Chapter 2: The Night of Betrayal

Early that morning, tightening the ties on Zach's neck, I moved back to look at my creation.

The scent of pine and heavy musk clinging to his skin made my inner wolf purr with submission, desperate for a sliver of affection from her Alpha.

He dashed me a smile. "You must be happy, today is your day.”

“Of course.” Grabbing the rest of my things, I smoothed down my own dress. "Did Lucy tell you where she would be? I haven't seen her since yesterday.”

He shrugged, grabbing his stick. "You didn't see her, and that's my problem?” He asked me with a raised brow like he was daring me to make a mishap with my words.

His Alpha aura flared, pressing down on my chest and suffocating my wolf into immediate obedience.

Smiling back at him as I grabbed my scarf and following him out of the house, “ Of course not, just felt like asking. I haven't been out since yesterday as I have been—”

Cutting me short Zach chirped in, “ Why don't you take a mic and tell the whole world that I asked you to rewrite the file, hmmm?"

I clamped my mouth shut immediately, as I don't want to provoke him.

My wolf whined, exposing her neck in my mind to appease the sudden spike of his feral irritation.

Shoving me out of his way, he cussed in a low tone.

“Make sure to come before the ceremony starts, not five minutes after it starts. I don't need you having a bulgy stomach out there.”

Giving him a smile as I stepped back while rubbing my stomach.

Our pup fluttered against my covered womb, a tiny, fragile spark of werewolf life that I prayed would inherit his strength, not my weakness.

“Sure, and the files?”

He nodded while looking at me. "And yes, come with them; I don't need to come back here to check it.”

Dashing me a quick peck at my cheeks, he turned, slamming the packhouse shut.

Well, there goes me being early to my mating ceremony.

The heavy oak door rattled on its hinges, leaving me alone in a room that smelled entirely of his dominant pheromones.

I was still seated quietly on the sofa when a knock came to my door.

Standing up, I went closer to it and opened it just to see Lucy dressed up like she was the bride herself.

She looked gorgeous.

Her scent, usually a calming blend of vanilla and sweet peas, had a strange, pungent undertone of arousal and another wolf's musk that I couldn't quite place.

“Lucy?!” Spreading my arms, I invited her into mine, and she hugged me.

Breathing out softly as my heart calmed down at the scent of someone familiar who wouldn't bark at me on any given occasion.

She wiggled her brows at me. "So I came here to escort you to your mating ceremony. Are you happy, girl?"

I rolled my eyes as she dragged me out, making sure to keep the door shut as I clutched the file Zach asked me to get.

The pack lands were buzzing with the energy of hundreds of wolves, their collective excitement vibrating through the soles of my shoes.

I don't need him screaming at me at my ceremony and making the pack think that I am an incompetent Omega, just as they have always thought.

“So?” Lucy asked, raising a brow at me.

I stared blankly back at her as we walked in the direction of the pack house. “So? What?”

She shrugged, “You just don't seem that excited for your day, or do you some hyping up.”

Shoving her aside so she would not hit the person we just passed, "I'm fine, just the way I am, and watch your front, Lucy.”

She laughed, bumping into me as we walked into the ceremony arena.

The ceremonial grounds were draped in moonflowers and silver banners, the sacred altar pulsing with the ancient magic of the Moon Goddess.

I stood among the crowd where I could see Zach from where I was.

Looking all handsome in that Alpha aura of his as he looked around the crowd, clocking eyes with me, he moved his gaze immediately as it landed on Lucy.

He dashed her a smile, and I watched Lucy return a shy one but kept my thoughts to myself; it is my mating ceremony, so no need to create a scene.

My wolf scratched at the back of my mind, a sudden, primal snarl of territorial jealousy erupting in my chest as I finally recognized the lingering musk on Lucy's skin; it was Zach's.

As the drum rolled, some guards came and escorted me to the other side, quite very opposite of where Zach was standing.

Lucy was standing just right next to him with the pack council present.

What the heck is going on?

The mating bond that had been barely tethering us together suddenly felt like a noose tightening around my throat.

Still standing where I was, with the guards surrounding me, the pack chief stood with the vow book.

Time for me to walk forward, moving my feet to approach Zach; the guards blocked my view.

Tapping gently, “ I'm sorry but I am meant to —”

Shutting me up, he said, "Alpha gave orders to reprimand you here.”

The guard's beta command washed over me, heavy and suffocating, forcing my omega instincts to freeze in place.

I watched as the council chief held up his staff and declared that the vows be made.

Wait, what is going on…

Trying to squirm out of the obstacle I was held unto, “I am his mate, it's time to—”

A loud voice stopped me in my movement, “I, Alpha Zach, accept Lucy as my mate?!"

My heart stopped beating immediately when I heard that, and my mouth went agape.

The fragile bond in my chest snapped with the force of a physical blow, sending a wave of agonizing, spirit-crushing pain through my soul as my wolf wailed in absolute rejection.

Zach turned to me from the crowd with a condescending smile. “What, you thought I'd take a lowly Omega as my mate?"

I could hear mockery around me as a few pack members laugh, including Lucy, who was holding a smirk.

She… she lied to me.

Zach used me!

They li—lied to me.

The betrayal tasted like nothing I've ever had on my tongue, my inner beast howling in absolute despair as the pack's collective mockery filled the air.

Not feeling my feet as I stayed up to Zach, who seemed like he wasn't down with his tortore.

Turning to the council chief, he lied through his teeth.

“Remember the file I said I was looking for? I found it on her and asked her to bring it to the ceremony.” Pointing to me, my hand immediately released the file, and it fell with a loud thud.

The chief turned to me with a shocked expression while I stood shaking like a leaf with what would become of me.

With a low hiss, he said, "Seize her?!”

The killing intent from the surrounding enforcers spiked, their eyes flashing glowing yellow and gold as they prepared to subdue a rogue.

A hand made to grasp me, but I shoved it far away from me and ran out.

I heard echoes of, "After her, do not let her cross the territory; she is a thief?!”

Feeling tears stride down my face as I kept moving my paws, running as fast as my wolf could take me with my bulging stomach.

I forced the shift, the painful crack of bones transforming me into my small, auburn-furred omega wolf, my pregnant belly making every stride heavy and clumsy.

I ran till I couldn't breathe; thorns of trees scratched at my flesh, but I kept running.

I'd rather die running than to be caught and labeled a thief.

Just as I made to cross the riverbank, my leg got trapped into something. pulling my leg off if I tripped hard and fell with my face to the floor.

Groaning in pain, I made to continue but couldn't.

The scent of my own blood mixed with the damp earth, a stark contrast to the pursuing howls of the Alpha's hunting party echoing through the dense woods.

My body was stiff; my Wolf couldn't take any more push. Slouching down, I could feel my eyes getting shut.

And I let it.

‘Cause I knew one thing I would ever be, just the lowly Omega.

Suddenly, the wind changed direction. Behind me, the sound of thick snow shifting echoed through the trees. I froze, my breath catching in my throat as deep, low howls cut through the storm, followed by the terrifying sound of aggressive panting getting closer and closer in the dark.