Prologue

ZAYN

"You can flee from everything except your own shadow."

ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO

If stupidity had a poster child, I'd be the one holding the sign, and my enemy would be the one taking the photo.

My fists were clenched tightly at my sides, my jaw was set, and my head was held high with my back straight as I walked down the hallway, mentally counting each step and silently praying to whatever gods were listening that I wouldn't meet anyone on my way until I reached the door.

That same door that, despite being right in front of me, seemed impossibly far away.

Noises echoed from outside the building – not just any building, but the nation's media house.

Outside, over one hundred thousand people from across the nation had gathered, arguing and silently waiting to see who would win tonight's game between Sunhaven and Dawnlands.

They wanted to know which of the two greatest packs in the nation would emerge victorious, leading the nation for the next three years.

Among the hundred-thousand-strong audience was my father, King Valoric, leader of Sunhaven and supreme commander of the South section. He was waiting for me, his son and prized competitor, to emerge after my 20-minute break and win the game, bringing him pride once again.

Unfortunately, I didn't think victory would be possible tonight. Not when my arch-nemesis, Damario Bloodworth, the prince of the East and my opponent, was waiting for me in that room, holding the weight of my deepest secret in his hands.

"Gods, this is a mistake. Turn around and walk away, Zayn. Act like it never happened. If you don't acknowledge it, it never existed." My subconscious mind screamed at me, frantically urging me not to enter that room.

I knew I should turn around, walk away, and pretend I hadn't seen the signal to meet him in the changing room after the break was announced. I wondered if I ignored it, he'd just forget about everything.

But Damario, that ruthless bastard, wasn't the type to let things go. If anything, he loved to play dirty so he wouldn't just let this slide.

Not when he had finally discovered my dirty secret and found a way to exploit it, guaranteeing he'd beat me tonight and win this game for the first time since we'd started competing in the nation's electoral tournament.

Ever since I was born and grew up knowing I was the heir to the throne and future leader of Sunhaven and the South section, I've been taught to be bold. As I became an adult, I learned that leaders don't cry, that emotions are a weakness.

But today, I wished I hadn't suppressed my feelings so thoroughly. I wished I still knew how to cry, because I desperately needed to release the pain that was breaking me inside.

No one knew I was an Omega, not even my father. It was a secret he must never discover.

As his only son, I'd been groomed from birth to fulfill a singular purpose: to become the perfect leader the South section would reverence. He tolerated no mistakes, no matter how small, that could compromise my future as king.

After all, history had never seen an Omega – the lowest rung in our society – rule over the people. We crave leaders who exude strength and dominance, not someone perceived as weak or submissive.

Not someone who would open their legs for just anyone when they're in heat. Just like I had opened my legs for Damario Bloodworth, the one man in the world who hates me more than anything.

I stopped in front of the door, my heart pounding against my chest. I gave a soft knock, glanced sideways to ensure no one was watching, then twisted the knob and slipped inside, locking the door behind me.

I turned to face him, my chest heaving as I met the gaze of the one man who'd helped me survive my heat cycle a week ago. The only person privy to my true identity, my secret, and my vulnerability.

My rival. My enemy.

"I know I promised to do whatever you want in exchange for your silence and your help," I said, adjusting my gear with a heavy sigh. "But did it have to be tonight? I need to focus on the game."

A tight smile curled the corner of Damario's mouth, his silver eyes glinting as he watched me with an unnerving intensity, like a specimen under scrutiny.

"Come over here and suck me off like the good boy that you are." He said, smiling devilishly at me.

I wanted to snap, to punch him for the way he'd just humiliated me. But I was at his mercy, forced to comply with his every demand to keep my secret safe.

After all, I only owed him two favors – once those were repaid, our contract would be null and void. I'd be free from his grasp, and he'd take my secret to his grave.

Without a word, I walked over to him, my pride wounded as Damario kicked my legs out from under me, forcing me to kneel. But I didn't react. The sooner I got this over with, the sooner I'd be free of him and could breathe again.

As gentle as I could, I reached for his pants, zipping it down and pulled out his semierect cock, lowering my head and lapped at the underside of his cock before taking him into my mouth.

This was my first time sucking a cock, but I didn't need anyone to tell me what to do because there was nothing I couldn't do perfectly.

"So this is what you really are, hmm?" Damario smirked, gripping my hair, forcing me to look at him. "A fucking faggot!"

"Shut... Hmmph... Up!" I grumbled around his cock, bobbing my head up and down as I took him deeper until the crown of his cock was pressing against the roof of my throat.

"After all that fucking bravado, you're just a cock sucker." He gritted out, tightening his grip on my hair. "What a fucking joke!"

"Mmmfuck you." I hissed, clenching my fist as I continued sucking his length, all I wanted was for him to cum so I could get the fuck away from here.

"I can't believe my Dad has been comparing me to a disgusting piece of shit like you."

"Shit!" I cursed, hoping he would just stop talking. His words were starting to get to me. "Stop it, Damario."

"Look at you," he barked, slapping my cheek as he forced me to take him deeper. "Fucking look at you taking my dick like the lowly Omega that you are."

Well, that fucking hurt.

I didn't made myself this way, and hiding who I am from everyone was hard so fuck him for thinking I also wanted this.

"Please... Please stop." I said instead, knowing violence wouldn't solve anything for me.

"Why should I?" Damario scoffed, pulling my head back with my hair, he gripped my jaw, forcing me to keep staring at him. "Why should I stop rubbing it in your fucking face? Isn't that what you are? A lowly Omega? A fucking faggot?"

"Please..."

I couldn't get to finish my words before the bastard shoved my head back down to take his erection in my mouth.

Without Damario opening his big mouth to insult me, this was already humiliating me enough. But he just wouldn't stop talking.

"I bet my dad would have a good laugh if I told him this," he said, chuckling as he rubbed my ear. "He'd be thrilled to know your Pack's future isn't nearly as glorious as your dad claimed."

"Damario..." I hissed, clenching my fist so tightly until I could feel my nails piercing my palm.

"You're even moaning my name now. You're a fucking joke."

"Shit!" I cursed, shutting my eyes so I wouldn't see anything, or look at the man who was cavity searching me.

"Ah," Damario chuckled, gripping my face. "Don't tell me you're crying now, are you? Look at me."

"Let go of me." I barked angrily, swatting his hand away.

"How can I do that when I'm balls deep inside your mouth?" He teased, laughing at my predicament. "Or do you want me to stop? Do you want me to go out there and tell everyone what you are?"

"Wait..." I yelled, grabbing his hand before he could stand up. Shaking my head. "D–don't stop."

"I can't hear you." He smirked, snapping his fingers in front of my face. "I want you to fucking beg for it!"

"Please, please." I said through gritted teeth, hating that I had to do this. "Please don't stop."

"Look at you being a submissive bastard. Where did all that attitudes go?" He scoffed, patting my head like I was his pet dog. "Huh? Fucking answer me!"

"I'm... Shit!" I sighed, biting the inside of my cheeks. "Please keep your voice down, someone is coming."

If I had known this was how everything would later turned out, I would have just asked Czar, my future second in command, to help me through my heat cycle.

"Why? You don't want everyone to know their future leader is a cock sucker?" Damario asked, laughing. Although, I didn't understand what was so funny. "Or wait, you don't want them to know you're an omega, hmm?"

"Why are you doing this to me?" I suddenly asked, wiping the side of my mouth after the bastard had came in my mouth and forced me to swallow his seed.

"Because I fucking hate you!" He growled, jaw clenched tightly and he shoved me away from him, making me land on my butt. "I fucking hate how everyone thinks you're fucking perfect and that I am nothing."

I stood up from the floor, dusting my hands and my pants. "How people view you isn't my fault. You fucking know that, right?"

"No, it is," Damario argued, fury radiating off him in waves. "I wouldn't hate you so much if you hadn't been so good at everything."

How was that my fault? How could wanting to be the best son for my father be my fault? All I was doing was trying to be the perfect leader for my people, not draw attention from the other packs' princes or attract enemies to myself.

Swallowing thickly, I mumbled, "I didn't mean to be..."

"Make sure you lose the game tonight! Lose to me or I'll tell everyone you're a fucking omega," Damario spat, cutting me off and making my eyes widen in shock.

"No!" I gasped, frantically shaking my head. How could he ask that of me? Losing the game was unthinkable. My father would be furious... No, he would fucking hate me. "You can't do this to me!"

"Well, I can," Damario said with a victorious smile. "Lose the game, or watch as I humiliate both you and your pack in front of everyone tonight."

With that, he stood up, tucked himself back into his pants, and walked toward the door.

"Damario!" I yelled, but he was already gone, likely heading back to the rink since our break was almost over.

"Father, I'm sorry," I whispered, and for the first time since I was five, tears streamed down my face.

After crying to my heart's content, I wiped my tears and adjusted my gear. I combed my fingers through my hair, erasing any traces of what had happened and making sure I looked composed. Then, I picked up my discarded blade and stepped out of the room and into the rink.

The crowd erupted the moment I stepped into the rink. As my eyes scanned the stadium, I felt a surge of emotion, my cheeks still wet from earlier tears. I gazed out at the over one hundred thousands people gathered to watch me potentially secure a medal that would catapult my pack to the top of the business for the next three years.

As I gazed out at the sea of blurry faces, all cheering and believing in me, my eyes locked onto my opponent. Damario's smirk under his mask seemed to mock me, and I felt a surge of determination. But as the game unfolded, every advantage I had seemed to slip away.

Despite my skill and training, I found myself falling behind. The lamp lit up, signaling Damario's pack's victory, and I watched in despair as they celebrated their triumph.

My eyes searched for my father, and our gazes met. The rage and disappointment etched on his face made my heart sink. For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

I felt a presence behind me, and I knew instinctively it was Damario.

"How does it feel to be exposed as imperfect?" he smirked wickedly. "How does it feel to be a failure and a disappointment?"

His words ignited a spark within me, and I snapped. I punched Damario squarely across the jaw, the impact resonating through the stunned silence.

Cameras flashed, capturing the moment, and I knew I'd just made a catastrophic mistake. The media would have a field day and my father would fucking killed me for dragging the Pack's down with my foolishness.