CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36

The morning after my humiliating escape attempt, I woke up convinced that God was laughing at me. Because, really, how else could I explain my life? I used to have dreamssimple ones. A little freedom, a quiet cottage, maybe a mate who didn’t treat me like dirt. Instead, I’d ended up as the "personal omega" of the most terrifying crazy Alpha in existence that has sworn to make my life a living hell. I’m not his mate, his lover, in fact I’m not even his friend, rather he sees me as just his possession. His property. His personal chew toy, or maybe more like his chained pet. And after last night? After getting caught mid-escape like a rabbit dangling in a snare? Yeah. My pride was in ashes, my dignity six feet under, and my ankle still burned from the memory of that rope. I blinked blearily, the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. For a second, just a split second, I let myself imagine maybe he’d gone. Maybe the psycho Alpha had left me alone for once. Then I turned my head.

And nearly screamed. He was still there. The crazy psycho was Sitting in that same chair like a living statue, broad arms crossed, golden eyes burning holes through me. He hadn’t even changed position since last night.

Did he even sleep? Did he blink? Was he some kind of cursed immortal statue that only moved to ruin my life?

I yanked the blanket over my head with a squeak, curling into a ball like a hunted rabbit.

But no matter how deep I buried myself, I could still feel it his gaze. Heavy. Burning. Unrelenting. Watching every breath, every twitch, every pathetic little thought written across my face. This was my prison. And I was losing my mind. Which was probably why the idea came to me again. The most brilliant, flawless, idiotic idea in history. If I couldn’t escape physically, maybe I could escape mentally. Buy myself some space. Get him off my back for even just a day.

I was his personal omega, right? Well, a personal omega too weak to serve wasn’t much use, was she? Maybe if I acted pitiful enough, he’d let me rest. Maybe he’d even leave me alone. Yes. Yes! It could work. The plan was foolproof. I would fake sickness, I nodded to myself under the blanket, heart pounding with reckless determination. This was it, yes my path to freedom. I peeked out, arranged my expression into the most tragic face I could muster, and let out a pitiful groan. "Ughhh... I don’t feel so good I clutched my stomach dramatically. "Oh no... I feel faint feverish, probably contagious I think I’m dying..."

The psycho didn’t say a word He didn’t even blink. Panic sparked in my chest. I had to sell it harder. So I coughed. The weakest, wheeziest little cough in history. Then I threw in another groan for good measure. "Moon Goddess, take me now struck down in my prime such a tragedy..."

That was when his voice slid across the room, low and razor-sharp.

"Pathetic."

My blood froze. And then his inner voice slammed into me like a whip: Lies. Stupid little omega. Thinks she can trick me. Mine. Always mine. Break her. Cage her. If she plays games with me again, I’ll rip out her tongue. I squeaked, clutching the blanket tighter. "I-I really am sick!"

His lips curved into a faint smirk. "Is that so?"

"Yes!" I insisted, sitting up halfway before flopping back down like a dying fish. "Fever! Cough! Weakness! I can barely—"

He looked at me one last time before yelling for his aunt.

"Elizabeth." The word dropped like a blade. And my heart stopped. Oh no. No, no, no. Not her. She could see through my lies in just a minute.

"Wait—no, Alpha, that won’t be necessary!" I scrambled upright, waving my hands frantically. "I just need rest! Yes, rest cures everything! Maybe soup! Or tea! Or a nap! Definitely not Elizabeth but it was too late. His command had already gone out. I could hear footsteps approaching. I wanted to melt into the floor. The door opened, and in she came. Elizabeth. Calm, composed, eyes sharp as a hawk. She didn’t even bow. She just walked straight toward me with that "don’t waste my time" look.

"She’s sick," Alpha Zach said simply, never taking his eyes off me.

And then his inner voice boomed again:

"Inner voice:If she lies, I’ll kill her myself.

Elizabeth raised a brow, unimpressed. "Sick, is she?"

"Yes!" I gasped, clutching my chest dramatically. "So very sick! Weak! Fragile! I can barely move!"

Elizabeth sighed and reached for my wrist. "Let me check your pulse."

No no no. If she touched me, she’d know instantly. And then this psycho Alpha oh God please save me. Panic exploded. I leapt upright so fast the blanket flew across the room.

"I’M HEALED!"

Elizabeth froze mid-step. Alpha Zach’s eyes narrowed. Golden fire burned in their depths.

"I—I swear, Alpha, it’s a miracle!" I babbled, sweat dripping down my forehead. "The Moon Goddess must have blessed me! Look I can walk!" I staggered around the bed, nearly tripping. "I can stretch!" I flung my arms wide like a windmill. "I can even uh—dance!" And then, to prove my miraculous recovery, I launched into the most hideous little jig ever performed by a living being. My legs flailed. My arms flapped. I looked like a dying chicken trying to summon rain.

Elizabeth blinked. Once. Twice. Then she turned to Alpha Zach and said flatly, "She’s fine."

The silence that followed was the kind that made you want to dig your own grave. Alpha Zach leaned back in his chair, lips curving into that terrifying almost-smile.

"inner voice: Ridiculous. Mine. Always mine. She thinks this is a game. Break her. Cage her. Teach her never to lie to me again.

I was still jigging desperately, sweat dripping into my eyes. "S-see? I’m totally fine! Not even a sniffle left!"

Elizabeth pinched the bridge of her nose, muttered something about "idiotic omegas," and swept out of the room without another word. Now it was just me and him. My jig slowed. My arms drooped. I froze mid-step like a deer in headlights. Alpha Zach’s gaze burned into me.

Finally, he spoke, voice low and dark. "You think you’re clever, omega?"

I laughed nervously, backing toward the bed. "N-no, Alpha! Not clever at all! Just... resilient! Miraculously resilient!"

"Inner voice: She belongs to me. No lies. No games. If she tries again, I will chain her to the floor. My throat went dry. My knees wobbled. Then, just when I thought he might actually kill me, he smirked. That slow, dangerous smirk that made my heart slam against my ribs.

"You’re ridiculous," he said, amusement curling his tone. "Pathetic. But mine."

And just like that, my jig ended with me collapsing face-first onto the bed, burying myself in the pillow, praying to God to strike me down. Because nothing nothing was worse than being caught lying to Alpha Zach...

except maybe being laughed at by him while he reminded me that I belonged to him.

And apparently destined to humiliate myself until the end of time.

The morning light barely crawled through the tall windows when I realized Alpha Zach was watching me again. His piercing stare was enough to make me freeze, mid-yawn, like some pathetic animal caught under a predator’s gaze. My heart stuttered, my throat dry.

Oh no. He had that look again. The one that promised chaos.

"Get up," his voice sliced the silence like a blade. "Today is not for your nonsense."

I blinked rapidly, confused. "Huh?"

He arched a brow, his posture sharp and impossibly tall, making me feel like I’d shrunk three sizes smaller. "Visitors will be arriving from the Black River Pack. You will dress beautifully, keep your hair down, and smile when spoken to." His gaze sharpened, icy and unyielding and do that try to runaway.

"Let Beautiful? Hair down? Smile? What was this an execution in disguise? Is he planning to kill me. Inside, my brain screamed. My hands already went clammy, and I hugged my ragged blanket like it could save me. "W-why me? I—I’m not a hostess—"

"The crazy Alpha’s command reverberated through the room. His aura crashed against me, forcing my shoulders to curl inward.

And then I heard it.

That damned, horrifying inner voice.

"Inner voice: the If she dares to disobey, I will strip her dignity away in front of them. Maybe I’ll sell her to the highest bidder. See how she survives then. My little personal omega thinks she can hide? Let her tremble. Let her learn.

My stomach dropped. My eyes widened like saucers. He said it so casually in his head, like talking about dinner plans selling me off like I was a piece of meat! I clutched my chest, gasping softly. My lips wobbled. "Y-you wouldn’t—"

His gaze flicked to me, like he’d caught my thought. A smirk tugged at his mouth. "Wouldn’t I?"

My entire body shook so hard the bed creaked beneath me. I imagined myself being dragged away, tied up, thrown into some stranger’s pack house where they’d feed me scraps and laugh at my tears. Oh no no no this was bad. Very bad.

"I—I will do it!" I blurted, throwing my hands up. "I will dress up, I will let my hair down, I will even smile." My lips stretched into a stiff, unnatural grin that looked more like I was about to die of food poisoning. His eyes darkened with twisted amusement. He leaned closer, his shadow swallowing me whole. "Good girl."

"Inner voice: Pathetic. Look at her trembling. She knows she belongs to me. If those visitors so much as glance at her wrong, I will tear their throats out. No one touches what’s mine. But let her think I will sell her it keeps her obedient.

The growl in his head vibrated against my skull, even though he hadn’t moved his lips. My knees buckled, and I stumbled back onto the bed, almost toppling over. His stupid was inner voice even scarier than his actual threats?!

I forced a laugh, shaky and brittle. "Y-you don’t need to worry, Alpha. I’ll be the most obedient decorative plant you’ve ever owned."

He tilted his head, his cold eyes scanning me like he could peel my soul open. "Plant?"

"N-not plant! I mean—omega! Your personal omega!" I clapped both hands over my mouth before I said something even dumber.

"Inner voice: stupid little toad. She fears everything. And yet she amuses me.

I froze, eyes darting up. His lips hadn’t moved. He hadn’t spoken. But the way that inner voice wrapped around me, coiling like chains, made me tremble all over again.

This was torture. Real torture. Not even death was this bad.

"Ellie." His deep voice cut through my panic. "You have one hour. Don’t make me repeat myself."

I nodded so fast my neck hurt. "Yes, Alpha! I will--i will transform into a princess in an hour!"

"If she ruins this, i will make her regret ever being born. Maybe I will let them drag her away for a night to remind her what real monsters look like. Then she will crawl back to me, begging.

I almost fainted right there. My legs gave out, and I flopped sideways onto the mattress like a fish out of water. My lungs couldn’t keep up with the panic. He turned sharply, cape brushing the floor behind him, and stalked out with the casual grace of a predator leaving its prey half-alive. As he shut the door behind him. And everywhere became silent again and I collapsed flat on the bed, wailing into the pillow. "I’M DOOMED!" My scream echoed in the room, muffled by fabric. He was really going to parade me in front of strangers! And worse, if I failed, he’d sell me! Or threaten to! Or both! My life was basically hanging by the thread of a hairpin. I sat up, clutching my head. "I can’t do this. How do I dress to impress people I don’t even know and haven’t met with before? But then the memory of his inner voice surged back like a whip. Obey. Or suffer.

I jumped to my feet instantly. "I will obey! Please I will obey!" I shouted at the empty air. Then I froze, realizing I looked like a crazy person yelling at nothing. This was my life now. Living under a psycho Alpha who threatened to sell me while secretly calling me his. And visitors hadn’t even arrived yet. And if i don’t want to be sold to them, then I need to start moving