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As if the cruel rejection by her supposed mate – Damien, wasn't enough, Damien's girlfriend came for Elodie outside the packhouse. "Did you really think you could steal Damian just because of a stupid bond? Goddess, you Omegas are always dreaming." Elodie was disgraced and treated like a common criminal. Still the gods had their ways that often seemed like a mockery to us. Raphael – Damien's elder brother just returned home from exile, only to find Elodie as his second chance mate. Sadly, Elodie vanished without a trace. But duty has a way of dragging you back, especially when the weight of a title like Alpha hovers over your head. Damien, his younger brother, has filled the space he left behind; strong, steady, and favored. Now, his brother is back to take it from him. Would he gladly give that away, without a fight? And then there's Floria, always watching, always wanting more than what she's been given.
Chapter 1 The Rejection
Today, Damien Fontaine was coming back from his one-week trip. And Elodie... she had made up her mind to talk to him.
About both of them.
Elodie Beaumont wiped her hands on her dress and adjusted the stack of towels on the table by the hallway. Her heart was beating fast and loud in her chest.
She had cleaned the whole packhouse like her life depended on it.
Even though it sounded foolish in her own head. Damien was the Beta-strong, respected, born into authority. Second son of Alpha Lucien Fontaine.
And her? She was hardly more than a shadow in the house. But the Moon Goddess had already decided.
She felt it the moment their eyes met last week; the heat that rose in her chest, the strong pull in her soul. That had to be the mate bond.
Every night since then, she stayed awake, thinking of that moment again and again.
The feeling. The way it took her breath away.
Her body was still hurting from all the scrubbing she did in the morning, but none of it mattered now. This was her only chance to talk to him.
To show him she was more than the Omega label.
The front door made a soft creaking sound as it opened.
She didn't need to check well.
Damien.
Elodie stood still in the hallway. He looked exhausted, still wearing his travel clothes, with snow clinging to his black coat. His presence filled the space without him saying a word. His eyes landed on her.
That pull again. Sharp. Like a jolt of light.
He felt it too. She was sure of it.
She took a small step forward, swallowing her fear. "You're back."
He blinked once and gave a short nod. "I am."
Silence came between them, heavy and uncomfortable. She didn't know what else to say now that he was right there. This wasn't how she imagined it at all.
"I-I've been meaning to talk to you," she said in a quiet voice. "I felt it. The bond."
His jaw moved, clenching tight.
"I know you felt it too," she said again, this time softer. "That day. Close to the training ground."
Damien didn't say no. But the look on his face-cold, unreadable, made her stomach twist painfully.
"Elodie," he said slowly, like he was choosing his words one by one, "you need to understand that... even if it's true, it can't work."
Her throat felt dry. "Why not?"
"Because you're an Omega. A nothing but slave to the pack."
The words hit her harder than she thought they would. Her lips opened, but she couldn't say anything.
"I have duties," he added, his eyes looking anywhere but at her. "My father is the Alpha. My brother doesn't have a confirmed mate yet. If anything happens to Raphael, I'll be the next Alpha. I can't afford any scandal, not to talk of a mate who-"
"Who what?" she asked sharply, her voice shaking. "Who has no title? Who mops floors and lives in the servant quarters?"
He didn't reply.
He didn't need to.
"I didn't beg to be born Omega," she whispered. "I didn't ask for this bond either. But the Moon Goddess still gave it. Doesn't that count for something?"
"Elodie," he said again, more firmly this time, "this is not about the Moon Goddess. It's about what's proper. And this... us, it's not proper."
It felt like someone stabbed her in the chest. But even with all the pain, she stood tall. "You don't get to decide that by yourself."
Damien took a step back and shook his head. "This conversation is over."
She wanted to shout. To fall to her knees and beg. But her pride wouldn't let her.
Instead, she swallowed the pain and looked at him properly. "I thought maybe you'd look past my rank. Just for once."
He didn't look away. But his silence said everything.
The door behind them opened again.
"I should've known," a voice said, full of wicked amusement. "The smell of desperation is hard to miss."
Floria Delacroix entered, carrying herself like a god.
Elodie turned slowly. Tall, graceful, and full of confidence, Floria entered the room like she owned it. She glanced at Elodie, then at Damien, and smirked.
"This is shameful," Floria said, folding her arms. "An Omega throwing herself at a Beta. Do you even hear what you're doing?"
Elodie winced but didn't talk back.
Damien stood beside her without saying anything.
"You think this silly bond changes anything?" Floria stepped forward, her voice cold. "Damien is meant for someone that matters. Someone he can proudly show to the world. Not someone hiding behind a mop."
"I never said I wanted to be some decoration," Elodie muttered.
Floria laughed. "Of course. You only want to carry his name and enjoy his protection."
"Floria, that's enough," Damien finally said, but it came too late.
Elodie had heard everything she needed. Not just from Floria, but from him too. He didn't defend her.
He didn't correct Floria. He let her speak like Elodie meant nothing.
She turned to Damien again, her eyes full of unshed tears. "You don't have to accept me as your mate. But don't pretend like I'm the one embarrassing you."
"Elodie-"
"No," she said, stepping back. "You've made your decision. I just needed to hear it with my own ears."
She walked past them, her hands balled tight by her sides. Her vision was blurry as she stepped into the cold air outside.
The sky was growing darker, and small flakes of snow had started to fall.
She wrapped her arms around her body, trying to breathe steadily. Her whole body was tired. But her heart... her heart was in pieces. Still, she wouldn't cry.
Not again.
Just as she was about to go down the steps, she heard voices from the courtyard.
Each word stung like a slap, but Elodie kept her face straight. She wouldn't give them the joy. She walked past them quickly, looking down, her steps fast.
But inside, she was falling apart.
She had hoped, really hoped that maybe destiny still had meaning. That the mate bond would be more important than rank. That someone, just once, would see her worth beyond her title.
She was wrong.
She didn't know where her feet were taking her. She just kept moving, away from the house, away from the laughter, away from the pain that was ready to tear her apart.
But just when she thought she had escaped the worst part...
Something even crueler was waiting outside the packhouse.
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