Chapter 0002

My heart pounded as I sprinted down the hall, my bare feet barely making a sound on the cold stone floor. I didn't want the man to change his mind; I couldn't bear the thought of what he might do if he knew my true status, lower even than an omega. My breaths came in ragged gasps, but I didn't dare slow down.

But just as I reached the end of the hall, I collided with someone, causing both of us to stumble back in surprise. “Watch where you’re going!”

"Sorry!" I cried out as I collided with someone, the impact causing a wine glass to shatter on the floor. I looked up, fear gripping my chest like ice, and saw Amber standing before me.

Amber, the best friend of Kim, was someone that I felt hated me more than my parents.

Her narrowed eyes and sneering expression made it clear that she was far from forgiving. I attempted to flee before Amber could do anything, but she grabbed my arm and yanked me back. Her sharp nails broke the skin of my already bruised arm.

"Look what you did, you clumsy little brat! Are you blind? What are you even doing out? Have you forgotten your place?" Amber spat, her voice dripping with venom.

“Luna wanted me to...” I tried to explain, but she interrupted me with a growl of frustration.

"Don’t you try to blame this on our Luna! Of all people, Luna would never want you to be around to embarrass our pack. You just wanted to be out. You were trying to steal food again, weren’t you?” Amber accused.

“No. I am just trying to get back to my room,” I responded.

“And look at this mess that you made. You spilled my wine all over the place! Did you do it on purpose?" Her cruel gaze bore into me.

"I-I'm sorry, Amber," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady despite my trembling hands. "It was an accident. Please, I will clean it up and go back to my room." I began trying to pick up the cleaning supplies to clean up the mess, but Amber snatched me up by my hair. Amber forced me to stand still as I winced in pain.

"An accident, huh?" Amber's sneer only grew wider, her eyes glittering dangerously. "Well, accidents have consequences, don't they?"

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. Amber's words hung heavy in the air between us, and I could sense my fate hanging in the balance. But I had no choice; I had to put up with what she wanted to do.

"Amber, please," I pleaded, desperation seeping into my voice. "I didn’t mean to run into you. I’m sorry."

"Accidents have consequences," she repeated with a sly grin, her eyes narrowing even further. “Now, how should I punish you?”

My heart raced as I awaited her demand, praying it would be something I could actually achieve. But deep down, I knew that Amber's cruelty had no limits—and that whatever she asked of me, it would be nothing short of degrading.

Amber glanced down at the puddle of wine and shattered glass, then stomped her dirty shoes into the mess, splattering liquid and shards around us. "We shouldn't waste such good wine," she taunted. "Lick it up."

My stomach twisted at the thought, but as I looked around, I saw a crowd beginning to gather. "Are you serious?"

"Does it look like I am joking?" Amber asked. Her wicked gaze never left me, daring me to defy her. The humiliation was unbearable, but what choice did I have?

"Amber, please. I can't do this. I'll do anything else," I tried to reason with Amber, but she scoffed. She put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at my desperate attempt to make her change her mind.

"No, no, no. You deserve punishment. You knew the consequences when you didn't stay in your room. Now, get on your knees and lick up this mess. Or would you rather be in the dungeon for a week?" Amber added with a cruel smirk. “I’m sure Luna would find that to be a fitting punishment for breaking one of her valuable wine glasses and defying her orders. Why don't I just let her know right now?”

"Stop. I'll do it," I said.

Gritting my teeth, I sank to my knees before her, feeling the sting of tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. I couldn't afford the dungeon; I would starve as they barely fed the ones in the dungeon as is.

"Get on with it!" Amber barked, her impatience evident. “We don’t have all day. We do have a party that we’re trying to attend. Lick it up in five seconds, or you’re going straight to the dungeon.”

Five

Four

Three

With a shaky breath, I bent down and began to lick up the spilled wine. The taste of it turned sour in my mouth, and I could feel pieces of glass pressing against my tongue, threatening to cut into my tongue. But I refused to let Amber see the pain and shame that I felt; she'd just revel in it.

As I continued to lick the wine, Amber suddenly laughed, her voice high and cruel. "How pathetic! I didn’t think you would actually do it! Oh, Goddess, you’re so disgusting. You’re like a disgusting dog!" With a wicked glint in her eye, she stomped down on my hand, driving the shards of glass deep into my skin.

I bit my lip hard, refusing to give her the satisfaction of hearing me cry out in pain. Blood welled up in my mouth as my teeth broke the skin, but I held back the scream that threatened to escape.

"Even an omega has more self-respect than this," someone in the crowd jeered. Others murmured their agreement, and I felt my cheeks burn with humiliation.

But I kept my head down, determined not to let them see the blazing anger in my eyes. Amber would never leave me alone if she discovered that she had taken an interest in me.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, someone stepped forward. A fresh glass of wine was in her hand. “Hey dog, if you like wine so much, have some more.” She tipped the glass over me, drenching me in a cascade of red liquid that soaked through my clothes and dripped into my hair.

"Maybe now you'll learn your place and make sure you are out of sight," the person spat before walking away.

“You’re so pathetic. It’s ruining the mood,” Amber groaned and walked away. The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving me crouched on the floor in a pool of wine and broken glass.

With trembling hands, I began to clean up the mess, fighting back tears as I carefully picked up each shard of glass. My hand throbbed painfully, but I refused to let it slow me down. The sooner I could be away from this place, the better.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally finished cleaning up. Carefully avoiding any further encounters, I made my way back to my room, moving faster but more cautiously this time.