Chapter 2

Zarek's POV 

When I woke up, I kept my eyes closed, staying perfectly still. Opening them would mean acknowledging the world, maybe even getting up, and I wasn’t ready for that. Not with the ache radiating through my lower body, a brutal reminder of last night. Every small movement sent stinging waves of pain, especially around the sticky, uncomfortable soreness on my legs and... elsewhere.

Alpha Ryker’s arm was still draped over me, his breath soft against my hair. The heat of his body should’ve been comforting, but I felt trapped beneath it. My life had always taught me that, as an Omega, I was meant to find pleasure in serving an Alpha’s needs. I was supposed to feel fulfillment, even joy. But now, all I felt was numb.

I'd always been told that pleasing an Alpha, any Alpha, should satisfy me. A lie. The old Alpha hadn’t brought me anything close to satisfaction, even when he muttered empty praises afterward. And here, in this place, I didn’t feel any more whole. It left me with one question: how was I ever going to survive this new life?

There was no escape, not from a pack of trained warriors like North River. They were stronger than my old pack, more ruthless. I’d heard tales about them, second in rank only to the Blood Moon pack in the West. And in case of an attack, the Omegas were always the first to be sacrificed. A twisted peace offering.

"At least we’re not there," I murmured to my wolf, though he didn’t answer. His silence only added to my unease, his spirit as broken as mine. I could sense his fear and anxiety, and I knew why, this kind of submission felt like a death sentence to him, as if we’d been permanently scarred. What mate would accept us now?

A miserable whine came from deep within, and I couldn’t stop the ache in my chest. I tried to push the thought away, reminding myself that mates were a luxury I didn’t deserve. Who would want me, after all this? No Alpha, no Beta, no one would choose a defiled Omega, someone broken beyond repair, someone who existed now only to serve.

Ryker shifted beside me, and I went still, forcing my breathing to remain slow, praying he’d leave without waking me. He moved carefully, getting out of bed and dressing. But then, he returned to my side, reaching down to shake my shoulder gently.

"Get up, Omega," he murmured, sounding refreshed and almost cheerful.

Reluctantly, I opened my eyes, glancing at him only briefly before fixing my gaze on the window. I didn’t want to see him, didn’t want to acknowledge the smug satisfaction in his eyes.

"Good boy," he praised, a smile spreading across his face. "I’ll be out most of the day. Someone will bring you food. When I return, I expect you to showered and... waiting." He looked at me meaningfully. “No more of last night’s defiance.”

I barely nodded, feeling a fresh wave of dread wash over me. My body was already screaming in pain from last night’s “punishment,” and the thought of going through that again made me nauseous.

“You seem upset,” Ryker said, his hand cupping my face, his tone soft yet twisted.

My wolf stirred, a growl simmering in the depths of my mind, wanting me to shift and lash out. But I pushed it down. "I'm alright," I whispered, ignoring the trembling rage within. “May I… shift while I’m here?”

Ryker paused, considering. “I suppose. But you’d better be in your human form when I come back.”

A part of me wished I could ask more, but his eyes grew hard, and I knew better than to push. “Yes, Alpha,” I murmured, dropping my gaze.

“Good.” He stood, walking to the door. “And remember, you are mine alone. No one else will ever see you the way I do.”

The door clicked shut, followed by the sharp sound of the lock. I was alone, but the finality of that lock felt like a shackle around my heart.

I forced myself to move, biting back the whimpers of pain. Every step was a fresh agony, every motion a reminder of how thoroughly broken I was. There was blood on the sheets, staining the spot where I’d lain. The sight of it twisted my stomach, a sick realization settling over me. No mate would ever accept me now. I’d been ruined.

Tears burned my eyes, and I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe. "You’re weak," I hissed under my breath, but my wolf disagreed, letting out a mournful howl that echoed in my mind.

In the walk-in closet, I searched for anything that would fit my small frame, something to hide in. At the bottom of a pile, I found a small box of clothing, clearly meant for an Omega. The fabric still held a faint scent, another Omega’s scent, mixed with Ryker’s. The sweet, cloying smell was like a punch to my gut, and I shoved the box away, grabbing a plain shirt and shorts instead.

As I dressed, my wolf growled in protest. The smell of Ryker clung to the shirt, marking me further, and my wolf hated it. “It’s this or nothing,” I told him. “If anyone comes in, they’ll tell Ryker, and he’ll make us pay.”

But my wolf didn’t calm down. He was restless, growling louder, and I could feel the strain, the desperate urge to run.

"Stop fighting, or we’re not shifting," I muttered, though I knew he wasn’t listening. He was pushing harder, claws scraping for control.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and I lost focus for a split second. It was all my wolf needed. The shift took over, and my body contorted painfully, fur bristling as I morphed into my wolf form.

The door swung open, revealing a Beta servant who stumbled back, eyes widening at the sight of my snarling wolf. For once, my wolf had control, raw, primal rage rolling off him as he glared at the intruder. He bolted past the Beta, running through the mansion with a speed I hadn’t felt in months, aiming for freedom.

A sliver of hope flickered inside me. Maybe, just maybe, we could escape.

We crashed through an open window, tumbling into the garden. My wolf picked himself up, shaking off the dirt and leaves before sprinting toward the dense woods. The scent of pack guards reached us, mingled with the faint commands of the Beta yelling that I belonged to the Alpha.

"Run faster!" I urged, feeling my wolf push harder, muscles straining. Omegas weren’t built for fighting, but we were swift and agile. For a moment, I believed we could make it. Just a few more steps...

I kept running, my paws hitting the ground harder with every step, pushing my body further, faster. But then, a sharp pain shot through my right hind leg. I stumbled, my wolf stuttering in his steps. My heart raced as I felt the hot sting, looking down to see a deep cut in my leg. A knife lay just inches from me, its gleaming blade taunting me.

I growled, trying to push my wolf to keep running. There was no time to stop. But my wolf wasn’t listening. He knew, he knew we couldn’t outrun them now. With a sense of defeat, he slowed to a halt and let out a howl, one that felt so... wrong. It wasn’t like any howl I’d heard before. It was filled with something, sadness? Resignation? I couldn’t tell. It wasn’t like him to sound so broken. 

Was he giving up?

I didn’t know anymore. 

A low growl echoed from behind, sharp and foreboding. My wolf, that damn traitor, handed control back to me without hesitation. 

Turning around, I saw him. Ryker. A massive gray wolf, his black markings sharp against his fur, his eyes flickering with gold, betraying the battle inside him. His wolf was fighting, fighting to maintain control. But what terrified me most was the way his gaze locked onto mine, like he could already smell my fear, feel the desperation radiating off me.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t escape. Ryker’s approach was slow but deliberate, and I felt my own wolf cower beneath him. I crouched, my body trembling as I let out a soft whimper. He didn’t pause. 

Before I could react, Ryker’s jaws closed around the scruff of my neck, dragging me toward the pack house. The pressure of his teeth sent jolts of panic through me, but all I could do was whine in response. 

"Shut up!" Ryker snarled, his grip tightening. 

I swallowed hard, a shiver running down my spine. I tried to look into his eyes, but there was nothing there, no familiarity, no warmth. Just the cold, steely command of a wolf who had already made up his mind. 

And me? I had no idea what my own wolf had been thinking, what he was trying to do. But one thing was clear: I couldn’t trust him anymore. 

Not after this. Not after everything that had happened. 

The weight of betrayal settled like a stone in my gut, choking me. The fear wasn’t just physical. It was deeper than that. How could I ever trust my other half again?

And the worst part? I wasn’t sure if Ryker would even let me live long enough to find out.