#2.

That night, Athena cried until her throat ached and her eyes burned. She kept twisting in bed, clutching the blanket to her chest, trying to breathe through the pain sitting like a stone inside her. Sleep refused to come. Every time she closed her eyes, Ryan’s cold stare flashed before her. His rejection. His silence. His shame.

She cried until her tears finally dried on her cheeks, until exhaustion dragged her under.

Morning came too quickly.

Her body felt heavy, her head pounding, but she forced herself up. Being late wasn’t an option. Omegas didn’t get excuses. She dragged herself from the bed, washed her face to hide how swollen her eyes were, and tied her hair back before heading downstairs to prepare breakfast for the pack.

The kitchen was cold when she entered. At least here, she knew what to do. She started gathering vegetables, pans, and coffee beans without thinking. Routine steadied her.

Then she saw Ava.

Ava had just returned from her early morning jog, cheeks flushed, ponytail damp with sweat. She paused when she saw Athena and offered a small smile, one of the few that ever reached Athena’s direction.

“Hey, Athena,” Ava said.

“Hi,” Athena murmured, keeping her eyes low as she began setting the counter.

Ava sighed softly behind her, the sound heavy with sympathy. “I saw everything that happened yesterday,” she said. “I… don’t have the right words. But I’m sorry. Really.”

Athena turned slowly, forcing a small smile even though nothing inside her felt okay.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” she said. “It already happened. And there’s nothing I can do. Ryan is a beta. I’m just… me.” Her voice dropped. “It would be unfortunate for someone like him to be tied to someone like me.”

Ava stared at her for a long moment. “But it still affected you. You can’t deny that. It’s written all over your eyes.”

Athena swallowed and looked down at the cutting board. “I’m going to be fine,” she whispered and began chopping the vegetables with calm, steady motions that didn’t match how shaky her heart felt.

Ava sighed again.

Athena glanced at her. “Did you meet your mate yesterday?” she asked, hoping to shift the topic away from herself.

Ava dropped her hands on her hips and exhaled. “Yes. I did.”

She didn’t sound excited. Not even close.

Athena frowned. “Is something wrong? Don’t you like him?”

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

“Why?” Athena asked carefully.

Ava hesitated. “It’s Joshua.”

Athena blinked. “Joshua? But you two—”

“Exactly.” Ava cut her off with a dry laugh. “We’ve never gotten along. We’ve hated each other for years. Now we’re fated together? I don’t know how to feel.”

“Oh.” Understanding washed over Athena. “Now I get it. But I think you two might eventually like each other. Just… don’t push him away too quickly. I hope you didn’t reject him.”

Ava shook her head. “No. I didn’t reject him.” She reached for one of the coffees Athena had set out and gulped it down in two large swallows. “We’ll see how this ends.”

Athena managed a small smile.

Footsteps echoed from the hall as someone approached. Lily walked in, her perfume announcing her presence before she even reached the doorway.

“Hey, Ava!” Lily sang. “Oh my goodness, did you find your mate?”

Ava nodded reluctantly.

“That’s exciting!” Lily squealed.

“Did you?” Ava asked.

Lily shook her head, smiling brightly. “I didn’t! But guess what?”

Ava groaned. “What is it? I’m not good at guessing, Lily.”

Lily’s grin widened dramatically. “Ryan is going to announce me as his mate today!”

The tray in Athena’s hand slipped and crashed to the floor.

Both Ava and Lily turned toward her.

Lily’s expression turned smug. “Oh, I didn’t even notice your pathetic self standing there. Anyway, don’t be too shocked, dear Athena. Your mate doesn’t want you. And he chose me instead.”

A tear slid down Athena’s cheek before she could wipe it away.

Ava immediately stepped forward, anger flashing in her eyes. “Don’t you think it’s wrong to claim someone else’s mate?”

Lily raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t do anything wrong. And besides, Ryan has always been my boyfriend. How do you expect me to feel when he’s supposed to be tied to some pathetic omega?”

Athena’s fingers curled at her sides. “I might be an omega, but I’m not pathetic. And it doesn’t make me less of a wolf or less of a person.”

Lily’s gaze snapped to her sharply. “Oh? You want to talk back now? Ryan is mine. And you—no one would ever want an ugly, weak omega like you.”

Athena felt the words hit like stones but something inside her refused to stay silent this time.

“I might be an omega,” she said, voice trembling but strong, “but at least I was blessed with a mate even if he rejected me. Can you say the same? You’re three years older than me and you still haven’t found yours.”

Ava froze. Lily did too.

Ava smirked slowly.

Lily’s face reddened with pure fury.

“How dare you,” Lily hissed and raised her hand, ready to slap Athena across the face.

But before her hand could land, a voice echoed sharply from the hallway.

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

It was Alpha Lucas.

And everything stopped.