Priscilla moved like a storm, shoulders rigid as she shoved past the startled guards. The door slammed open behind her, echoing like thunder.
Alpha Luther looked up slowly from his desk, amusement flickering in his golden eyes as if he'd been expecting her rage.
She planted herself firmly across from him, power simmering just beneath her skin.
"Why did your son reject my daughter?" she demanded, every word sharp enough to cut stone.
Luther leaned lazily against the edge of his desk, expression carved from cold arrogance.
"Because once, a girl like her nearly destroyed this pack."
Her heart stuttered. Ice crawled up her spine.
"You're talking about me."
He pushed away from the desk, stepping closer, slow, deliberate, predatory.
"You were my fated mate, Priscilla. Chosen by the Moon Goddess herself to stand beside me."
Her fists clenched until her nails bit skin.
"But you killed your parents," he continued, voice like a blade. "You brought ruin and fear into this pack. A stain on our bloodline."
The old wound split open again, burning.
She forced her voice steady.
"My parents died protecting this pack."
Luther scoffed, dismissive.
"And your daughter is a cursed child. A reminder of you."
Priscilla stepped forward until they were nearly chest-to-chest. Her rage wasn't loud but it was precise.
"You rejected me because you feared what others whispered."
His nostrils flared, jaw tightening.
"And now," she hissed, "you force your son to repeat your cowardice."
"Martin will never be tied to her," he growled. "The Goddess made a mistake choosing your bloodline."
A cold smile curved her lips, sharp as broken glass.
"Tell me, Luther… does saying that help you sleep at night?"
He blinked, thrown back, even if only for a second.
"Martin is just like you," she added softly. "A boy desperate for power. Too scared to choose love."
Her wolf snarled beneath her skin. She shoved his hands away when he tried to grab her, the leather of his gloves scraping her palms.
She turned toward the door, her shadow stretching long and dark.
"Stay away from me or my daughter," she warned, voice low and lethal, "or you won't like what I will become."
***
Romilda's fingers burned from scrubbing counters before dawn.
Even with a heart shattered by rejection and the weight of trauma she never asked for, she had to work.
Because if she didn't serve the pack?
No one would, evenother Omega look down on her and refuse to work when she's around.
Every Omega duty, every thankless task was her burden alone.
She reached the dining hall just as breakfast began, laughter, perfume, and entitled wolves filled the room.
Lisa and her friends snickered the moment they saw Romilda.
"Oh look," Lisa's voice dripped sugar and poison, "the rejected trash finally crawled out of the laundry room."
The words hit Romilda harder than she wanted to admit.
She bit her cheek and focused dropping their foods.
Henry, who only cared because he worshiped Lisa, pointed at Romilda like she was a stain.
"Maybe she's too broken to even shift into a proper wolf," he taunted, Lisa giggled, loving the attention.
"You're worthless, Romilda. Even the Goddess knows it."
That one hurt deep.
Romilda's fingers trembled but she lifted her chin anyway.
"I'm still part of this pack and you should learn to treat me with respect, " she whispered.
A hush.
"RESPECT!!!" Lisa's eyes flashed, offended that the romilda dared to speak back.
She grabbed her drink and with a cruel flourish and splashed it over Romilda's chest.
Gasps sparked around them.
Sticky liquid dripping down Romilda's dress, humiliation burning her skin.
Romilda turned to walk away, jaw clenched.
Henry stood with a snarl, how dare she ignore them?
He stormed toward her.
"You make sure you regret what you just did,"
Something inside her cracked open.
The words came like instinct.
"Skael umbra venara."
A banana peel appeared right beneath Henry's foot.
SPLAT.
He crashed flat on his back.
The dining hall erupted with laughter everywhere.
Romilda froze, eyes wide.
Did I… do that?
Henry shot up, furious and dripping with humiliation.
"You witch!" he barked. "You cursed me!"
Lisa slammed her palms against the table, ready to pounce.
But a thunderous voice cut through the noise.
"Enough!"
Every wolf went still.
It was Martin, who stood there with fierce eyes.
"Nobody touches her," he growled.
"If any of you ever touch Romilda again," he growled, "you'll deal with me."
Whispers rippled.
No one had ever seen Martin defend an Omega.
Especially her.
Lisa scoffed, masking the sudden flicker of fear in her eyes.
"But you rejected her," she snapped. "So why pretend she matters?"
Martin's jaw clenched, teeth grinding.
"Rejection doesn't give anyone the right to hurt her," he shot back.
"If you have a problem with that—" he stepped closer, power rolling off him
"then come fight me."
Silence.
Lisa's confidence crumbled. Henry looked away, still humiliated.
They backed off, one by one, the crowd parting around them like prey scattering from a predator.
Romilda stood frozen, staring at Martin like he was a stranger.
He moved toward her, voice lower now… almost gentle.
"Romilda… I— I'm sorry."
Her heart squeezed — a stupid part of her wanting to believe him.
But the sting of his rejection was still fresh and bloody.
She turned away.
Didn't speak or look back.
Her steps were quick, desperate, almost tripping as she pushed through the exit doors.
Martin watched her leave, regret crashing through him like a storm.
His wolf howled inside.
You let her go. Again.
And this time, she didn't look like she'd come back.