CHAPTER 4- Confusion

Morgan sat alone in his room, staring blankly at the ceiling as sleep evaded him. His mind raced, unable to reconcile the truth he had been avoiding: Lilian was his mate. Deep down, he knew it the moment he had laid eyes on her that fateful night. The connection had been undeniable, the pull of the mate bond impossible to ignore. His heart had fluttered the moment their lips met, and when he claimed her fully, it felt like time had stopped. That night should have been something beautiful, something eternal, but instead, it became a secret burden he now carried with regret.

Unable to sit still any longer, he rose from his bed, pacing the room in frustration. The weight of his rejection hung heavily on his chest. Grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the mini-fridge, he poured himself a generous glass and took a long drink, hoping it would dull the confusion and guilt gnawing at him. How could someone like Lilian, from a cursed bloodline, be destined for him? He had always envisioned himself with someone of higher standing, someone who could elevate him, not bring him down. Yet, every time he closed his eyes, he saw her—Lilian, the Omega he had cast aside.

The door suddenly swung open, interrupting his thoughts. Samantha, the Beta of the Diamond Pack and his occasional lover, strolled in wearing a sleek, seductive dress that left little to the imagination. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she sauntered toward him.

“Sam—” Morgan started, but before he could finish, Samantha pulled him into a deep, hungry kiss. He hesitated, momentarily pulling back, but Samantha pressed herself against him, her hands sliding over his chest.

“Morgan, take me...” she whispered in a sultry voice, her lips brushing against his ear. Her words were laced with desire, each syllable meant to seduce him. She had always been bold, confident in her allure, and tonight was no different.

Morgan, despite his inner turmoil, was still a man. His body responded instinctively to her touch, and as he felt the familiar heat rising within him, he gave in. He grabbed Samantha's waist and carried her to the bed, laying her down as she wrapped her arms around him.

Samantha moaned in pleasure as Morgan’s hands roamed over her body, her voice thick with satisfaction. “Morgan...ohhh...”

She reveled in the power she had over him, each touch and caress meant to keep him anchored to her. But in her mind, she was already relishing something more: the plan she had concocted to hurt Lilian even further. Samantha had always hated the Omega for the quiet affection she sensed between her and Morgan, and now she was going to crush any remaining hope Lilian might have had.

And then the door creaked open.

Standing in the doorway, wide-eyed and stunned, was Lilian. She had been carrying a platter of food—Samantha’s instruction to deliver it had been clear, and Lilian, always the dutiful servant, had complied. But what she had not expected was to walk in on this.

“Alpha Morgan, here’s your—” her voice faltered, the words dying on her lips as she took in the sight before her. Morgan, the man she loved, the father of her unborn child, was on top of Samantha, their bodies entwined in a moment of heated passion. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt as though the ground beneath her was crumbling.

For a moment, the room was filled with nothing but the heavy silence of betrayal. Morgan’s gaze snapped toward her, his expression unreadable, but there was no mistaking the guilt that flickered across his face.

Samantha, however, was far from shocked. In fact, a smug smile curled on her lips as she lay beneath Morgan, her arms still draped around him. She had orchestrated this perfectly, and Lilian had walked right into her trap.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Samantha spat, her voice filled with venom. She made no move to cover herself or hide what was happening. Instead, she wore her arrogance like a badge, her eyes narrowing at Lilian as if daring her to say something.

Lilian stood frozen, unable to tear her eyes away from the scene. Every part of her felt like it was shattering into a thousand pieces. She had thought that nothing could hurt more than Morgan’s rejection, but this—this was worse. He hadn’t just rejected her; he had chosen to humiliate her.

Samantha leaned up slightly, her hand trailing down Morgan’s back as she spoke, her tone mocking. “Didn’t I tell you to make it quick? Looks like you took your sweet time.”

The platter of food slipped from Lilian’s trembling hands and crashed to the floor, the sound echoing through the room. But she didn’t move to pick it up. She couldn’t. The tears she had been holding back brimmed at the corners of her eyes, and though she desperately tried to hold them in, one tear fell, then another.

Morgan, still silent, rose from the bed. For a brief moment, his eyes softened as they met Lilian’s tear-streaked face, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t reach out to comfort her. He just stood there, conflicted, as if caught between two worlds—one where Lilian was his mate, and another where Samantha offered him a distraction from the truth.

Lilian's heart clenched as she turned away, fleeing from the room without another word. The betrayal cut too deep, and the rejection felt final. She had been foolish to think Morgan might change, to hope that he would accept her despite the cursed bloodline she bore.

As she ran through the hallways of the packhouse, her sobs echoed off the walls. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she needed to get away. Away from the pain, away from the humiliation. But no matter how far she ran, the image of Morgan and Samantha would haunt her.

Back in Morgan’s room, Samantha smiled in triumph, satisfied with the outcome. Morgan, however, couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Morgan stood still, his hands resting on Samantha's waist, but his body stiffened as she leaned in closer. Her lips pressed against his, more insistent and aggressive this time, yet he didn’t respond. His mind was elsewhere—on Lilian. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, the pull of the mate bond was undeniable. His connection to Lilian was stronger than anything he’d ever felt before, but he had been too proud to admit it. Now, it was like an ache he couldn't soothe.

Samantha, sensing his lack of interest, pulled back slightly and tilted her head, her gaze sharp as she studied his expression. "Hey, Morgan? What happened?" Her voice was laced with irritation, her smirk faltering. "Don't tell me..." she paused, her eyes narrowing, "don’t tell me you actually feel something for that lowly Omega?"

She spoke Lilian’s title with disgust, the word "Omega" dripping from her lips like an insult. Her smirk reappeared, confident that the answer would be the one she wanted to hear. She believed Morgan was too proud to fall for someone like Lilian, someone beneath him in status and power.

Morgan heaved a deep sigh, dragging a hand through his hair as frustration washed over him. He could feel the weight of Samantha's gaze, her expectation that he would deny it, that he would reassure her Lilian was nothing. But he couldn't bring himself to lie, not anymore. The truth gnawed at him—he did feel something for Lilian. He felt the weight of the bond, and it wasn’t something he could dismiss or deny any longer.

"For now..." Morgan said, his voice low and tired, "please go out, Samantha."

Samantha’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her smirk vanished completely. “What?” she snapped, taking a step back. “You’re asking me to leave because of her? Are you serious, Morgan?” Her voice rose, a mix of anger and disbelief.

Morgan didn’t meet her gaze. He stared down at the floor, his chest tight with the guilt and confusion that had been building up ever since that night with Lilian. He couldn’t shake the memory of her—the way she had looked at him with those eyes filled with hurt and betrayal when she saw him with Samantha. The memory burned in his mind.

“I need to think,” he muttered, unable to find the right words to explain himself. “Just... go.”

Samantha let out a sharp, bitter laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She crossed her arms, her lips twisting into a sneer. “You’re actually considering her? Morgan, she’s nothing. You’re an Alpha, and she’s an Omega. You could have any woman you want—someone who’s actually worthy of you, not some cursed nobody.”

Her words stung, but Morgan didn’t respond. Instead, he walked to the window, staring out into the night. The cold air outside seemed to mirror the chill creeping into his chest. Lilian’s face flashed in his mind again, and no matter how much he tried to push it away, he couldn’t forget the bond that connected them.

Samantha huffed, realizing she wasn’t going to get the reaction she wanted. “Fine,” she snapped, her voice cold. “But don’t come crawling back to me when you regret this.”

With one final, venomous glance, Samantha stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.