Puzzle Killer

~ DAHLIA

Excitement buzzed in my veins, and I couldn't hide the wide grin on my face as I got dressed.

Today was the day. The day I would finally profess my love to the one man my heart had always fluttered for.

Zayden.

My wolf purred at his name, and a giggle slipped past my lips.

Today, I would tell him how much I loved him, how hard I had been head over heels for him. How the only thing I ever wanted was for him to look at me with love in his eyes and warmth in his heart.

Taking a last look at myself in the mirror, I smiled and walked out of my room.

As I made my way past the throng of pack members that had shown up for the Pack celebration, my heart thumped loudly in my chest.

Zayden.

He was all I could think about.

Once I told him about how much I was in love with him, he would have no choice than to accept my love declaration, right?

I mean, his grandfather had explicitly told me that I was his choice for Zayden. And that I was the only woman who was fit to be mated to his grandson. The old man had even gone as far as declaring me as the unofficial mate to the Alpha.

And if the old man had said and announced those words confidently, it could only mean one thing. Zayden was already on board with the idea.

My excitement grew.

As I walked past a group of girls though, my smile faltered slightly at the look on their faces.

Disgust.

They were staring — no, glaring — at me with barely concealed disgust.

A large part of me was hoping that they would just let me be on my way without causing any trouble. But as a hand wrapped around my wrist and dragged me back, I knew I was in deep shit.

I turned around and came face to face with the girls ringleader. She was a pretty lady, but when she smirked at me, the expression made her look cruel. Evil.

I whimpered inwardly.

This confrontation was not going to go well for me. Still, I tried not to let my fear show, even if my wolf was cowering from the weight of my panic.

“Hello, Omega,” she purred, and her words were filled with venom. I tried to take a step away from her, but I was already surrounded by her minions.

So I held my ground and tried to hold her gaze.

“What do you want?” I asked. My voice came out steadier than I felt, and that made me feel slightly better.

“What do I want? What a stupid question. I don't want anything with or from you, you disgusting Omega. You shouldn't even be here in the first place,” she snapped.

I swallowed past a lump in my throat.

“I have every right to be here,” I responded, but my voice trembled slightly. My hands suddenly became clammy too.

The girl laughed, a high, cold sound that made me shiver.

“You are an Omega. You are nothing but a filthy, lowly servant. You think you have the right to act like you're someone just because you were adopted into the Alpha's family?” she paused and stepped closer, standing directly before me now.

There was no space between us, and we were literally sharing the same air The hate in her eyes shone brightly, and my wolf whimpered again.

Fear slithered up my spine.

The bully went on. “You are nothing but a charity case. Nobody wants you here, and you know it. If you had any shame, you wouldn't even show your face at all. But as expected of an Omega, you're so fucking shameless. And stupid. And definitely the ugliest person I have ever laid my eyes on.

Tears sprang into my eyes, but before I could come up with a response, the bully spat at my feet and walked away.

My face flooded with embarrassment.

I looked around, trying to see if anyone had witnessed what happened. But the other pack members were deliberately looking away from me.

My heart sank into my stomach.

It has been years now, since Zayden’s grandfather adopted me. Years, since he had proclaimed me a member of this Pack.

Yet here I was, still the object of bullying. And it was all because I was an Omega.

As if that was my fault. As if I had intentionally chosen to be an Omega.

Wiping my tears on the edge of my dress, I sniffed and continued to walk.

I would be fine. As soon as I told Zayden how I felt, as soon as we finalised things between us and get married, the pack members would have no choice than to love and respect me as their Luna.

Zayden was all that mattered. I just needed to find him and everything would be fine.

Where was he, anyway?

The celebration was at its peak, and as the Alpha, Zayden should be right in the middle.

Where could be be?

I extended my search, my heart rate going back to normal when no other bullies resurfaced.

Zayden seemed to have vanished, and the longer I searched, the more disappointed I became. I was about to head back inside to see if he was in his room or something when I heard a noise.

I was closer to the gardens now, and it was a little bit secluded. There should be no one here, since the party was out there. Maybe I was just hearing things.

A part of me wanted to walk away and continue the search for the love of my life, but I couldn't move. I remained where I was, and as I listened, laughter floated into my ears.

My entire body went rigid. I knew that voice. There was only one person who laughed that way in the entire Pack.

Edda.

Panic started to spread along my guts. Edda was Zayden's best friend. They were always together, inseparable.

If she was here with someone, it could only be one person.

But why would Zayden be in the empty, secluded garden with Edda when everyone was out there?

My heart started to slam violently against my ribcage. Unable to stop myself, I moved closer. Zayden's voice floated into my ears, confirming my suspicions.

I had no idea what they were talking about, but the fact that they were alone together made my stomach tighten with envy.

As I rounded the corner of an hedge, they came into view. But at the sight of what they were doing, my heart stopped beating. Literally.

Zayden and Edda weren't talking. At least not anymore.

They were…kissing.

The man I was going to confess my undying love to, the man I was going to get married to, was kissing his best friend.

My world crumbled around me.