We'll See About That

Chapter 5

_Michelle's POV_

I got down from my brother's car.

The gravel bit through my thin shoes. My knees wanted to fold. Kate and Micha were consoling me, but Micha looked ready to rip Levi’s throat out.

His hands were fists. His whole body was a wire pulled too tight.

I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t be the reason they ended their friendship.

They’ve been brothers longer than I’ve been alive. Before the old Alpha, before Dad died. If Micha throws that away because of me… because Levi chose her… then Levi wins twice.

I saw Micha typing, jaw clenched.

His thumb was brutal on the screen. I knew who he was texting. Levi.

I caught a glimpse before he locked the screen:

> _We’re already very close to the truth. You want to give up now?_

Truth? What truth?

The word scraped down my throat. Truth about what? About why he marked her? About why my bond feels like glass in my chest?

But I didn’t ask. Because I was broken.

Asking meant I still cared what the answer was.

Levi didn’t just lie. He _marked_ her. In front of me. In front of everyone.

I can still hear it. The wet sound. The gasp from the pack. The way my wolf went silent, like someone cut her tongue out.

It was intentional.

He looked at me first. Right at me. Then he bit her.

I’m weak. Only someone with a death wish would want me.

My hands won’t stop shaking. Omega. Rejected. Useless.

Clara will be a strong Luna. But not the Luna this pack needs.

Not for the omegas. Not for the ones with no one.

She’ll rule with fear and call it respect.

I went upstairs.

Each step took everything I had. Micha said my name once. I didn’t turn.

I lay in bed with a heavy heart, staring at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn’t come.

The ceiling fan wasn’t moving. The room was too quiet. I could hear my own heartbeat. Too fast. Too loud.

And then it hit me.

Not slow. Not gentle.

_I’m leaving._

Like someone dropped the words straight into my skull.

Four weeks. Human world. Job. Apartment. New life.

Four weeks to disappear before this bond eats me alive.

I’ll be alright. I just have to avoid Levi. Let the bond rot.

Let it turn black and fall out of me.

---

The next morning, I went downstairs.

The smell of bacon almost knocked me back. Kira and Micha were cooking, giggling. Too happy.

Forced happy. The kind you put on for funerals.

They saw me. Smiled. Pity in their eyes.

I hated that.

“Hey, Micha. Hi, Kira. Good morning.”

My voice didn’t shake. Small victory.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?” they said together.

I didn’t. I shattered. But I smiled.

“Micha, I’m old enough to take care of myself now.”

His face went tense. The spatula in his hand stopped mid-flip.

“Why are you saying this? Is something bad going to happen?”

He knows. He always knows.

“No. I’ve decided. I’m going to the human lands. I want to live there. Maybe then I’ll belong. People won’t call me weak. They’ll see _me_.”

Not omega. Not rejected. Not Levi’s mistake. Just me.

He exhaled. Like I’d punched him. “If that’s what you want… I’ll tell Zaki. He has connections in the human world. He can help you get a good job at least. A safe place to stay.”

Then he said it. “I’m sorry I couldn’t convince Levi. That’s why I’m dropping the title.”

“Which title?” My stomach dropped.

“Beta,” he said. “After we settle something. We’re investigating. Once we find the truth, I’m done with him.”

“No.” I grabbed his arm. His skin was hot. Angry. “You don’t throw away Dad’s legacy because I got rejected. He was Beta to the old Alpha. This was his dream for you.”

“I’d burn the title to ash,” he snapped. “What if you never get a second-chance mate? What if you die alone because of him? I’ll never forgive myself.”

His voice cracked on ‘die alone.’

“Micha, if you drop that title, _I’ll_ never forgive _you_.” I forced a smile. “The bond will fade. I’ll forget him. Who says I can’t marry a human and be happy?”

The lie tasted like metal.

I picked up my bag. “I’m going to Kate’s. Back by evening.”

I left before he could answer. Before I could cry.

---

I decided to walk and I Regretted it.

The sun was a hammer. The road stretched forever. My shoes were already rubbing blisters into my heels.

Tires screeched. Levi’s car. He passed me, then slammed the brakes.

The sound ripped through me.

He reversed. Window down. His eyes—unreadable. My wolf perked up, tail wagging like a traitor.

_No. Bad wolf._

“I can drop you. Where are you going?” His voice was low. Rough.

I'm Confused. Didn’t he hate me?

Didn’t he put his teeth in her neck?

“I’m fine, Alpha. It’s not far.”

I kept my eyes on the road. Don’t look at him. Don’t look.

“Where are you going?”

Goddess, why did he have to sound like _that_? His mint-and-storm scent hit me. My knees almost buckled.

The bond yanked under my ribs. Hard.

“I’m asking one last time. Where?”

I snapped. “How is that your business, Alpha? Do you think we should be talking right now?”

He didn’t answer.

The door opened.

He got out. Grabbed my wrist. Heat shot up my arm.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t asking.

He opened the passenger door and put me in. Like I weighed nothing.

The seat was warm from the sun. Or from him.

He slid into the driver’s seat. The car shrank. His scent drowned me. And under it—_hers_. Clara’s perfume. Cheap. Sweet. Wrong.

It coated the back of my throat. I wanted to gag.

I frowned. “Why are you doing this? Didn’t you make it clear that day?”

“I didn’t reject you,” he said quietly.

He stared straight ahead, not at me.

His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. He seemed to be struggling with his wolf. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“But your actions did,” I shot back.

The words came out sharper than I meant. Or exactly as sharp as I meant.

“Yes.” His voice was raw. “Everything I did that day was wrong.”

Was he… apologizing? I didn’t want it.

Apologies don’t un-mark necks.

“That’s Kate’s house. I’ll get off here, Alpha Levi.”

I reached for the door. His hand shot out, covering mine. Rough. Calloused. Hot.

My breath hitched.

The contact burned. The bond screamed.

He leaned in. Inches away. His breath brushed my ear. “You want to marry a human and live happily, huh?”

My eyes flew wide. How did he—

My blood went cold.

“We’ll see,” he whispered.

It wasn’t a question. It was a threat. A promise.

The words sank into my skin.

I shoved the door open and stumbled out. Didn’t look back.

Kate saw me. Grinned. Then saw Levi.

Her face went cold.

Instant. Like a door slamming.

Zaki was there. His face hardened to stone.

He didn’t move, didn't blink.

Levi drove off without a word.

The engine faded. The dust settled.

Zaki’s eyes stayed on the road long after the dust settled, jaw tight.