Jayme POV:
Artificial rain poured down, hiding my tears. Autry was on top of me, shielding me. His heart hammered against my chest—a rhythm I knew too well.
His pupils were blown wide. Even rejected, biology is a stubborn thing.
He leaned down, gaze dropping to my lips.
"Jayme," he breathed.
He was going to kiss me. After the humiliation. After treating me like garbage.
I felt sick.
I shoved his chest. "Get off me!"
Autry blinked, looking wounded, as if I were the traitor. He rolled off, groaning.
I scrambled up. Kenan was running over, fury on his face.
"Hurt?" Kenan asked, ignoring Autry. He wrapped a towel around me, his pine scent cutting through Autry's pheromones like a knife.
"I'm fine," I shivered.
"Look at that!" Cassie screeched, snapping photos of Autry on the ground. "My hero! Saving the clumsy help."
That night, my world imploded again.
My phone blew up.
BREAKING: Disgraced Omega Jayme Barnes caught in scandalous orgy with Rogues!
Grainy photos. A woman who looked like me entangled with three rough men in an alley.
User1: No wonder Autry dumped her.
User2: Slut.
"No," I whispered.
I zoomed in. The woman's back was smooth.
I ran to the mirror. On my left shoulder blade sat a crescent birthmark.
It was a setup.
I stormed out, heading for Autry’s villa.
I didn't knock. I shoved the doors open. The guards stepped aside, sensing the murderous intent rolling off me.
"Autry!"
The house smelled of musk, sweat, and post-coital wolves.
I walked into the living room. Autry was buttoning his shirt. Cassie lounged on the sofa in a silk robe, smirking.
Autry looked up. Fresh red scratch marks marred his neck. Cassie's claim.
"Jayme," Autry said, annoyed. "You shouldn't be here."
I held up my phone. "Did you do this?"
He glanced at the screen. Not surprised.
"The PR team thought it necessary," he said calmly. "The council asked why I rejected a Fated Mate. We needed a cause. Moral turpitude was the easiest path."
The room spun. "You... you framed me as a whore? To save your poll numbers?"
"It's just a story, Jayme," he stepped closer. "Nobody takes Rogue rumors seriously. Disappear for a few years. I'll wire more money. Take the blame, and this goes away."
He reached for my shoulder.
Smack.
I slapped his hand away.
"I thought you were a victim of tradition," I whispered. "But you're just rot, Autry. You're a disease."
"Careful, Omega," Cassie giggled.
I turned to her. My vision went white. A surge of ancient, cold power rushed through me.
"And you," I said, my voice sounding doubled, resonant. "Enjoy him. You deserve each other."
I walked out.
"Jayme!" Autry roared. "I command you to stop!"
His command was wind against a mountain.
I walked into the night. I was done being a victim.
