Chapter 1
Kira
Seeing my mom's body shake uncontrollably on the floor made me curse the moon goddess for being a mean bitch.
I turned eighteen today, but I didn't wish for the absurd things my age mates asked for: a handsome mate who'd sweep them off their feet, or the more delusional ones who longed to be a part of the main pack, where omegas had been excluded from our whole lives.
No, my wish was simple. I asked for my mom's healing. She was my only living relative and I didn't want to be alone.
But it seemed like the malicious goddess was hell-bent on causing me pain. My mom's condition had only worsened, and I was left to care for her on my own, with no support from the other omegas.
Painful sores ravaged my mom's body, causing a fever so high that it could boil an egg.
“Mom, please don't die. It's already hard being omega. I need you.”
She coughed, wiping thick dark blood off her nostrils, and a semblance of a smile crossed her face.
“Kira, I'll be okay.”
I smoothed out my cream dress. It had a jagged tear on my right shoulder and felt scratchy against my skin.
Zion, an omega male who insisted we were in a relationship, had plans to sneak into the main pack to get medication for my mom.
He was one of the garbage collectors and knew where the clinic was located. The medication was free and readily available for the higher werewolves but out of reach for omegas.
Desperate to save my mom, I begged Zion for help, promising to do anything in return. He agreed to assist me, and I held onto that faint hope.
After dabbing my mom's face with a wet rag, I snuck out of our tent. We lived with other omegas in leaky tents outside the border. Zion and five other omegas my age, including my best friend Amari, gathere under an oak tree, having soggy potatoes for dinner. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten any food for two days, but hunger was the least of my worries, much less my least favorite food.
“Join us,” Zion said with a smile, handing me his half-eaten food.
I declined. Zion smiled sadly, seeing the desperation in my eyes, and fought to his feet.
"Guys, remember to hide in the shadows. We're dead meat if those rotten bastards catch any of us,” he spat with venom.
My body stiffened when he pulled me closer and spanked my ass cheeks. He did it again and watched it ripple before whispering against my ears.
“Remember the deal. I show you where the medication is and you give me your body. You're eighteen and a woman now.”
Zion was about a foot taller than me and lanky, with a discoloration in his front teeth, like a coffee stain on a white shirt.
Not wanting to offend him, I remained mute. He was my only hope to get to the clinic. Tolerating his inappropriate behavior wouldn't kill me.
"Suppose we get caught. What's the worst that could happen?" I asked Zion fearfully as we neared the border. He tossed an amused glance at me.
"They'd probably cut off our heads,” he snickered before bursting out laughing at my horrified reaction.
“As long as we remain in the shadows, we won't get caught.”
I sighed. Omegas lived as refugees outside the border. Anyone driving through the border into the main pack would likely see an Omega. We were easily identifiable: worn-out clothes, unhealthy complexion, and all the other signs that set us apart.
The border was bustling with cars from neighboring packs arriving for Alpha D'Angelo's coronation. Our new alpha, whose father I hoped was burning in hell, had taken power.
Omegas hoped for change but we knew that our situation would get worse. The brass gates were open, but we snuck in under the cover of darkness, running once we were far enough from the border guards.
Momentarily forgetting my worries, my eyes gaped in awe. The pack was perfect, with well-maintained roads, plazas, recreational facilities, and everything needed for a comfortable life.
I imagined being born as a beta or gamma wolf and living in a big house with plenty of food and no worries. If I wasn't omegas I'd have been preparing to meet my mate.
Zion snapped me out of my foolish fantasies by circling his arm around my waist. He wasn't a bad person. He'd protected me countless times from lusty omega men in heat.
I just wasn't into him.
We got to the clinic, finding it empty as expected, with everyone likely at the alpha's coronation celebration. Zion snuck in through the back door and my best friend, Amari, gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
As if fate were smiling at me, Zion emerged after about five minutes, triumphantly holding up the injection. Filled with excitement, I attempted to grab the package from him.
"Ah ah ah! Not so fast," he said and winked, pocketing it. "I've done my part; now it's your turn."
I sighed wearily. His best friend, Peter, chimed in, “Give him some good ol' loving tonight. You're his girlfriend after all."
I turned to Amari for support, but she sided with the boys. With no other choice, I reluctantly agreed to fulfill my end of the bargain that night. It was useless waiting for my mate to take my virginity when my mom's life was at stake.
“Fine. I'll do it. Let's head back to the camp.”
The troublesome fools disagreed and suggested heading to the coronation venue to scavenge for leftover food for our families. While it wasn't a terrible idea, I was afraid.
"You guys go ahead; I need to get back to my mom."
Zion grabbed my hand. "You'll get caught; we must remain together.”
I reluctantly followed them to the alpha's huge mansion, a stunning structure of glass and chandeliers. A wolf-headed fountain beautified the circular driveway, leaving me in awe.
We continued to sneak through the darkness and watch the elegantly dressed partygoers, who raised their wine glasses in toasts.
"Fucking bastards. They don't even have a care for this world," Zion murmured under his breath.
He dragged me along, and somehow, we found our way to the kitchen, whose countertop was loaded with assorted meats.
I shoved some chunks of chicken for my mom into my woven bag and kept looking out at the door, knowing how unsafe this was.
Five minutes had turned into ten, and no one had seen us. Zion handed me a bubbly-tasting wine and made me drink glass after glass.
Perhaps that's why I didn't notice when he'd taken me up to the terrace and lifted my gown.
"Are you about to sleep with me on the alpha's terrace?"
"Fuck the alpha,” Zion growled while taking off his belt. Horrified, I tried to discourage him, but his dick was talking for him. I began trembling.
“This is a chance to make love under the stars. Don't ruin this experience,” Zion said.
I felt like screaming at him, but the words stuck in my throat. This was a deal.
In excitement, Zion tore my poor dress and was about to take off my panties when we heard footsteps. Like a startled owl, he scurried away. I tried to stand but failed. In a few seconds, I heard a male voice.
“What the hell are you doing naked on my terrace?”
The voice rippled like a murmur. It was low and husky and I wondered how a voice could sound so relaxed yet angry at the same time.
I forgot to breathe when I locked eyes with the owner of the voice. He had a strong alpha aura and looked like a god.
An intoxicating scent filled the air. It was a rich blend of musk, chocolate, and coconuts and it stirred primal excitement within me. I gasped in shock while my wolf sprang with excitement.
The beautiful stranger before me was my fated mate, and his aura hinted that he was likely D'Angelo, the new alpha.
Good grief
