Three

Katana

When Alpha Damien asked me to leave, my heart somersaulted within my chest, causing me to gasp in fear.

Firstly, never in my wildest imagination did I think the moon goddess would pair me with an Alpha, especially not one who seemed at ease watching his mate die. 

Knowing that he wasn't going to help me, I leaned against the wall for dear life, my trembling hands wrapped tightly around my stomach as tears fell down my cheeks at an unbearable speed. 

A cold breeze swept through my skin and I shuddered violently, wrapping both of my arms securely around myself. Even if the moon goddess walked into this warehouse and went on her knees, begging the Alpha, I was certain he would never agree to mark me 

 With the last of my strength, I moved slowly through the aisles between the rows of shelves, heading towards the exit. 

But my wolf screamed hoarsely at me. "Have you lost your goddamn mind! Go back to your mate and beg for your life!'" 

I almost laughed at the irony. What mate would be so stone-hearted to watch as their partner's death played out right before their eyes? I ignored my wolf's desperate plea but paused at the door when I heard his voice.

"Wait!" he called out like a wounded beast. 

My mum always says that hope is the key to survival as an Omega. It gives you energy, enables you to leave and it's the reason why we have coped all these years. 

 Making a U-turn, I rushed toward him, using my last strength, and collapsed at his feet, panting like a dog. But when I saw the flash of pain darting through his eyes, like the ripple of sheet lightning, my hope shattered.

"I um…" he cleared his throat, running a hand over his hair. "I could take you to the pack"s hospital. The doctors might do something to sustain you."

Violent tremors wracked my body that felt like my body was going to break open like a coconut struck with a hammer and hot tears streamed down my face. 

"Your bite is the only cure to this virus, Alpha," I cried out in desperation. "If the hospital had medication for the virus, you think we wouldn't have gone through the entire procedure already?"

He looked up at the ceiling as if asking the moon goddess or anyone for guidance. And then he looked back down at me with such sad eyes, that I thought I would crumble underneath them.

My hands reached out to him, fingers grasping at the air in a plea for life. His strong, calloused fingers gripped my chin, lifting my head to meet his gaze, and the intoxicating scent of musk and desire filled the air.

"Don't give up on me, Alpha. Please! Let me live. We can figure everything out together."

He groaned, helping me to my feet. His touch was surprisingly gentle, contrasting with the gruffness of his words. "My actions have consequences. You're an omega, and it's forbidden for an alpha like myself to mark you."

 "Please," I wept, my voice growing frantic. "Help me. I promise that after this, I'll disappear without a trace. I'll head outside the border and never step foot in here."

He shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. I can't risk breaking the laws and traditions that have kept our pack strong for generations."

In an instant, I understood how silly I was by asking him to help me. Why did I even consider that someone like the alpha would help me? He doesn't care about us omegas. None of them do.

But I didn't want to die. Dying was a terrifying idea, and I had a feeling that the world beyond was worse than the hell I was trapped in. I wanted to survive and not leave my mum. 

The door swung open, and a tall, muscular male with sandy blonde hair tied in a ponytail stormed into the room. He approached us with a deep scowl, his green eyes radiating anger and disgust.

An animalistic growl escaped his throat when he saw the Alpha's hand on my back and our compromising position.

Without warning, he shoved me aside, casting a cold, hateful look in my direction. "Who's this wretch?" he sneered. "Is she trying to seduce my Alpha?"

Alpha Damien stepped away from me, pulling the other male away, communicating with him through their mind link.

 The male gasped and his eyes widened like two boiled eggs disturbing me with his gaze.

"Fucking omega!" he muttered, rushing to grab my arm. "Listen, we don't care if you're dying. You're not the first, nor will you be the last to die. Get out and never come back."

Alpha Damien intervened harshly, warning the angry bull. "Leo, don't speak to a dying girl like that." 

"She's an omega scum," he scoffed. "I don't owe her any respect. I'd rather burn down this pack than watch you mark her!"

Beads of sweat covered my body as I watched the tense exchange between the two males. Alpha Damien looked away, miserable and torn.

"I'm sorry, but you have to leave," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, as he backed away from me. 

His rejection felt like a knife stabbing my throat, shattering the fragments of my heart.The moon goddess must truly hate me, because why else would she punish me like this?

 With the last shred of dignity I had, my feet stumbled backward, and I fled the room, sobbing.

Once I exited the warehouse, I could smell the happiness and health of my friends in the air, and the relief in the eyes of their parents. It made me bitter and betrayed. 

 My wolf whimpered, knowing we were on the brink of death. There was no way to win against this accursed virus.

My mom was the first person to spot me. Excited, she rushed to hug me, kissing my forehead and whispering soothing words.

"How did it go, love?" she asked, a gentle smile on her lips. "You must be feeling better now. May the Alpha live forever."

 I shuddered, letting out a choked cry that startled her.

"Katana," her voice trembled. "What's going on?"

 I lowered myself to the floor, curling into a fetal position. "He…he…he didn't mark me," my voice broke, and "He wouldn't help me. I'm going to die."

My mum's eyes bulged in terror, unable to blink. She let out a hoarse scream, gasping for air after I informed her that the Alpha was my mate.  

"I'm going to die," I repeated, my teeth chattering from the fever and pain. The other omegas rushed to our side, concerned and wondering what was happening.

My mum thrashed herself on the floor, weeping and inconsolable, unable to bear the sight of my suffering. The women tried to make her talk, but she was too sorrowful to speak.

The warehouse door swung open, and Alpha Damien, accompanied by his friend, stepped outside. He stopped moving and when I raised my head, his eyes probed to my very soul, like one giving me one last look.

His Beta, however, gave me a fevered stare like I was an enemy before pulling the Alpha away.

My mum, like a mad woman, ran after Alpha Damien, on her knees, weeping and pleading for mercy, but his Beta pushed her to the ground, sneering at her with contempt.

 "Fucking omega!" he muttered, storming off and leaving my mother weeping on the ground.

My boyfriend, Zayn, who was now cured but unaware of the situation between me and the Alpha, rushed to me, attempting to hug me.

"Hey, champ! How did it...?" he began to ask but stopped, shocked that I was in tears. 

 He looked dazed, staring at my hands and legs.

"Why are you still shivering? Did the Alpha not bite you?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion. "And why are you crying?" 

"He... he... he can't," I managed to say, my words coming out in a raspy whisper. "I'm going to die."

Zayn gasped. "What are you talking about?" 

I hesitated, not wanting to reveal the truth of our forbidden mating bond. 

When I didn't respond, a frown creased his forehead, and he took a step back. "I don't understand. Why didn't he bite you?" he continued to ask, a hint of hysteria in his voice.

Blindly, my mother ran to Elder Logan, begging him to intervene on her behalf. "She's all I've got. She's my only child," my mother cried. "Please save her!"

Never had I felt so small and worthless in my entire life. Shivering, Zayn led me to a chair. Damien's rejection had cut me deeply, and it was becoming too much to bear.

"Let me try, but I'm not promising anything," Elder Logan offered, and he headed toward the grand mansion.

"Alpha Damien is a bastard," Zayn blurted out, his hands clenched into fists while Amy, crying, hugged me. "I can't believe he can be so cold. This just shows that he doesn't care about us."

"Shut your mouth and keep your opinions to yourself," one of the elders warned. "Don't forget we're still on the Alpha's property, and we need his help."

We waited anxiously. I clung to the sliver of hope that remained within me, but it quickly faded away when Elder Logan returned, his vacant look betraying Alpha Damien's refusal to help. Panic seeped through my bones like rot as he spoke.

"He wants us to leave. He says he can't bite her," Elder Logan informed my mother. "I'm sorry."