Penelope pov

"Exactly," Viktor agrees without shame. "That's natural order. You're proving why it's necessary, look at the chaos your elevation caused. Attacks. Conspiracies. Packs divided. All because one Omega thought she deserved power."

"I was not born an Omega," I say, my voice dropping low. "Your beloved former Alpha is the one who brought my family down to Omega status. He destroyed my parents to hide his own transgressions."

Viktor laughs. It's a slow, ugly sound that fills the space ...