CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44

The sun rose, but I was still awake. Correction: my eyeballs had gone dry from refusing to close for even one second. All night, I’d been stiff in Alpha Zach’s death grip, every muscle in my body screaming for mercy. Meanwhile, he had slept like the devil himself didn’t exist snoring softly, breathing evenly, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world.

I, on the other hand, had been rehearsing my last words.

If this is the end, let it be quick. If this is the end, bury me in the omegas’ courtyard. If this is the end And then, as if summoned by the gods of humiliation, his arms shifted.

For a fleeting, glorious moment, I thought he was about to release me. My heart leapt. My hopes soared. My soul prepared to run laps around the omega quarters in celebration. Instead.

"Mm," he hummed against the back of my neck. His lips brushed my skin. My skin.

I screamed internally. On the outside, I stayed frozen.

His voice came next, a low rumble vibrating against my bones.

"You’re warm," he murmured, as if that explained why he was holding me hostage like a favorite pillow.

Warm? WARM?! I was a furnace of fear, sir! If warmth was what he wanted, he could have hugged a blanket!

But no. He had to hug me.

The worst part wasn’t the hugging. Oh no. The worst part was when the sun officially rose, pouring golden light through the thin window, and I realized We weren’t alone. Because the other omegas the smart ones who had slept outside on the cold hard ground were now awake. And they had gathered at the doorway. And they were staring. At us. At me being wrapped like a burrito in the psycho Alpha’s arms.

Joan’s mouth dropped open. Elara clapped a hand over her lips. The other omegas bless their useless souls were whispering so loudly it might as well have been shouting.

"She’s in bed with him!"

"Like a mate!"

"Like his mate mate!"

I wanted to die. No, I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole before Alpha Zach noticed the audience. I tried to silently beg them with my eyes: Please. Don’t make this worse. Pretend you saw nothing. Pretend I don’t exist.

But of course, omegas being omegas, they did the exact opposite. Joan, wide-eyed, mouthed: HOW?!

How indeed, Joan. I would also like to know how I ended up in the arms of my mortal enemy, snuggled like some kind of beloved pet wolfdog.

And then, the inevitable happened. Alpha Zach stirred. His arms flexed once, pulling me even closer, before he finally opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was me. His face lit up in the most dangerous way like a man satisfied with his life choices.

"Good morning," he said.

I blinked. Once. Twice. My brain short-circuited.

Good morning? GOOD MORNING?! Who said "good morning" after holding someone hostage all night like a deranged cuddle monster?

I managed a squeaky reply. "M-m-morning, Alpha."

He smirked. "You didn’t run. Smart little omega."

Run? RUN?! As if I had the chance! My dignity ran. My sanity ran. My will to live ran. I stayed because he wrapped me like a boa constrictor!

But I didn’t argue. I didn’t dare.

Because at that exact moment, he noticed the crowd of omegas at the door.

The entire world went still.

His golden eyes narrowed.

The omegas scattered like terrified rabbits, tripping over each other to escape. Joan actually tripped over Elara’s leg and faceplanted into the dirt. Nobody went back to help her.

Cowards. All of them.

"You don’t like being watched," Zach muttered, finally releasing me and sitting up. I rolled away so fast I almost fell off the bed. My freedom lasted all of one glorious second until his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

"No running," he said calmly. "You stay with me."

Stay. With. Him. The words echoed like a death sentence.

"Y-yes, Alpha," I whispered, heart in my throat.

He released me then, but not before brushing his thumb lightly across my pulse point as if he owned it. Owned me.

I scrambled up, smoothing my wrinkled clothes, cheeks burning with shame. The omegas outside were probably already gossiping like wildfire. By midday, the whole pack would believe I had voluntarily shared a bed with the psycho Alpha.

Moon help me. My life is over.

Breakfast was worse. I thought maybe just maybe he would leave me alone after that horrifying wake-up. But no. The crazy psycho strolled into the omegas’ courtyard like it was his personal dining hall. Everyone froze mid-bite, spoons halfway to their mouths. Omegas weren’t supposed to breathe too loudly in his presence. And here he was, casually taking a seat Next to me. No, scratch that he didn’t just sit next to me. He sat so close our legs touched. His presence swallowed me whole, heavy and suffocating. He eyed my bowl.

"Eat more," he commanded.

I blinked at my pathetic porridge. "I—I’m fine, Alpha."

His gaze sharpened. "Eat. More."

A trembling Elara instantly shoved her portion into my hands, like offering a sacrifice to a hungry god. I wanted to cry. But I ate. Every spoonful. Under his watchful eyes.

Every omega at the table pretended not to stare, but I could feel their shock burning holes into my back. And through it all, Alpha Zach looked pleased. Like a man watching his favorite pet behave. That was only the beginning. By midday, he had ordered me to follow him everywhere. To stand by his side. To sit at his feet while he read. To fetch things he didn’t even need. Every step, every moment, I was his shadow. His personal omega. And I hated it. But what could I do?

The psycho Alpha had decided. And when Alpha Zach decided something, there was no escape.

The omegas didn’t even look at me when we left the breakfast table. Not properly. Their eyes darted, their whispers hissed, their heads dipped but none of them dared speak openly to me. I was no longer one of them.

I was something worse.

Alpha Zach’s shadow.

He didn’t dismiss me when he rose from the table. He didn’t even glance to check if I was following he simply stood, and his hand brushed my wrist lightly, like a leash without a chain. My knees wobbled, but my body obeyed. I followed. Because what else could I do? The rest of the omegas parted like the Red Sea. Their gazes burned holes into my back. Joan whispered something, and the twins stifled their giggles. My ears went hot. They were already making up stories.

This is the end of me.

The Alpha’s hall was quiet when we entered, the scent of parchment and ink mixing with the faint tang of dominance in the air. Elder wolves knelt around the room, reading scrolls, updating records. And me?

I was shoved onto a cushion at Alpha Zach’s feet. He didn’t say it like an order, not in the usual sharp way Alphas commanded. No. He just tugged me down with a lazy, casual, "Sit here." Like I was his pet cat. My cheeks burned as I folded myself onto the cushion. The elders tried to pretend I wasn’t there, but their quick, sharp glances betrayed them. I caught one old wolf whispering to another, his lips tight:

"She’s an omega."

"As if that matters. He’s made his choice."

Made his choice?!

I wanted to scream that this wasn’t a choice at all, that I had been wrapped up like a burrito against my will. But the crazy psycho was above me, sprawled on the Alpha’s chair like a king on his throne, eyes flicking lazily across parchment.

"Your breathing’s too loud," he murmured without looking at me.

My lungs froze. "S-sorry, Alpha."

His lips curved into something faint, dangerous. "Should I silence you?"

I nearly fainted. The elders coughed, pretended not to hear. My soul climbed out of my body, waved a white flag, and abandoned me.

When Zach finally got tired of scrolls, I thought maybe just maybe he’d leave me behind. But no. He stood, rolled up the parchment, and glanced at me. "Come."

One word. That was all.

So I followed him out into the sun, through the courtyard, to the training grounds where warriors sparred. The sound of fists meeting flesh, swords clashing, and grunts of exertion filled the air. Dozens of strong wolves trained in formation, sweat glistening on their bare shoulders. Normally, omegas were forbidden anywhere near the training yard. Yet here I was dragged like a dog into the center of their world.

Alpha Zach stood tall, golden eyes scanning the warriors. His presence radiated authority, bending the air itself. Every fighter straightened. Every pair of eyes sharpened. And then every single one of those eyes found me. I wanted to sink into the dirt. Zach’s voice was calm, almost lazy. "Stand closer."

I shuffled closer to his side, trembling. He tipped his head, gaze sliding toward me with that dangerous amusement. "If someone throws a spear, I won’t catch it for you."

What?! My heart tried to punch its way out of my chest. My knees nearly gave out. The warriors snickered under their breaths, though none dared outright laugh.

Zach smirked, satisfied.

Training continued, but I wasn’t allowed to leave. I stood beside him for hours, the sun baking my skin, my legs aching. Warriors came forward to spar, and Zach corrected them in sharp, authoritative tones. But between every instruction, his hand would brush mine. His shoulder would press close. Always a reminder: Stay. Obey. Don’t think about running. When the warriors finally paused for water, Alpha Zach crooked a finger at me.

"Jug," he said simply.

My hands shook as I lifted the heavy clay jug, pouring water into his cup. He drank deeply, tilting his head back, throat working in long swallows.

And then then, as if the humiliation wasn’t enough he tipped the cup toward me.

"Drink."

In front of everyone.

I froze. Warriors were staring, some wide-eyed, some smirking. My lips trembled.

When I didn’t move fast enough, his voice dipped, calm and deadly. "Do you want me to feed you myself?"

I nearly cried. Snatching the cup, I took a sip barely a drop, but enough. The water burned down my throat hotter than fire. The crazy Psycho’s smile was infuriatingly satisfied. Like I’d just fetched a stick for hm.