Into the Lion’s Den

LYRA

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice tight as I opened the door and found the Alpha standing on my porch.

His expression was nothing short of disgust, like the air in my neighborhood offended him.

“Can’t you tell?” he said, his voice laced with disdain.

“I don’t like surprises, Alpha,” I replied, folding my arms even though my pulse quickened.

His scowl deepened. “Neither do I, Omega. But look where we are.”

His eyes locked on mine, and I had to look away. His presence was suffocating.

“You’re too mouthy for an omega,” he muttered.

“And you’re too arrogant for someone begging for a fake mate,” I shot back before I could stop myself.

The moment the words left my lips, I regretted them.

His expression darkened. The air thickened as his dominance rolled off him in thick, suffocating waves. I instinctively stepped back, the hairs on my neck rising.

“Don’t get it twisted, Omega,” he said, stepping inside, voice low and biting. “I’m not begging. I’m paying. And you need me far more than I need you. You’re helpless, poor, and in desperate need of money. You’re convenient, and I’m offering you a lifeline. Don’t get it twisted.”

His words were sharp and humiliating. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stand tall, pushing down the hurt.

“Then I’ll play the part so well,” I said quietly, voice trembling with restraint, “you’ll eat those words someday.”

He chuckled coldly.

“Starting today, you’ll live in my estate,” he said flatly. “You’ll act accordingly. I don’t care about your sob story, so keep it to yourself. You’ll behave like a Luna in front of others, but don’t get comfortable. Stay out of my way, and only show your face when I call for you. Understood?”

“Why? It’s too soon. What if I refuse?” I stuttered, and his mood soured. The air became thick with tension as he stared down at me.

“Okay. If you’re not coming, then I’ll terminate our contract,” he growled, voice low and laced with cruelty. “You don’t care about your brother’s health, and neither do I. His treatment will stop immediately. He’ll die, since you don’t give a fuck about him.”

The words hit me like a slap. My breath caught, and my chest tightened.

“You’re heartless!” I snapped.

He didn’t flinch. “Call me whatever you want, Omega. But don’t forget, you signed your life to me. I hold the power now.”

His eyes were like stone.

“You have ten minutes,” he said, stepping back. “Pack a few things. Or the deal’s off.”

He turned and walked away, his broad back retreating toward the sleek black car parked outside.

I stood frozen in the doorway, shaking. My pride screamed at me to slam the door shut and let him rot in his arrogance, but my brother’s face flashed in my mind. Unconscious and hooked up to machines, finally getting the care he needed.

I couldn’t turn my back on him. Not now.

“It’s nothing big, Lyra,” I whispered to myself, swallowing the lump in my throat. “You can survive his arrogance for a year.”

With trembling hands, I rushed inside to pack.

The Alpha’s mansion loomed before me like a fortress. Towering walls, polished marble, and large windows. I had never felt so small.

My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag when I stepped foot inside.

“Is that an Omega?” a maid whispered from somewhere to my left.

“What’s she doing here? Why is she carrying a bag?” another asked.

“Is she staying?” one gasped, and I caught the scandal in her tone.

They weren’t even trying to be discreet. Their voices followed me, but the Alpha didn’t say a word. Not a glare, not a warning. Just silence.

“What’s an Omega doing in the Alpha’s mansion?”

“Are they together?”

The murmurs grew louder, more shocked, more judgmental. My cheeks burned, but I kept my eyes forward, matching his pace despite the dread curling in my stomach.

Finally, he stopped in front of a black door with a gold handle and pushed it open without a word.

“Fuck,” I breathed.

The room was massive. Walls draped in rich fabric, a chandelier that looked like it belonged in a palace, a bed so big it could swallow me whole. It was lavish.

“Impressive, I know,” he said casually, tossing his car keys onto the dresser as he glanced around the lavish room like it bored him. “Stay away from my things. Don’t touch a single item. Keep your hands off my side of the closet, and don’t go near my bed.”

I blinked, staring at him like he’d grown horns. “Where am I supposed to sleep then?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Anywhere in this room. Just not my bed.” He gestured toward the far side. “That’s the toilet. That’s the closet. The maids cleared some space for your things. Use it.”

He was already turning away when he added, “Write a list of what you need. I’ll have someone get it. I’ll be in my office. Don’t disturb me.”

And just like that, he was gone.

I stood there, the silence pressing in around me. I let out a quiet sigh and wandered toward the small sitting area tucked near the window and sat down on the couch.

My mind was spinning with his rules, the deal, the mansion, and the judgmental stares of the staff. I hadn’t even been here a full hour, and already I felt like I was drowning.

Then the door creaked open behind me.

A heavy, dark aura rolled in before I even turned my head. I slowly looked up, and my breath caught in my throat.

She was stunning.

Tall and elegant with long, dark hair that cascaded down her back, her red dress clung to her curves like it was made just for her. Her gaze was razor-sharp, and the moment our eyes met, I looked away instinctively.

Alpha.

“So, you’re the little omega foolish enough to walk a path that will lead to your end,” she said, voice low and venomous.

My stomach twisted. “What?” I stammered, already shrinking into the couch as she stalked toward me like a predator circling its prey.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” Her tone curled with disgust. “You are just an omega, and you thought you could walk in here and steal my man?”

Her eyes flashed crimson, and I felt the pulse of her dominance slam against my chest. I couldn’t breathe.

“Do you think you’re special?” she hissed. “Just because he brought you here? Don’t flatter yourself, Omega.”

I tensed, my fingers gripping the edge of the couch.

“You’re nothing but a fuck toy, a distraction he’ll use until he’s bored. And trust me, he will get bored.” Her eyes burned with fury. “Then he’ll toss you aside like the used, broken little thing you are and come running back to me.”

Before I could react, she grabbed my face with one hand, her sharp nails digging into my cheeks. I gasped in pain as she yanked me forward.

“You’ve got a pretty face,” she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. “But beauty doesn’t change blood. You’ll never be more than an Omega.”

Her grip tightened. “Zane belongs to me. He always has.”

She shoved me back, and I stumbled, nearly losing my balance. My hand flew to my jaw as I stared at her in disbelief, the sting of her touch lingering on my skin.

She looked at her hand with disgust, wiping it slowly on her dress as if touching me had tainted her.

I wanted to scream, to throw something. But all I could do was clutch the pain in my jaw and swallow the burn of humiliation.

Then she turned toward the door.

“You don’t belong here,” she said coldly, without looking back. “We all know Alphas don’t claim Omegas.”

Her voice dropped into something darker. “Leave, before you get hurt.”

And with that, she disappeared down the hall, leaving the door wide open and the room full of silence.