The scent hit me first—expensive, floral, and overwhelmingly feminine. It didn't belong in Collin's room. I paused mid-motion, the stack of freshly folded t-shirts frozen in my hands as I tried to place it. Bianca's scent. My heart stuttered in my chest, but I forced myself to continue tidying his Alpha suite, ignoring the hollow ache spreading through my chest.

It was just a scent, I told myself. Nothing concrete. Nothing that could shatter the fragile hope I'd nursed for years.

Then I saw it. Tucked between his dark dress shirts was a silk scarf in deep crimson—Bianca's favorite color. I'd seen her wear it countless times at pack gatherings. My fingers trembled as I lifted it, and the mate mark on the corner confirmed my worst fears. The delicate crescent moon embroidery, stitched with silver thread—the same mark that should have been on my neck if he'd ever truly chosen me.

The room suddenly felt too small, the air too thick. I needed to finish quickly and leave before anyone found me here, surrounded by the evidence of my humiliation. As I moved to empty his wastebasket, my hand froze mid-air.

A used condom. The small, foil wrapper glinted up at me like a cruel joke.

Something inside me broke. The years of waiting, of making myself small, of believing that one day he would see me—they all collapsed into this single moment of devastating clarity. I wasn't his mate. I was never going to be his mate. I was just... convenient. An Omega who cleaned his room and warmed his bed when his true love was away.

'Lia.' His voice startled me. I hadn't heard him enter, too consumed by my discovery. Collin stood in the doorway, his tall frame blocking the exit. And beside him, like a ghost from my nightmares, stood Bianca. Her hand rested possessively on his arm, her lips curved in a satisfied smile.

'I was just cleaning, Alpha,' I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. I tucked the scarf behind my back, but it was too late. I'd seen the truth, and it was written all over my face.

Bianca's laugh was light, musical. 'Oh, Collin, your little Omega is so dedicated. Still cleaning up after you, I see.' She leaned closer to him, her scent enveloping him completely. 'Though I must say, some things should stay private.'

Collin's expression remained cold, distant. He didn't defend me. Didn't deny her words or pull away from her touch. He simply looked through me, as if I were invisible. 'Finish quickly, Lia. We need the room.'

I nodded mechanically, my chest tight with unshed tears. 'Yes, Alpha.'

Back in my tiny Omega quarters, I sat on the edge of my narrow bed, staring at the wall. The scarf and the condom—physical proof of what I'd always known but refused to accept. Muffin, my wolf pup, whimpered softly at my feet, sensing my distress.

'No more tears,' I whispered to the empty room, wiping my cheeks. 'No more waiting for someone who doesn't want me.'

I pulled out a single duffel bag and began packing. My clothes, few as they were. The small bundle of dried lavender my mother had given me. A worn paperback book. And finally, I scooped Muffin into my arms.

'We're leaving, girl,' I murmured, burying my face in her soft fur. 'We deserve better than this.'

The pack house was quiet as I made my way to the exit. Everyone was busy with afternoon duties, no one noticed the Omega with her belongings and her dignity. As I stepped across the threshold, the weight on my shoulders lifted slightly. The mate bond I'd never truly had was finally breaking—not with a ceremony or words, but with the simple act of walking away from a man who never chose me.

I didn't look back.

I didn't look back as I stepped across the pack house threshold, Muffin nestled securely in my arms. The weight on my shoulders lifted slightly with each step away from the life I was leaving behind. The mate bond I'd never truly had was finally breaking—not with a ceremony or words, but with the simple act of walking away from a man who never chose me. The evening air felt crisp against my tear-stained cheeks, carrying the scent of pine and freedom.

Then, without warning, I collided with something solid.

'Whoa there,' a deep, warm voice said above me.

I stumbled backward, clutching Muffin tighter as I looked up into the most striking pair of amber eyes I'd ever seen. They belonged to a tall man with broad shoulders and an air of quiet authority that seemed to radiate from him. There was something vaguely familiar about his features, though I couldn't place it.

'I'm so sorry,' I whispered, my voice still raw from suppressed tears. 'I wasn't looking where—'

'Lia Watson,' he said, my name sounding different in his mouth. 'And you're leaving?'

I froze. He knew my name. But how? I was just an Omega, invisible to most.

He stepped closer, and I caught his scent—cedar and something distinctly powerful. Lycan. My instincts recognized what my mind was still processing.

'Prince Cyrus,' I breathed, suddenly understanding. The pack house landlord. Collin's uncle. The Lycan royalty who rarely made appearances at Moonveil.

His eyes softened as they took in my packed duffel bag and Muffin's anxious form. 'What happened?'

Nothing in his tone demanded an answer. It was a genuine question, offered without pressure.

'Nothing that matters now,' I replied, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. 'I'm just...'

'Leaving,' he finished for me, his gaze drifting to the pack house behind me. Something flickered across his face—concern, perhaps even anger—but it vanished so quickly I wondered if I'd imagined it.

Before I could respond, Muffin wiggled free from my arms. To my shock, she padded directly to Cyrus's feet and settled there, looking up at him with complete trust. My wolf pup, who growled at strangers and even some pack members, had just voluntarily approached a Lycan Prince she'd never met.

Cyrus knelt down, his large hand gently stroking Muffin's fur. 'Hello, little one,' he murmured. 'You're as beautiful as your mother.'

'I—she doesn't usually—' I stammered, bewildered by Muffin's behavior.

His eyes met mine again. 'It's not safe for an unescorted Omega to leave pack territory at night,' he said, his voice firm but kind. 'Especially not with rogues reported in the area.'

'I'll be fine,' I insisted, though the thought of facing rogues alone made my stomach twist.

'I insist,' he said, and there was a subtle shift in his tone—the gentle authority of a Lycan Prince, not demanding but absolute. 'You'll stay in the pack house tonight.'

My heart sank. 'I can't go back there.'

'Not there,' he clarified, gesturing toward the main pack quarters. 'With me. In my private wing.'

I stared at him, certain I'd misheard. 'Your wing?'

'Yes,' he said simply. 'It's the safest place for you right now, and I have rooms to spare.'

I hesitated, torn between gratitude and wariness. But Muffin had already made her choice, pressing against Cyrus's legs as if she'd known him forever.

'Okay,' I finally whispered.

He smiled then—a genuine smile that reached his eyes and somehow made him look younger, less imposing. 'Good. Let's get you both settled.'

---

Later that night, I stood in the doorway of my new room in Cyrus's wing. It was easily three times the size of my Omega quarters, with a real bed, a desk, and a window overlooking the forest. After Cyrus had shown me around, I'd showered and changed into clean clothes, feeling almost human again.

Muffin was curled up on the plush carpet, finally asleep after her earlier excitement. But thirst had driven me from the room in search of water.

The hallway was surprisingly bright. Every light was on, casting a warm glow that chased away shadows. I'd grown so accustomed to the dark, cramped corridors of the Omega quarters that this illumination felt almost overwhelming.

'Can't sleep?' Cyrus's voice came from behind me.

I turned to find him standing there in casual clothes, his powerful frame somehow less intimidating without the formal Lycan regalia.

'I was just getting water,' I explained. 'But... why are all the lights on?'

He seemed to understand immediately. 'The Omega quarters are isolated,' he said quietly. 'Dark. I thought... I wanted you to feel safe.'

The simple consideration hit me harder than I expected. No one had ever left a light on for me before. No one had ever thought about what might make me feel safe.

'Thank you,' I whispered, the words inadequate for the warmth spreading through my chest.

He nodded, his amber eyes holding mine for a moment longer than necessary. 'Get your water, Lia. And try to rest. Tomorrow is a new day.'

As I watched him walk away, Muffin's odd behavior and his unexpected kindness circled in my mind. There was something about Cyrus Knight that felt like a puzzle piece I hadn't known was missing—something that made me wonder what other surprises this Lycan Prince might have in store.

The communal dining hall buzzed with morning activity as I slipped into my usual seat at the far end of the long oak table. My fingers nervously smoothed the fabric of my simple gray sweater—the nicest thing I owned, yet still a stark contrast to the designer clothes that adorned the higher-ranking wolves. Muffin, still adjusting to our new living arrangement, was curled up in Cyrus's wing, which left me feeling oddly vulnerable without her comforting presence.

I kept my eyes down, focusing on arranging my silverware just so, when the chair beside me scraped against the floor. I tensed, expecting one of the other Omegas, but instead caught the unmistakable cedar scent before I saw him.

'Good morning, Lia,' Cyrus said, his voice warm and low, meant only for me despite the crowded room.

My cheeks flushed as I nodded, acutely aware of the curious glances from nearby pack members. A Lycan Prince sitting next to an Omega? Unheard of.

'Thank you for... last night,' I whispered, still uncomfortable with the kindness he'd shown me.

His amber eyes crinkled slightly at the corners. 'Of course.'

Before I could say more, a hush fell over the dining hall. Collin had entered with Bianca on his arm, her crimson lips curved in a triumphant smile as she surveyed the room. My stomach clenched as they approached our table.

Cyrus's posture shifted subtly beside me, his presence suddenly more commanding, though he said nothing as Collin and Bianca took seats directly across from us.

'The pack house seems quite... crowded these days,' Bianca's voice dripped with false sweetness as she glanced pointedly at me. 'Some wolves seem to be occupying spaces they haven't earned.'

I focused on my untouched plate, pretending not to hear. Years of practice made it easy to disappear, to become invisible when necessary.

The server brought out steaming bowls of egg and vegetable stew, and I began to eat mechanically. I picked out the scallions one by one, placing them in a small pile beside my bowl—a habit I'd developed since childhood. I never liked them, but I'd never complained either. What was the point?

Across the table, I couldn't help but notice how Collin leaned toward Bianca, his fingers carefully removing each scallion from her portion. The tenderness in his movements was something I'd never seen directed at me, not once in all our years together. He'd never even noticed I disliked them.

'You don't like scallions?' Cyrus's quiet voice broke through my thoughts.

I glanced up, startled. 'No, I—it's fine. I just...' I gestured vaguely at the pile beside my bowl.

Cyrus watched me for a moment longer than necessary, his expression unreadable, before returning to his own meal.

The rest of breakfast passed in tense silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. I was relieved when it ended, escaping to the laundry room where I had duties to complete.

I was sorting through the day's linens when a shadow fell across my work. I looked up to find Bianca leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest. She wore Collin's old training jacket—the one with his pack insignia and scent still embedded in the fabric.

'Well, well,' she purred, her voice laced with venom. 'Look at you, little Omega, suddenly living in luxury. Did you think moving to the Lycan wing would make you special?'

I continued sorting, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a response.

'Years I spent with Collin, and he never once brought me there,' she continued, stepping closer. 'And yet here you are, with your pathetic little wolf pup and your sad devotion, somehow worming your way into places you don't belong.'

I folded a white sheet with deliberate care, my hands steady despite the anger building in my chest. When I finished, I looked up at her, meeting her gaze without flinching.

'I have work to do,' I said simply, and walked past her toward the door.

As I brushed by her, she hissed, 'This isn't over, Lia. You're still nothing but an Omega playing dress-up.'

I didn't look back, but for the first time in years, her words didn't cut as deeply as they should have. Something was changing inside me—something that had begun the moment I'd seen that scarf and condom, and had continued with every small kindness Cyrus had shown me since.