Chapter 2

I spent the entire day pacing my cabin, replaying every word I'd overheard. Maybe I'd misunderstood.

Maybe Damon was just putting on an act for Celeste's sake. He had to be protecting me somehow.

By evening, I'd convinced myself there was an explanation. Damon loved me—I'd felt it in every touch, every kiss, every of his promise.

That couldn't all be fake. Can it?

The Alpha gathering was already in full swing when I arrived at the pack house. Wolves filled the great hall, celebrating tomorrow's ceremony with food and drinks.

I spotted Damon immediately—he stood near the fireplace, commanding attention as always.

My heart hammered as I approached. He looked devastatingly handsome in his black shirt, his gray eyes scanning the crowd.

When he saw me, something flickered across his face. Annoyance? Fear?

"Damon," I said softly when I reached him. "Can we talk privately?"

Several pack members turned to look. I felt their curious stares but ignored them.

Damon's jaw tightened. "I'm busy, Fiona."

"Please. Just five minutes. I need to—"

"You need to what?" His voice was loud enough for others to hear now. "Follow me around like a lost puppy?"

Heat flooded my cheeks. "That's not what I'm doing. I just want to explain—"

"Explain what?" He laughed, but it was cold and cruel.

"How you've been throwing yourself at me for months? How you actually believed I'd choose a nobody like you?"

The hall went silent. Every pair of eyes was on us now. My heart shattered .

"But you said..." My voice cracked. "You promised me—"

"I promised you nothing." His gray eyes were ice cold, like he'd never held me, never moaned my name . "Did you really think I'd make an omega my Luna?"

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Cruel, mocking laughter that cut me deeper than claws.

"Oh my God," a familiar voice purred. Celeste appeared at Damon's side, sliding her arm through his possessively.

She looked perfect in her silver dress, every inch the future Luna.

"Is this the girl who thinks she has a chance with you?"

More laughter. Someone in the crowd whispered, "Pathetic."

"I thought omegas knew their place," Celeste continued, her voice dripping false sweetness. "Clearly, this one needs a reminder."

"Damon, please," I whispered, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "Last night, you told me you loved me. You said I'd be your Luna. You promised—"

"I promised nothing to a delusional omega who confused pity with love," he cut me off harshly.

The crowd erupted in whispers and snickers. Some wolves actually pointed at me, enjoying the spectacle.

"You were just for entertainment to pass time," Damon continued, his voice carrying across the silent hall.

"Nothing more. Did you really think I'd throw away my future for someone like you?"

Each word was a dagger to my heart.

The boy who'd held me just this morning, who'd made me feel beautiful and wanted and loved, was destroying me in front of the entire pack.

"Please stop," I whispered.

"Stop what? Telling the truth?" He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper only I could hear.

"You should have stayed in your lane, omega. Now you've embarrassed us both."

Tears finally spilled down my cheeks. Around us, the pack watched like vultures, feeding on my humiliation.

"Run along now," Celeste said with mock sympathy. "Find yourself a nice omega male to settle down with. Leave the Alphas to their equals."

I couldn't take another second. I turned and ran, their laughter following me out of the hall and into the cold night air.

By the time I reached my cabin, the tears had turned to sobs that shook my entire body.

How could I have been so stupid? So blind?

I was still crying when my stepmother burst through the door an hour later.

"What the hell have you done?" Margaret's face was twisted with rage. "The entire pack is talking about you throwing yourself at the Alpha like some common whore!"

"Margaret, please, I can explain—"

"Explain what? How you've brought shame on this family? How you've made us the laughingstock of the pack?"

She paced back and forth, her hands clenched into fists. "Your father would be rolling in his grave!"

"It wasn't like that. I thought he loved me—"

"Love?" She laughed bitterly. "An Alpha love an omega? You're more delusional than I thought."

"Where am I supposed to go?" I asked desperately.

"That's not my problem anymore." Margaret's voice was ice cold.

"I've tolerated you out of respect for your father, but I won't have a scandal-maker under my roof. Pack your things. You're leaving. Tonight."

"Margaret, please. I have nowhere to go—"

"You should have thought about that before you decided to chase after men above your station."

She grabbed my suitcase from under the bed and started throwing my clothes into it. "I want you gone within the hour."

"This is my home too," I pleaded.

"Not anymore. You're a disgrace, Fiona. A curse on this family. I should have sent you away the day your father died."

Her words hit like hard like blows. I sank onto the bed, watching her pack my entire life into one small bag.

"Don't come back," she said, shoving the suitcase into my hands. "Don't write. Don't call. As far as I'm concerned, I never had a stepdaughter."

She pushed me toward the door. The night air was bitter cold, and I wasn't even wearing a coat.

"Margaret, please—"

The door slammed in my face.

I stood on the porch for a long moment, clutching my suitcase, still hoping she'd change her mind.

But the lights went out inside, leaving me in complete darkness.

Barefoot and broken, I started walking. I had no destination, no plan. The pack borders stretched for miles in every direction.

Even if I could make it to another territory, they'd smell Silver Moon Pack on me and send me back, that’s if luck is with me.

If it isn’t I will be killed by rogue wolves.

I was truly alone.

The cold bit through my thin dress as I wandered down the empty road. My feet were already numb, cut by the rough asphalt.

Each step sent pain shooting up my legs, but I kept walking because stopping meant accepting that this was real.

Hours passed. Or maybe minutes. Time felt meaningless when your entire world had collapsed.

I was so lost in my misery that I almost didn't notice the headlights cutting through the darkness. A sleek black car approached slowly,

My heart raced. Who is this

The car stopped directly in front of me. The engine purred softly. The tinted passenger window rolled down with a quiet hum.

It was him. he sat in the driver's seat, his silver hair perfectly styled despite the late hour. His dark eyes cold, and calculating —studied me with unreadable intensity.

"Fiona." His voice was deep, commanding. "Get in."

I took a step back, my heart hammering. " I—"

"Get in the car, child. Now."

It wasn't a request, that tone was pure command.

My hands shook as I reached for the door handle. What did he want with me?