AmberIn other words, I would be kicked out of the shelter if I kept my pregnancy. Tears burned in my eyes as I nodded silently, unable to find the strength to argue.“Figure it out,” Marilyn said, turning on her heel and walking away, leaving me standing frozen in the hallway.When I finally made it back to my room, I collapsed onto the mat, my mind racing. If they kicked me out, where would I go? What would I do? It was too dangerous for an Omega on the streets, especially one carrying a pup. I’d heard too many horror stories.“This wouldn’t be a problem if you’d taken the money,” Irma said, her voice cold.“I’m not taking his money,” I snapped.“You need it,” she shot back. “You have no one else. No support. You’re pregnant and vulnerable. Why are you so stubborn?”“Because I’m not going to sell what little dignity I have left!” I shouted, my voice breaking.Irma sighed, her frustration palpable. “Then get dressed. We’re going to school.”****The school day passed in a blur.I sat
AmberThe ride to wherever they were taking me felt endless.The car was silent except for the sound of the tires crunching against gravel. I kept my head down, tears blurring my vision as I fought against the bonds holding me. My wrists ached from where they’d tied them, and the gag in my mouth felt suffocating.Why is this happening to me?Irma growled in the back of my mind, pacing like a caged animal. You have to fight. You have to stay strong.But how could I? My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. The scent of the Alphas surrounded me, their presence oppressive and overwhelming. I turned my face to the window, praying that someone—anyone—would see me. But the road was deserted, nothing but trees and shadows stretching out into the distance.The car came to a jerking stop in front of an uncompleted building, its skeletal structure looming like a shadow in the night. My stomach churned with dread, and my pulse hammered in my ears as the doors clicked open. “Get
Trigger Warning: This chapter contains graphic description of rape.AmberI tried to crawl away, but there was nowhere to go. The room was empty, the walls bare, and the three men surrounded me like predators closing in on their prey.“No,” I begged, my voice hoarse. “Please don’t do this. I’m begging you.”“Stop fighting,” the leader said coldly, reaching for me. “If you want to make it out of here alive, Omega, you’ll be a good little girl for us and do as you’re told.” The leader grabbed both my hands even as I thrashed and fought uselessly against him while the two other men tore off my clothes, leaving me naked. The cold air seeped into my bones, goosebumps rippling my skin as they stared at my body lustfully.“Please… Please don't do this… I'm sorry, please stop…” I begged over and over but it all fell on deaf ears.“Hold her down.” The leader ordered and the other men complied, subduing me as the leader quickly undid his belt, with his pants coming down.True, unadulterated f
RayneThree days. Three long, agonizing days since Reed walked out of my life.I ran my fingers through my hair for the hundredth time, pacing back and forth in my room like a caged wolf. My phone sat on the bed, mocking me with its silence. I’d tried everything—calls, messages, even going to Reed’s house—but nothing worked.His mom had answered the door with a kind but confused smile, telling me Reed was “crashing at a friend’s place” and that she wasn’t sure when he’d be back. She didn’t even know where he was.I’d gone to his school the next day, hoping to catch him there, but his seat had been empty. Apparently, Reed wasn’t going to class either.“Damn it, Reed,” I muttered under my breath, picking up my phone again. I scrolled through our message thread—if it could even be called that. Dozens of my texts, all unanswered.Reed, please talk to me. Let me explain. I love you. I never meant for any of this to happen.Reed, I’m begging you. Just meet me. Five minutes, that’s all I nee
AmberThe world came back in fragments.Blinding white lights above me. The steady beeping of a monitor. The faint scent of antiseptic that burned my nose. My limbs felt heavy, like they weren’t mine, and there was a strange, dull ache in the lower half of my body.I blinked, trying to piece together where I was. The ceiling tiles blurred in and out of focus, the fluorescent light stinging my eyes. My throat was dry, raw, like I’d been screaming for hours.A soft shuffle of footsteps broke the silence. A figure stepped into view, but I couldn’t make them out clearly. My heart lurched, panic surging through me as I instinctively tried to sit up.“Easy!” a woman’s voice said quickly, firm but kind. “Don’t move too fast. You’re safe here.”Safe. The word felt foreign, hollow.I froze, my breathing shallow as my eyes adjusted to the figure before me. It was a nurse—a woman in her mid-thirties with tired eyes and a clipboard in her hands. She had no scent, a Beta. She looked harmless, but
Ichika KirishimaThe file was thick, heavier than most cases I’d received in my twenty years of practice. I adjusted my glasses and opened it carefully, my eyes scanning the neat handwriting of the nurse who’d summarized the patient’s details.Patient Case FileName: Amber QueenAge: 18Sex: FemaleSecondary Gender: OmegaRelationship Status: No known family or spouse to speak of, though patient exhibits clear signs of being mated.Case Summary: Amber Queen presents as a highly delicate and complex case. She is the victim of a recent sexual assault, currently three weeks pregnant, and shows severe psychological and physical distress. Her mental state is deeply fragile, marked by extreme emotional instability.Symptoms and Observations:Panic Attacks: Frequent and unpredictable, triggered by perceived threats, loud noises, or unfamiliar people.Insomnia: Patient struggles to sleep, often showing signs of exhaustion and restlessness.Severe PTSD: Exhibits hypervigilance, distrust, and r
Dr. IchikaI stood outside Amber Queen’s room, the case file clutched in my hands. I had been a therapist for over two decades, but something about this particular case weighed heavier than others. Amber’s file painted a picture of someone who had endured more pain than anyone should, let alone an eighteen-year-old girl who would soon become a mother.Taking a deep breath, I tried to push aside my apprehension. I was here to help her, no matter how broken she was. My job was to guide her back to herself, one step at a time.I knocked softly on the door, announcing myself. “Amber? I’m Dr. Ichika Kirishima. May I come in?”The door creaked open, and Nurse Lillian peeked out. She gave me a small smile and gestured for me to enter. “She’s awake but she's… nervous,” she whispered. “You’ll do fine, just be gentle.” She stepped aside, letting me enter.Stepping inside, I was struck by how small Amber looked in the sterile hospital room. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her knees drawn
Dr. IchikaThe past few days with Amber had been nothing short of a delicate balancing act. Each session felt like walking on a tightrope—every word, every movement, carefully calculated to avoid unsettling her fragile psyche. Yet, with time and persistence, I could see the trust forming between us.At first, Amber insisted Nurse Lillian remain by her side during our sessions, her presence a lifeline of comfort and security. But gradually, as our rapport deepened, Amber began to loosen her grip on that dependence. One day, she hesitated, glanced at Lillian, and softly said, “You can go… if you want.”Lillian had looked at me for confirmation, and when I nodded, she left the room. That was the day I felt we had truly crossed the first major hurdle. Amber was finally willing to talk to me without needing a shield.Still, challenges remained. One of the most immediate concerns was Amber’s refusal to eat. She barely touched the hospital food, and her already frail frame had become alarmin
AmberI heard gasps. Felt every stare pierce through me.Robert didn’t wait.“And there you have it!” He announced triumphantly. “She admits it. Out of her own mouth. She denied a child her father. She let her grow up without the emotional support, the discipline, and the presence of a stable Alpha figure—because her pride was hurt. This wasn’t protection. It was punishment.”He stepped forward. “Miss Queen’s selfishness has already damaged this child. And now she wants the court to let her continue the damage unchecked? At what cost to Evalie’s development? Her future? Her identity?”I wanted to scream. To cry. To collapse and disappear.But Ichika squeezed my hand.I looked down. Her grip was firm. Unshakable. You’re not alone, it said.Robert sat back, oozing victory.Ina rose again.“Your Honor,” she said, her voice like flint, “I request permission to speak.”“Granted.”Ina faced the court like a queen facing her people.“Miss Queen had good reason to withhold Evalie’s identity f
AmberThe courtroom wasn’t what I expected.It was colder. Quieter. A looming silence, only broken by the shuffle of papers and the creak of benches as people took their seats. High ceilings. Fluorescent lighting. A lone judge perched behind the bench, half-obscured by the mahogany podium before him.We took our place on the left side of the room—Ina, Evalie, and I. Ichika, Ken and Ian sat quietly behind us, their presence a fortress of calm I didn’t know I’d need until this moment.Across the aisle sat Rayne and Reed.Rayne looked like stone, his jaw locked tight and his hands folded, knuckles white. Reed, by contrast, looked like he belonged in a different kind of arena—like he was auditioning for an award instead of preparing for legal war. That smug little smirk never left his face.I focused on Evalie, who sat quietly beside me with a coloring book Ichika had brought along to keep her busy. Her small hands moved the crayon slowly across the page, completely unaware of the storm g
AmberThe air felt heavier than usual this morning.I’d barely slept, caught between nerves and the ache behind my ribs that always came when Evalie clung to me in her sleep. Her tiny hand still rested over my stomach as I lay there for a moment longer, memorizing the shape of her breathing.Today, everything could change.I slipped out of bed carefully, tucking the blanket around her. Her blond curls splayed against the pillow, the same soft shade as Rayne’s. I pushed the thought away.The house was already buzzing. I could hear Ichika clinking something in the kitchen—probably forcing Ken to eat breakfast even though his stomach was just as twisted as mine.I went to the bathroom and stared at my reflection. I didn’t recognize the woman looking back. She looked…braver. Or maybe more resigned. I wasn’t sure which one I needed more.By the time I stepped back into the bedroom, Evalie was sitting up, rubbing her eyes.“Morning, pumpkin,” I said, keeping my voice light.Evalie blinked,
AmberEvalie blinked up at me, visibly confused, the way kids often get when something doesn’t click right away. Her little brows scrunched, and I could almost see her mind turning the words over like puzzle pieces that didn’t quite fit—yet.I smiled gently and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.“You know how the other kids in your school have two parents?” I asked, voice soft, steady, though my heart pounded like a drum. “Well… that man from earlier—he’s your other parent. He’s your daddy.”She went very still.The silence that followed was thick. Not heavy exactly—just full. Like the air was holding its breath. I braced myself for her confusion, maybe even tears or questions I wasn’t ready to answer. My stomach clenched. I shouldn’t have waited so long. I should’ve told her sooner, eased her into it. But there was no going back now.Evalie’s lips parted slightly as she processed it… and then—without warning—her entire face lit up.“Really?” she whispered. “I have a daddy?”Be
AmberIt was happening. No more delays. No more hiding.Tomorrow at 10 a.m., I’d walk into that courtroom and face Rayne for the first time in seven years—not as a broken Omega begging for mercy, but as Evalie’s mother fighting for the right to keep her child safe.The weight of it settled over me like a thick, scratchy blanket I couldn’t shake off. After Reed’s impromptu and unpleasant visit last week, the house had been blessedly quiet. No more knocks on the door. No more unwelcome Alpha energy polluting my space. Just peace—and tension so sharp it made my spine ache.Still, I had done what needed to be done. I’d contacted Ina like Ian suggested.From the moment she heard the details of my case, Ina had been all in. It didn’t take much convincing. The second I mentioned Rayne’s name and the pack he was from, she was intrigued. When I explained what I’d been through—the assault, the threats, the power imbalance, and Evalie being the child in question—Ina’s voice grew tight with purpo
AmberReed’s face twisted with rage, eyes flashing like a cornered animal. I saw it— the mask crack. The real him bleeding through.“You slut,” he hissed, venom coating every syllable. “You fucking whore. You always were. Pretending to be some innocent little victim when you’ve been spreading your legs for whatever Alpha shows the slightest interest. Don’t act high and mighty with me.”I said nothing.“You think I don’t know how you got where you are?” He sneered, stepping closer. “You fucked your way through med school. Slept with the right people. Used that pathetic Omega allure of yours to get whatever you wanted. That’s what you do, isn’t it? It’s all you’re good for.”Still, I said nothing. But my hand was tightening on the doorframe so hard my nails were digging into the wood.He leaned forward, eyes dark. “You think this little war you’ve started is noble? That you’re some kind of martyr? You’re not. You’re just a selfish, bitter bitch who can’t handle the fact that she lost. R
AmberI had just gotten off the phone with another lawyer Ichika had managed to reach out to. So far? Things weren’t looking good.They acknowledged I had a solid case—on paper. But in reality, not many lawyers were willing to go up against the literal Alpha of the Pack. Alpha Rayne Hunter. The man had too much influence, too much reach. “It would be bad for business,” one of them said. “Dangerous even.” Another admitted, “Our reputation could suffer long-term if we cross the wrong people.”Their voices blended together into a nauseating chorus of fear and cowardice. It stung. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but the sheer number of rejections was exhausting. And the ones who did consider the case? They were even worse.There was one woman in particular—an Omega, like me. I’d thought that would make a difference. I’d thought she would understand. I don’t know what I expected—compassion, maybe? Solidarity? But what I got instead was gall.The nerve.She had the audacity to chastise me. To
AmberI didn't want Evalie to grow up without me, to ever think for a second that she was unloved and unwanted. I knew exactly what that felt like— I had been abandoned by my own father and brothers—and I would never wish it on my worst enemy.I squeezed my eyes shut, a sob ripping from my chest.This couldn’t happen.I couldn’t let it happen.I almost gave in to the panic, to the devastation — but then a warm, steady presence unfurled inside me, strong and unyielding.Irma.My wolf growled low in my chest, fierce and protective, wrapping around me like an unbreakable shield.“No,” she whispered, her voice a steady thrum in my head. “We are Evalie’s mother. We raised her. We protected her. He cannot take her from us.”She released bursts of endorphins and they washed over me like waves, calming me down and reminding me of happier times. I had flashes of truth — Evalie's little arms around my neck, her sweet giggles filling our home, her sleepy "I love you, Mummy" whispered against my
AmberRayne had been quiet since his abrupt visit, and it was unsettling.I wasn’t sure what I had expected after that day — maybe for him to show up at the hospital, lurking by the emergency entrance like some stubborn shadow. Maybe he'd camp outside the house, demanding to see Evalie. Maybe he'd blow up my phone with calls or texts, shouting accusations. I even thought he'd try to contact Evalie somehow.But he didn’t.Not a call.Not a visit.Nothing.Just silence.And while a small part of me was grateful for the peace, I knew better than to trust it. I knew it was too early to celebrate, too naive to hope that it was over.This — this eerie stillness — it felt like the proverbial calm before the storm.A heavy, loaded quiet that pressed against my chest like a hand waiting to shove me under when I least expected it.I tried to shake the feeling, tried to convince myself I was just being paranoid — that maybe Rayne had gotten the closure he needed. Maybe seeing Evalie, even from a