2

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense as Emily's dominance pheromones filled the air.

"Emily, I really need to leave," I kept my voice deliberately calm. "The meeting is important."

Emily's eyes flashed with malice as she signaled to her security team. Within seconds, a dozen muscular betas in black suits surrounded me.

"Look who's trying to act tough now," Emily's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You might have forgotten, but this is Blood Moon territory."

"Let me show them what we're capable of," Zoe, my wolf, growled inside my mind.

"Not yet," I soothed her. "We need to maintain our cover."

The truth was, I could have taken down every single one of these betas without breaking a sweat. The Alpha King's elite warriors didn't earn their positions through family connections.

Derek, ever the peacemaker, tried to intervene again.

"Claire, I think it's better if you stay. You know how things work in our pack..."

His voice trailed off as he glanced nervously at Emily's security team.

I studied the faces of my former classmates. Some looked smug, others uncomfortable, but none dared to speak against Emily, the pack Beta's precious daughter.

Just then, Lucas sauntered over, his puppy-dog eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Claire, Claire, Claire... still playing hard to get after all these years?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Lucas had always been under the delusion that I had a crush on him in high school.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten about that confession letter you wrote me?" He raised an eyebrow suggestively.

I almost laughed out loud. That infamous letter - a cruel prank by some classmates pretending to be me. They thought it would be hilarious to see the omega class president get rejected by a popular gamma.

"He's even more insufferable than before," Zoe scoffed.

"Lucas, that letter wasn't from me. I thought we cleared that up years ago."

His face darkened. "Still denying it? You chased after me for two whole years!"

Emily seized this opportunity to twist the knife further.

"Oh my, Claire. Are you still obsessed with my mate?"

Wait, what? Emily and Lucas were mates now? Talk about a match made in hell.

"Listen carefully," Emily's voice dripped with venom. "Lucas is mine now. Don't get any ideas just because you've come crawling back to Blood Moon Pack."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

"Emily, you can keep him. I have zero interest in your mate."

My dismissive tone seemed to infuriate her even more.

"You little..." Emily raised her hand to slap me.

"Dodge it," Zoe urged. "Show them some of our training."

But I stood still, letting her hand connect with my cheek. A Beta slapping an Omega - perfectly normal in their eyes.

The sound echoed through the room, followed by gasps and whispers.

"Not so high and mighty now, are you?" Emily smirked. "You might have been class president once, but look at you now - just another omega who couldn't make it in the real world."

Derek rushed forward, his face pale.

"Emily, please! She's still our former class president. This is going too far!"

But Emily was far from done.

"Class president? Don't make me laugh. She only got that position because the teachers pitied the orphan omega with good grades."

The mention of my parents made Zoe bristle with rage.

"Let me out," she snarled. "Let me show them what happens when they disrespect us."

I pushed her back down. The mission came first. Always.

"Claire," Derek's voice was pleading now. "Just apologize to Emily. Her father has huge influence in Blood Moon Pack. You don't want to make enemies here..."

If they only knew that the real enemy was already among them, investigating their pack's suspicious activities for the Alpha King.

Emily interpreted my silence as fear.

"That's right, listen to Derek. Get on your knees and maybe I'll let you leave."

Her security team moved closer, their intentions clear.

I met Emily's gaze steadily.

"Emily, I'm warning you one last time. You really don't want to do this."

She threw back her head and laughed.

"Or what? What could a pathetic omega like you possibly do to me?"

"She's asking for it," Zoe growled. "Just one shift, that's all we need."

But I remained outwardly calm.

"I'm not the same person you knew in high school."

"No," Emily sneered. "You're worse. At least back then you knew your place in the hierarchy."

She turned to her security team.

"Make her kneel."

As they moved to grab me, I allowed myself a small smile.

Soon they would learn exactly why the Alpha King's Gamma was feared throughout all territories.

But for now, I would play their game.

Just a little longer.