The hammering is the first thing I hear.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
My eyes snap open.
I jolt upright so fast my head spins. My hands fly to my surroundings, and I realize—wooden walls, thin blanket, the faint smell of dried herbs.
Brielle's Omega house.
I blink hard. "What the hell…?"
The hammering continues outside, it sounded like someone chopping wood, the strikes hitting in angry rhythm. I rub my eyes, trying to process how I got here, but the memories hit me like a slap.
The party.
The stranger.
His fingers on my waist.
His deep, smooth, sinful voice.
His body above mine, thrusting in.
My panties in his hand.
I groan and bury my face in my palms. "Fuck. I actually left them with him."
I remember lying to him—"Let me make a call"—then sneaking out of the cabin barefoot, my dress twisted, my panties literally gone, stumbling through the woods like a lunatic. I didn't even look back. I felt him staring at me from his upstairs window. I could feel those gray eyes on my spine.
But I didn't turn.
I couldn't.
If I had looked… I'm not sure I would have walked away.
I swing my legs off the bed and stand. My dress from last night is wrinkled beyond saving, hickeys all over my neck probably bright purple, and my hair looks like I fought a wild raccoon.
Great. Perfect Omega look.
I push open the door and step outside.
Brielle is by the chopping area with three other Omega girls. They're whispering fast, their eyes darting around like they're scared of being overheard. The moment they see me, all three scatter like pigeons.
"Wow," I mutter. "Love the warm welcome."
Brielle turns to me mid-swing, dropping her axe. "Irene?" Her jaw drops. "You're awake."
I give a weak smile. "Yeah. Um… sorry. I left the party without telling you."
She opens her mouth to respond—then her eyes widen. "Wait—what is that?" She marches toward me, squinting. "Oh my Goddess. Irene."
"What?" I blink.
Brielle lifts my hair, fingers brushing the marks, the hickeys. "Your neck. You look like someone tried to eat you alive."
I choke. "Brielle!"
She snorts. "Don't 'Brielle' me. Who did this? Were you hiding a hot secret from me?"
I laugh despite the embarrassment, covering my face. "Shut up."
She pulls off her shawl and wraps it around my neck without asking. "There. Before someone reports you for having too much fun."
I sigh. "Thanks."
She grins. "So… you did have a great time?"
I roll my eyes. "I'm begging you to stop."
"Nope," she says. "You owe me details later."
I groan loudly.
Brielle laughs, returns to chopping wood, and I glance around. A bunch of Omegas are gathered near the fire pit, whispering heatedly. Others peek toward the main road like they're expecting something huge.
"What's going on?" I ask.
She lifts the axe and strikes the log. "Alpha Devon, his Beta, and his Gamma arrived last night."
I freeze.
My blood runs cold.
"…what?" I whisper.
Brielle keeps chopping. "Yeah. Meeting with Elder Rowan."
I swallow hard. "What are they doing here?"
"Rumor says Alpha Devon wants to make changes to Ironfang now that he's basically taking over." She wipes sweat off her forehead. "You know—new Alpha, new rules."
My fists clench. "He's not my Alpha."
She shrugs. "Well, legally, he kind of is."
Anger flares so fast my jaw aches. "If I meet him, I swear—I won't hesitate to kill him."
Brielle's axe drops mid-swing. "Irene!"
"I mean it," I hiss. "He ruined my family, he ruined my life. If he stands in front of me, I'll—"
"—Irene! Brielle!" Jasper, Brielle's brother, jogs over, breathless and excited. "Alpha Devon invited all Omegas to the main Pack house. Right now! He said he has an important announcement."
The yard erupts into cheers.
The man beams. "Do you know what this means? We've never been inside the main Pack house before!"
One of the Omegas gasps. "Holy shit. This is big."
Everyone starts rushing around—fixing hair, grabbing shawls, straightening shirts.
I just stand there.
Silent.
Numb.
The main Pack house?
The place where I was rejected.
The place where Simon told me I was "no one."
The place where my life shattered.
I swallow hard.
Brielle nudges me. "Hey… are you okay?"
"No," I say honestly. "But I'm going."
She frowns. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." My voice is tighter than rope. "I need to see him."
"Him?"
"The monster who took everything from me."
She places a hand on my shoulder. "Just don't do anything reckless."
I give a small cold smile. "Not reckless. Necessary."
A few hours later, all of us Omegas walk the long dirt path toward the main Pack house. Everyone is buzzing with excitement, chattering loudly.
Except me.
My stomach feels like it's filled with stones.
The moment the Pack house comes into view, its tall stone walls, the large windows, the wooden double doors, I stop breathing.
The memories slam into me.
Simon standing on the stage.
The whispers.
The realisation.
The rejection.
The pain.
I force a breath, tug Brielle's shawl tighter around my neck, and walk inside.
The hall is empty, chairs removed, leaving only a wide open space. Omegas gather excitedly, pointing at decorations, touching walls like they're touching a forbidden world.
I stand near the back, eyes burning.
Brielle whispers, "You okay?"
"No."
Seconds later, silence sweeps the room.
A decorum falls like a switch being flipped.
Someone steps onto the podium.
Gideon.
His eyes sweep the crowd, and a tiny smile touches my lips. Familiar face. Loyal face. Someone who isn't a nightmare.
Brielle whispers, "He looks angry."
"He always looks angry," I whisper back.
He moves aside.
Another man steps forward—long black hair tied back, expression unreadable.
Then another—silver hair, eyes hard as steel.
The silver-haired one steps to the front, glaring at us like we're dirt beneath his boots.
Gasps ripple through the room.
"That must be the Alpha," Brielle whispers.
But then—
The silver-haired man bows.
To someone behind him.
My heart starts racing.
A familiar figure climbs the podium steps. Slow. Confident. Familiar.
No.
No.
NO.
I choke on my breath.
He steps forward fully, turning to face the crowd.
Jet-black hair parted in the center.
Icy gray eyes.
Sharp jawline.
Broad shoulders.
The same voice that whispered in my ear.
The same body above mine last night.
The same man whose fingers were buried in me.
The same man who left marks all over my neck.
My stomach drops to my knees.
"No," I whisper. "Please. No. Please tell me I'm wrong."
Brielle glances at me. "Irene? What's—"
He speaks.
"It is of great delight to have you here, people of Ironfang." His voice rolls through the hall, smooth and cold. "My name is Alpha Devon Warner, Alpha of Silvercrest Pack."
Everything in me stops.
My sight blurs.
My knees almost give out.
Brielle grabs my arm. "Irene? Irene!"
But I can't hear her.
Because all I can hear is last night—
"Hey, baby. You look at me when I fuck you, alright?"
"You taste like fire."
"Do you trust me?"
"Smart girl."
"My sweet angel."
Alpha Devon.
I slept with Alpha Devon.
My enemy.
The man who destroyed my life.
The man I swore to kill.
The man whose name I cursed—
And last night I was moaning underneath him.
My world collapses.