The morning breakfast rush passed by in a blur of clattering plates and hushed voices. My muscles, still aching from last night's endless scrubbing, protested with every movement. Before I knew it, the kitchen was already swarming with preparations for lunch. Pots clanged. Water boiled. The sharp scent of simmering herbs and frantic, hurried footsteps filled the air, making my head spin. It seemed there was no rest in this pack house.
Yet, outside these bustling kitchen walls, the atmosphere was deceivingly calm. I imagined the Alphas and Betas, oblivious to the tireless work of the Omegas, sitting high in their elegant chairs. I could almost hear their laughter, see them drinking and talking about power, while the rest of us Omegas toiled without end, our exhaustion growing with every passing hour.I silently hoped I hadn't run into Beta Silas or that mysterious woman from last night.
My stomach tightened just thinking about it. Maybe, just maybe, everything had paused for them, at least for now. I wished I could disappear, to be truly invisible as I'd been trained.
I slumped onto my small bed beside Jessie, who always seemed strangely cheerful. It was a stark contrast to my own heavy heart. She carried the deep wound of her rejection—abandoned by her own parents for not being able to shift into her wolf form. Yet, she found small joys. I glanced at her, thinking that perhaps, just perhaps, things weren't as terrible as they seemed, at least not for everyone.
"I guess... it's not as awful as they say," I muttered, half to myself, trying to convince my pounding heart.Jessie gave me a knowing, almost mocking smirk.
"Not awful? Oh, Elara, this is just the beginning. Just the scratch of the events to come. Wait until the lunch rush truly hits. That's when the real show begins." Her words, meant to prepare me, killed whatever small sliver of hope I had left, replacing it with a familiar dread that settled deep in my stomach. I sighed, pressing my palms against my throbbing temples. "I need to stay out of sight...
"But hiding wasn't an option.
Not for an Omega, not today.The lunch rush was far more chaotic than breakfast. Omegas were lined up, barking out orders, and assigned duties with hurried instructions. Some were told to stand by in the dining hall, ready to serve the high-ranking guests.
Others, like Jessie and me, were handed heavy trays of food and drinks, expected to be silent, invisible shadows moving through the room. We were simply tools, not people.Invisible. Right. A bitter laugh almost escaped my lips.We were handed fresh uniforms—mine clung tightly to my body, the fabric feeling thin and revealing, fitting far better than I liked. It made me feel exposed, every curve obvious. My hair was neatly tied back, pulled tight from my face, revealing my features fully.
There was no room for mistakes. Not today. My mission, my brother, my very life depended on my perfect performance.Jessie followed closely behind me, her steps light despite the heavy tray in her own hands, as we walked towards the grand dining room. The massive oak doors stood open, a gateway into a world of power and privilege.
The air inside was thick, heavy with the scents of expensive perfumes, cooked delicacies, and unspoken tensions. Alphas from various packs filled the room—some faces were familiar from pack gossip, others were strangers, their ranks ranging from the most feared to the least significant.
Their voices, loud and confident, filled the space. But it was the first seat, the one at the head of the immense, polished table, that made my heart stop beating entirely.
Alpha Draco—the Alpha King himself—sat there, his presence alone dominating the entire room, radiating a cold, powerful aura that commanded attention. My breath hitched. Beside him, a woman held his hand, her posture graceful, her expression a mask of quiet mystery. She exuded confidence, her gaze sweeping the room with an almost regal air. I didn't recognize her at first, not fully. Not until her eyes, sharp and cold, locked directly on mine.A chill, profound and suffocating, swept down my spine, sinking deep into my bones. Her. It was her. The woman I'd seen with Beta Silas last night, entangled in his arms, her pale legs wrapped around his waist. My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins, followed by a sudden, sickening heat of realization.
The Alpha's Luna? The shocking truth hit me like a physical blow. The woman in Silas's arms... the very mate meant to stand beside the pack's leader, his Queen... this was a secret that could shatter everything. A deep, agonizing ache began to spread through my chest, an unfamiliar pain that had nothing to do with fear.My gaze frantically searched the vast room, seeking some escape, some confirmation.
There.
Silas stood near his brother, Alpha Draco, talking casually. His eyes, cold and sharp, found mine across the crowded room. He gave me a silent, sharp, dangerous warning look that promised swift and brutal punishment if I dared to speak.I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry, like sandpaper.
My heart pounded wildly against my ribs, a desperate drumbeat. They have no idea I saw them... or do they? The thought was a cold knot of ice in my stomach.Panic gripped me, a cold, suffocating wave that threatened to drown me. My hands began to tremble uncontrollably, making the heavy tray wobble precariously. I was losing control—my breath caught, balance slipping. My training screamed at me to be calm, to be invisible, but my body refused to obey. Not here. Not now. You cannot make a mistake today. If only my powers weren't sealed, if only I wasn't so utterly helpless, I could shield myself from this terrifying vulnerability.I forced my eyes down, gritting my teeth, struggling to steady the tray in my shaking hands. But it was too late. I could feel every eye in the room, every powerful gaze, now fixed on me, drawn by my sudden trembling.
The murmuring voices of the Alphas had quieted, replaced by a tense silence.A hand touched my arm, warm and firm, a surprising contrast to Silas's cold grip from last night, and to the chilling fear that gripped me now. A startling jolt, familiar yet unwelcome, ran through me from the unexpected contact.
"Are you okay?" Alpha Draco's voice cut through the suddenly silent room. It was low and commanding, filled with authority. His piercing eyes, usually so cold, held a flicker of raw, almost concerned, intensity as they locked onto mine. It lasted only a second, but it was there, a brief, confusing crack in his unreadable mask.
"Y-yes, I'm fine," I stammered, my voice barely audible, my throat tight with emotion."I'll handle this," Beta Silas said, his voice smooth as silk, rising from his seat beside his brother. His tone masked the cruel threat beneath, like silk covering a razor's edge. He took a step towards me, his gaze never leaving mine.Whispers broke out among the Alphas and Betas, their low murmurs like a rising tide of judgment. They were curious, dissecting the scene before them.Draco released my arm, his touch withdrawing.
Silas grabbed my wrist firmly—his fingers digging into my skin, sharp and possessive. His nails nearly pierced my flesh as he leaned close, his breath hot and unpleasant against my ear.
"Walk. Now. And walk fast," he hissed, his voice a low growl, dark and full of warning. "Don't make a scene.
"Luna Vivian's furious gaze followed us, burning holes into my back. I could feel her hatred, hot and potent, like a physical touch. Her silent threat promised a cold, terrible revenge.Silas dragged me outside the dining hall, his grip unwavering, then shoved me roughly against the cold, stone wall of the corridor. I winced, the pain a sharp punctuation mark to my fear, swallowing any words I might have cried out.
"Listen very carefully, Elara." His voice was a low growl, menacing and controlled. "If I hear a single word about what you saw last night… that day will be the last you ever see daylight. Understand? I will make you disappear without a trace. This pack will forget you ever existed."I shivered in terror, a deep, bone-chilling fear that went beyond mere threats. I'd heard the whispers of his cruelty... of how people who crossed him simply vanished. A cold dread seeped into my bones, filling every part of me.
"Yes... yes, sir," I whispered, trembling, my head bowed in total submission, my eyes fixed on the dirty floor.From a distance, I saw the other Omegas peeking nervously around the corner, their eyes wide with fear, too afraid to come close. No one would help. No one would dare.
This was my fight alone.I was alone.And trapped. Utterly, hopelessly trapped.