Mila sat curled up in the corner of the sofa, her face buried in a plush pillow, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed. "She called me out, said I wasn’t qualified to use the lab bench… and accused me of stealing her data. But those results, I ran them myself, batch by batch…"

"Does Sadie not see me as family?"

Alpha Levi leaned against the edge of his desk, his broad frame towering over the room, his chiseled jaw tense. His piercing eyes were downcast, lost in thought. He didn’t even look at Mila, merely mumbling absentmindedly, "Don’t cry."

The tepid consolation felt like a weak but soothing balm, momentarily quieting Mila’s tears.

"I know, Alpha Levi… you only care about Sadie." Mila’s eyes were red, but her voice was soft, as if it had been steeped in warm water. "But I never wanted to compete with her. I just hope… you two don’t quarrel because of me."

Hearing my name, Alpha Levi finally glanced at her, his gaze detached, his alpha aura filling the room with an unspoken authority. "Alright, once she cools down, let her out."

"She’ll understand… after all, you’re her sister." Alpha Levi patted Mila’s head gently, the gesture awkward and unsure, his large hand dwarfing her small frame.

Suddenly, Mila flung herself into his arms with a dramatic cry, "Alpha, aside from my parents, you’re the only person who’s truly been kind to me… I just want a home."

"...I know."

Since Mila was ten, Alpha Levi had been her support, and that constant had never changed. Through the years, Mila’s wish had always remained simple: She wanted a family.

What was wrong with wanting that?

Still feeling unsettled after leaving the office, Alpha Levi turned and dialed another number, his deep voice carrying a note of command: "Is the room temperature set? Are the extra blankets in place? Has she eaten?"

On the other end, Delta Owen chuckled, a hint of smugness mixed with an eagerness to please in his voice. "Don’t worry, Alpha. Gamma Sadie’s had her fill and is sound asleep, quiet as a mouse."

Alpha Levi exhaled, his tone easing slightly, though his alpha tone still lingered. "She shouldn’t have blamed you guys."

...

In the freezing room, scraps of burnt paper floated in the air.

I huddled close to the fire, listening to the beeping from the walkie-talkie again. Outside, there was still no one. My knuckles had turned purple from the cold as I staggered to my feet, sifting through a pile of old toolboxes.

Behind them, I discovered a yellowed lab notebook. The cover displayed Alpha Levi’s handwriting—neat and precise. It contained the original data from the experiments I had helped him with three years ago.

Back then, we had spent countless nights running data, tweaking formulas, and wishing we could live in the lab. I had once been in the cold room with him too, working until we were both shivering, sharing coffee to stay warm. He’d give me a hot water bottle, and I’d share my hot chocolate with him.

There was a time when I fainted at the lab bench from low blood sugar, and Alpha Levi had caught me, his strong arms steadying me as he barked orders for someone to bring me food, his alpha tone sharp with worry.

Now, it was Mila in his arms.

Sitting against the wall, I clutched the notebook and cried my heart out. I had finally found proof of Mila’s plagiarism, but what did it matter now?

The experiments were ruined, the honor was gone, and even my mate was slipping away. Before the tears could fall, they turned to frost.

Tearing up the notebook, I whispered to myself, "Alpha Levi won’t rescue me anymore."

"I have to save myself."

I tossed the shredded pages into the fire. The flames crackled and danced, casting an eerie light on my face.

I had to survive.

The following day.

I huddled in the corner of the walk-in freezer, clutching my knees tightly, staring at the pile of ash that had long since gone cold. The fire had burned out, leaving only the pungent smell of charred paper hanging in the air.

My throat was dry, my eyelids drooping, and my head felt heavy and clouded. But I dared not sleep, aware that in these icy conditions, falling asleep might mean never waking up.

Pushing myself to my feet, I continued to search the freezer, hoping to find anything that might help me endure a little longer. At the bottom of a storage cabinet, there were ten frozen dinner rolls, rock-hard with tightly curled crusts.

I stared at them, my fingers twitching as hunger gnawed at my insides. Just the other day, I had placed these rolls here myself. Levi, the Alpha of the Silver Claw Pack, had been standing behind me then, gently kissing the top of my head.

“You did a great job,” he had said.

Now, I was stuck in here with these icy blocks.

I stood and searched every corner of the freezer thoroughly, trying to find an exit, a camera to signal, or any sign that might lead to my discovery. But there was nothing. Every path was blocked.

I didn’t cry. Crying would only waste precious body heat in this place. I focused on breathing slowly and scribbling notes on the back of a scrap of paper, brainstorming ways to extend the warmth of the few resources I had left. Heat was my lifeline.

...

The club lights danced in a kaleidoscope of colors. Mila, my half-sister and an Omega in the Silver Claw Pack, leaned against Levi, her voice trembling with petulant insistence.

“Alpha Levi, Sadie’s not coming, and you can’t spare a little more time with me? It’s my birthday…”

Levi, clutching his phone, frowned with irritation. “You’ve invited Sadie three times already. If she doesn’t come, it’s on her.”

Despite his words, unease gnawed at Levi. Was Sadie still mad at him?

He swallowed hard and glanced at the message he’d sent that afternoon: “Please don’t be upset.” Her silence haunted him.

Sadie, a whole day had gone by, and still no response. How could she be so difficult?

Levi’s expression darkened as he turned to Owen, a Delta warrior in his pack. “Did you… really let her out?”

Owen responded with a carefree grin. “Alpha Levi, do you think I’d lie to you? Don’t worry, she’s perfectly fine. She went in headstrong, bragging she wasn’t afraid of the cold. And when she left, she was cursing you and Mila…”

Seeing Levi’s jaw tighten, Owen paused and added softly, “With Sadie’s feisty nature, only you would take her as a fiancée.”

The mood in the room shifted. Levi abruptly stood and headed for the door. “I need to take care of something. I’m leaving.”

Mila stood there, taken aback, her eyes welling with tears. “Alpha Levi… are you mad?”

With a loud bang, the door slammed shut.

Mila lowered her head, sniffling quietly as tears trickled into her glass. Watching this, Owen clenched his fists, resentment flickering in his eyes.

“What’s so special about Sadie? If I were you, I’d have chosen you long ago!” he sneered, pulling out his phone with a cold smile. “Alright, let’s make sure we get this right.” He adjusted the controls and turned the freezer’s temperature down another five degrees.

Owen casually dialed his phone, “No need to check tonight; everything’s normal at the storage freezer.”

...

Inside the freezer, my dead phone lay on my lap, its screen completely black. Leaning against the wall, I placed one of the rolls over the remnants of the fire, cooking it little by little.

Disgust, nausea, the desire to give up—all surged within me. But I couldn’t give up. I had to survive, even if it meant swallowing the roll against my will.

Outside the freezer, footsteps echoed by. My eyes flew open as I abandoned the roll and rushed to the door, pounding it with all my strength, my voice tearing from my throat.

“Is anyone there? I’m trapped inside! Help!”