CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49

When I woke up, the sun was already pouring into my room through the thin curtains. I blinked a few times, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, and for once, the air didn’t feel heavy. There wasn’t that suffocating pressure on my chest. It was quiet. I sat up slowly, clutching my blanket around me. My first thought was that he was standing outside my door again, whispering in my head like the devil in a fairy tale. My second thought was that maybe he’d fallen asleep in a chair somewhere, waiting to jump on me if I even breathed wrong. But then I heard whispers in the hallway.

"The Alpha left early," someone said. "He took a few warriors with him."

I nearly fell off the bed. My heart skipped like it had just been given permission to exist.

"He left?" I whispered to myself, my eyes going wide. I scrambled to my feet and rushed to the door, pressing my ear against the wood. "He left! He actually left?"

I spun around in my room, clutching my blanket like it was a victory flag.

"He’s gone!" I squealed. "The psycho Alpha is gone! Oh Moon Goddess, you really do answer prayers! Maybe not always, maybe not fast, but this this is proof that you’re real!"

I jumped onto the bed, bounced twice, and landed flat on my back, grinning at the ceiling like a fool. For the first time since stepping foot in this packhouse, I wasn’t suffocating. For the first time, I thought maybe, just maybe I could escape. My heart raced with the thought. My mind was already plotting. If I slipped out now, if I ran fast enough, if I begged another pack for shelter I didn’t even bother changing. I marched straight to the door in my wrinkled dress from yesterday, hair sticking up like I’d been struck by lightning. Freedom didn’t wait for a comb. But when I flung the door open Two giant guards were standing there. I froze, gripping the doorknob. They weren’t just passing by. They weren’t standing casually. No they were planted like trees, arms crossed, expressions carved out of stone. I blinked once. Twice. Then slowly pointed at them.

"What are you doing here?"

"Guarding you," one of them said flatly.

"Orders," the other added.

I stared at them for a solid five seconds, my jaw unhinged like a door about to fall off its hinges. Then I threw my hands into the air and shouted, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"

The guards didn’t flinch. Not even an eyebrow twitch.

I spun back into my room, dragged my blanket dramatically off the bed, and wrapped it around my shoulders like a cape. Then I stomped out again, glaring up at them.

"So let me get this straight," I said, jabbing a finger at them. "The Alpha left. He’s not here. He’s miles away, breathing fresh air and enjoying the sunshine. But me? I get you two as babysitters. What am I, a criminal? A toddler? A—" I gasped, clutching my chest. "A princess? Because if I’m a princess, I demand better treatment! Where’s my crown? Where are my jewels? Where’s my royal breakfast in bed?"

The guards blinked once. Then nothing. I groaned and slapped my forehead. "Oh, this is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I can’t believe this is my life. I could’ve been anything anything but noooo, the Moon Goddess had to make me an omega. And not just any omega the omega who caught the eye of that lunatic. Fantastic. I love it. Truly. Ten out of ten fate."

I stomped down the hallway, my blanket trailing behind me like the world’s saddest royal cape. Of course, the guards followed. Step for step. Shadow for shadow. I stopped suddenly, and they stopped too. I spun around, narrowing my eyes. "Do you even blink? Do you breathe? Or are you just wind-up toys with scary faces?" But Silence.I groaned so loudly it echoed down the hall. "Ugh, fine. If you’re going to stalk me, at least escort me somewhere useful. I want to see my fellow omegas." So off we marched, me in the front like a queen leading her army, them behind me like two very boring statues. Naturally, the pack noticed. Whispers started the second we stepped into the main hall. Heads turned. Servants carrying trays slowed down. Warriors paused mid-step. Even children peeked around corners. I could practically feel their eyes stabbing into my back.

"What did she do?"

"Why does she need guards?"

"She must’ve angered him

I whirled around and spread my arms wide. "Yes, yes, everyone stare! Behold the cursed omega and her brand new accessories Guard Number One and Guard Number Two! Very exclusive, very limited edition. Don’t get too close, or they’ll. uh..." I tapped my chin. "Well, they’ll just stand there menacingly. That’s basically their whole personality."

Someone snorted in the corner. Another servant gasped, horrified, and rushed away. I marched on dramatically, chin lifted, steps exaggerated like I was walking down a runway. If I was going to be humiliated, I might as well turn it into a performance. By the time I reached the omega quarters, I was practically on fire with frustration and energy. I flung the door open with a grand sweep, stepping inside like a hero returning from war.

"Ellie?" one of the omegas whispered, eyes wide as they all froze mid-task.

"Yes, it is I!" I announced, throwing off my blanket and letting it pool on the floor. "Poor Ellie. Cursed Ellie. Doomed Ellie, who cannot take two steps without her guard dogs sniffing at her heels!"

Behind me, the guards loomed in the doorway.

The omegas blinked. Some looked horrified. Others tried not to laugh. I staggered dramatically to the nearest bench, collapsing onto it like a dying swan. I pressed the back of my hand to my forehead. "Oh God why didn’t you give me a normal life? Why not a bakery? Why not a small cottage with three chickens and a cat? Why this? Why him?"

The guards stayed silent.

The omegas glanced at each other nervously. Finally, one girl whispered, "Ellie... are you okay?"

"Okay?" I shot up, eyes wide. "Do I look okay? I can’t even sneeze without these two reporting it back to him! I’m basically living in a spy novel, except instead of being the glamorous lead, I’m the poor side character who gets kidnapped in Chapter three!"

A few giggles broke out. Quickly muffled, of course.

I leapt to my feet, throwing my arms wide. "Fine! Laugh! Laugh at my misery! But remember this day, sisters. Remember when Ellie, the most cursed omega in existence, was paraded through the packhouse like a criminal with two giant shadows clinging to her heels!"

The laughter grew louder now. Even the shy ones covered their mouths, shoulders shaking.

I pouted dramatically, sticking my nose in the air. "You think this is funny? Just wait until one of you ends up with guards. Then we’ll see who’s laughing!"

But even I couldn’t hold the straight face. My lips twitched, then broke into a grin, and soon I was laughing too loud, ridiculous, and a little hysterical. For a few minutes, the guards, the whispers, the suffocating fear it all faded into the background. All that was left was me, my fellow omegas, and the sound of our laughter echoing through the room like a small rebellion against fate.

And honestly? It felt good. Even if the psycho Alpha came back later and doubled my guards, even if he whispered in my head again I’d always have this moment.

And if I was going to be trapped, at least I could make a show of it. Walking through the packhouse with two towering guards glued to my heels was torture of the highest order. Every step I took echoed with whispers. Pack members turned to stare. Some pretended not to see me, but their eyes followed me anyway.

I tossed my hair dramatically and raised my chin. "Yes, yes, stare at the cursed one," I announced. "Behold the omega shackled to a destiny darker than midnight."

The guards grunted in unison, like they were already regretting their lives.

At one point, a group of pups ran past me, giggling. One pointed and said, "Why’s she got bodyguards?"

I whirled toward them, clutching my heart. "Because I am a prisoner of love and doom, child. Do not grow up to be like me!"

Their mother quickly herded them away, throwing me a look that screamed lunatic.

I sighed and dragged my feet onward. If humiliation could kill, I’d be six feet under already.

Finally, I reached the small building where omegas usually gathered during breaks. The moment I stepped in, the room went quiet. Dozens of familiar faces turned toward me.

And then they saw the guards.

And then they saw my face. That is what the crazy psycho Alpha has turned me into.