I should be happy, right?

That’s what everyone says when you find your fated mate. My wolf certainly thought so. She had been pacing inside me restlessly since the mating bond. 

She thought he would come back. That Ronan would return and claim us properly. That maybe… just maybe… we meant something to him.

I stood by the window, staring into the cold night, fingers brushing over the fresh mark on my neck. It still throbbed slightly, as if reminding me of everything that had just happened.

The bond had been sealed an hour ago. Yet here I was alone, unclaimed, and questioning everything.

A sound behind me snapped me out of my thoughts.

He was back.

Relief surged through me like a tide. He hadn’t left. He hadn’t—

The door opened.

And my heart shattered.

He stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. And he wasn’t alone.

A woman clung to his side, half-asleep, barely dressed. They barely acknowledged me as they made their way toward the bed like I wasn’t even there.

Tears burned behind my eyes.

He leaned in to kiss her, but then he lifted his head and looked straight at me.

“What?” he slurred, voice thick with alcohol. “You gonna stand there and watch us?”

His words sliced through me like a blade. My lip trembled, and still the tears came.

He laughed, low and cruel. “Suit yourself. Stay if you want.”

I didn’t know what hurt more; his betrayal, or how easily he dismissed me.

I found my voice, cracked and shaking. “Why didn’t you reject me?”

He stilled.

“If you didn’t want me… if I’m such a disappointment, then why did you mark me? Why do this?”

He crossed the room in a flash. One second he was by the bed. The next, I was pinned to the wall, his hand gripping my jaw, forcing my eyes to his.

“You want me to claim you?” he spat, “Make you Luna?” he sneered. “Don't be stupid.” 

His gaze was fire and ice all at once. My wolf whimpered inside me. I tried not to cry, but the tears betrayed me.

He let go, and I stumbled back as he turned away, returning to the woman waiting on the bed.

“If you know what’s good for you,” he said over his shoulder, “you’ll keep your mouth shut and be grateful. At least you got a mark.”

I stood there, shattered.

–

The next few days passed in a blur, each one more agonizing than the last.

My wolf had grown restless, pacing inside me every time Ronan appeared.

I kept my head down as I walked the hallway. I had just rounded the corner when someone slammed into my shoulder.

I stumbled back and looked up to found Krystal.

Of course.

I tried to move past her without a word, but her hand tangled in my hair, yanking me back.

“So now that you’ve been marked,” she sneered, “you think you can do whatever you want? Pathetic.”

Pain ripped through my scalp as I cried out and twisted in her grip.

She shoved me hard, and I hit the floor with a painful thud.

My fists clenched as I fought to keep my wolf at bay.

She snarled in my mind. “Let me handle her. Just once.”

But I knew better of my wolf. I know what she's capable of doing.

Krystal stepped forward,  and was about to lounge towards me, just as when my wolf was threatened to resurface,  But before she could move, a strong hand caught her wrist mid-swing.

I blinked, stunned.

There, standing right beside me, was a tall figure. 

I raised my head slowly, and my breath caught.

A pair of cold, stormy gray eyes stared back at me.

Alpha Lucian?

“Alpha Lucian,” Krystal said sharply.

“I’m enforcing discipline in our pack. As the female Alpha, it’s my responsibility to deal with a scapegoat. You had no right to interfere.”

"Scapegoat." My fist clenched as my wolf growled. Let me out, she snarled. I forced her back with a shaky breath.

Alpha Lucian didn’t respond. Instead, he waved her off with a dismissive flick of his hand, leaving Krystal no choice but to step aside and retreat.

Though many whispered that Alpha Lucian was nothing like Ronan, he carried the same commanding presence. Perhaps even more. And despite their differences, he was known to be one of Ronan’s most trusted allies.

I watched as he crouched in front of me.

“You just stood there and let them hit you like that?” his piercing gaze studying my face. “ Where’s your pride? Your dignity?”

I slowly lifted my gaze to meet his. I hated how pathetic I must’ve looked, my face tear-streaked, my body trembling.

Ronan had made it clear: I was nothing more than a weak omega, unworthy of an Alpha like him.

I wasn’t supposed to be weak.

“Dignity?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper. I hated how fragile it sounded.

“If I still had that... I’d be dead by now.”

Lucian stared at me for a long moment before rising to his feet. Then, without a word, he extended his hand.

I froze.

Uncertain.

Since our brief interaction on mating day, I’d noticed Lucian watching me more closely. Was it because he knew I was Ronan’s mate? Or was he simply trying to protect someone who didn’t matter anymore?

“Ashley.” His voice cut through my thoughts.

I looked up at him.

“You shouldn’t keep a gentleman waiting,” he said with a faint smile.

No one had ever been kind to me like this before.

From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Ronan watching us from a distance.

Hesitantly, I reached for Lucian’s hand. He helped me to my feet, and when I stumbled slightly, his hand was instant on my waist preventing me from falling

My gaze slowly drifted back to Ronan, and I could feel his gaze burning on mine. That is not right. I shouldn't be anything to him.

He shouldn't have noticed me at all