Chapter 1

Kamari's Point of View

Everything was going as I had expected. Slow and horrible. But it was just another party and just more pack members sneering my way. Nothing out of the ordinary. Wolves stuck to old habits worse than shit stuck to wool. It was just a fact. One I hated more than anything.

They made it impossible for change to step in.

Nolan was on the other side of the garden. His intuitive gaze settled on me whenever he sensed my unease. It was a blessing in disguise. Under his watchful gaze, I blossomed. The parties and cleaning became less of a punishment with him around. 

He would never know how thankful I truly was.

Shoving down my growing irritation, I picked up more empty champagne glasses. Refilled them at a station in the far back. 

"Kamari! Table number five needs clearing!" I could hear Eris' voice from a mile off. Cringed and plastered a smile on my face when she approached. "Did you hear me? Those tables over there need to be cleared out. The guests are complaining." This time she touched my shoulder to turn me around. I nearly snarled at her to let go. To leave me be.

Because I hated physical touch above all else.

Before I could raise my voice, the speakers stopped playing music. Instead, they gave out a loud belch of static. The crowd moaned in protest, most of them standing too close to the source of the sound. Even Eris seemed to flinch. 

"Sorry, everyone. I apologize. I didn't realize my mouth was that close to the microphone." His voice was the same as always. Charming. Frank. Although today was different. It sounded almost soothing. As if it could ease all my pain.

Eris'grip on my arm fell away when he spoke. Our Alpha. Arik Knox. A young man who had taken over the pack at an alarmingly early age because his father had passed. And Eris' mate. Which made her incredibly insufferable. 

Arik let out a chuckle, making the hairs on my arm stand straight. I was still clutching at the tray with refilled champagne. Was keenly aware of how the dress I wore hugged my body. Acentuated my curves. "I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for coming out today. These last few months have been challenging but we made it out somehow. I couldn't have done any of it without you."

I turned when he stopped speaking. Wanted to see what had changed in Arik to make my body respond to him so much. With my 18th birthday just three days ago, I assumed it was because my wolf had fully matured. 

Did all female wolves become so in tune with themselves at 18?

"Go Arik!" This cheer came from the Beta of the pack. Quinten. The class clown since the day he had been born. And a jerk just all around. He was the Alpha's biggest hype man. Plus a royal pain in my asshole most days. 

Crowds had formed between me and the stage. Heads bounced and bobbed to get a better look at their Alpha. Their leader. I remained at the back. Tried to get a good look at the Alpha but couldn't.

"Thank you, Quinten for your beautiful words," Another chuckle from Arik and my insides were set alight. I never knew someone could feel so warm inside. Fuzzy. I set the champagne tray down, only for Eris to appear in my peripheral vision. 

"He is giving another speech! Stop gawking and go hand him some champagne before his throat dries out. The other Omegas are setting the dinner tables. Hurry up!" She screeched in my ear. Shaking out of my daze, I nodded and nearly spilled all the champagne over me in an effort to pick the tray up again.

Her glare told me enough. I would never be good enough.  Worthy enough to be a part of this pack. But I could never leave. Not when I would have to pay to get my Omega status revoked. It was a horrible cycle of feeling worthless and wanting to escape to accepting you can't.

I rushed to the front on the outskirts of the crowd. Caught Nolan's eyes as he downed another glass and went to refill it himself. He only gave me an apologetic look before chugging some champagne straight from the bottle. I wanted to laugh at his antics. At his fake optimism. But I was too close to the stage and refused to draw even more attention to myself.

"Our business ventures are solid this year, along with our pack growth. As of late, we have been gaining new members left and right. A wonderful thing. It brings about bounty. Fullness. But none of that could have been achieved without your help. My people. My pack." 

His voice was right beside me. Thrummed deep into my chest. I could feel him around me. It was the closest I had ever wanted to be to another person.

Without realizing it, I moved closer to the stage. Tripped on some or other lead. Nolan's face shifted from playful to fearful in a matter of seconds. He leaned forward as if to run to my aid. But the damage was already done.  

I crashed onto the stage. Felt the wind rush out of my lungs. Crystal flutes broke all around me. And in one swift motion, every pair of eyes in the crowd was on me. Even Arik had stopped speaking. I could see his brow morph into stiff anger when I finally looked up. Noticed the clench of his jaw. 

His sculpted cheekbones.

Then there were his eyes. A radiant blue that stared straight through my soul. I could feel the tug between us. The tingling and joy that followed. My wolf howled in my mind, clear as day.

"Mate." I blurted out before I could even think twice. 

Arik's frown deepened. Until panic set in and he glanced back at the crowd that was now muttering to themselves. None of them heard. But I wanted all of them to hear it. Mate. He was my mate and I was finally free. The only person that would ever accept me for who I was...

"Don't you dare say that again." He hissed with silent fury. Our eyes locked again. He quickly glanced at the crowd. I could see his knuckles turn white on the microphone. Could see his jaw flex. "Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the brief intermission. It seems one of our silly Omegas made a spectacle of herself. Allow me a moment to correct her actions." He seemed so composed. Calm.

Whilst I was reeling inside. 

As expected, the crowd simply murmured their displeasure but no one spoke out. I had started the day normally. Woke up with no guarantee that anything would change. Now I was spread out on a stage with champagne dripping down my clothes and my mate telling me that I had no business calling him that so loudly.

Mate. Mine. I never thought the day would come. 

"Get up and go into the house!" This was Eris. She was wrestling with me from behind. Tried to pull me off of the stage. I cringed but moved. Shards of glass sliced at my arms. She noticed. Scoffed and carried on shoving me to the back door just beyond. 

Arik followed after handing the microphone to Quinten. Smiled brightly at everyone as they steered me away. The moment they were sure we were out of earshot, I knew I was in trouble.

The earth should have swallowed me right there and then.

"What did you call me?" Arik asked in a frenzy. Eris had spun me around to face him. The small mud room at the back of the packhouse was too small. Too cramped. I needed out.

"My mate..." I tried not to stammer. Tried to seem brave. This should have been the best few minutes of my life. Then why did it feel like my life was ending?

"That is ridiculous. Eris is my mate. Not some low-level black wolf."

I couldn't help but look down as he sneered it. Tremble at his anger. It reminded me so much of my mother. Of when she found out her precious daughter was nothing but a curse. Black wolf. The bane of her existence.

"But I can feel it." It was the only thing I could say.

"What you are feeling is wrong. Disgusting. Warped. I am nothing to you but your Alpha. And the moment you tell someone otherwise is the moment I will end your life for treason, do you understand that?" Spit flew in front of my face. Landed on my already-drenched dress. I no longer felt beautiful. Only small.

"But you are supposed to make me happy-"

"But but but. Always a fucking but with you omegas. There is nothing to discuss further. I, Arik Knox, Alpha of Crescent Shine pack reject you, Kamari Enoch, Omega, and black wolf, as my mate. We will have no ties. No relations. You will remain contracted to me as your Alpha and as nothing else. Let this be the final verdict."

Something inside my chest snapped and I swore I screamed for hours after.