Ari"Where have you been, half-rank?"I struggled to keep my arms steady, fear coursing through my veins. The threat of the whip loomed large, and I couldn't help but glance nervously at it, wondering if it would be used against me."I did what you told me, madam. I went straight to that stream to fetch water," I replied, my voice trembling but attempting to hold a semblance of composure. The whip in the omega leader's hand cast a shadow over the conversation, making it hard for me to concentrate."You useless slave! Do not think of me as a fool!" she spat out. Fueled by anger, she lashed the whip across my arm, and the pain shot through me. I winced in pain as the omega leader continued to lash her whip. The other slaves paused their work, their eyes widening with alarm as they gathered around me.Another slave, Jenna, stepped forward, her face full of contempt. “How dare you lie!” she exclaimed while pointing her finger at me. She addressed the crowd of omegas around us. “I saw her

AriThings went back to normal in the following days. As I went about my usual work routine, life as an omega became easier. I couldn't help but notice a sudden change within me—my mind and body were slowly adjusting to the demands of my new life. I started making fewer mistakes, resulting in fewer clashes with the omega leader and her minions than before. My body, which used to struggle with tough tasks, was now handling them more easily. Jackie and Igor couldn't contain their happiness, and I felt proud of becoming less of a burden to them.Before everything got chaotic in Moonshadow, I had Jackie and a few other helpers taking care of everything for me. Despite growing up surrounded by omegas willing to do my bidding, I always tried to learn housework and never allowed myself to be dependent on them. Jackie taught me some basic tasks like cleaning my room and preparing my bath. While the work here was a hundred times harder than what I was used to, this basic foundation made my imm

Chapter 16KristoffI was shocked to my core. My eyes widened, almost bulging out of their sockets, as my father's announcement echoed in the grand hall. My heart raced like a runaway stallion, and my brain couldn't make sense of what the Ironwolf had just told us. This couldn't be happening. The Ironwolf's words hung in the air like a surreal mist, and I found myself unable to fathom the sudden turn of events for the worst.As the council members erupted in cheers, I couldn't join their celebration. My gaze remained fixed on my father, disbelief etched across my face like an indelible mark. The very foundation of my expectations crumbled beneath me. I was so confident in this idea, yet somehow the Ironwolf had found an escape from what I perceived as a perfect plan."Perhaps there's a misunderstanding, father,” I managed to murmur, my voice barely audible.The council chamber fell into an uneasy hush as the Ironwolf scoffed at my decision. "Just a moment ago, you were all for peace b

KristoffAfter the announcement, I refused to leave my quarters. Despair gripped me as I replayed the moment my fated mate rejected me. I lost interest in everything, yearning to be lifted from my sadness and forget the pain that consumed me.It was over. Ari was gone from my life.What else could I do but drown myself in alcohol, a silent companion during these difficult times? It was like this bitter escape I held onto, not giving a damn about eating or drinking water. I was engulfed in these intense waves of self-hate, suffocating me from the inside out. In a fit of rage, I threw a glass across the room, and the sound of it breaking into thousands of tiny pieces, mixed with the smell of spilled alcohol, mirrored my own emotional mess breaking apart.Despite being the crown alpha of one of the strongest packs in the land, I felt like the world's biggest failure. I had this fancy title of Jarl, but when it came down to it, I couldn't even protect the one thing that mattered most to m

AriI threw myself into work, preparing diligently for the upcoming exam. The omega exam had four categories reserved for four different types of workers: court ladies, lady-in-waiting, military, and scholars. Without a doubt, I chose the scholarly department; it was the best fit for me, as I had been educated in Moonshadow thanks to the insistence of my father. In his words, reading books was as important as wielding a sword. Also, it was the category that promised the quickest elevation in rank. Success in this exam would open the door to becoming a minor pack official—the first crucial step in my quest for revenge and upward mobility in Ironflame.The scholarly department, however, was the most challenging. It demanded intelligence that could rival those serving the Ironflame pack. Thanks to one of the sons of a high official whom Igor befriended, I was able to get some materials to review for my upcoming exam.Every night, I dedicated myself to studying, sacrificing sleep on multi