CHAPTER 03: Betrayal and False Accusations

 

It was exactly 7:30 a.m. when I stood in the narrow hallway, rolling up my sleeves and getting ready for the day ahead. Ever since the incident at the Alpha’s birthday celebration, I’d been pulled out of school completely no matter how many times I begged, no matter how many times my parents tried to talk to someone in charge, the answer was always the same. Omegas like me didn’t need education. We needed to work.

And work was exactly what they gave me.

My list of chores never changed, but it always felt endless. Scrubbing the stone floors until my knees ached and my hands were raw. Washing piles of dishes so tall they looked like they might topple over. Collecting trash from every corner of the pack house, and running errands for the higher ranking members who acted like I was nothing more than a pair of hands to use whenever they wanted.

I was on my knees, scrubbing a particularly stubborn stain near the entrance, when my back gave a sharp twinge. I sat back on my heels, wiping sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, and looked over at the woman who was standing nearby, keeping an eye on all of us omegas. Her name was Mara, and she wasn’t cruel exactly just strict, following orders without question.

“Excuse me,” I said, keeping my voice quiet and respectful. “Can I take a break? Just for a little while?”

She glanced at the clock on the wall, then back at me, her expression softening just a little. “Okay, but only fifteen minutes. And don’t go far. You need to be back here to finish cleaning up this mess before noon.”

“Thank you,” I said, letting out a long breath I felt like I’d been holding all morning.

I stood up slowly, stretching my arms over my head and rolling my shoulders to ease the tightness. The pack was so strict every rule seemed designed to remind us exactly where we stood. We were watched, judged, and expected to never complain. The discrimination was so deep, so normal to everyone else, that most people didn’t even realize how unfair it was. But I felt it every single day.

Stepping outside, I looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful morning bright and clear, with the sun shining warm and golden. The air smelled fresh and green, and I decided to use my short break to walk a little ways into the forest that bordered the pack grounds. It was the one place I could go where no one ordered me around, where no one called me names or looked down their nose at me.

The trees were tall and thick, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, making a soft rustling sound. Birds sang from high up in the branches, their melodies filling the air. As I walked deeper, the noise from the pack house faded away, replaced only by the sounds of nature.

“Maybe when I turn eighteen,” I whispered to myself, my voice sounding small but hopeful, “the Moon Goddess will bless me. Maybe things will get better then.”

The forest was within our pack’s territory, so I knew I was safe the warriors patrolled the edges constantly, keeping out strangers and rogues. But in here, it felt like a different world. No one cared if I was an omega or what rank I held. The grass was soft under my bare feet, and just being surrounded by all this green life made me feel lighter, like some of the weight on my shoulders was being lifted.

I only had fifteen minutes, so I didn’t go too far. I spotted a large, smooth rock near a small stream, half-hidden by ferns and wildflowers. It looked like the perfect place to sit, so I walked over and settled myself down, leaning back against the warm stone.

“La la la la…” I hummed softly, letting the tune drift through the quiet air.

The stream babbled over smooth stones, its water clear and sparkling in the sunlight. The trees towered all around me, creating a sort of natural shelter, and the whole place felt so calm, so peaceful. If only my whole life could be like this quiet, free, without anyone telling me what I could or couldn’t do. But I knew better. No one’s life was perfect, and I’d learned early that for omegas, perfection was something you only dreamed about. Still, I could endure. I could wait. Just until I turned eighteen.

I closed my eyes, letting the cool breeze brush against my face, and let the sounds of the forest wash over me. For a few moments, I felt almost happy.

“Uhm, hi?”

The voice came out of nowhere, and I jumped, my eyes flying open. Standing there, about a meter away, was Jazzen.

My heart immediately started racing, and my hands trembled a little where they rested in my lap. I hadn’t expected to see him here, not at all. After everything that had happened at the party the way he’d just stood there and watched while I was taken away I’d tried to push the strange pull I felt toward him out of my mind. But seeing him now, standing there looking at me, that feeling came rushing back, stronger than ever.

I scrambled to my feet and bowed my head, the way I’d been taught to do in front of someone of his status. “The next Alpha. I greet you, sir.”

“You don’t have to call me that,” he said, taking a step closer. “You can just call me Jazzen.”

My breath caught as he closed the distance between us. He stopped right in front of me, and before I could say anything else, he reached up, his hands gentle as he cupped my face, tilting my head up so I had no choice but to look him in the eye.

“The first time I saw you,” he said, his voice lower than usual, softer, “I had this feeling something I couldn’t explain. I knew right then that you were the one for me. I know there’s a big difference between our positions. I know what everyone will say. But I want you to know… I like you, Lily. More than I’ve ever liked anyone.”

I stared at him, my mind spinning. Was this real? Was the future Alpha really standing here telling me he cared about me? “Are you sure?” I asked, my voice shaking a little. “You know who I am. You know what I am. We’re from completely different worlds. What if your father doesn’t approve? What if the pack turns against us?”

Jazzen’s expression turned serious, but his hands stayed where they were, warm and steady against my skin. “We can keep it a secret for now. For your safety, mostly. If anyone finds out right now, it won’t be good for you. But once I take over as Alpha… once the power is mine… I will make it right. I will appoint you as my Luna. No one will dare say a word against you then.”

I let out a small, disbelieving laugh, feeling tears prick my eyes but this time, they were tears of happiness. “Okay. I just… I can’t believe it. Out of everyone in this pack, all the girls who would do anything to be with you… you chose me.”

He pulled me into a tight embrace, and I rested my head against his broad chest, listening to the steady thud of his heart. It felt safe there. Protected. Like everything was finally going to be okay.

“This is our secret meeting spot,” he whispered, his lips brushing against the top of my head. “We can come here whenever we get the chance. Spend time together, just like this. Do the things that lovers do. I’m grateful you came into my life, Lily. Truly.”

We sat back down on the rock together, talking quietly for the rest of my break. He told me about his training, about the pressure he felt to be the perfect Alpha, and I found myself opening up to him too telling him about my dreams, about how much I missed going to school, about how hard it was being treated like I was worth less than everyone else. He listened, really listened, and for the first time in my life, I felt like someone actually saw me.

When it was time for me to go back, Jazzen stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes. “I’ll leave first,” he said, his voice firm but kind. “That way no one will see us together and get suspicious. Wait about five minutes after I’m gone, then head back to the pack house. I’ll send you a letter soon — one of the servants will bring it to your cottage. It will tell you when and where we can meet again.”

“Okay,” I nodded, smiling.

He walked away without looking back, disappearing between the trees, but I could feel that he wasn’t just pretending. He really did care. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had something worth waiting for. My life didn’t feel so dark anymore. I could actually imagine a future one where I was respected, where I was loved, where I wasn’t just an omega.

I sat there for a few more minutes, replaying everything he’d said in my head, before standing up and heading back to work.

Scrubbing the hallway floors felt so much easier now. Every time my hands started to ache or my back began to hurt, I just thought about Jazzen’s words, about the promise he’d made, and it gave me the strength to keep going.

“Is this what they call being lovesick?” I wondered silently to myself, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

The rest of the day passed quickly. The whole pack was busy, cleaning and preparing for something I wasn’t sure what, but everyone was rushing around. Then, later that evening, there was a small announcement: the Alpha had decided to let the omega students go back to school starting the next day.

I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited, my hands were shaking a little as I helped put away the cleaning supplies. It felt like everything was falling into place. I would get to learn again, and soon enough, Jazzen would be Alpha and we wouldn’t have to hide anymore.

 

Today was Wednesday, September 17th. A date I knew I would remember for the rest of my life.

Once I finished my chores for the day, all the omegas were dismissed to go back to their own homes. I walked through the familiar paths, my mind full of happy thoughts. I couldn’t stop smiling. I was so excited to go back to class tomorrow.

I went to bed early, but it felt like I barely slept. I woke up when the clock beside my bed showed exactly 6:00 a.m. two whole hours before school was supposed to start. I jumped out of bed, washed up quickly, changed into my old uniform, and ate the simple breakfast my mom had left ready. I was out the door and walking toward the school in no time.

As I walked, I kept an eye out for Catherine. Usually, she was waiting somewhere along the path, ready to say something mean or trip me or make a scene. But today… there was no sign of her. It was strange. She was being oddly quiet.

“Good,” I muttered to myself. “Maybe she’s finally decided to focus on becoming a proper werewolf instead of picking on people smaller than her.”

The road to school was rough and uneven, full of stones and holes, but I’d walked it so many times I barely noticed anymore. It was worth it, just to get the chance to learn.

The school day went by quickly. The teachers were still strict, still made it clear that we were omegas, but it was better than being stuck scrubbing floors all day. When the final bell rang and the professor dismissed us, I gathered my things and walked out into the hallway.

And there she was.

Catherine was standing right in the middle of the path, blocking my way. Her uniform was messy, her hair was tangled, and her makeup was smudged like she’d done it in a hurry. She looked… different. Not just angry, but tired, and there was something else in her eyes — something sharp and knowing.

As I got closer, I noticed it: a bright red mark on the right side of her neck, just below her jawline. It looked like a bite mark, but not the kind you got from a fight. It was the mark of a mate bond — or at least, the mark of someone claiming another person.

She stared right at me, her lips curling into a slow, creepy smirk. It sent a shiver down my spine. I expected her to start yelling, to call me names or push me, but she just stood there, staring, and said nothing. Then she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there feeling confused and uneasy.

 

When I got home later that afternoon, my mother told me someone had left something for me. It was a letter, sealed with red wax and decorated with dried flowers pressed into the paper. It was beautiful nothing like the plain, boring letters we usually got.

I knew immediately who it was from.

I carefully broke the seal and unfolded the paper. The handwriting was neat and strong, and as I read it, my heart felt light and warm all over again.

“Dear my love,

I know that you are the one chosen for me, my special person. You will be my other half, my partner, for as long as I live. I want to see you. Meet me tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m. at our spot in the forest. Don’t be late.

Sincerely,

Jazzen”

I clutched the letter to my chest, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. It was still a secret, but it was real. He really did care about me.

 

I woke up long before the sun came up. It was only 4:30 a.m., but I was too excited to sleep anymore. I washed my face, smoothed down my hair, and made sure I looked presentable, even though there would be no one else there but him. I wanted to be there first, so he wouldn’t have to wait even a minute for me.

The forest was quiet and cool in the early morning. The air was crisp, and the only light came from the moon and the first faint hints of gray starting to show in the sky. I sat down on our rock, listening to the sounds of the night turning into day, waiting for him to arrive.

Then BANG!

The sound was sharp and loud, echoing through the trees like a crack of thunder. It was the sound of a gunshot.

My heart stopped. I jumped up from the rock, my blood turning cold. Jazzen was supposed to be here. What if that shot was meant for him? I looked down at the watch on my wrist it was exactly 5:00 a.m. He should have been here by now.

I moved slowly, quietly, in the direction the sound had come from. My hands were shaking, and my mind was racing with all sorts of terrible thoughts. When I pushed aside some thick bushes, my breath caught in my throat.

There, lying on the grass, was a man. He had been shot, and blood was spreading out around him, soaking into the green earth. I rushed forward and knelt down beside him, turning him over carefully.

It was Jazzen.

His face was pale, his eyes closed, and his breathing was shallow and ragged. There was a wound in his chest, and more blood was coming from it with every breath he took.

“Someone please help!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “A man has been shot! Please, someone help us!”

I pressed my hands against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but it was no use. I didn’t know what to do. I was just an omega I didn’t have any healing magic, I didn’t know how to treat something like this. All I could do was hold him and hope someone would come soon.

Then I heard voices. Lots of them, getting closer and closer.

“Over here!” a woman’s voice shouted. It was high and hysterical, and I knew it instantly.

I looked up to see Catherine running toward us, followed by a group of warriors and a few other pack members. When she saw us, she stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide.

“Help! J-Jazzen has been shot!” I called out, my voice trembling with shock and fear.

But instead of looking at him, her eyes locked straight onto me. Her face twisted into a mask of rage, and she screamed so loud it hurt my ears.

“You murderer! What have you done to my dearest Jazzen!” She ran forward and pointed a shaking finger at me. “You hurt him just because he chose me and not you, you stupid bitch!”

I stared at her, completely stunned. “I-I didn’t hurt him!” I said, scrambling to my feet. “I was waiting here, and then I heard the gunshot. By the time I got here, he was already lying on the ground, bleeding. I didn’t do this!”

But it was like she couldn’t hear me. Her face was red with anger, and she looked at me like I was the worst thing she’d ever seen. “Lies! You’re a lying, jealous little omega! You did this because you couldn’t stand that he was going to be with me!”

“Arrest her!” she shouted at the warriors standing behind her. “Put her in the dungeon! I know there’s no one else here. She’s the one who hurt the future Alpha! She’s the one who tried to weaken our pack!”

Two of the warriors stepped forward, reaching for me. My mind went blank with fear. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but looking at their faces, I knew they already believed her.

I didn’t know what else to do. I turned and ran as fast as I could, pushing past the bushes and trees. I could hear them shouting behind me, their footsteps heavy and fast. But I was smaller, and I knew this forest better than anyone. I ran as hard as my legs could carry me, my heart pounding in my chest. But there were too many of them, and they were stronger. Within minutes, they caught up, grabbing my arms and pulling me back so hard my shoulders ached.

“Let go of me!” I struggled, but it was useless. They dragged me back toward the pack house, not listening to a single word I said.

 

Now I was sitting in a cold, empty room. It was just a plain stone room with a single wooden table and a few hard chairs. The Alpha himself was there, along with his advisors, the warriors, and Catherine. I’d been left here for almost a whole day without food or water, and my throat was dry and scratchy.

Alpha Gregor stared at me from across the table, his face hard and full of anger. “Why did you shoot my son?” he demanded, his voice booming. “What is your motive? Did someone pay you to do this? Did you want our pack to become weak and defenseless?”

Every single person in the room was looking at me like I was a monster. I could feel their hatred, their judgment, pressing down on me.

“I didn’t shoot him!” I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though I was terrified. “I would never hurt him. I like him I care about him. Why would I do something like that? I was waiting for him at our meeting spot, and then I heard the gunshot. When I ran over, he was already there, lying on the ground. I didn’t touch him except to try and help him.”

“Liar!” Catherine screamed, slamming her hand down on the table. “You’re a lying piece of garbage! You planned this whole thing! You made him think you were innocent, but you were just waiting for your chance to get revenge because he rejected you!”

“That’s not true!” I cried out, tears finally starting to fall down my cheeks. “We had a relationship! He promised me that when he became Alpha, he would make me his Luna! He cared about me!”

The room erupted in laughter cold, cruel laughter.

“Liar!” Catherine shrieked, standing up so fast her chair scraped against the stone floor. “You are such a delusional, hypocritical omega! Jazzen would never want someone like you! He doesn’t care about you at all! He finds you disgusting, just like the rest of us do!”

Before I could say another word, she lunged forward and slapped me across the face as hard as she could. My head snapped to the side, and I tasted blood in my mouth. No one stopped her. No one said a word.

Then the door opened, and my parents were led inside. They looked frightened and confused, and when they saw me sitting there, looking beaten and tired, their faces fell.

“Lily?” my mother said, rushing forward until a warrior stopped her. “My daughter what is the meaning of this? Why are they accusing you of such a terrible thing?”

Tears streamed down her face as she looked from me to the Alpha, her heart breaking.

Now that my family was here, Alpha Gregor stood up, his voice loud and final. “As your Alpha, I have made my decision. This omega has attacked our future leader. For this crime, she will be executed immediately.”

My mother let out a cry and fell to her knees. “No! Please, no! She didn’t do it! I know she didn’t! If you must punish someone, punish me instead! Take my life, but please, spare my daughter! She is innocent!”

But the Alpha just waved his hand, looking disgusted. “Drag the whole family away. Throw them out at the edge.