AVERY.

My fingers curled around the cool metal handle and twisted it open, unaware that the life I knew was seconds away from being obliterated.

Alpha Caleb was in his office—but he wasn’t alone.

His Beta, Serena, was there.

Caleb’s hands gripped Serena’s hips like she belonged to him, like she was his to ruin and keep. He thrust into her without hesitation, the desk creaking under their weight, her breath hitching with each sharp movement. Her blouse had slipped down one shoulder, her skirt bunched at her waist. Every sound, every moan, every breath was an assault on my soul.

"Mate," I whispered.

A word that should have felt sacred. Precious. Instead, it shattered as soon as it left my lips.

He turned his head slowly, not with surprise—but with amusement. A cruel, knowing smirk twisted his lips, and still, he didn’t stop.

The wet slap of skin on skin filled the room.

I stood frozen, my hand still on the doorknob, stuck between denial and devastation.

The Moon Goddess paired me with him?

The cold, ruthless Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack? The one who let my mother rot in chains? The same monster who ruled by fear and pleasure in equal measure?

My heart pounded violently in my chest. I felt hollow. Discarded.

Caleb’s voice sliced through the fog. "Come in, mate."

He said it so softly, so mockingly, as if I were a toy left on the shelf too long.

He didn’t turn. Didn’t stop. His focus was still on Serena, whose fingers clawed at the desk as she cried out, "Don’t stop! Please, Alpha, don’t stop!"

He didn't.

"Did you just say mate?" Serena sneered mid-moan. "That pathetic little Omega is your mate?"

"Yes," he said simply, as if it were an inconvenience.

And then, with his voice dark and commanding: "Don’t just stand there. Join us."

My stomach turned. My cheeks burned with shame. My soul felt like it was being scraped raw from the inside.

Lumi stirred within me. She wanted him. The bond made her weak. I felt her betrayal like a knife in my spine.

Serena arched again with a cry, shaking against the desk.

"Avery," he growled, his voice strained with pleasure, "don’t make me ask again."

I dropped my hand from the doorknob, my fingers curling into my palm as bile rose in my throat. My body screamed to leave, but Lumi... Lumi ached for him.

I turned, willing myself to walk away, but a strong, calloused hand shot out and grabbed my arm. Sparks exploded across my skin, adding insult to pain.

He stood in front of me now. Serena sat on the desk behind him, adjusting her skirt with a smug grin.

"I ordered you to join us," Caleb said coldly.

"I don’t want to," I whispered, shrinking under his grip.

He yanked me closer. "Let go of me," I hissed, pain lacing my voice.

Serena chuckled darkly. "Let her go, Caleb. She’s going to shatter like the fragile little thing she is."

Caleb’s aura slammed into me like a wave of knives.

I cried out, tears spilling from my eyes as pain wrapped around my chest like chains.

He watched with cruel amusement. "Of course she would. Watching you break? That’s fun."

Then, just as I collapsed under the weight of his dominance, he let go.

Like I was nothing.

He turned away as if I didn’t matter—returning to the desk like the scene he left wasn’t burned into my soul.

"Now that I’m done with Serena," he said, voice thick with mockery, "how about you come bend over the desk too, mate?"

"What?" Serena snapped, clinging to him. "How can you still acknowledge that thing as your mate?"

She kissed his neck, her glare stabbing into me like daggers. Lumi growled again, maddeningly loyal.

But Caleb peeled Serena’s hand off his shoulder with disdain. "You can leave now."

"But—"

"I said leave."

Serena stormed out, her rage trailing behind her like a storm.

When the door clicked shut, Caleb faced me. A dangerous smirk curled on his lips.

"The Moon Goddess made a joke the day she tethered me to an Omega three years ago. So tell me, Avery… Can you be useful to me?"

My heart constricted. He knew. He had known. Since he turned eighteen. Since my fate had been sealed.

"You knew?" I breathed. "All this time... and still you let my mother rot in your dungeon?"

His face darkened. "I should’ve executed her for killing my mother. You should be grateful she’s even alive."

"She didn’t kill Luna Alina!" I cried. "She was framed!"

"Liar!" he roared, and before I could move, his hand clamped around my neck.

I gasped, choking, clawing at his grip as his eyes blazed with fury.

"I should break you like I should’ve broken her. You're just like her. Useless. Weak."

He released me with a shove, watching me stumble back as I coughed.

Then he leaned in close. I could feel the heat of his breath. His eyes, cruel and hungry, bore into mine.

"Make yourself useful tonight," he whispered. "Then we’ll talk."

Lumi whimpered inside me. Betrayed. Conflicted. Still wanting.

But I straightened my spine.

"I don’t want you," I said, my voice trembling.

He chuckled coldly. "Do you forget your mother is still breathing because I allow it?"

I froze.

"No," I whispered.

"You’re heartless," I said. My voice shook, but I met his gaze.

"Say that again," he growled, eyes burning. "I kept her alive so I could watch you suffer. Her death will be slow. Unlike my mother’s."

He moved closer again.

"So," he sneered, "bend over that desk like a good little Omega. Or watch her scream."

I looked at the desk. The one still warm from Serena’s body. My stomach twisted in disgust.

But I lifted my chin. "You’re disgusting. How can you even think of touching the daughter of your mother’s alleged killer?"

His jaw clenched. The flicker in his eyes darkened.

"Is your wolf so lust-crazed," I spat, "that you’ve lost every ounce of your mind?"

CALEB.

My mother had trusted Avery’s mother. Loved her like a sister. And then she died—and the evidence pointed to her.

I kept Avery hidden. Made her an Omega. My wolf, Nox, fought me every day. He wanted her. Craved her.

But I had a plan.

We shared a birthday. Today was the day I'd make her feel just a fraction of my pain.

So I let Serena have me. I let Avery see. I wanted to ruin her from the inside out.

But her eyes—those furious, disgusted eyes—they shattered something in me.

"You’re disgusting," she said. "How can you want anything to do with the daughter of your mother’s murderer?"

It enraged me. More than it should’ve.

And then she added—mocking, scathing—"Is your wolf too horny that his lust has clouded your judgment?"

I saw red.

"Nothing has clouded my judgment," I spat. "You’re not even worth the pain of wanting."

And then, without mercy, I said it:

"I, Caleb Thristle, Alpha of Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, Avery Hemming, as my mate."

"You’re not even worthy to be my plaything."

The mate bond snapped inside me, a searing pain like fire through my chest. But I stood tall. I watched her crumble.

She dropped to the floor, clutching her heart, a wounded sound escaping her lips.

Good. Let her break.

But then—through her tears—she lifted her head.

And with fury burning in her voice, she said:

"I accept your rejection, Alpha Caleb. I want nothing to do with you."