Sera's POV
The door explodes inward.
Wood splinters across my tiny room as three guards storm in. I barely have time to scream before rough hands yank me from my thin mattress. My head cracks against the wall.
Thief! The largest guard spits the word in my face. Omega scum!
I didn't My protest dies as something heavy crashes at my feet.
Sacred moon relics. Five of them. Their silver surfaces gleam in the early morning light, mocking me from the floor of my room.
My stomach drops. These relics belong in the pack vault, protected by magic and guards. I've never even been allowed near them.
No, I whisper. Those aren't mine. I've never seen them before!
The guard laughs. It's not a nice sound. Found them under your bed, omega. Your scent is all over them.
That's impossible. I worked double shifts in the pack kitchens yesterday. I came home exhausted, ate stale bread, and collapsed into sleep. I haven't stolen anything in my entire life.
But nobody cares what an omega says.
Cold metal bites into my wrists as they chain me. The silver burns my skin punishment chains, meant to hurt wolves like me. I bite my lip to keep from crying out. Omegas who show pain get beaten worse.
They drag me into the hallway, and that's when I see her.
Lydia.
My best friend since we were kids. The only person in this horrible place who ever smiled at me. She's standing behind the guards, staring at the ground.
Lydia! Relief floods through me. Tell them! Tell them I didn't do this!
She doesn't look up.
My heart starts to pound for a different reason now. Lydia, please. You know me. You know I would never
I saw her. Lydia's voice is so quiet I almost don't hear it. I saw Sera take them from the vault three days ago.
The world tilts sideways.
No. No, she didn't just say that. She couldn't have.
What? The word comes out broken. Lydia, that's not true. I was with you three days ago. We were scrubbing floors together in the
Enough! The guard jerks my chains hard enough to make me stumble. The Council will hear your lies soon enough, thief.
As they haul me past Lydia, I catch a glimpse of her wrist.
She's wearing a silver bracelet. The one she showed me last week, the one she said was too expensive for an omega to ever own. The one that could only be afforded by higher-ranked wolves.
The one she's wearing right now.
Understanding hits me like a physical blow.
She did this. Lydia framed me. She stole the relics and planted them in my room. She lied about seeing me at the vault.
But why?
Lydia. My voice cracks. Please. Why are you doing this?
For just a second, she looks at me. Her eyes are cold, harder than I've ever seen them.
I'm sorry, Sera, she whispers. But she doesn't sound sorry. She sounds... relieved.
Then she turns and walks away, and I realize I never really knew her at all.
The guards drag me outside into the morning sun. Pack members pour out of their homes to watch. I hear their whispers like knives.
Omega trash.
Always knew she was no good.
Stealing sacred relics? She'll hang for this.
Hang. They're going to kill me for something I didn't do.
Fear claws up my throat, but I force it down. I can't break. Not here. Not in front of all these people who already think I'm worthless.
I've been invisible my whole life. Orphaned as a baby, raised in the servant quarters, told every single day that omegas like me are the lowest of the low. I've scrubbed floors, served meals, taken insults and beatings without complaint. I've survived by being small, by being quiet, by never causing trouble.
And this is what it gets me. Chains and lies and a death sentence.
The Council building looms ahead. It's the biggest structure in our territory, built from dark stone that seems to swallow light. I've only been inside once, when I was twelve and had to testify about a kitchen accident. The Council members had looked at me like I was a bug they wanted to crush.
They're going to crush me now.
The guards shove me through the massive doors. Inside, the temperature drops twenty degrees. My bare feet slap against cold marble as they march me down a long hallway.
We stop in front of another set of doors these ones carved with wolves and moons. The Council chamber.
One guard knocks. A deep voice from inside says, Enter.
The doors swing open, and I'm pushed inside so hard I fall to my knees. The chains rattle loudly in the sudden silence.
I force my head up.
Five Council members sit on a raised platform, looking down at me like gods judging a worthless mortal. I recognize Councilman Marcus Grey in the centre silver-haired, sharp-eyed, and powerful. He's the one who runs this territory, even more than our Alpha.
His eyes lock on mine, and something cold slithers down my spine.
Why does he look... satisfied?
Sera Blackwood. His voice fills the chamber. You stand accused of stealing sacred moon relics. How do you plead?
I open my mouth to say I'm innocent, to beg them to investigate, to
The chamber doors explode open behind me.
The temperature drops even further. Power fills the room like a physical force, pressing down on everyone. Several people gasp.
Heavy footsteps echo on the marble. I don't dare turn around, but I don't have to. I can feel him the raw dominance, the barely controlled rage.
An Alpha. Not just any Alpha.
THE Alpha.
Kade Thornridge strides past me without a glance. He's massive, dressed all in black, with dark hair and eyes that could freeze fire. I've only seen him twice in my life, both times from a distance. He's the most feared leader in five territories. They say he killed his first enemy at sixteen and hasn't shown mercy since.
He stops in front of the Council, and even from my position on the floor, I see his hands are clenched into fists.
Alpha Thornridge. Marcus's voice has changed it's smoother now, almost pleased. How convenient. We were just about to summon you.
I'm here for my own trial, Kade growls. Not whatever this is.
Ah, yes. Your refusal to accept the Council's chosen mate. Marcus leans forward. A serious offense, Alpha. One that requires serious punishment.
Kade's jaw tightens. Name your punishment. I'll pay it. But I won't be forced into a political marriage.
Marcus's eyes gleam. He looks at me, still kneeling in chains. Then back at Kade.
And he smiles.
Oh no.
I have a better idea, Marcus says slowly. Alpha Thornridge, you refused to mate with a worthy female. This omega here refused to honor our sacred relics. I believe... the perfect punishment for both of you has just presented itself.
The other Council members lean forward, understanding dawning on their faces.
Kade goes very, very still. No.
Yes. Marcus stands, and his voice carries the weight of absolute authority. Alpha Kade Thornridge, you will take Sera Blackwood as your mate. Immediately. Refuse, and your pack loses all Council protection and territory rights.
The room erupts in shocked whispers.
I can't breathe. This can't be happening. They can't force an Alpha to mate with an omega. It's unheard of. It's
Kade turns and looks at me for the first time.
His eyes are pure ice. Pure hatred.
He looks at me like I'm the worst thing that's ever happened to him.
And in that moment, I realize death might have been kinder.