CHAPTER 1

(RHEA'S POV)

The morning shift that came into a rush, started with a sharp pain that shocked every viber of my being.

“Ugh… Oh crap!” I stumbled sideways, grabbing into the cleaning cart next to me and the both of us were almost sliding out of control.

Bless the Goddess the cart didn’t move away too far .The mannor’s sleek walls were preventing it from going away. Still, I found myself sliding to the floor, my body folding in on itself.

I swear this morning was simply hating on me.

"What's happening?" I murmured, confusion mingling with the sudden burst of pain.

It felt like a swarm of angry hedgehogs had taken residence within me, pricking and prodding with relentless fervor. I lay there, helpless, as the fiery agony danced beneath my skin.

Yesterday, I got my money robbed. I spent the rest of my night thinking on how to get it back and secured it even more. I was determined of leaving Nightspire Pack, the place that had been nothing but harassment for me.

But now, I felt in fear and powerless. Was someone hexing me? Why did it felt like I couldn’t leave this place.

“Ugh!” Another wave of pain pierced through me, stabbing at my abdomen. "Starlight!" I called out to my wolf companion, my voice barely a whisper. "What's happening? Why does it hurt so much?"

As if in response, muffled sounds drifted from Atlas' office down the hallway. My curiosity piqued, I strained my ears to listen, only to be greeted by a symphony of moans, groans, and unsettling wet noises that churned my stomach.

And then, in the recesses of my mind, Starlight's voice broke through, strained and writhed. "It's our mate," she whispered, each word heavy with betrayal. "They're... having sex with someone else."

"What?" I let out a breathless response. Was that the reason why I was in pain? I couldn’t believe a single word from Starlight. "But I never felt anything like this before—!" Another wave of agony washed over me, forcing me to curl inward, my body unable to withstand the assault.

I then looked up and crawled towards the door to Atlas' office. As obvious as the sounds were from his office, I still felt the need to confirm Starlight's words.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of agony, I reached the door to Atlas' office. With trembling fingers, I pushed it open just enough to steal a glimpse inside. And there, standing by a desk, was Atlas with another woman.

It was as if someone had plunged a dagger straight through my heart. Jealousy, raw and searing, flooded through me, intensifying the ache in my weary body. Never in a million years had I imagined feeling such intense envy.

What made it all the more unbearable was the fact that I recognized the woman he was plunging himself into—Kaida, she’s a gamma from the Anno Clan. Not only was she one of Atlas's most trusted confidantes, tasked with safeguarding his very life, but she had also been a constant source of torment throughout my stay in the Glorywayne household.

Right then, I could no longer deny the truth of Starlight's words.

As reality sank in, all I could manage was a quiet, anguished whisper, "Dammit, Rhea!"

So, now what?

Atlas had a reputation for sleeping around in the den of Nightspire. And that would mean, I would get be in pain every time he got intimate with other wolves!

No one had warned me that awakening my wolf would come with this kind of pain!

Darn it! Was this what it meant to be an omega?

My mind drifted to a recent past memory. Yesterday, evening I returned from an extensive work at the main mansion…

…

“Damn! The Lil’ Street Pup is rich!” A raspy yell pierced the air, accompanied by the pungent scent of sweat and neglect.

My heart sank knowing that there were people inside my house. “No way…” I muttered wearily, my sleep-deprived and exhausted body urging me forward, toward the source of my dread.

As I approached the converted stable building, the sounds of laughter and clinking metal grew louder. Three familiar gammas came into view as I entered. A bald man clutched my money safe tightly, flanked by a slender woman with a defiant mohawk and a burly man whose gentle appearance masked an underlying threat. Though I'd known them since childhood, their presence still sent shivers down my spine.

"Give it back!" I pleaded, my determination driving me forward as I sought to reclaim what was rightfully mine.

The bald man sidestepped effortlessly, delivering a swift kick that sent me tumbling into the old wooden wall. Pain exploded through my body as the wall shattered on impact. Gritting my teeth, I fought to regain my composure, watching helplessly as the scene unfolded before me.

"Dean!" Tris, the woman with the mohawk, scolded him sharply. "You outta your damn mind? Lady Kaida’s gonna rip our tails off if you mess up her face again!" With quick precision, she seized the metal safe from Dean's grasp and began counting the money inside.

Dean's response was a sneer. "Aw, ya in yer period or sumthin', Tris? Ain't my fault she's too soft!"

Tris silenced him with a glare and continued counting the cash. "Whatever, we got what we came for!" She tossed the metal box dismissively, and coins soon clinked against the wooden floor.

"Oh no! The coins!" Tetra objected, his tone more concerned than angry.

"We. Got. The. Money. Leave it!" Tris snapped. "I'm allergic to omegas. I'm outta here!" With that, she spun around and headed off, Tetra right on her heels.

Tetra paused for a moment, offering me a friendly smile. "No hard feelings, 'kay, Rhea? Lady Kaida said you've got our payment for the rest of the month!" the burly man turned to follow Tris once more. "Tris! Wait up!"

Dean merely shrugged and followed after them. "Catch you later!" With a casual wave, he disappeared into the distance, sprinting to rejoin his crew.

I crawled over to gather my scattered coins, my silence giving way to sobs as tears streamed down my cheeks. My mind swirled in a chaotic whirlwind of anger, exhaustion, and a burning desire for revenge.

Anger surged within me as I clenched the coins tightly in my fists. "Starlight! Where were you?" I scolded my wolf, feeling a pang of disappointment at her absence.

But Starlight remained silent. It seemed she hadn't fully recovered from my recent 18th birthday awakening, and the fact that I had to push through the day's work only added to the strain.

Last night, I wished I were stronger. When my wolf had awoken, I had hoped for a newfound strength, a means to defend myself against those who sought to harm me. Yet, even with Starlight at my side, I had been no match in a previous attack by the same trio gammas. They stole my bread, leaving me bruised and hungry. If not with the scraps from the mansion's kitchen, I wouldn't eat anything for the entire week.

That same night, my hard-earned money that I collected from countless hours of labor, had been taken from me.

"Why me? Why does this always happen to me?" I bit my lip as I gathered my remaining coins and sealed them in my metallic safe.

In an instant, a familiar face flashed into my mind: Atlas Glorywayne, the alpha of the Nightspire Pack. I’d first met him seven years ago when I started as a maid in the Glorywayne household. That encounter turned my life upside down after I accidentally soaked Atlas while tending to the garden, unaware of his presence in the maze garden.

"No, it can't be," I mused, tears drying as a sense of dread settled in.

Atlas must be behind the mounting hostility towards me. If he, as the pack's alpha, held a grudge, it would explain why the rest of Nightspire seemed to follow his lead! Not to mention, his disdain for omegas.

“Damn it! Damn my luck!” I yelled before carefully collapsing onto the wooden floor of my room.

Honestly, I had been dreaming of escaping Nightspire for ages!

Yet, knowing that I was facing off against a pack alpha like Atlas, I realized I needed a strong ally by my side. Maybe a neighboring pack's alpha, someone as tough as, or even tougher than Atlas.

But seriously, would any alpha bother helping a nobody like me? The idea left a sour taste in my mouth.

‘What do I do now?’

…

“Atlas!”

I returned to reality upon hearing Kaida screaming as she reached the peak of her pleasure. Meanwhile, Atlas grunted loudly as he released Kaida to stumbled over to the office desk. There, he continued to pump himself until he reached his own climax.

I curled up tightly, seeking solace as I witnessed the scene, the pain slowly easing but my breath still heavy with the aftermath.

Soon, I heard footsteps from inside the room, growing closer to the door. Panic surged, but my body could only manage a feeble crawl. The door then swung open, revealing Kaida, unabashed in her nakedness. Her sun-kissed skin glistened, still bearing traces of recent intimacy, as she stood with a casual yet commanding posture, legs slightly crossed.

"Well, well, well, if it isn’t the little Street Pup," she taunted, her voice smooth yet cutting.

My instincts were screaming for me to flee… but I couldn’t even tear my eyes away from her!