Chapter 3

• I must have dozed off at some point, my restless tossing and turning finally giving way to sleep, because I found myself dreaming of the black wolf from the woods again. It wasn't exactly a nightmare, but it was undeniably unsettling.
• In the dream, the beast stood among the trees, gazing at me just as he had that fateful night. He approached, maintaining a respectful distance, as if he were hesitant to frighten me. Then he howled, lowering his great head in a gesture that felt instinctively like a warning. But from what? I couldn't decipher the message behind his solemn demeanor.
• I woke up with a sharp gasp, shivering from the intensity of the vision I had just experienced. Everything about it was unnervingly vivid—far too vivid to simply be a dream.
• Groaning, I peered out the window at the lazily rising sun before crawling out of bed.
• As expected, Livia and my father were still asleep; they rarely rose early, especially my father, who hadn’t managed to get up before noon since his injury had left him a shadow of the man he once was.
• I quietly tidied up the house and began preparing breakfast when my sister’s head, crowned with a mass of red curls, peeked around the bedroom door. “Do I smell eggs and bacon?” she grinned, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
• I chuckled and nodded. “They’ll be ready soon.”
• She stepped into the corridor, glancing toward the closed door at the end—Father’s bedroom. “He’ll be annoyed he missed breakfast.”
• Rolling my eyes, I replied, “I’ll make him something when he finally decides to wake up. It’s what I always do.”
• Livia settled at the table, giving me a sympathetic smile. “I’m the older sister; I should be taking care of the house, not you.”
• “You’re about to become a warrior, Livia. You’re elite. You can’t juggle training and looking after Father.” I shot her a wry smile. “It’s my responsibility to handle the chores and meals.”
• “Not for long,” she replied, her lips curving into a teasing smirk. “Once you’re acknowledged as Enzo’s mate...” She paused, narrowing her eyes. “Did you two have another fight?”
• Sighing, I placed her plate of eggs and bacon in front of her. “He wanted to... you know, in that abandoned hut. I refused and—”
• That sympathetic smile returned. “He didn’t take it well, did he?”
• “He just stormed out, leaving me there, and now”—I sat beside her, inhaling a shaky breath—“I’m scared.”
• “Scared of what?” Livia frowned, grabbing a slice of bacon.
• My shoulders tensed as I shrugged. “What if he rejects me?”
• She nearly choked on her food. “And why would he do that?!”
• “Because I’m basically an omega?” I managed a wry smile despite my anxiety.
• She shook her head vigorously. “He cares about you. He would never do something so cruel. He protects you from others.”
• “Does he?” A bitter chuckle escaped me, thoughts drifting back to last night and Dante’s cruel words echoing in my mind. He had said Enzo wouldn’t care if they—
• I halted that train of thought, but my stomach twisted into knots anyway. I didn’t know what had changed overnight, but it felt as if I was seeing things clearly for the first time, without the rose-tinted glasses of infatuation.
• “Enzo cannot reject you,” Livia insisted, her voice firm.
• “He knows what the consequences would be. He may be selfish at times, but he’s not heartless.”
• I squeezed her hand, forcing a smile. I wanted to trust her words—Goddess knows I did—but the reality was I was putting everything on the line. In this dangerous game of love, my life was at stake.
• The elders had often said that the Fates created the mate bond to enhance the strengths of each partner. Typically, mated pairs grew stronger together, but there were rare instances when one partner’s strength diminished to bolster the other. That was why omegas often faced rejection if their mates turned out to be warriors or ranked wolves.
• The mere thought of rejection wouldn’t have been so terrifying if not for the agony that accompanied a shattered bond. It was said that few could survive such pain; only the wolf spirits possessed enough power to shield their owners from the torment of rejection. But for those without wolf spirits—or those like me, shrouds wolves—rejection was often a death sentence.
• “Don’t worry, little sister,” Livia said, pulling me from my thoughts. “Once he feels the bond, he won’t be able to reject you.”
• I drew in a shaky breath. “I hope you’re right.”
• “I am.” She smiled brightly, rising from the table and taking my hand. “Now, let me show you the dress I bought you for the ball.”
• My eyes widened in disbelief. “You bought me a dress?!”
• “Of course! It’s your first ball; you need to look stunning.” She chuckled. “Now, come on. Let your big sister take care of you for once.”
• As the Blood Moon slowly rose in the sky, my restlessness intensified. My feet felt unsteady as Livia and I climbed the grand staircase of the castle—the residence of the Alpha’s family and all other ranked wolves.
• This place was magnificent, filled with a luxury I had never dared to dream of, serving as a glaring reminder of the vast chasm between the ranked wolves and the rest of the pack. The warriors were respected and compensated handsomely, but even the greatest among them could never ascend to the level of the ranked. You either had to be born into it or mate with someone of that status.
• I gripped the fabric of my dress, lifting it slightly as I navigated the stairs. I couldn’t allow it to touch the dirt; it was the most exquisite thing I had ever worn. The dress was simple yet elegant, crafted from delicate white fabric that shimmered gently in the light. It hugged my curves perfectly, as if the seamstress had known my every measurement. The skirt swayed with my movements, making me feel as though I glided through the corridor. Livia had said that with my pale blue eyes and light blond hair, I resembled a Moon Goddess. I laughed it off, but deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling of beauty, perhaps for the first time in my life.
• We entered the ballroom, and I immediately began scanning the crowd for Enzo. I knew our mate bonds would awaken in less than an hour, and I wanted to be near him when it happened.
• Livia soon drifted away as she spotted Niccolo, her childhood friend who had recently returned from his training as a warrior. I couldn’t blame her; she hoped he might be her mate, and I shared that hope.
• Other pack members regarded me with confusion and shock, likely questioning my sanity. No omega ever attended Mating Balls; the risk of rejection—and potential death—was far too great. Well, I was willing to take that risk.
• Seeking solace, I stepped away, wandering down a long corridor with white marble floors and gold-ornamented walls. I wasn’t sure why I was drawn there, but I walked until I reached a darkened section with doors slightly ajar.
• “I don’t know where this Alpha came from, but he was massive and lethal!” I heard Dante’s voice, and my breath hitched. I couldn’t decide if I felt relieved or not that he had somehow survived the attack.
• Fine, it was definitely the latter.
• “And you’re saying that Gianna somehow... what? Summoned the beast?” Enzo chuckled.
• My heart raced. Dante surviving was one thing; him telling Enzo some twisted version of last night’s events was entirely different. My restlessness morphed into a swell of panic. I drew closer to the doors, straining to hear.
• “I don’t know how your little b*tch did it, but he came for her,” Dante spat.
• I shook my head in disbelief. This was absurd! I had never encountered that beast before! How was I supposed to know about some enormous rogue Alpha?!
• Enzo huffed. “Maybe that’s why she didn’t want me to sleep with her. She claimed I’d be her first, but perhaps she already gave herself to another Alpha.”
• His words struck like a dagger to my heart.
• I pressed my hand to my chest, feeling the sharp ache as tears threatened to spill. He should have known I would never betray him! I believed he was my destined mate—the only one I could ever truly love!
• “I told you she’s a traitorous wh*r*,” Dante hissed.
• “Regardless, it won’t matter soon,” Enzo replied, a chilling chuckle escaping his lips. “If I find a mate worthy of my attention, this will all resolve itself. If she turns out to be my mate... I will reject her.”
• My heart stopped.