“Eric, why bother getting angry over a worthless Omega.” Gianna, gracefully holding her wine glass, also pushed open the door and came out. She smiled, but her eyes were like a snake’s. “So this is the Omega who ‘took care’ of you when you lost your memory? She’s… not too hard on the eyes, I suppose.”
She tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at her.
Like a puppet, I was forced to look up at her beautiful, cruel face, and at Eric’s cold, imposing face behind her.
“Miss Sera, what would you like to eat?” Gianna said in a posh voice, but then pointed to the bakery behind me. “The moldy bread they discount here every day must be a treat for you Omegas, right? Go on, eat up. Don’t be shy.”
A wave of humiliation washed over me. All I wanted was to survive. Why couldn’t I even have my dignity as a wolf?
“I’m not hungry,” I forced out through gritted teeth, my voice barely a whisper.
“What a pity.” Gianna shook her head sadly, then said to Eric, “Oh, by the way, I hear some unclean Omegas smell quite bad. I wonder about this Miss Sera…” She trailed off, looking me up and down with contempt.
I felt dizzy, almost unable to stand. Gianna’s scent pierced through me, making my weak Omega scent even more chaotic.
Just as I was about to explain, Eric’s phone lit up. An elder needed him urgently.
He turned to take the call. His tall back was like a wall, completely separating me from him.
His black suit, embroidered with the pack’s totem, I once dreamed of smoothing its lapels for him. Now, it just felt like shackles, forever dividing us.
“Get rid of that disgusting scent of yours!” Gianna hissed, leaning close to my ear, her voice full of loathing. “Did you really think Eric’s little bit of interest in you would let you climb the social ladder? If he hadn’t been so dulled when he lost his memory, an Omega like you wouldn’t even be fit to lick his boots!”
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, just to keep from falling apart.
“Miss Gianna, we don’t even know each other. Why are you treating me like this…”
“Oh!” Before I could finish, Gianna suddenly shrieked, knocking the red wine from her hand.
She stuck her foot out and tripped me. Shards of glass dug into my hand, a piercing pain.
Eric rushed back in, grabbing Gianna’s arm, his eyes full of concern. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine… Eric…” Gianna’s eyes welled up, her voice choked with tears as she clung to his arm pitifully. “It’s all my fault, I knocked over the wine glass… Is Miss Sera okay? Did I say something mean? Are you angry… I’m sorry…”
She cleverly shifted the blame to me, making it seem like I was some jealous, wicked woman.
Eric immediately frowned at me, his Alpha dominance pressing down like a mountain. “Seraphina! I warned you, don’t cause trouble! Do I have to punish you in public before you’ll listen?”
“I didn’t, it was her…” I tried to argue, but my voice was as small as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Enough!” Eric cut me off harshly, his voice full of disappointment and disgust. “Am I supposed to not believe my own eyes? When will you learn the humility and obedience an Omega should have? Stop embarrassing yourself!”
With that, he helped Gianna leave, without a backward glance.
Gianna, leaning on his arm, looked back at me with a triumphant, mocking smile.
I collapsed on the ground, soaked in wine, blood steadily seeping from my palm, a complete wreck.
The pain in my hand was sharp and deep.
But Eric only had eyes for the stain on Gianna’s skirt, gently brushing at it as if that skirt were more important than my life.
He left so quickly, he didn’t even spare me a cold glance.
But the Eric I remembered would hold me and comfort me with his body when I was in the most pain.
Three years ago, on that snowy night, when my heat was unbearable, he was frantic like a wounded beast, releasing calming pheromones, licking my forehead, and asking huskily, “Sera, are you in pain? What can I do to help you?”
Back then, his golden wolf eyes were full of worry and tenderness for me, his Omega.
The Eric of today couldn’t see my pain anymore. His gaze only lingered on Alphas who could bring him glory and benefits.
He didn’t care if I lived or died.
