I was seven years old when I came to the Taylor pack, only because my father had done a great service to Alpha Taylor, and they had become close allies.

After my parents tragically died at the hands of rogues, Alpha Taylor brought me into their household. But both Alpha Taylor and his Luna, Margaret, were often busy, and their care for me was inevitably a bit lacking.

Added to that, when I first arrived, I was unfamiliar with the pack and extremely timid.

I tiptoed through every day, careful in everything I did, even afraid to eat too much at meals.

Being an orphan, the pack's lower-ranking members gradually began to bully me.

Once, I remember an Omega slacked off and forgot to bring me food, and I went hungry for an entire day.

Starving, I snuck into the kitchen to get something to eat.

But I was caught by the kitchen staff, who accused me of stealing.

Just as I was in despair, it was Axton who helped me. He scolded them fiercely:

"Victoria is the daughter of our pack's savior. Who dares to treat her like this?"

He reprimanded the staff and reported it to Luna Margaret.

Luna was furious and exiled several of the Omegas who had been bullying me. After that, my life improved.

That was the first time I met him, and later I learned he was the eldest son of the Taylor pack, the future Alpha.

He was also the one with whom I had a verbal promise of becoming mates.

After that, he would ask about me every day when he returned to the packhouse, taking great care of me.

He always said, "Victoria, don't be afraid. From now on, I’m your family."

On the day of my Come of Age Ceremony, he was drunk and, uncharacteristically bold, barged into my room, holding me tightly in his arms.

He said he loved me and wanted me to be his Luna.

At that moment, I was overjoyed and couldn’t help but nod.

From then on, I always dreamed of becoming his mate.

Back in my room, I was still lost in those memories when the door suddenly burst open.

It was Camila.

She was wearing a stunning dress, her eyes brimming with a mix of feigned innocence and hidden triumph as she said to me:

"Victoria, you’re back. I have something to tell you. Axton has taken me as his chosen mate, and we’ve had a child. Once you join the pack, he’ll formally mark me as his mate."

"I’m sorry, Victoria, but Axton fell for me, and I couldn’t refuse…"

She shed two tears, her eyes red, but deep within them was a glint of challenge.

In that moment, she finally revealed the ambition she had been hiding all along.

If this had happened before, I would have rushed to Axton, crying and making a scene, maybe even running to Margaret Taylor to complain.

Because I still remember his promise: he would mate only with me, and he would never take another.

There had been times when other Omegas in the pack had tried to flirt with him, and I had always dealt with them swiftly and decisively, making sure the entire pack knew about it.

But this time, I didn’t feel like making a fuss.

I just felt so tired.

“Congratulations on getting what you wanted,” I said flatly, my voice calm despite the storm inside me. “I just wonder if Axton knows you came here today.”

Camila’s face paled slightly, and she quickly excused herself, leaving in a hurry.

After my attendants helped me freshen up, I sat at my desk and picked up a pen.

During the three years I’d been away, I hadn’t just been focusing on my duties. In my free time, I’d also been teaching at the pack academy. Roy Hunt, the Gamma who ran the academy, had praised my teaching skills, saying I was a natural educator.

Before I returned, he’d asked if I’d consider staying on as a full-time instructor.

At the time, I’d declined, eager to come back and finally solidify my mate bond with Axton.

But now, after everything that had happened, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made the wrong choice.

I sighed softly and began writing a letter to Roy, telling him I’d changed my mind and would be moving to Ludos to continue teaching.

Once the letter was finished, I sat there for a while, lost in thought. Eventually, I decided I owed it to Margaret and her mate to tell them my plans before I left.

They’d always been so kind to me, and I didn’t want to disappear without a word.

The next day, just as I was preparing to go see Margaret, Axton showed up at my door.

“Victoria,” he said, his tone light, as if nothing had happened. “I’ve arranged a welcome-back gathering for you at the pack’s favorite diner. Everyone is there. Come with me.”

The sight of him made my stomach churn, and for a moment, I wanted to lash out at him, to scream and make him feel even a fraction of the pain I was feeling.

But then I thought of Margaret, and I forced myself to stay calm.

Fine, I thought. Let this be my final goodbye to everything here.

When we arrived at the diner, Axton didn’t come in with me.

“You go ahead,” he said, his voice casual. “I’m waiting for someone.”

I walked in alone, steeling myself for whatever was to come.

The entire third floor had been reserved by Axton Taylor. As I stepped onto the level, the noisy chatter died down instantly, and all eyes turned to me, filled with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“She actually came?” someone whispered.

“Axton said today is Camila’s birthday, but her status as an Omega doesn’t allow for a grand celebration,” another voice added.

“So they’re using this as an excuse to celebrate.”

Though they were far away, my sharp wolf hearing caught every word. My heart ached, and I couldn’t help but think bitterly: He really knows how to make the most of things!

“Victoria, come over here!” Stefan Barnes called out to me.

Stefan was a mutual friend of Axton and me, someone I’d known since our days at the pack academy. Yet, he had known about Axton’s secret relationship with Camila and never told me. Suppressing the turmoil inside, I nodded slightly and took a seat.

Soon, Axton returned, and to my shock, he was accompanied by Camila. The sight of them together drew laughter and cheers from the crowd, as people eagerly handed Camila their carefully prepared gifts. Some even joked about how their scents matched perfectly, as if they were destined mates, completely ignoring my presence.

Noticing my discomfort, Axton quickly said, “Today’s supposed to be Victoria’s welcome party. Why are you all crowding around me? Go and give her your gifts!”

At his words, Camila shot me a resentful glare. I couldn’t help but find the whole scene absurd. These were once our packmates, people who had once wished us a lifetime of happiness. Yet, they had all kept the truth from me, treating me like a fool. Was I really that much of an outsider to them?

The air in the room felt suffocating. I excused myself to step outside for some fresh air. Standing on the balcony, the cool night breeze helped clear my mind. But as I turned around, I found Camila standing there, her eyes filled with desperation.

“You heard what I said yesterday, didn’t you?” she began.

“Axton doesn’t love you. Why are you still clinging to the title of his mate? For the sake of our past friendship, I’m begging you—let me have him. If you don’t mark him, he can make me his chosen mate.”

I was about to tell her she was delusional when she suddenly threw herself against the nearby wall. Blood trickled down her pale skin, staining her face as she collapsed to the ground, her expression full of anguish.

“Victoria,” she pleaded, her voice trembling, “Axton and I are truly in love. I only ask for a place by his side. Please, let me have this!”

Her cries drew Axton’s attention, and he rushed over, his face a mix of shock and concern. His Alpha aura flared, dominating the space as he knelt beside her, his eyes darting between us with a mix of accusation and confusion.