A deafening roar erupted in my mind, as if something had detonated. I quickly pulled out my phone and opened the pack group chat. Alpha Kaizen had posted the contents of the USB drive there and then muted the group, ensuring everyone who logged in would see it first.

Overwhelming humiliation and pain surged within me. I pushed past the Deltas blocking my path and rushed to the elevator. But as soon as I reached the ground floor, I ran into Dexter Stewart, a Delta who had once tried to pursue me. His towering frame blocked my path as he grabbed my arm.

"Well, if it isn’t Kenna Ross? Makes sense why you turned me down before; you must charge by the hour. So, how much for a night?"

Hearing the commotion, other pack members gathered around. I struggled desperately to break free, but it was futile against his strength.

"Let me go, or I’ll report you to the council!"

With a sneer, he released my arm and shoved me to the floor, spitting near my feet.

"Such a phony!"

Their contemptuous gazes felt like daggers piercing through me. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Beta Maggie stepped out, pausing in surprise at the scene. Everyone knew about her ties to Alpha Kaizen, and they quickly dispersed, heads bowed in deference.

"Careful, falling at the pack house entrance like this. Think about the bad reputation it might bring the Alpha’s pack."

"Playing the victim won’t get you anywhere, you know? The Alpha has plans to set you up with a packmate so I don’t worry about you. Maybe consider Dexter? He seems… eager."

She leaned in close, her voice dripping with smugness. I ignored her and stood up to leave, but she followed me. "Kenna, you left your USB drive in the Alpha’s office. I came down just to return it to you."

With that, Maggie handed the USB to me in front of everyone. Whispered conversations filled the lobby, and my face flushed with embarrassment. She was clearly trying to humiliate me, an Omega, in front of the entire pack.

Maggie smiled and leaned in, speaking softly so only I could hear, "Looking forward to seeing more of your *performances* from this USB!"

"Beta Maggie!" I shouted angrily, but as soon as her title left my lips, Alpha Kaizen rushed over, his aura commanding and cold. He pulled her into his arms and admonished me sharply, his alpha tone slicing through the air.

"Kenna, you think you can speak to my Beta like that? Do you know she has a heart condition? You could scare her, speaking so loudly!"

I looked at him, trying to explain, but Maggie spoke first, her voice sweet and trembling.

"Alpha, I saw Kenna was in trouble and wanted to help. She might have misunderstood me, which is why she got upset."

Hearing her version, Alpha Kaizen glared at me, his dominance pressing down on me like a weight.

"Why the act? You weren’t this reserved in my office. Know your place, Omega. You don’t deserve to speak to my Beta. If I catch you yelling at her again, you’ll be out of this pack!"

Tears streamed uncontrollably as I looked up at him. He had once solemnly promised I had a place in his heart, inviting me to join his pack. I had risked my standing in my former pack to be here, only to have it used against me.

Though my official role was assistant, I had secretly completed numerous design projects for him, pouring my heart and soul into the work. All it brought me was this humiliation.

"Ouch, Alpha… it hurts…" Maggie suddenly clutched her chest in feigned agony, collapsing into his embrace. He held her tightly, his expression softening as he glared at me.

"Kenna, if anything happens to her, it’s on you." His words were final, his tone leaving no room for argument.

My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, a quiet, pained sound. *He’s not worth it,* she whispered, but the bond between us still burned, a cruel reminder of what I had lost.

"Maggie!" Alpha Kaizen Nguyen’s voice cut through the air, laced with panic as he scooped Maggie Mitchell into his arms. His aura, usually so commanding, was now frayed with worry.

I stood frozen, my chest tightening as I watched him carry her away, his attention entirely consumed by her. The bond between us—the mate bond he had manipulated me into—pulsed faintly, a cruel reminder of what I had once thought was real.

I returned to my office, my steps heavy, and began drafting my resignation letter. My hands trembled as I packed my belongings, the weight of humiliation pressing down on me. The pack’s whispers, their mocking stares, and the constant reminders of my Omega status had chipped away at my spirit.

Just as I was about to leave, the door slammed open, and Dexter Stewart—a Delta with a smug grin—burst in. Before I could react, he grabbed my arm, twisting it with a sickening crack.

Pain shot through me, and I cried out, tears springing to my eyes. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, a sound of shared agony.

Alpha Kaizen entered, his face hardening as he took in the scene. His gaze flicked to my arm, swollen and already bruising, but he dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

"Kenna," he said, his voice sharp, "stop being dramatic. Maggie had a heart attack, and it’s your fault. You’ll be taking care of her for the next few days. No excuses."

"But Alpha," I pleaded, clutching my injured arm, "it really hurts..."

Maggie appeared in the doorway, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. She glanced at me, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Kenna, are you wearing blush? That shade is lovely. Alpha, you always liked this color, didn’t you?"

Alpha Kaizen’s eyes narrowed, his earlier concern vanishing.

"This isn’t blush," I tried to explain, but he cut me off with a dismissive gesture.

"Kenna, always trying to cause trouble," he said, his tone cold. "Maggie’s a Beta; she knows what she’s talking about."

Dexter stepped forward, his smirk widening. "Alpha, should I take her to the healer?"

Alpha Kaizen nodded without looking at me. "Do it."

Fear clawed at my throat as Dexter approached. "Stay away from me!" I shouted, throwing whatever I could grab at him. But my broken arm was useless, and he easily dodged my attempts.

He grabbed me, his hands rough as he tore at my clothes. Panic surged through me, and I reached for a shard from a shattered ceramic mug. With a desperate cry, I slashed my wrist, the blood spilling out in a crimson rush.

Dexter stumbled back, his face pale with shock. He fled the room, leaving me alone, my strength fading with each passing second.

The door was so close, but I couldn’t reach it. My vision blurred, and I closed my eyes, surrendering to the darkness.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside, and I forced my eyes open. Alpha Kaizen rushed in, his face a mask of anger and disbelief.

"Kenna, have you lost your mind!" he barked, scooping me up.

When I woke up in the healer’s den, he was sitting by my bed, his features marked with exhaustion. His alpha aura, usually so overpowering, felt muted, but his words were still sharp.

"The healer said your arm is broken," he said, his tone softer but still laced with irritation. "Be more careful next time."

I stayed silent, my wolf growling faintly in my mind.

"Maggie wasn’t feeling well today," he continued, as if that excused everything. "She made a mistake, but it’s not her fault. How could anyone have known you’d be so careless?"

I nodded weakly, cutting him off. "Okay."

He hesitated, then took the password I offered to the pack’s shared computer, where all my designs were stored. He left the room to call Maggie, his voice urgent.

When he returned, his anger was palpable.

"No wonder you gave me the password so easily," he snapped. "You’ve already deleted all the designs!"

I stared at him, my heart sinking further. "I didn’t—"

"Enough!" he barked, his alpha tone silencing me. "I don’t want to hear it. From now on, you’re restricted to assisting me directly. Maggie will handle everything else."

I nodded again, too exhausted to argue. The bond between us, once a source of hope, now felt like a chain, dragging me deeper into despair.

As he left the room, I closed my eyes, my wolf’s faint whimper the only sound in my mind. I had once believed in him, in us. But now, all I felt was the cold weight of betrayal.