Chapter 4

He swept Sophie up into his arms and marched out without a backward glance.

But just before they cleared the threshold, Sophie looked back.

She flashed me a smile—slow, venomous, and dripping with satisfaction.

That look triggered a memory of the first time I’d ever laid eyes on her. Back then, she was just a low-ranking Omega, a bastard child the Pack barely acknowledged. At a massive gathering, her half-Alpha sister had treated her like a personal servant. Sophie had "accidentally" spilled wine on her sister’s gown, and her sister had slapped her hard enough to echo through the hall.

She’d been forced to her knees, made to grovel in front of everyone.

Luke couldn't stomach it. He’d stepped in to play the hero.

After that, he became her self-appointed guardian. The best cuts of a fresh kill, unique trinkets—he set them aside for her before anyone else. It drove me insane with jealousy, but he always gave me the same line: "I just feel sorry for her, Chloe. I’m just trying to help."

I was stupid enough to believe him. I told myself an Alpha’s instinct to protect a weak Omega was just nature. Nothing more.

Then came the day Sophie was being pushed into a bonding ceremony with an aging Beta. Luke lost his mind. He stormed the ceremony, claimed her as his own, and Marked her that same night.

That’s when the truth finally sunk in. She hadn’t just caught his eye; she had occupied the very center of him. I had been a complete idiot to think it was just "kindness." The betrayal didn't just hurt; it settled under my skin and started to rot.

The night before our supposed Mating Ceremony was the Pack’s annual Bonfire Gathering—my favorite night of the year. Luke had been my date for a decade. This year, I went alone.

When I reached the market square, the entire strip was a ghost town. Every vendor had packed up and vanished. I was standing there, confused, when I overheard two girls gossiping nearby.

"Luke went all out," one whispered. "He bought every single glowing flower crown in the square. Every last one, just for her."

"I would have died on the spot if a guy did that for me," the other sighed. "But that’s nothing. He literally spit in Alpha Reno’s face to keep her. And he’s still got that high-ranking Warrior girl—Chloe—lined up to be his side-piece. The balls on that man."

I let out a sharp, dry laugh and turned to walk away.

"Sister."

I froze. Luke and Sophie were standing a few yards away. Sophie came running toward me, clutching one of those glowing crowns like a trophy.

"Sister! Are you here for the Gathering, too?"