Chapter 3

The early morning sunlight streamed harshly through the cracks in the window, blinding me as I slowly opened my eyes. Every part of my body ached. My muscles protested as I pushed myself off the cold, unforgiving cement floor where I had collapsed last night, exhausted and tear-stained. I could feel the sticky trails left by dried tears on my cheeks, reminders of the sleepless night that had drained every ounce of strength out of me.

I forced myself upright, though my knees wobbled and my head spun. I wanted nothing more than to stay hidden in my room, to bury myself in the covers and pretend the world didn’t exist. But I didn’t have that luxury. I needed to work—I needed the money. And even if I somehow managed to get out of work, I would have to come up with an excuse. I couldn’t tell them the truth…that Tyson had shattered me in every way possible.

Gritting my teeth, I made my way to the bathroom. I grabbed a bucket, and a rag, and filled it with water, forcing myself to return to the living room to clean the blood stains left behind. As I scrubbed the floor, my hands shook. My mind flashed back to Tyson’s face, to the wicked glint in his eyes as he ignored my cries, his laughter echoing in my ears like a haunting melody. I scrubbed harder, trying to erase not just the blood but the memories, though I knew neither would ever truly go away.

With a trembling breath, I finally finished cleaning and moved on to my chores. Each movement felt like torture, my body fighting me every step of the way. It wasn’t long before I heard voices and footsteps echoing through the hallway. I looked up from my task to see Lisa, striding in with her friends in tow. Their smirks twisted as they caught sight of me, and Lisa’s eyes sparkled with a sadistic glee.

She didn’t hesitate—stepping onto the damp floor I had just mopped, leaving a trail of muddy prints in her wake. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to swallow down the anger that threatened to rise. I reached for the mop to start cleaning her mess when, out of nowhere, she pushed me hard. I stumbled, the bucket tipping over, water splashing across the floor as I hit the ground hard.

“You filthy little whore,” Lisa spat, her voice laced with venom. “Couldn’t handle rejection, could you? So you went after him anyway, desperate for anything he’d give you.”

I tried to answer, my mouth opening to explain, but before I could get a word out, she seized a nearby vase and hurled it in my direction. The vase shattered, its pieces scattering across the floor. Her friends laughed behind her, reveling in my humiliation. Every glance, every laugh, every sneer cut through me, breaking every form of strength I had tried to build earlier, as I managed to stand up again.

Lisa stepped forward, really agitated. “How dare you try to take what’s mine?” She hissed, her fingers curling into fists. “I can still smell him on you, you disgusting little b*tch.”

“I didn’t… It wasn’t like that—” I began, but she slapped me hard across the face, her hand stinging like fire on my cheek. I stumbled back, tripping over the bucket and landing hard on the ground, this time painfully.

“She’s not worth it, Lisa,” one of her friends chipped in, feigning sympathy. “You’re the future Luna, not her. Tyson’s just using her.”

“You’re right.” Lisa looked down at me one last time, a twisted smile playing on her lips. “But you’d better watch your back.”

Once they were gone, I sat there, my heart pounding. I knew what she and her friends would do. They’d twist the story and spread their poison through the pack. The whispers, the judgments—they’d follow me everywhere, and I’d be powerless to stop it.

Finally, I forced myself to work. I arrived at my job an hour late, trying to hold myself together as I walked through the door. My manager’s stern eyes narrowed as I entered her office.

“Didn’t think work was important yesterday, did you?” Her tone was sharp.

I opened my mouth to respond, but she cut me off, folding her arms. “I don’t care what connection you have with Tyson. It doesn’t mean you get special treatment here, understand? And from what I’ve heard, he rejected you anyway.”

The words were a punch to the gut. News had traveled faster than I thought. I struggled to keep my voice steady. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

She leaned back, watching me closely, a glimmer of satisfaction dancing in her gaze as I fell to my knees, pleading. “Please,” I whispered. “I need this job.”

After a few moments of silence, she sighed and gestured for me to stand up. “Fine. But one more mistake, and you’re out.”

Swallowing my pride, I nodded, feeling humiliated but knowing I had no other choice. Throughout the day, my coworkers whispered behind my back, tossing sarcastic comments my way, each one hitting like a small knife. They made sure to stand a few feet away from me as if my rejection was a disease they could catch. I held my head high, trying not to show how their words cut through me.

By the end of the shift, I was exhausted. I had just taken off my apron when one of them blocked my path.

“Leaving for your next…job?” She sneered, her words dripping with contempt.

I ignored her, but another girl chimed in. “Didn’t you hear? The Alpha called an emergency pack meeting.”

They led the way, muttering to each other as I followed behind. The pack had gathered on the lawn of the council hall, murmuring curiously. Alpha Jackson and his son Tyson stood at the front, Lisa beside them with a smug smile plastered across her face.

Alpha Jackson stepped forward, raising his hand to silence the crowd. “I didn’t call you here,” he said, his voice grave. “My son did.”

He stepped aside, and Tyson walked forward, his eyes scanning the crowd before finally landing on me. I felt exposed, every eye turning in my direction as he began to speak.

“There’s a rumor going around about me,” he began, his voice cold and detached. “A lie started by an omega who’s been obsessed with me for years.”

I froze, disbelief surging through me. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral as Tyson continued his lie.

“My true mate is Lisa Anderson,” he declared. “She will be my Luna, not some…omega.”

The crowd erupted into laughter, their jeers and taunts echoing around me. I wanted to run, to disappear, but I forced myself to stand tall, refusing to let them see me break.

Tyson’s words rang out one last time. “The rumors are disrespectful to my mate and me. The instigator will be punished.”

As the crowd dispersed, I forced myself to walk back to the pack house, my legs numb, my head spinning. The whispers, the insults—they followed me, each word digging deeper.

“Disgusting.”

“Desperate.”

“Homewrecker.”

With every step, I realized I couldn’t stay here. I’d never belong. I would never escape their cruelty. The weight of it all became too much, and with trembling hands, I packed a small duffel bag. One last glance at the pack house, and I turned, fleeing into the woods.

I didn’t know how long I ran or where I was going. I just kept running, hoping to leave the pain and the memories behind. The sound of voices and weapons startled me. I bent my knees lowering my body stance, trying to stay hidden.

“Find her!” Tyson’s voice cut through the forest, full of anger.