Chapter 5

Amber

It had been two weeks since that night—since Rayne had marked me, since our worlds had collided in the most painful and disastrous way imaginable.

Two weeks since I had seen or heard from him.

I told myself, at first, that he needed time. Anyone would. How could Rayne possibly come to terms with a mate bond, the betrayal it represented to Reed, and the weight of everything else all at once? But as the days stretched on in agonizing silence, the emptiness of his absence became unbearable.

The bond wouldn’t let me forget him.

It wasn’t just a mark. A mate bond was far more than a symbol of ownership or a claim. It was a tether—an indestructible, unyielding tie that linked our souls. Through it, I should have been able to sense his emotions, feel his heartbeat echoing alongside mine, and even hear his voice in my mind if either of us willed it. The bond should have let us soothe each other, even from afar, a connection so deep and intimate it defied explanation.

But Rayne had slammed the door on his side of the bond.

I could still feel the faint thrum of his existence, an ever-present vibration at the base of my neck. It reassured me that he was alive, that he was well—but that was all I got. No emotions, no connection, no whispers in the quiet of my mind.

I’d heard of Alphas and Omegas closing their bonds before. It wasn’t common, but it wasn’t unheard of either. I had even asked one of the older Omegas at the shelter about it once, back when I was still curious and naive about mating. She’d said that closing the bond was a rejection in everything but name. A way of saying, I don’t want you.

The thought alone felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

Still, I could at least be grateful for one thing: Rayne hadn’t cheated.

The bond made fidelity a cruel, unforgiving system. If he slept with someone else, the pain I would experience would be unimaginable. The bond would punish me for his infidelity, setting my body ablaze with searing fire. I had seen it happen once at the shelter—a young Omega writhing and screaming as her Alpha mate fooled around with someone else. The agony had lasted as long as the betrayal itself, leaving her trembling and broken for days after.

The memory still haunted me.

For Alphas, it was different. They could feel the same pain if their Omega cheated, but it was almost impossible for that to happen. Omegas were naturally submissive, biologically programmed to be docile and loyal. Once marked, they couldn’t feel pleasure from anyone but their bonded Alpha.

But Alphas? They were free to do whatever they wanted. Even after bonding, they could fool around with anyone without consequence. It was a brutal imbalance, and one I hated with every fiber of my being.

It was just another reason being an Omega felt like a curse.

I sighed, my fingers brushing against the scent patch I’d placed over the mark. The ache in my chest wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard I tried to push it down. I knew I needed to see Rayne.

We had so much to talk about.

I hated that Rayne had this power over me, that even in his absence, the bond kept me tethered to him. I hated how my body craved him, how my instincts screamed for his touch.

And yet, I couldn’t deny the truth.

Lately, my instincts had been relentless, clawing at me day and night. I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned, drenched in sweat, my body trembling with a heat I couldn’t shake. My wolf, Irma, prowled in the back of my mind, restless and insistent.

We need him, she would whisper. Our Alpha. His touch. His knot. His scent. Let us have him.

It was unbearable. My skin felt too tight, my thoughts clouded with longing. I wanted him to scent me, to calm the storm raging inside me. I wanted to drown in his pheromones, to lose myself in his presence until the ache disappeared.

But how could I face him when I didn’t even know where we stood?

My thoughts were interrupted when something hit the back of my head. A crumpled piece of paper rolled across my desk.

I didn’t bother turning around. I didn’t need to. It was one of my usual bullies, probably grinning to themselves at their clever little game.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Six weeks, I reminded myself. Just six weeks until graduation. I could endure a little longer. Then I could leave this Pack, leave everything behind.

The bell for break rang, and I stood up, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest. My stomach churned with unease, but I ignored it, grabbing my bag and heading toward the cafeteria. It was just another day, another stretch of hours to endure until I could finally collapse in my silly excuse for a bed.

But the moment the smell of food hit my nostrils, the nausea roared to life. The greasy, cloying aroma of cafeteria fries and overly seasoned pasta was overwhelming, clinging to the air like an invisible fog. My stomach turned violently.

I barely made it to the bathroom in time.

Hunched over the toilet, I retched, my body convulsing as I emptied what little was in my stomach. The acid burned my throat, tears stinging my eyes as the heaving finally subsided. My legs trembled as I leaned back, the tiled wall cool against my sweaty skin.

What is wrong with me?

Dragging myself to the sink, I turned on the tap and splashed cold water onto my face, rinsing my mouth to wash away the bitter taste. My hands gripped the edge of the sink, my knuckles white as I stared at my pale reflection in the cracked mirror.

My heart was still racing, my breath coming in shallow gasps. I closed my eyes, trying to center myself, but the spinning in my head refused to stop.

And then it hit me.

My period.

I opened my eyes, panic flickering across my face. My period was supposed to come three days ago.

Dread crept in slowly, coiling in my stomach like a viper. I clenched the edge of the sink tighter, my mind racing to piece together the details, the mistakes.

Rayne hadn’t used protection.

I hadn’t been on birth control—I couldn’t even afford my suppressants half the time, let alone anything else.

“How did I not think of this?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, trembling as the weight of realization settled over me.

It was basic biology. Every Omega knew it: if an Alpha in rut mated with an Omega in heat, the chances of pregnancy weren’t just high—they were practically guaranteed.

And yet, I’d been so consumed by everything else—by the betrayal, by the bond, by the constant guilt over Reed—that I hadn’t even considered the possibility.

In the corner of my mind, Irma stirred.

We’re pregnant, she said, her voice soft and triumphant. Our mate’s pup is inside us.

“Shut up,” I muttered, pressing my palms against my temples. “This isn’t something to celebrate.”

Why not? she growled, her tone laced with irritation. This is a gift, Amber. It’s his. It’s ours.

I ignored her, forcing her voice into the background. My hands shook as I grabbed a paper towel, wiping my face and trying to steady myself.

It’s probably nothing, I told myself. Just a random bout of nausea. Stress, maybe. That’s all.

But the doubt wouldn’t leave. It lingered, heavy and suffocating, weighing down every thought, every breath.

I somehow managed to get through the rest of my classes, though it felt like I was moving in a fog. The nausea faded, but the dread stayed, gnawing at me like a parasite.

When the final bell rang, I didn’t wait for Reed like I usually did. I bolted out of the building, keeping my head down and my pace brisk as I made my way to the drugstore.

The tiny shop felt oppressive, the fluorescent lights too bright, the rows of shelves too narrow. My hands were clammy as I picked up a box of pregnancy tests, shoving it into my bag as quickly as I could.

The cashier gave me a curious glance, but I avoided eye contact, mumbling something about forgetting my wallet before rushing out the door.

The walk back to the shelter felt like an eternity. Every step was filled with a growing sense of dread, the possibility clawing at my mind and refusing to let go. By the time I got to my room, my nerves were frayed to the breaking point.

I locked the door behind me, ripped open the box, and stared at the instructions with trembling hands. Each second felt like an hour as I followed the steps, my heart pounding in my chest.

When it was finally time, I stared at the result.

Two pink lines.

Pregnant.

The word slammed into me like a freight train. My knees buckled, and I sank to the floor, the test slipping from my fingers. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, trembling as I tried to process what this meant.

Rayne’s pup.

My mate’s pup.

Irma practically purred in the back of my mind, her joy radiating through me. This is a blessing, she said. This is what we’re meant to be—a family.

But I didn’t feel blessed. I felt like my entire world had just come crashing down.

Tears burned in my eyes, and I pressed my forehead to my knees, curling into myself as the weight of it all threatened to suffocate me. How was I supposed to face Rayne now? How was I supposed to keep this a secret from Reed?

How was I supposed to survive this?