My hands trembled as I tried to wash myself in the bathtub. For a brief moment, it felt good icy rivulets soothing the external burn, cooling the sweat that had plastered my hair to my neck and made my body glisten like I'd been doused in oil. I leaned back against the porcelain, gasping, my bound ankles-wait, no, he'd untied my hands but left my legs free now? No, everything blurred.

The ropes were gone from my wrists, but the phantom ache remained, red welts circling my skin like bracelets of fire. I scooped water over my chest, trying to rinse away the sticky residue of slick that clung to my thighs, but my movements were weak, uncoordinated. Every brush of my fingers against my hypersensitive flesh sent unwelcome jolts through me, not relief, but a reminder of the void inside.

I couldn't even bring myself to touch lower, where the need pulsed hottest; my mind recoiled at the thought of doing it alone, without him.

But the respite was short-lived. As the water grew tepid around me, a fresh burning sensation ignited deep in my core, shooting outward like lightning through my veins. It started as a low throb in my abdomen, then spread-my pussy clenching desperately around nothing, slick renewing its flow despite the chill.

This wasn't just the heat; it was the cruel twist of having his pheromones so near yet denied. Elias's scent lingered on my skin from when he'd carried me here, a faint trace of that dominant alpha musk-earthy pine and forged steel-that my omega biology craved like air.

Without his full presence, without his touch to ground it, the pheromones turned toxic, pricking at my nerves like thousands of needles. It amplified the pain, making my body scream for completion. Omegas weren't meant to endure this half-state; our heats demanded total surrender or total agony. I doubled over in the tub, hugging my knees, sobs echoing off the tiled walls.

"Why... why won't it stop?" I whispered to no one, tears mixing with the water. The burn intensified, a vise squeezing my womb, radiating to my breasts, my thighs, even my fingertips. I felt like I was being torn apart from the inside, every cell begging for the one thing that could quench it: him.

The door swung open without warning, and he entered. No sympathy in those piercing blue eyes, just added up detachment. He didn't speak at first, just strode in, his boots clicking on the floor, and scooped me up from the tub like I weighed nothing. Water dripped from my naked body onto his shirt, but he didn't flinch.

His arms around me were a torment all their own-his heat seeping through the fabric, his pheromones enveloping me fully now, easing the needle-pricks into a dull roar but igniting fresh waves of need.

I whimpered against his chest, my face buried in the crook of his neck, inhaling him greedily. "Elias... please..."

He carried me back to the bedroom without a word, the air cooler now, the bed remade with fresh sheets that smelled of crisp linen instead of my desperation. He laid me down gently-too gently, almost mocking in its false care and stepped back, his gaze raking over my exposed form. I curled onto my side, tears blurring my vision as I looked up at him. He was still so handsome, that chiseled jaw, those broad shoulders, but the coldness in his eyes made him seem like a stranger.

A monster. The alpha everyone feared, the one who'd built his empire on ruthlessness. My body betrayed me again, slick pooling anew just from his proximity, but the pain lingered, a constant undercurrent.

Before I could beg again, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheaf of papers, throwing them onto the bed beside me with a flick of his wrist. They scattered like accusations.

"Sign them," he ordered.

I pushed myself up on shaking elbows, the movement sending a fresh stab through my core. My hands fumbled for the papers, the words swimming before my eyes.

"What... what are they?"

Elias crossed his arms, leaning against the bedpost with that smirk creeping back onto his lips-cold, mocking, like he was enjoying my confusion.

"Your way out of this pain, little omega. Sign them, and you'll be my legal mate. That means cutting all ties with that alpha of yours. No meeting him, no fucking him or any other alpha or beta. You'll belong to me completely. Body, soul, everything."

My breath hitched, the implications sinking in as the cold wash cleared the fog in my mind just enough. Legal mate? That wasn't just a bond; it was a contract in our world, enforceable by pack law, binding me to him forever. He leaned forward then, his face inches from mine, one hand reaching out to stroke my cheek. His touch was electric, sending shivers of relief through me, but his whisper was venom.

"In reality, Naomi, I'm buying you. You'll be here for me to torment and fuck whenever I want. My personal plaything. Isn't that what a traitor like you deserves?"

My eyes widened, horror cutting through the haze. He wanted to torment me-use me as a vessel for his anger, his revenge. And he still didn't know the truth about his father, about why I'd really run three years ago. I'd discovered the old alpha's betrayal, his plots against Elias himself, and fled to protect us both, infiltrating the enemies to sabotage them from within. If he found out now, after this... what would he do? Break me further? Kill me?

The heat would pass in a few days-omegas' cycles averaged three to five. I could endure a bit more, couldn't I? Clench my teeth through the pain, survive without giving away my whole life to this cold version of him.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head, pushing the papers away. "I won't sign them."

His face darkened, the smirk vanishing into a snarl. He grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze to his, his fingers digging in painfully-meant to hurt, not comfort.

"Really? You're that loyal to him? Rejecting your own mate for some rival alpha? Pathetic. I should have known, a cheater on top of a traitor. You slept with me that night, remember? Moaning under me like you meant it. Was that just part of your scheme too? Stringing me along while you warmed his bed?"

Tears spilled over, the pain surging with his anger, his pheromones spiking aggressively and making my body arch toward him involuntarily. "Elias, please... there's no-"

"Save it," he cut me off, releasing my chin with a shove that sent me back onto the pillows. "Make up your mind while I'm gone. But know this: you're not leaving this room either way."

He turned on his heel and stormed out, the door slamming like a final judgment.

I collapsed into the sheets, sobs wracking my body as the pain crested again. Why was this happening to me? All I'd wanted was to protect him, to unravel the web of lies around his family, but now I was trapped in my own.

The burn returned full force, my pussy aching so badly I squeezed my thighs together, rocking futilely, slick soaking the fresh linens already. Hours blurred-maybe minutes, but it felt eternal. I wondered if he'd really let me go if I didn't sign. No, his cold side wouldn't allow it.

He'd cage me anyway, torment me without the contract's protections. At least signing gave me a legal status-mates had rights, even if minimal. I could bide my time, reveal the truth about my father later, when the heat passed and he might listen. Enduring alone might kill me; omegas had died from prolonged heats without relief. And deep down, beneath the pain, a twisted part of me still craved him-the bond pulling me despite his cruelty. It was the only way out, the valid path through this hell.

Two hours later-or what felt like it-the door opened again. Elias stood there, arms crossed, eyes still cold. "Ready?"

I nodded weakly, tears streaming. "Yes... I'll sign."

He handed me a pen, watching as my shaking hand scrawled my name across the pages. Satisfaction flickered in his gaze, cold and triumphant. He gathered the papers, tucking them away, then hovered over me, his body caging mine against the bed. His scent overwhelmed me, promising relief at last.

"Good girl," he murmured, his voice a mocking purr. "Now, let's help you... as the contract suggests."

I panted, my chest heaving as Elias's words hung in the air like a threat wrapped in silk.

"Good girl," he mocked, his voice a gravelly sneer that sent shivers down my spine despite the lingering fire of my heat.

He snatched the contract from my trembling hands, his fingers brushing mine just enough to spark that electric pull between us-alpha and omega, mates destined yet doomed by betrayal and lies. The paper crinkled under his grip, and he tucked it away into his pocket with a triumphant smirk, his gray eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction.

"Now, let's see if you're worth the trouble. A traitor like you? Doubtful, but I'll enjoy breaking you anyway."

My body betrayed me even as my mind recoiled. The heat still simmered beneath my skin, a dull throb now that his pheromones saturated the room-rich cedar, earthy and commanding, mingling with my softer floral notes in a heady, intoxicating blend. As mates, our scents were designed to complement each other, to draw us inexorably together, but his denial had turned it into a weapon.

I was naked on the fresh sheets, my skin flushed and glistening from the bath, every curve exposed under his predatory gaze. Slick still trickled from my core, my pussy aching, swollen from days of unrelieved torment. I squeezed my thighs together instinctively, a whimper escaping my lips as the friction teased without satisfying.

He moved like a shadow, predatory and unhurried, closing the distance in a single stride. His hand cupped my jaw with bruising force, tilting my face up to meet his. Those lips curled in mockery before crashing down on mine. The kiss was no tender reunion; it was a conquest, his tongue thrusting past my parted lips without invitation, claiming my mouth with ruthless hunger.

I moaned into him, the sound desperate and whiny, vibrating against his invading tongue. Gods, he tasted like sin, dark, spiced, with a hint of the whiskey he'd probably been drinking to steel himself against me. My floral pheromones bloomed in response, sweet and submissive, flooding the air as my body yielded to his dominance. His free hand tangled in my damp hair, yanking my head back sharply to deepen the angle, his teeth nipping at my lower lip until I tasted blood. The sharp sting only heightened the heat, my nipples pebbling painfully, my core clenching emptily.

"Pathetic," he murmured against my bruised lips, pulling back just enough to let his hot breath fan over my face. His eyes locked on mine, cold and unyielding, like storm clouds ready to unleash fury. "Moaning like a desperate whore already. Is this how you seduced your other alpha? With those needy little sounds, spreading your legs for anyone who could knot you through your slutty heats?"

"No..Ah!," I gasped, my voice breaking as tears pricked my eyes.

The lie he'd forced from me earlier-nodding about another alpha-hung between us like poison, twisting his hatred deeper. But the heat didn't care about truths; it demanded relief, and his touch was the only balm. I hated how my body arched toward him, craving more, even as his words sliced through me.

He silenced me with another brutal kiss, his tongue fucking my mouth in a rhythm that mimicked what was to come-deep, relentless thrusts that left me breathless. I clutched at his shirt, my nails digging into the fabric, anchoring myself as waves of need crashed over me. He growled into the kiss, a low alpha rumble that vibrated through my chest, making my floral scent spike in submission. Finally, he broke away, leaving me panting, lips swollen and slick with our shared saliva.

Pushing me back onto the bed with effortless strength, he loomed over me, his broad frame casting a shadow that made me feel small, vulnerable. The fresh sheets were cool against my fevered skin, a stark contrast to the heat building anew between my thighs. His eyes raked over my body, lingering on my heaving breasts, the way they rose and fell with each ragged breath.

"Look at these," he sneered, his large hands cupping them roughly, the calluses on his palms scraping deliciously against my sensitive skin. His thumbs brushed over my hardened nipples, circling them with mocking gentleness before pinching hard.

I cried out, arching off the bed-"Ahh, Elias!"-the mix of pain and pleasure shooting straight to my core.

"So eager, aren't they?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain as he kneaded my breasts, squeezing them like they were toys for his amusement. "Peaked and ready for anyone with a knot, I bet. Did your lover play with them like this? Suck on these fat tits until you begged for mercy?"

He lowered his head, his stubble grazing my skin as his tongue flicked out to trace one nipple. Wet heat encircled it, his mouth latching on and sucking hard, teeth grazing the bud in a way that made me writhe.

I moaned loudly, "Oh–Angh-!" my hands fisting in his hair, pulling him closer despite myself.

He chuckled darkly against my flesh, the vibration sending jolts through me. Switching to the other breast, he sucked greedily, his hand slapping the first one lightly-the sting blooming into heat that pooled between my legs. Slick gushed anew, soaking the sheets beneath me. He played with them mercilessly, alternating between licks, bites, and twists, leaving my nipples red and throbbing.

"Such sensitive little tits," he popped off one with a wet, obscene sound, blowing cool air over the saliva-slicked peak. "Made to be abused. Bet you let him mark them, didn't you? Bruise them up like the cheater you are."

The mockery stung, amplifying my humiliation, but the relief from his touch was undeniable-the heat's fire ebbing under the onslaught of pleasure. Yet his cold side shone through, his touches possessive yet detached, like he was using me as much as helping.

Releasing my breasts with a final, painful twist, he trailed open-mouthed kisses down my stomach, nipping at the soft flesh, leaving red marks in his wake.

"Squirming already? You're so easy. A traitor's body, wet and willing for her enemy. Let's see how filthy you really are."

His strong hands gripped my thighs, parting them wide with ease, exposing my dripping pussy to the cool air. I whimpered, cheeks burning with embarrassment at how soaked I was-slick coating my folds, trickling down to my ass, the scent of my arousal thick and floral, begging for him.

"Fuck, look at this mess," he growled, his breath hot against my core, making me twitch. "Your cunt's begging for it already. Floral and sweet, like a ripe flower in heat. But it's mine now. My dirty little hole to use and punish."

Without warning, he dove in, his tongue lapping at my clit in broad, flat strokes that had me screaming.

"Elias! Ahh!" My hips bucking up toward his mouth. Pleasure exploded through me, white-hot and overwhelming, as his cedar pheromones intensified, commanding my submission. He ate me out like a man starved yet hateful-lips sucking my swollen clit, tongue circling it teasingly, flicking the underside until I was sobbing. Then he dipped lower, tongue thrusting into my entrance, tasting my slick with greedy laps.

"Tastes like betrayal," he muttered, the words vibrating against my folds. "Sweet on the outside, rotten within. But gods, you're dripping for me, aren't you? Leaking like a faucet for your captor."

I moaned nonstop, the sounds filthy and unrestrained. "Mmm, oh fuck... don't stop, Elias..."

As his fingers joined the assault. He traced my slick folds, collecting the wetness before pushing one thick digit inside me. I clenched around it, gasping at the intrusion, the stretch a sweet agony. He added a second, fingering me slowly at first, curling to hit that spongy spot deep inside that made stars burst behind my eyelids.

"Greedy cunt," he mocked, scissoring his fingers to stretch me wider, his thumb rubbing relentless circles on my clit. "Sucking me in like you can't get enough. Did you finger yourself thinking of him? Or was it me you hated-fantasized about, touching this slutty pussy in secret?"

"Only you... ahh, gods!" I cried as he thrust harder, adding a third finger, pounding in and out with wet, obscene squelches. Slick dripped down his hand, coating his wrist, my body betraying every ounce of need. The build-up was intense, my heat demanding release, our pheromones intertwining in a thick, heady cloud that made the room spin. He finger-fucked me relentlessly, his mouth returning to suck my clit in time with his thrusts, pushing me higher, closer...

But he pulled back abruptly, just as I teetered on the edge, my body convulsing in frustration. I whined desperately. "Elias, no... please, I was so close!"

But he only laughed, cold and mocking, wiping his glistening lips with the back of his hand.

"Not yet, omega. You'll come on my cock, like the whore you are. Earn your relief."

He stripped quickly, shedding his clothes to reveal his alpha physique-chiseled muscles rippling under tanned skin, broad chest heaving, and his cock... gods, it was massive, thick and veined, the knot at the base already swelling in anticipation. Cedar pheromones peaked, overwhelming my senses, making my floral scent submit fully as slick poured from me. He flipped me onto my stomach with rough hands, yanking my hips up so I was on all fours, ass presented like an offering. The position was humiliating, animalistic, but my heat reveled in it.

"Beg for it," he demanded, the blunt head of his cock teasing my entrance, sliding through my slick folds.

"Please, Elias... fuck me. I need your cock, your knot... fill me, ahh! Make it stop hurting..."

He slammed in with one brutal thrust, burying himself to the hilt. I screamed his name, the stretch exquisite-pain and pleasure blurring as his cock hit deep, pressing against my cervix.

"Tight little pussy," he groaned, his voice rough with lust but edged with hate. "Made for my cock, huh? Bet you spread for anyone, though. Cheating omega slut."

He fucked me hard, hips snapping with punishing force, each thrust jolting me forward. I pushed back greedily.

"Yes, harder... oh fuck, Elias, yes!"-slick easing the way, our bodies slapping together in a filthy rhythm. His hands gripped my hips, fingers bruising my skin, pulling me onto him like I was nothing but a hole to use.

"Take it, traitor," he mocked, one hand sliding up to tangle in my hair, yanking my head back. "This is what you get-fucked like a slave, knotted and bred by the alpha you hate."

The pace built, dirty and relentless, his knot swelling further, catching on my entrance with each withdrawal. He reached around, fingers finding my clit, rubbing harshly as he pounded into me. Pleasure coiled tight, my walls fluttering around him. I came first, shattering with a scream.

"Elias! I'm coming... ahh!" Waves crashed over me, milking his cock.

He followed with a roar, thrusting deep as his knot locked us together, hot seed flooding my womb in pulsing jets. Relief washed through me-the heat finally subdued, my body sated but sore. We collapsed sideways, still tied, his chest against my back, his arm possessively around my waist.

But even in the afterglow, his voice was ice: "Enjoy the reprieve, pain comes next."