Chapter 2

ZIVA

I rubbed my eyes, ensuring that I saw the right face, and upon opening my eyes, I saw Nikolas again, this time, I saw it clearly. He had a wide smile on his face, with his green eyes wide open as he gazed at all the pack members. As soon as his gaze fell on me, his green eyes did not even reflect guilt or sadness, rather they reflected victory.

After what happened earlier, he had the guts to mark my step-sister?! Goodness, if Alpha Darwin finds out about this, Nikolas will be beheaded instantly. Then, Alpha Darwin came into view. He hugged Nikolas affectionately, causing my chest to squeeze.

I didn't even know what to do next. Breathing became difficult as my heart squeezed. It felt like time stopped at my side as I watched Alpha Darwin and his Luna celebrate excitedly. What is going on? Alpha Darwin knew that I love Nikolas so much, even his Luna, so why are they not rejecting this event?

To top it all, Nikolas shared the night with me, and he gazed at me like he gazed at a stranger. I tried to calm myself by exhaling and inhaling repeatedly, not wanting to misunderstand the event or misinterpret it. The cold breeze blew past me, and I watched the entire Darwin family tread inside the main dining hall.

They didn't even bother to worry about me. I guess they didn't know that I was not around, and it felt like I was already excluded from the family. It felt like I was nothing.

No, I am Nikolas’s woman! Nikolas promised me. He mentioned that I will be his Luna, and he will never betray me. Maybe I need to trust him and just speak with him. Silently, I watched them celebrate in the dining hall, and in no time, Alpha Darwin excused himself, then his Luna followed, leaving Tania and Nikolas in the dining hall.

This is my chance! My chance to show Tania her rightful place. She took everything from me, but she can't take my Nikolas. He is mine, and only mine. Also, Nikolas will always choose me over every woman, and there is still an opportunity for him to reject her and make me his Luna instead.

Steadily, I walked inside the dining hall, already preparing whatever speech I had in my head and the courage left in me. While taking another step, my ear rang at the sound of a chuckle. I gazed at the dining hall, spotting Nikolas and Tania, with their lips opening and closing as they discussed and chuckled.

Shortly, Nikolas leaned forward, occupying the space between them and he kissed her!! He didn't pull away and she didn't resist too, almost making my knees go weak. Tears dropped from my eyes at that spot, and when I noticed their movement toward my side, I hid behind the curtain.

Unlike other Omegas whose scent can be noticed and detected by werewolves, my scent can not be detected because I have not seen or gotten attached to my wolf yet. Hiding behind the curtain, I heard a loud bang, and I peeped.

I was supposed to confront them, but I could not even control myself. It felt like I was rooted to the floor as whatever I was watching made me feel like my body was pierced all over. I watched them kiss each other as Nikolas closed the door and pinned her against the wall.

Suddenly, they stopped, and Tania mouthed, with her hands on his chest to provide some space between their bodies, “What about Ziva?”

Finally, someone remembers that I exist!

“Who is Ziva?” Nikolas retorted, causing my chest to squeeze tighter. How can he say such a thing?

“Don’t lie to me, I saw your letters on her table,” Tania scoffed, and a chuckle escaped from Nikolas’s lips.

“Niva is just my ex-girlfriend. We broke up a long time ago,” Nikolas replied. I balled my fists at that moment, attempting to throw a slap at his dirty face, but he might overpower me or even kill me if I interfered. It's best I figure out what his true intentions are. With that, a smile enveloped Tania’s lips, and she pulled him into a soft embrace, “Good. I don't want that pig around my man.”

• • •

A week after Nikolas marked Tania, I burnt all the letters he sent previously, intending to lose all the memories I shared with him. He was my only hope, but he shattered me, used me by taking my innocence, and he denied me to top it all. I had just finished my lunch, a small bowl of rice when my room door vibrated with a soft knock.

Moving away from my small bed, I walked towards the door, opening it swiftly as my gaze fell on the person standing before me.

“Why are you here?” I asked, my tone dripping with anger. Of all the people to meet this afternoon, it had to be Nikolas, the man I despise now. I didn't even bother to wait for his rubbish response before I slammed the door at his face.

He deserves more for the pain he caused. I can't even bring myself to tell Alpha Darwin what happened. He will only support his darling Tania anyway.

I returned to eating my lunch, but after I pushed a spoonful of rice into my mouth, it became sour. All the food I've been eating since what happened was sour. Eating became an unimportant thing, but I had to continue eating to muster enough strength to work, clean, and leave this pack. Just then, my room door opened swiftly, and Nikolas closed it as soon as he walked inside.

“Get out,” I uttered quickly, but in a low tone, so I won't draw other Omega’s attention.

“Alright, Zivvy. I know you are heartbroken about what happened at the mating ceremony, but it is not what I planned,” He retorted, as my throat heated up right at that moment.

I looked up, gazing at his ugly face, before responding, “It is not what you planned. It is what you wanted. I can't believe that I loved and waited for you, only for you to shamelessly mark my step-sister, but I do not blame you. I blame myself for getting involved with you.”

“Zivvy, please, just listen to me,” Nikolas begged, dropping on his two knees as he moved towards me.

“I love you,” he uttered, holding my hands, with his green eyes flickering slowly, “I will reject Tania if that is what you want.”

“I do not want that,” I spat out, and I heard him utter, “Huh?”

I repeated my statement, “I do not want you too. You can continue to be her mate.”

“But we had a lot of plans,” he uttered slowly, causing me to snap my hands out of his touch.

“You changed, I changed, and our plans are nothing. Just leave,” I voiced out. Suddenly, he snapped, scuttling to his feet.

“What is wrong with you?!” He yelled as he furrowed his brows. “Do you know what it means to have you, a slave on my bed?! I knelt, and yet you spit nonsense!”

“A slave?” My voice croaked, with my throat heating up. Even tears clouded in my eyes, but I forced them to stay hidden. I can't act as a weakling now.

“Yes, you are nothing but a slave. I've been trying to put up with your poor self all these years, but now that I marked Tania, you are annoyed with that. You should be lucky I dated you and touched you, do you know how many women are lined up to gain that?!” He yelled, running his hand through his hair.

“But it's fine, I forgive you for being unreasonable. You can still live in my pack as my mistress, rather than working here as a slave,” Nikolas spoke, crashing my heart into pieces.

“It’s best I die than to lay on the same bed with you again because you are nothing but an animal. A wild one to be precise,” I voiced out, glaring at him. Then, his green eyes flickered, turning into a blazing fire, as his hands balled into fists.

“How dare you insult me!” He yelled, this time it sounded like a growl, an angry growl that made the hair at my back stand. I shivered a bit as he approached me steadily with his blazing green eyes.

“I- I,” I stammered, a bit frightened by his actions, as his fingers transformed into claws.

“You will pay severely for what you said!” He growled.

Just then, the door barged open, and Nikolas stopped moving. He faced the door instantly, like he scented a werewolf he respected, and for once, I thanked the person for opening the door, or else, I would have been murdered. Turning to the door, I spotted Tania in a thin gown. Her eyebrows furrowed, and for a minute, she paused, maybe mind linking someone before Nikolas ran towards her.

“Thank goddess you are here! She tried to seduce me...” Nikolas spoke quickly, drawing me into a state of shock. Why would I seduce an Alpha, a person who is far stronger than me?

“That is a lie!” I admitted quickly, receiving a slap as a reward for speaking the truth from Nikolas himself.

“You shameless slut!” Tania hissed, interfering. “I know that you have been lusting over my mate. But are you that shameless to even seduce him?”

“Tania, it's very obvious that-”

“Princess Tania!” Tania corrected, and quickly, loud footsteps approached us. I gazed at the people rushing towards my room, only to sight Alpha Darwin and his Luna. This will be their first time stepping into my room since my sight disgusts them, just like the Luna recites to my ear whenever she sees me.

Hastily, I bowed respectfully, but before I could give my speech, Alpha Darwin’s voice roared, “I’ve tolerated you for all these years, but it seems you and your mother are the same. Shameless sluts!”

Shameless slut? That is the same name Tania termed me. Does this mean that the Darwin’s family named my mother and I a shameless slut?

“Alpha Darwin, you can't disrespect my mother or insult her, especially when she died for this pack’s sake,” I spoke, saying whatever my mind had since I could not tolerate such insult.

I found out about my mother’s death yesterday when some Omegas were gossiping about me. They mentioned that my mother died during a war to save Alpha Darwin and his pack members.

“Who cares if she is dead?!” Alpha Darwin uttered, making my heart sink. “Death was her price for bringing you, this illegitimate wolfless girl into this world! I wish I had never met her!” He spat, and I raised my head at once, scanning his expression.

“W-what are you talking about?” I stammered, glancing over the smirk on his Luna’s face.

Letting out a scoff, Alpha Darwin stormed away from my room without answering my question.

His Luna followed too, but that was only after she shot a deadly glare at me. But my mother was a forever faithful mate. During my childhood days, she always cherished and loved Alpha Darwin, so why did he say such nonsense against my mother?!

A tight, painful grip on my hand caused me to snap out of my thoughts. I turned, gazing at Tania who gripped my hand aggressively, “Poor thing, you didn't hear anything about your miserable mother?”

“Don’t you dare speak about my mother that way!” I retorted, and a chuckle let out from her lips before she pulled her hand away from me.

“Let me explain then. Alpha Darwin expected you to shift on your eighteenth birthday as his first heiress, or let me say... future female Alpha, but you didn't,” Tania spoke proudly. She encircled me as she spoke like I was a prey and she was the predator. Certainly, I was very curious about what she mentioned, so I watched her speak.

“Why?” She questioned, swaying her hands proudly.

“I don't know-” Before I could finish my statement, she huffed, “Because you are nothing, but a BASTARD.”