Chapter 1: The Day He Was Cast Out

“Step forward when your name is called.”

The old man's words echoed throughout the large room. Eiren could barely stand,his knees trembled like leaves. All around him, heaps of omegas stood motionless, their scents heavy and cloying in the air. Yet his own? Almost nonexistent. Faint. Wrong.

Of the Moonfang Pack.

His gut sank. Just like that,here we go: the ritual everyone had been waiting for, a chance to finally matter.

He moved toward the center of the rocky ground. Everyone in the room watched his every step. Strong men stood along each side, staring intently, their presence weighing heavily on him. The younger ones waited in line behind, their expressions tense,perhaps regretful, perhaps not. The truth was, he didn’t know which it really was.

The connection hit him hard, right in the gut.

It stung, then tugged. Coiling tightly through his chest, it hauled him forward.

His destined mate.

Eiren froze. His gaze snapped toward the source of the tug, his pulse racing like a drumbeat beneath his skin.

A shape slipped through the crowd. Its height stood out, and a broad frame filled the space. Hair, nearly black, glinted asflames flickered past.

Rhydan.

The one people couldn't get enough of. Tough, sure,but also admired. Good-looking without trying too hard.

He moved closer to Eiren, heading in her direction.

"Nah." Rhydan froze three paces short. His jaw clenched tightly. "Not this,this isn't right."

Eiren's throat felt tight.

“You?” Rhydan’s voice rose. “You’re my mate?”

The room fell silent.

Eiren opened his mouth, but no sound escaped. The connection pulsed,wild and raw. He ignored Rhydan’s stare, as if he were something toxic.

Rhydan shifted backward,just a bit at first. A second movement followed, slow and quiet. “You don’t have that omega scent on you.”

Heat flooded Eiren's cheeks. Because his scent was faint,almost gone,it never attracted attention. He noticed it, and so did the people around him.

"Sorry." The words slipped out quickly, with no time to hold back. "I wasn't even

"You're broken." Rhydan spat the words out as if they left a bad taste in his mouth. Whatever she was, she wasn't his perfect match.

The cord snapped taut across their space. Eiren sensed it pulling, whispering, and pushing them closer bit by bit.

"Please," Eiren's voice broke. "This link

“I reject you.”

The words hit him hard,suddenly sharp, like a shove out of nowhere.

The bond snapped.

Eiren screamed.

He could swear his chest was splitting wide open. Something tore through him deep inside. He dropped to his knees, choking and yanking at his collar. Breathing became increasingly difficult. Fire raced beneath his skin,fast, fierce, and relentless.

Around him, the group remained silent, simply watching.

No one stepped forward; they just stood there, frozen.

"Wake up." A senior's tone sliced through the fog,harsh and lifeless.

Eiren was frozen,his limbs refused to respond. Because of this, he simply lay there, pain overwhelming him and erasingevery thought.

“I said, get up.”

Hands clamped onto his arms,guards. These men yanked him up, but his legs gave out. Still, they kept him from falling.

The old leader moved forward, his expression as hard as rock,showing no trace of kindness or sign of forgiveness.

“An omega rejected by his fated mate is a stain on the pack,” his voice carried through the hall. “Defective. Unwanted. A waste of resources.”

Eiren's vision blurred. When he tried to speak, his voice caught in his throat.

“The law is clear,” the elder’s gaze swept over the crowd. “Rejected omegas have no place among us,no protection, norights.”

Murmurs spread throughout the room. Still, Eiren caught every word clearly.

Weak.

Ineffective.

I feel overwhelmed and hopeless right now.

“Take him to the cells,” the elder said, turning away. “We’ll deal with him at dawn.”

The guards pulled him toward the side exit. His heels scraped against the rocky floor. He cast one last frantic glance behind, hoping to spot someone who wasn’t staring at him with contempt.

There was none.

Rhydan stood in the center of the large room, teeth clenched. They exchanged a brief glance,just a blink.

After that, Rhydan shifted his gaze elsewhere.

-----

The hidden chambers reeked of decay, mingled with traces of dried blood.

They shoved Eiren into a cramped cage. He slammed down, his breath ripped from him. Immediately, icy metal snapped onto his wrists,thick chains locked tightly in place.

The guards walked away silently.

The door slammed shut.

Blackness enveloped him completely.

Eiren curled up, hugging his legs tightly. His body throbbed with leftover pain from the severed link. It wasn’t just hurting; it felt as if a part of him had been scooped out, leaving an empty hole that wouldn’t stop aching.

He knew it was over.

When morning broke, they would take him,pulling him from this room to kill him where everyone could see. Not just death, but proof. A message.

This is how flawed omegas end up.

He panted, each breath quick and shallow. A sob rose in his throat, yet no tears followed,just silence. Perhaps they had dried up long ago, or maybe what once filled him had finally emptied.

"Sorry," he said softly into the dark, not meant for anyone. "Wish I hadn’t come out broken."

The words lingered there, hollow and meaningless,serving no purpose.

He shut his eyes.

He wished he could vanish,just slip away like mist. That would be better than facing what comes next.

Suddenly, he noticed something. That’s when it hit him.

A pull.

Different from before. Heavier. Gloomier. It clung to him like fog, pressing on his ribcage and winding deep into his lungs.

Another bond.

Eiren's eyes flew open wide, yet his pulse hammered in his chest.

That was impossible.

You have only one destined partner. That’s what people have always said: a single connection, just one chance.

But this was actual,real as a heartbeat. A pulse ran through him, wild and unignorable. Not pleading, but insistent, like thunder beneath the skin.

Fear surged through his body.

This connection felt off,far too intense, far too raw. It wasn’t like the earlier one that tugged softly and slowly. No, this one jerked harshly, ripped at him, sank deep into his bones, and lingered there.

“No.” His voice shook. “No, no, no.”

He tugged at the chains, fear mounting. There was no way this was real. He had already fallen apart, broken beyond repair. Facing one more bond,another shove away,felt impossible.

The pull intensified.

It fell from high above, beyond the rocky barriers, and through the old meeting room.

Out here, beyond the group.

Eiren's hands trembled, and his breathing was quick and uneven. He pressed his back against the rear wall of the cell,shrinking inward as if he could vanish.

It didn’t help.

The grip tightened, like a clenched fist.

Then came the sound,he caught it.

Footsteps.

Slow and measured, moving through the hallway.

Eiren's gut knotted,way too soon. Night still held on tight. They were not meant to end him until sunrise.

Unless they had reversed their decision.

Unless they were already planning to kill him.

The sound of footsteps halted near his door.

Silence.

Eiren froze, his heart pounding loudly inside his chest.

A shape shifted past the bars,tall, wide, and much larger than any guard in the group.

the chains.

The sound came low and gritty, sending a chill through Eiren.

He couldn't make out the face,just a shape. It was not clear at all, someone covered in shadow.

The tug grew stronger. This fresh connection pulsed,wild and urgent.

It came from his direction.

"No." Eiren's words slipped out softly. "Come on... just stop." But her tone held no strength.

The person moved closer to the railing.

Eiren noticed his gaze on her.

Gold. Burning.

Not human.

Not packed.

The bond snapped tight, hitting him so hard he couldn't breathe.

the voice muttered, deep but sure, "follow me now."