They got me a dress. A bodycon chiffon dress with a flair at the hem. Something elegant. Something I could never afford as an Omega—and that was what bothered me the most. I was living the life of an elite werewolf, a lie so fragile that if I were ever caught, it would mean death.
I couldn't afford to prolong this any longer. But I hadn't yet found the perfect moment to confess to Miss Naomi—the woman who had later introduced herself to me with such excitement.
The problem was, Miss Naomi never stopped talking long enough to give me the chance. She spoke over me constantly, filling every silence with chatter. My secret festered in my chest, the truth struggling to claw its way out. And now, things were spiraling—because soon, I would be standing before the Alpha, in broad daylight, presented as his breeding mate.
What if he knew the real Bambi? What if he recognized in an instant that I wasn't her?
My heartbeat kicked up, pounding so hard I feared Miss Naomi would hear it. She led me into a large office just outside the Pack house. I had never dared step foot inside before, but through quick glances, I saw exactly what Gideon had once described—it was more like an estate than a house. In his words, not even the White House could compare.
The office we entered was half the size of our entire Omega quarters. A massive mahogany desk dominated the space, a sleek swiveling chair tucked behind it. A cushioned three-seater sat by the wall, and at the top of the desk, a polished nameplate read in bold letters:
Mr. Ronald Jackville, Imperial Pack's Advisor.
If the Pack Advisor's office was this large, I could hardly imagine the Alpha's.
A man, likely in his late forties, stood with his back to us, engaged in an intense phone call. We waited in silence until he turned. His dirty-blonde hair was slicked neatly back, worry carved into his oval-shaped face. But the tension softened slightly when his gaze landed on me.
"Oh, there we have the Alpha's soon-to-be breeding mate."
I blinked. "Does the whole Pack know?"
He shook his head lightly. "No, dear. Just Miss Naomi, myself, the Pack committee group, the Beta, the Alpha himself, the Luna, the Luna's fa—"
"That's… pretty much everybody," I cut in, my voice thin with nerves.
He chuckled. "But you have nothing to worry about. Trust me. Once I put you through the dos and don'ts, your only concern will be messing it up."
"That's not my worry," I whispered under my breath.
"Please, have a seat."
Miss Naomi and I perched carefully on the couch, my body stiff with tension.
"So, firstly, congratulations on becoming the chosen one." Mr. Ronald leaned against his desk, watching me closely. "It was quite the selection process, you know. I heard we had forty-three Alpha daughters from different Packs apply for this position. Thirty-one Beta daughters."
Interesting…
And how many Omegas? Just Sable and me?
"H-how many Omegas applied?" I asked, hesitant.
"Just three," he said casually, striding toward the coffee machine. He filled two cups as he spoke. "And those three must have been rather stupid. Omegas can never qualify to stand before the Alpha."
My throat tightened.
He placed a steaming cup in front of me, his eyes narrowing. "Omegas are actually collectively dumb," he added, settling back into his chair. His gaze lingered, sharp and assessing, as though his words were meant for me.
He wasn't wrong. I was dumb. I had let myself get caught in this snare, and I had been scrambling ever since.
"But bold," he continued. "I'll give them that. Knowing they can't qualify and still daring to show up? That takes courage. Almost as if they don't fear death."
Yes. That was me. I didn't fear death—not really. If I did, I would've confessed everything last night.
"Anyway." He set his coffee aside and leaned back on his desk. "The first rule of a breeding mate: you must not mingle with those bold Omegas."
My eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"If you are ever seen interacting with an Omega, you'll be exiled to another Pack—as one of them."
I swallowed hard. Omegas were so despised that even being seen with one was punishable.
"Rule two," he continued smoothly. "You only mate with the Alpha on full moon nights."
Oh, no way.
"Rule three: the Alpha and his Luna must be fully aware of your contraceptive routine. The Luna will instruct you on when to take the pills."
"Rule four: you will have a room in the Pack house, but you must remain indoors unless instructed otherwise by the Alpha."
I bit down on my lip. Goddess, I pray I'd never have to follow these rules. Hopefully, I'd gather the courage to reveal the truth before then.
"Seeing your family is prohibited as well," he added, "unless the Alpha grants permission."
"This feels like prison," I muttered, barely audible.
But both of them heard me.
"That is how being a mate is," Miss Naomi replied gently. "Think of it like… being bound to him."
"Rule five: you are not to meet the Alpha outside of the bedroom. If you happen to cross paths, you do not look him in the eye."
Insane. Not that I wanted to see him outside the bedroom anyway…
"And the final rule." Mr. Ronald's eyes flashed suddenly, his fangs glinting as his voice dropped. "Do not fall in love with the Alpha. If you are guilty of this crime, you will be executed. Am I clear?"
I nodded slowly, my stomach turning cold.
"That was him testing you," Miss Naomi whispered near my ear. "He can read emotions perfectly. He'll always know if you fall in love with the Alpha."
I rolled my eyes faintly, but dread curled deep in my chest.
Mr. Ronald strapped on his Rolex, slipped a hat onto his head, and grabbed a coat from his chair. As he slid it on, he turned back to me.
"Let's go."
Miss Naomi and I rose together, but his hand stopped her.
"Not you, Miss Naomi. Just Bambi."
She nodded obediently, leaving me to follow him alone.
I trailed behind him down the long hall, my voice breaking the silence. "Where are we going?"
"To the Luna," he replied without looking back. "She says she is familiar with your father and would like a conversation with you."
I froze.