Anna's POV:

"You'll do great." Vivian squeezes my hand across the table.

I pick at my burger. "The manager seemed interested. Said they need someone who can start immediately."

"See? Things are looking up."

'Looking up.' The words taste bitter. Three days since the ceremony. Three days of my phone blowing up with calls from Pack members—some curious, some outraged, most just hungry for gossip.

I haven't answered any of them.

"Anna." Vivian's voice sharpens. "Don't look now, but—"

The door chimes. I turn.

Allen walks in. Daisy's beside him, holding the hand of a little boy.

My stomach drops.

The boy has brown eyes. A sharp jawline that's unmistakable even on a child's face. He can't be more than four years old.

'That's him. The boy I babysat.'

Allen's son. The one he bought the trust fund for.

My hands clench around the burger wrapper.

"Anna?" Vivian starts to stand. "We can leave—"

"Too late."

Allen's spotted me. His face twists. He strides toward our table, dragging Daisy and the boy with him.

"Well, well." His voice carries across the restaurant. People turn to stare. "If it isn't the whore who ruined my ceremony."

I force myself to stay seated. Stay calm. "Allen."

"Do you have any idea what you did?" He slams his palm on the table. Our drinks rattle. "My father stripped my inheritance! I lost the Gamma position because of you!"

"You lost it because you're a cheating bastard."

His face flushes red. "I had everything planned! Everything! And you—you humiliated me in front of the entire Pack!"

Daisy steps forward. Her smile is vicious. "Did you really think you were good enough for him? An Omega with no prospects, no value?"

"At least I have self-respect."

"Self-respect?" She laughs. Sharp and cruel. "Is that what you call spreading your legs for strangers? We heard about your little adventure. The night before the ceremony, wasn't it?"

Heat floods my face. Vivian grabs my arm but I shake her off.

"Funny how you're judging me when you've been fucking my fiancé for years."

"Ex-fiancé." Daisy's eyes gleam. "And unlike you, I gave him a son. An heir. What can you offer any male? Nothing."

The boy tugs on her hand. "Mommy, I'm hungry."

My chest tightens. He called her Mommy. Right here. Right in front of me.

Allen leans down, his face inches from mine. "You're pathetic. A weak, useless Omega who couldn't even keep a mate. And now you're what? Looking for scraps? Interviewing for minimum wage jobs?"

"Better than being a lying piece of shit."

His hand moves fast.

The slap cracks across my face. Pain explodes through my cheek. My vision whites out.

I'm falling. The floor rushes up—

Strong arms catch me.

I slam into a hard chest. The impact knocks the breath from my lungs. A scent hits me—woodsmoke and rain and something that makes my wolf surge.

'No. Not him.'

I look up.

Green eyes stare down at me.

Alexander.

Alexander's arms tighten around me. His jaw is set, eyes locked on Allen.

"You have three seconds to explain why you just struck her."

His voice is quiet. Too quiet. But the authority in it makes everyone in the restaurant freeze.

Allen takes a step back. His face pales. "This is Pack business—"

"I don't recall asking about Pack business." Alexander sets me on my feet, keeping one hand on my waist to steady me. "I asked why you hit her."

"She's my—" Allen stops. Swallows. "She was my mate. She rejected me. Humiliated my family."

"So you decided to assault her in public." Alexander steps forward. Just one step. Allen flinches. "Do you know who I am?"

"I—"

"Answer."

"Alpha Silver." Allen's voice cracks. "Of Silver Lake Pack."

"Good. You're not completely stupid." Alexander's hand moves to my shoulder. His thumb brushes my neck. "This woman is under my protection now. Touch her again and I'll make sure your father's punishment looks merciful."

Allen's face twists with rage and fear. "She's nothing! A weak Omega who—"

Alexander shoves him. Hard. Allen stumbles backward, crashes into a table. Dishes clatter to the floor.

"Leave. Now."

The dominance radiates off Alexander in waves. My wolf responds immediately—submission, recognition, need. I hate how my body reacts to his presence.

Allen scrambles to his feet. Daisy grabs the boy, her earlier bravado gone.

"This isn't over," Allen spits. "You think you can—"

"I think you should stop talking before I change my mind about letting you walk out of here." Alexander's eyes flash green. Wolf surfacing. "Three. Two."

Allen bolts. Daisy and the boy rush after him.

The restaurant erupts in whispers.

Alexander turns to me. His hand cups my face, tilting my head to examine my cheek. His touch is gentle. Careful.

Heat floods through me. Not from the slap. From him.

Images flash through my mind—his hands on my skin, his mouth on mine, the way he moved inside me, the sounds I made, how he groaned my name when—

'Stop. Stop thinking about it.'

My face burns. I jerk away from his touch.

"I'm fine."

"You're red." His eyes narrow. "And not just from the hit."

'Oh god, he knows. He knows what I'm thinking.'

"Thank you for the help." I grab my bag. "I should go."

"Wait." His hand catches my wrist. "What was that about? Why was he—"

"None of your business."

"He called you his mate."

"Ex-mate." I pull free. "I rejected him. Formally. It's done."

Something shifts in Alexander's expression. His eyes search my face. "When?"

"Why do you care?"

"When did you reject him?"

"Three days ago." Frustration makes my voice sharp. "At our wedding ceremony. In front of everyone. Happy now?"

"Three days." He's still staring at me. "So the night we—"

"I was his fiancée. Yes." I cross my arms. "Is that a problem for you?"

"You were engaged."

"And he was fucking my bridesmaid for years. They have a son together." I gesture toward the door where Allen fled. "That little boy? I babysat him. Thought he was adorable. Turns out he was my fiancé's secret child."

Alexander goes very still.

"So yes, I got drunk. Yes, I made stupid decisions. But don't you dare judge me for—"

"I'm not judging you."

"Really? Because that's what everyone does." My voice cracks. "The slut who couldn't keep her legs closed. The Omega who humiliated a Gamma heir. The weak—"

"You're not weak."

The words stop me cold.

"Anyone who had the courage to reject a mate publicly, to walk away from security for dignity—that's not weakness." His voice is firm. "That's strength."

I don't know what to say. Don't know how to respond when he looks at me like that.

"Anna!" Vivian appears beside me. Her eyes are wide. "Are you okay? Did he hurt—" She stops. Stares at Alexander. "Oh. Oh shit."

"Vivian." I grab her arm. "We should go."

"That's Alpha Silver." Vivian's voice drops to a whisper. "Anna, that's—"

"I know who he is."

"You know?" Her eyes dart between us. "How do you—" Understanding dawns. "Oh my god. He's the one from that night?"

Alexander's expression doesn't change but something flickers in his eyes.

"Vivian. Not now."

"Right. Yes. Not now." She tugs my arm. "We should definitely go."

I start to turn.

"What's your relationship with him?" Alexander's voice stops me. "With Allen."

I look back. "What?"

"You said you rejected him three days ago. But you were engaged. Planning a wedding." His jaw tightens. "So what were you doing in that forest? Running from your fiancé? Or looking for—"

"Looking for what?" Anger surges through me. "A good time? A quick fuck before I settled down?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to." I step closer. Ignore how his scent makes my wolf whine. "You think I'm some kind of—what? Social climber? Using sex to get ahead?"

"I think you were engaged to one man and sleeping with another."

The words hit like a slap.

"Fuck you." My voice shakes. "You don't know anything about me. About what happened. About—"

"Then explain."

"Why? So you can confirm whatever shitty opinion you've already formed?" I shake my head. "I don't owe you explanations. I don't owe you anything."

"Anna—"

"I didn't know who you were that night. I didn't care. I just wanted to forget." I meet his eyes. "And I have. So do us both a favor and forget it too."

I turn and walk out. Vivian follows.

Behind me, I hear him start to speak. Then stop.

The door swings shut.

"Anna." Vivian grabs my arm once we're outside. "That was Alpha Silver. Do you understand what—"

"I know." I keep walking. My cheek throbs. My chest hurts worse.

"You can't talk to him like that. He's the most powerful Alpha in the alliance. I work for a company that partners with Silver Lake Pack. If he—"

"If he what?" I stop. Face her. "If he decides I'm disrespectful? If he punishes me for not bowing and scraping?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

She takes a breath. "I mean you need to be careful. Alphas like him—they don't forget. They don't forgive."

'I don't care. I can't care. Not when he looks at me like I'm something dirty.'

"Let's just go home." I start walking again. "I need to find a job. Need to figure out how to survive without anyone's help."

Vivian falls into step beside me. "You will. We'll figure it out together."

I nod. Don't trust my voice.

But as we walk, I can still feel the ghost of Alexander's hands on my skin. Still smell his scent. Still hear his voice.

'You're not weak.'

I push the memory away. I can't afford to think about him. Can't afford to hope he meant any of it.

I need to focus on survival. Nothing else matters.