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CHAPTER 1: The Invitation

Freya's POV

“What have you got there, Sister?!”

I barely had time to blink before Cassandra's hand shot out and snatched the little pamphlet right from my fingers. 

My heart gave a stupid little jump, the way it always did when she caught me off guard.

She flipped it open, her perfectly painted nails tapping the paper.. then she threw her head back and laughed in that loud, fake and mean laugh she saved just for me.

“You can’t be thinking of attending, are you?” She waved the pamphlet like it was something dirty. “The Alpha’s masquerade party? For unmated wolves? Oh, Freya. Honey. No one would want you there. You’re an Omega. Remember?”

I tried to grab it back but she held it high out of reach. 

Heat rushed up my neck.. I hated how small I felt standing there in my old jeans and faded sweater while she looked like she’d stepped out of a magazine.

“Give it back, Cass,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though my stomach twisted.

She ignored me and kept reading out loud in this mocking singsong voice. 

“‘All unmated pack members are invited to the pack house this Saturday night. Masks required. Come find your mate under the moonlight.’ How cute. Like anyone’s going to pick the weak little Omega who hides in corners.”

Before I could answer, heavy footsteps came down the hall and Dad appeared in the doorway, his councilor suit still on from whatever meeting he’d just left. His eyes landed on the pamphlet in Cassandra’s hand then flicked to me.

“What’s this now?” he asked, voice already tired.

Cassandra spun toward him, all sweetness. 

“Freya’s planning to go to the Alpha’s party, Dad. Can you believe it? I was just telling her how embarrassing it would be.”

Dad pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t even look at her. He looked straight at me.

“Freya,” he said sharply, “are you really that desperate? You know how this goes. You walk in there acting like easy prey and people will treat you like it. You portray yourself as a target. It’s your own fault if you get picked on.”

I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood. Same speech, different day. 

Ever since Mom died and he married Cassandra’s mother, then she died too, it had been like this.. me taking the blame for everything. 

Sometimes I caught him watching Cassandra with this weird careful look in his eyes like he was scared of her. I never understood why. She was just his perfect, strong daughter and I was… me.

“I didn’t say I was going,” I muttered. “I was just looking.”

Cassandra smiled like she’d already won. 

“Good. Because you shouldn’t. Tell her, Dad. Forbid her. She’ll only embarrass the family name.”

Dad rubbed his forehead and for a second I thought he might actually do it.. then he sighed.

“The Alpha’s order stands for the whole pack. Unmated wolves attend. I can’t stop that. Even if I wanted to.”

Cassandra’s smile slipped for half a second and I almost enjoyed it.. almost.

Dad pointed a finger at me. 

“But you watch yourself, Freya. Stay out of trouble. You’re not like the rest of them.”

I nodded, because what else could I do? Inside, though, something stubborn sparked to life and for once, I wanted to go somewhere without being told I didn’t belong!

The next Saturday night, I stood in the middle of the pack house ballroom feeling like a total fraud.

There were masks everywhere… old ones, black ones, feathers and jewels. Music thumped low and slow and laughter floated through the air like perfume. 

I clutched a glass of champagne I barely sipped, the bubbles tickling my nose. My own mask was simple... plain black with a little silver thread around the edges. It hid the nervous flush on my cheeks, at least.

I kept telling myself I was just here to watch.. to breathe air that didn’t feel heavy with Dad’s disappointment. But my eyes kept darting around, wondering if anyone would notice the Omega in the corner.

A shadow fell over me. I looked up and my stomach dropped.

The man in front of me had a round belly that strained against his fancy shirt. His mask was bright red with a big nose like a bird beak and he grinned wide enough to show too many teeth since his mask also hid only the upper half of his face.

“Well, hello there, pretty lady,” he said oily. “All alone on a night like this? That’s a crime.”

I forced a polite smile. 

“Just enjoying the music.”

He stepped closer.. close enough that I could smell the whiskey on his breath. 

“Music’s better with company. You smell sweet. Where are you from? Doesn’t matter. Tonight’s for finding mates, right? I could show you a real good time.”

My skin crawled. I knew why we were all here... the Alpha wanted more mated pairs, stronger bloodlines for the pack. But this guy? No way!

“I’m… not really looking for anything tonight,” I said, taking a small step back. “Thanks, though.”

He laughed like I’d told a joke. 

“Aw, don’t be shy. Girls like you need someone strong to look after them. Come on, one dance. I don’t bite… unless you ask nice.”

I opened my mouth to say no again, firmer this time when..

“Walk away.” A deep voice interrupted behind him.

The pot-bellied man froze. 

I peeked past his shoulder and saw another masked man standing there.. tall with shoulders wide enough to block the light from the chandelier. 

His mask was dark, almost black with sharp silver lines that made his eyes look dangerously bright. He didn’t raise his voice, but the command in it was clear.

“I said walk away,” the tall man repeated, calmly and coldly. “Now.”

Pot belly muttered something under his breath, shot me one last greasy look and shuffled off into the crowd like a kicked dog.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. 

“Thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”

The tall man tilted his head, studying me and a slow smile curved his lips. 

“I wanted to. You looked like you needed rescuing.”

I laughed a little, surprised at how easy it came out. 

“I was handling it. Sort of.”

“Sort of,” he was amused. He stepped closer, but not too close.. just enough that I caught the warm,m scent of him. “I’m… let’s say mysterious stranger for tonight. Rules of the masks and all. And you are?”

“Freya,” I said before I could stop myself. Then I winced. “I mean, mysterious lady. Or whatever.”

He chuckled warmly and it did funny things to my insides. 

“Freya suits you better. You’ve got kind eyes even behind that mask. Most people here are playing games. You don’t seem like the type.”

My cheeks burned under the mask. No one ever said nice things to me.. not like this. 

“You’re smooth. I’ll give you that.”

We talked easily like we’d known each other longer than five minutes. He asked what I thought of the party.. I told him it was fancier than I expected and that I kept worrying I’d trip over my own feet. 

He laughed and said he’d catch me if I did. I asked if he was from Willow Ridge or visiting. He gave a mysterious little shrug and said the night was young.

Every word made my heart jump a little faster. He was funny in this dry teasing way that matched the sarcastic voice in my head. 

Finally he glanced toward the big glass doors that led to the gardens. 

“It’s getting stuffy in here. Want to get some fresh air? Just a short walk. I promise I’m better company than that idiot earlier.”

I hesitated for half a second. Dad’s warning echoed in my head.. but this guy made me feel seen and wanted.. not like a target and not like an Omega who didn’t belong.

“Yeah,” I said, smiling under my mask. “I’d like that.”

We slipped outside and music from the party faded behind us as we walked the gravel path, then onto the softer dirt trail between the trees.

He kept the conversation light.. told me a silly story about getting lost at a pack run last year and ending up in someone’s backyard barbecue. 

I laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth. My nerves melted away with every step and for the first time in forever, I felt like maybe I wasn’t the family joke.. maybe I could be someone’s choice.

We rounded a bend and the trees closed in tighter, blocking out most of the party lights.. just us and the quiet.

He stopped walking and I turned to ask if everything was okay, still smiling.

His hand shot out and grabbed my shoulders pushing me roughly against the bark of a tree so hard the air punched out of my lungs…!