Chapter 2

"I didn't plan for this to happen, Sarah. I didn't even know she was my mate until last week," Ethan explained.

"Last week? And you waited until now to tell me?" I heaved a deep sigh, trying to keep the tears in my eyes from falling. "Why didn't you just say it when you dumped me earlier? You made it sound like it was about your damn responsibilities and research!"

"I didn't want to hurt you like that," he replied. "I thought... maybe if I let you go gently, it would be easier."

"Easier? You think lying to me was easier?" I laughed bitterly. "For who, Ryan? Because it sure as hell wasn't easier for me."

"Sarah..." he muttered while reaching out, but I backed away before he could even touch me.

"You let me beg you," I whispered. "You let me think I still had a chance. You knew you had a mate already. And still, you said nothing."

Regina tilted her head and scoffed. "He was trying to protect you, omega. Be grateful he didn't just mark me while you were still together."

"You don't get to talk like I'm supposed to thank you for stealing the person I gave two years of my life to, Miss Campus Belle." I clenched my fist.

She just smirked at me. "You knew you weren't really part of our world. You were just playing house with something you could never truly belong to."

I was hurt by Regina's words. She was right. I don't belong with them. I was only a lowly and weak werewolf.

I never was...

Then, I slowly turned to Ashley and Sophia who were standing beside Ryan.

"You two knew, didn't you?" I asked them. "You knew they were mates and you still sat beside me at the competition. You still cheered for him. You lied to my face."

Ashley just bit her lip and looked away while Sophia crossed her arms.

"It's complicated, Sarah," Sophia uttered. "He found his mate. That's sacred in our world. You wouldn't understand—"

"Don't you dare pull the 'you're not one of us' card on me," I snapped. "You've been my friends for years. I didn't ask to be born as a weak omega. My parents chose me. I chose you. And you, what? Choose your damn hierarchy over me when things get complicated?"

Ashley gazed at me. "It's not like that, Sarah..."

"Then what is it?" I asked. "You could've warned me. Could've told me after the competition. Instead, you let me walk right into this and discover things by myself."

I finally burst into tears. I couldn't hide the pain anymore.

"Regina is Ryan's mate, Sarah," Sophia added. "He was bound to choose her eventually. You needed to accept it."

"So you decided to help break me so I would accept it faster? Is that it?"

They didn't answer me. Ryan still looked like he wanted to say something, but Regina tugged on his sleeve.

"We should go, Ryan. This isn't worth our time."

Ryan hesitated for a while then gave me one last look. "I never wanted it to end like this."

"But you let it end this way," I said coldly. "So don't pretend you didn't have a choice."

"Let's go, Ryan," Regina uttered and started walking away.

Ryan hesitated for a while but after a few seconds, he followed her.

Ashley and Sophia stayed behind for a few seconds longer. I looked at them and realized I didn't recognize them anymore.

"Good luck with your pack," I said and sighed. "I hope it was worth losing a friend."

Ashley opened her mouth but closed it again. Then, they just followed Ryan and Regina out the door.

I was left standing there, shattered, among the people I once trusted most.

Do I deserve this kind of treatment because I'm a mere omega?

After a while, when I left the cafe, the sun was already setting down. The sky was painted in amber and ash when I walked in the streets, trying to figure out everything.

But I didn't go back to the apartment.

I couldn't.

So instead of going back to the apartment, I just booked the first hotel I found outside the werewolf territory. It was old, a little creaky, and smelled faintly like detergent. But it was quiet and safe.

I hastily slid my card at the front desk and didn't even unpack when I got into the room. I just collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling until I remembered the one person who might understand my situation.

My older sister, Emma.

I groped for my phone and dialed her contact. Thankfully she answered after one ring.

"Sarah?" she started. "What's wrong?"

My lips started trembling. "Emma... he broke up with me."

"What? Ryan? That bastard... what did he do?"

I took a deep breath. "He said it was because of school and pack duties. But... I saw him today. At his favorite cafe. With Regina, his true mate."

Emma was silent for a moment. Then she exhaled sharply. "That explains why Dad never wanted us dating some random werewolves. Their instincts? Their hierarchy? It's not built for omegas like us, Sarah."

I sniffled while curling up on the hotel bed. "I loved him. For two years, Emma. I really thought... he made me believe we had a future."

"I know, sis." Her voice softened. "But if he could throw away everything you shared the second his 'mate' walked in, then maybe it was never love in the first place. Or maybe it was love until it was inconvenient."

"I feel so stupid. Everyone knew. My friends. They didn't say anything. They actually supported it."

Emma growled. An actual growl. "Ugh. You should've listened to Dad, sis. He always said it. Full moon or not, when instinct takes over, they choose their own. Pack before people. Always."

I let that sit in the silence between us for a few seconds.

"You're gonna be okay, Sarah," she added. "But you need to get out of there. Cut them off and don't ever look back."

"I just need time," I uttered. "But yeah. I think you're right. Thank you, sis."

***

The next morning, I immediately returned just after sunrise, hoping everyone would still be asleep so I could quietly pack and disappear without having to look anyone in the eye.

But when I opened the door, I just froze.

There they were.

Ryan and Regina, right in the middle of the living room. They were in the center of a pack bonding ritual.

He was shirtless while kneeling on the rug. Regina had her hand over his heart and her fingers glowing faintly with that pack bond energy I had only heard about but never seen in person. The couch was pushed aside while candles surrounded them in a perfect circle.

Ashley, Sophia, and two of our other roommates were sitting on the floor around them. Their hands joined while their eyes were shut, chanting something I didn't understand.

I felt like I was suffocating.

Ryan's eyes flicked up. They widened for a second when he saw me, but he didn't stop. He didn't say anything.

I stood there in the doorway like I was invisible.

But after a few seconds, I finally snapped.

I hastily marched straight to my room and yanked my suitcase from under the bed.

I didn't even fold my clothes and just shoved everything in. All of it. Gone in under five minutes.

When I stepped back into the living, Ashley stood by the door while blocking it.

"Sarah—"

"Move," I said.

"Come on, don't be dramatic. It's just a bonding—"

"I said move."

She did.

Ryan didn't even look at me. Neither did Regina. Ashley glanced over, her mouth twitching like she wanted to say something, but didn't utter anything.

I walked out without another word.

When I stepped outside, I just heaved a deep sigh and looked at the orange sky. "I hope I did the right thing..."