I sat beside my mother's bed, her hand still warm in mine though her spirit had long departed. The hospital room was silent except for the occasional beep of monitors and my own ragged breathing. I couldn't move, couldn't think beyond the hollow ache in my chest.
"She's gone," I whispered to the empty room. "She's really gone."
Twenty years I'd protected others, taken blows meant for Averie. And now my mother—the only person who'd ever truly loved me—had died because the pack's defenses had failed. Because Dominic had chosen a celebration over her life.
Outside, the sounds of revelry continued. Music drifted through the open window, mingling with laughter and cheers. The Pack Run—the annual celebration where Alpha pairs led the ceremonial hunt—was in full swing.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the merriment that mocked my grief. But then something else filtered through—a scent. Pine and winter frost, unmistakably Dominic. But beneath it was something else. Something floral and sweet.
Averie.
My wolf stirred within me, a low growl building in my throat. I opened my eyes to find Dr. Sage standing in the doorway, her expression sympathetic but wary.
"You should rest," she said softly.
"I need to see him," I replied, my voice surprisingly steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Sage's eyes widened slightly. "Malia, I don't think—"
"I need to see him," I repeated, rising to my feet. My legs trembled but held me upright. "Now."
---
The Pack House blazed with light and music when I arrived. Pack members in formal attire mingled in the grand hall, their voices a cacophony of excitement and alcohol-fueled laughter. I moved through the crowd like a ghost, invisible in my simple black dress—the only one I owned.
And then I saw them.
Dominic stood at the center of the room, resplendent in a tailored suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and commanding presence. Averie was draped across him, her designer gown shimmering under the chandelier light. His hand rested possessively on her waist as he introduced her to visiting dignitaries.
"The future Luna of Silver Claw," he announced, his voice carrying across the room. "My chosen mate."
The words struck me like physical blows. *Chosen mate*. Not fated. Not true. But chosen for power, for politics.
I watched as he leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear in a gesture so intimate it made my stomach turn. His scent—our scent—clung to her skin.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Averie's voice carried to me, clear and cutting. "To see us together? To know your place?"
I stood frozen, unable to look away as Dominic's eyes met mine across the room. For a moment—just a moment—something flickered in those heterochromic eyes. Regret? Guilt? But then Averie pressed herself closer to him, her hand sliding up his chest in a deliberate display.
"We should dance," she murmured, loud enough for me to hear.
---
"You promised me," I said when I finally cornered him in a quiet hallway. My voice shook with rage and grief. "You promised you would help her."
Dominic's expression hardened. "The authorization was delayed. These things happen."
"These things happen?" I echoed incredulously. "My mother is dead because you were too busy with your celebration!"
Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "Watch your tone, Omega."
"She saved your life!" I stepped closer, beyond caring about protocol or consequences. "When you were a child, she risked everything to save you from Rogues. And you couldn't even save her."
"Enough!" His voice dropped to a deadly whisper as his Alpha aura flared around him like a physical force.
I felt it press against me—heavy, suffocating—but I refused to back down. "You are my mate," I hissed. "My fated mate. And you chose her over me, over my mother."
His eyes widened slightly at my declaration, but then his face hardened into a mask of cold fury.
"You forget your place," he growled, his Alpha voice vibrating through my bones.
Before I could respond, he grabbed my arm, dragging me outside into the freezing rain. Pack members stopped to stare as he pushed me to my knees on the wet cobblestones.
"Perhaps a night to reflect on your disrespect will improve your manners," he snarled, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a physical weight.
I tried to rise but couldn't move against the command. The rain soaked through my thin dress as Dominic turned and walked away, leaving me kneeling in the mud before the Pack House.
"Kneel there until dawn," he ordered without looking back. "And remember who you are."
As he disappeared inside with Averie on his arm, I remained frozen in place, the rain mingling with my tears as I stared up at the lighted windows where they danced and celebrated.
Somewhere inside me, something broke—and something else began to form in its place.
