In the eyes of the world, Carmelo Tran was the cold and aloof Alpha of the Tran Pack.

But in the bedroom, he was insatiable.

Werewolves were known for their primal instincts, and I had always assumed his boundless appetite was simply a reflection of his nature.

Until one evening, after a particularly intense session, he pulled away and said, "I’m taking a mate."

My chest still heaved as I processed his words, a flicker of hope igniting in my heart. But the next moment, the man who had just been wrapped around me turned distant and cold.

"I’ve decided to mark Billie," he said, his tone devoid of any warmth. "She’s a healer, and her constitution is delicate. I didn’t want to overwhelm her with my needs, so I used you to release my urges."

He paused, his eyes scanning me with indifference. "But you won’t be needed anymore. Your scent is too strong, and I don’t want Billie to be uncomfortable."

---

I lay on the bed, struggling to catch my breath.

Carmelo was an Alpha, and his dominance was as relentless as it was overwhelming. Even after ten years of serving him, every encounter left me aching and raw.

His words hit me like a physical blow, and I trembled uncontrollably.

Carmelo mistook my reaction for pain and tossed me a small vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid. "This contains my blood. It’ll ease the discomfort for about a week."

I didn’t reach for it, just stared at him, my heart shattering into pieces.

Ten years. Ten years of devotion, of surrendering myself to him, body and soul. I had given him everything, believing that somewhere, somehow, he might care for me.

But his words dragged me back to reality, cruel and unyielding.

All this time, I had been nothing more than a convenience.

"If that’s the case," I whispered, my voice trembling, "why not just remove the bond entirely? If you don’t want me anymore, why keep me tied to you?"

Carmelo’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it quickly twisted into something cold and dangerous. He grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes, usually sharp and commanding, now held a warning that sent a chill down my spine.

"Norah," he said, his voice low and threatening, "don’t forget your place. You don’t have the right to question me."

I swallowed hard, lowering my eyes. "Forgive me, Alpha. I overstepped."

He released me with a satisfied nod and gestured toward the door. "Be smart about this."

I rose from the bed, my body still sore, and pulled on a thin robe. I stepped out of the room and knelt on the cold floor, my head bowed.

I was Norah Gardner, the rare purple-furred werewolf of the Gardner Pack.

My mother had died giving birth to me, but she had passed on her powerful wolf, awakening my inner wolf at just twelve years old. My father, the Alpha of the Gardner Pack, had always been protective of me, but I had been naive.

When I found an injured Omega from a neighboring pack, I had tried to save him. But it was a trap, and I was poisoned.

Carmelo had found me, half-dead and desperate. He used his blood to suppress the pain, but in exchange, he claimed me as his own. For ten years, I served as an Omega in his pack, enduring his abuse and manipulation. I had clung to the hope that one day, he might see me as more than just a tool.

But now, I knew the truth.

He had never cared for me. I had been a fool to believe otherwise.

---

The memories of how I ended up here flooded my mind.

When I was younger, I had been too trusting. I had tried to save a wounded Omega, not realizing it was a ploy to ambush me. The poison was potent, and my wolf, though powerful, couldn’t fight it off. I had stumbled through the woods, desperate to return to my pack, but I collapsed before I could make it.

That was when Carmelo found me.

He had used his blood to suppress the poison, but it came at a cost. He demanded my submission, and I gave it to him, believing he had saved my life out of kindness.

But that first night, as he claimed me, I had seen something in his eyes—something dark and hateful. I had dismissed it, too overwhelmed by the pain and the bond forming between us.

I stayed with him, thinking it was love. But now I knew better.

Every time he used me, he would send me to wait outside his room, ready to serve him whenever he desired. I had mistaken his possessiveness for affection, his control for care.

But it was all a lie.

I was nothing more than a convenience, a means to an end.

And now, he had found someone else. Someone he deemed worthy of being his Luna.

I knelt there, the cold floor biting into my knees, and let the tears fall silently.

Ten years of devotion, and all I had to show for it was this—a vial of his blood and the bitter taste of rejection.

The next day, the Tran Pack was brimming with excitement. Red decorations hung everywhere, a stark contrast to the usual cold, imposing atmosphere of their territory. Having spent so long in this harsh environment, I found the sudden warmth almost unsettling.

When I returned to my quarters, I found Carmelo standing in the room. He paused when he saw me, his expression darkening instantly.

“I’ve warned you before,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “to remember your place. This is the private chamber reserved for my future Luna. An Omega like you has no business here.”

As he spoke, his eyes flashed with a predatory glint, a sign of his barely contained rage. Did he really hate me this much?

My heart sank as I lowered my head, murmuring, “I apologize, Alpha.”

It was clear now—there had never been any affection between us. If my presence was so unwelcome, perhaps it was time to leave. I didn’t want my scent to offend his precious Luna.

But Carmelo wasn’t done with me.

“Get out of my sight,” he snapped. “Go to the training grounds.”

The training grounds were his personal domain, a place where he often retreated to assert his dominance. I followed him silently, my stomach churning with dread.

Once there, he dismissed the guards and turned on me. Without warning, he tore at my clothes, his movements rough and violent. I tried to resist, but he was too strong, too relentless. Soon, I could only gasp for air as he took what he wanted.

“You’ve been tempting me all day,” he growled, his voice dripping with accusation. “You knew I was holding back, and you couldn’t resist playing your little game.”

I wanted to protest, but he was too forceful, too overpowering. When it was over, he shoved me away with a sharp, disgusted expression.

“You shameless Omega,” he spat, his voice rising. “Always trying to manipulate me. Do you really think you could ever be Luna?”

His words cut deeper than any physical pain. He knew I loved him, but he didn’t care. To him, I was nothing more than a lowly Omega, unworthy of his status as Alpha.

Just as I was on the verge of passing out, he released me. I thought he was done, but his next words froze me to the core.

“Your scent is too strong,” he said coldly. “You’ll stay in the cells until it fades.”

Before I could plead, he grabbed me and threw me into the pack’s underground cells. The cold, damp air hit me as I landed amidst the shadows. The cells were dark and filled with the lingering scent of fear and despair. Though the Tran Pack’s cells weren’t designed to kill, the isolation and the humiliation were enough to break anyone.

It wasn’t until the day before the mark ceremony that Carmelo finally pulled me out. I was a mess—bruised, bloodied, and reeking of the cells. He sniffed the air, his expression one of satisfaction.

“Finally, the stench is gone,” he said. “The Tran Pack is proud. When Billie arrives, you’ll serve her. Remember your place.”

I nodded numbly, my body too battered to argue. “Yes, Alpha.”

For the first time in days, he smiled. He tossed a small vial of healing salve at my feet.

“Clean yourself up,” he said dismissively. “Billie’s delicate. I don’t want her seeing you like this.”

I forced a weak smile, gathering the salve and tending to my wounds. By the time I’d changed into clean clothes, Carmelo returned, leading a slender, graceful woman by his side. This had to be Billie Allen, his chosen Luna.

“Billie,” he said, gesturing to me, “this Omega will serve you. Whatever you need, she’ll handle it.”

I bowed deeply, keeping my eyes down. Billie wrinkled her nose, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Alpha,” she said softly, “why does she smell so strongly of the cells? And those bruises… was she punished?”

Carmelo didn’t respond, so I answered in a flat tone, “I disobeyed the Alpha. My punishment was deserved.”

Billie looked at Carmelo with a pout. “Alpha, she’s still a woman. You’re too harsh.”

Carmelo chuckled, his tone softening. “You’re right. From now on, I’ll leave such matters to my Luna.”

The two of them exchanged playful smiles, completely oblivious to my suffering. To them, my pain was nothing more than a trivial matter, a backdrop for their flirtation.

“You’re dismissed,” Carmelo said, waving me away.

As they walked off, arm in arm, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Billie’s scent was familiar. But I was certain I’d never met her before. It didn’t matter now. With Carmelo’s mark ceremony so close, there was no reason for me to stay. Leaving was my only option.

I slipped to the edge of the Tran Pack’s territory, planning my escape. On the day of the ceremony, the pack would be too busy celebrating to notice an Omega like me slipping away. But there was one problem—the bond Carmelo had forced on me. Even if I escaped, the pain of severing that bond would be unbearable. Still, I had no choice. The Tran Pack was no longer my home.

No matter how hard it would be, I had to leave. Perhaps back in the Gardner Pack, someone could help me break free of this curse.