if I can accept him.”

I hesitated. “Why?”

She took a breath. “It’s Joshua.”

I blinked. “Joshua? But you two—”

“Exactly,” she cut in with a short laugh. “We’ve never gotten along. Ever. Now we’re supposed to be mates?”

I nodded slowly. “I understand.” I thought for a moment. “Maybe don’t push him away too fast. Did you reject him?”

“No,” she said. “I didn’t.” She grabbed a cup of coffee and drank it quickly. “We’ll see how it goes.”

I smiled faintly.

Footsteps sounded from the hallway. Lily walked in like she owned the place, her perfume filling the room before her voice did.

“Ava!” she said brightly. “Did you find your mate?”

Ava nodded, not looking thrilled.

“That’s so exciting!” Lily clapped her hands.

“Not really” Ava said. “Did you?”

Lily’s smile stretched wider. “No, but guess what?”

Ava groaned. “Just say it.”

“Ryan is going to announce me as his mate today.”

The tray slipped from my hands before I realized what was happening. It hit the floor with a loud crash. Coffee splashed everywhere.

Both of them turned toward me.

Lily looked pleased. “Oh, I didn’t even notice you there,” she said. “Don’t look so shocked. Your mate doesn’t want you. He chose me instead.”

My chest tightened. A tear slid down my cheek before I could stop it.

Ava stepped forward immediately. “That’s not right,” she said sharply. “You can’t just take someone else’s mate.”

Lily shrugged. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Ryan has always been with me. How do you expect me to feel when he’s tied to some omega like her?”

My hands curled at my sides. I lifted my head. “I might be an omega,” I said, my voice shaking, “but I’m not pathetic.”

Lily’s eyes flashed. “No one would ever want you.”

Something inside me snapped.

“I was still given a mate,” I said quietly. “Even if he rejected me. You’re older than me, and you still haven’t found yours.”

The room went silent.

Ava’s lips curved into a small smile.

Lily’s face turned red. She raised her hand.

“Why is that omega taking so long to serve the coffee?”

Alpha Lucas’s voice echoed down the hall.

Everything stopped.