Chapter 3

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the sight of them.

But my memories were a flood I couldn't stop.

Three years ago. The night my father died.

He had been the Alliance's most respected Omega healer, saving countless lives. Every elder from every pack came to his funeral. Except Senna.

"She's not feeling well," Joric had explained. "Don't take it to heart."

I didn't. As long as I had him, nothing else mattered.

That night, he held me at my father's grave and swore, "I will protect you for the rest of my life, Faelan. Once the pack is stable, Faelan. Then I will claim you."

A month later, he asked me to move back to the Omega quarters.

"It's just temporary," he'd promised, kissing my forehead. "I don't want you to have to face my mother's cold shoulder. Just give me some time to sort things out with the elders. I promise I'll bring you back with the grandest claiming ceremony anyone has ever seen."

I believed him. I always believed him.

I was so naive. That distance didn't protect me. It gave him the freedom to betray me.

Without me there, he could do as he pleased.

My mind flashed back to Joric's pack gala last year.

I wore my best dress and went to his penthouse, wanting to surprise him.

I took the private elevator and punched in his passcode.

But when I opened the door, a familiar figure was sitting in his living room.

My stepsister, Giselle.

She claimed she was back from her medical treatments. Joric said he was just letting her crash there out of respect for me.

I was so naive. I actually thought he was taking care of my family because he loved me.

Even though Giselle and I were never close.

I never expected she would stay there for three whole years.

Meanwhile, I—his supposed future Luna—was left waiting in the Omega quarters. For three years.

Now it all made sense.

I wasn't waiting for a Claiming ceremony.

I was just waiting for my heart to completely die.

...

Up ahead, Joric and Giselle were still talking.

"Do you think Faelan will be mad?" Giselle asked, her voice dripping with fake worry.

My chest tightened. How did she have the nerve to ask that?

"No," Joric said, sounding too damn confident. "She’s got a temper, but she forgives easily."

"I'll just tell her I did it to save you. A little sweet talk and she'll be fine."

Sweet talk me? Like I was some bratty child throwing a tantrum?

"But..." Giselle’s voice grew even weaker and more pathetic. "What if she’s truly furious?"

"Impossible," Joric chuckled, reeking of arrogance. "Remember when my mother humiliated her at the pack gala? She just brushed it off. Nobody knows Faelan better than I do. She loves me more than she loves her own pride. A little grievance, a few sweet words, and she’ll come crawling back."

He was right...

Even when I was framed and accidentally poisoned with wolfsbane, I never blamed him.

But to him, my forgiveness was just proof that I had no self-respect.

His Betas chimed in, laughing.

"Alpha’s right. Faelan is obsessed with you."

"She’d never let another wolf claim her."

"I bet that tyrant is losing his mind dealing with her right now."

"Haha, poor guy! He wanted Giselle but got stuck with Faelan. With his violent temper and Faelan's stubbornness, they’ll be ripping each other's throats out tonight!"

My nails dug into my palms so hard that I drew blood.

They thought this was a joke. They thought I was a rigid, pathetic fool.

They actually believed I’d reject every other male out there just for a traitor.

The Betas' roars of laughter echoed through the night.

I lowered my eyes.

"Let's go," I whispered to the Alpha carrying me.