The scent of blood filled my nostrils as I watched my father fall to his knees. His eyes, once vibrant with life, locked with mine one last time.
“Run, Elara. Take care of your mother,” he whispered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
The enemy wolf’s claws tore into my father’s throat before I could even scream. My mother’s arms wrapped around me, dragging me away as I reached out for him, my tiny five-year-old hands grasping at air.
“Daddy! No, Daddy!”
I jolted upright in bed, my heart hammering against my chest. Sweat soaked through my pajamas, and tears streamed down my face. The same nightmare, always the same. Even thirteen years later, I couldn’t escape that day – the day we fled our pack, the day I watched my father die so we could live.
“Just a dream,” I whispered to myself, though the metallic smell of blood still lingered in my memory.
My alarm clock showed 6:30 AM. University classes started at 8:30, but I always woke early. Routine kept me sane, kept me grounded.
I forced myself out of bed and padded to the bathroom. The girl in the mirror stared back at me – plain, forgettable, exactly as I wanted. I splashed cold water on my face, washing away the remnants of my nightmare.
Back in my bedroom, I pulled out my carefully selected outfit: loose jeans, an oversized sweater, and flat shoes. Nothing that would draw attention. Nothing that would make anyone look twice at the omega girl who didn’t belong.
I grabbed my large, thick-rimmed glasses from the nightstand. My eyesight was perfect, but these glasses had become my armor. Behind them, I could hide my emotions, create a barrier between myself and the world that had taken my father and left me vulnerable.
“Elara? Are you awake, sweetie?” My mother’s voice called from downstairs.
“Coming, Mom,” I replied, securing my long brown hair into a low ponytail.
In the kitchen, my mother bustled around preparing breakfast. Despite working long hours as the pack’s doctor, she always made time for our morning routine. Her eyes crinkled with concern when she saw me.
“The nightmare again?” she asked softly.
I nodded, sliding onto a stool at our kitchen counter.
“Here, eat something.” She placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of me. “You’re turning eighteen next month. It’s important to keep your strength up, especially now.”
I knew what she meant. Turning eighteen meant possibly finding my mate – something most wolves eagerly anticipated but filled me with dread. As omegas in an Alpha-dominated pack, we survived by staying invisible. A mate would change everything, especially if he was from a higher rank.
“Mom, don’t worry about it,” I said between bites. “The chances of me finding my mate anytime soon are slim. There are plenty of omegas who never find theirs.”
She sat across from me, concern etched across her face. “That’s what worries me, Elara. We need protection in this pack. If something happened to me—”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” I cut her off firmly. I couldn’t even entertain the thought of losing her too.
“Just promise me you’ll be open to the possibility. Not all Alphas are cruel or dismissive of omegas.”
I nodded, though I remained unconvinced. In the Silver Moon Pack, I’d seen how most Alphas treated those they considered beneath them. My strategy of blending in had worked so far. Why change it?
“I should go,” I said, grabbing my backpack. “I want to get to the library before class.”
My mother smiled, though worry still clouded her eyes. “Have a good day, sweetheart. Be safe.”
The walk to campus took fifteen minutes. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact with the pack members I passed. At the university gates, I took a deep breath. Another day of pretending to be invisible.
“Elara!” A cheerful voice cut through my thoughts. Seraphina Hayes waved enthusiastically from the steps of the main building. Unlike me, Sera embraced attention with her designer clothes and perfect makeup. As the daughter of wealthy beta wolves, she had the luxury of standing out.
“Hey, Sera,” I said, adjusting my glasses unnecessarily.
“You’re early again,” she complained playfully, linking her arm through mine. “One of these days, I’m going to convince you to skip the library and have fun instead.”
I smiled despite myself. “And risk missing notes for Professor Wilson’s class? No thanks.”
As we walked to class, Sera chattered about weekend plans and parties I would never attend. I nodded at appropriate intervals, but my mind was elsewhere. The library hadn’t been my actual destination. I just needed the extra time to mentally prepare for another day of careful invisibility.
In the lecture hall, we took seats near the back. I preferred corners, where fewer people could see me, but Sera insisted on being at least somewhat centrally located. As other students filtered in, I noticed a group of girls whispering excitedly a few rows ahead.
“He was with Amber last weekend,” one said. “But it meant nothing. Rhys Knight doesn’t do relationships.”
“Did you see him at training yesterday? Those arms should be illegal,” another sighed dreamily.
I tried not to listen, but the name caught my attention. Rhys Knight – the Head Alpha’s son, future leader of our pack, and the campus “bad boy” everyone either feared or desired. I’d never spoken to him, but I’d seen him around – dark, mysterious, always surrounded by his “Power Gang” of fellow alpha wolves.
My heart did a strange little skip whenever I thought about him, a reaction I ruthlessly suppressed. Someone like Rhys Knight wouldn’t even notice someone like me existed – and that was exactly how I wanted it.
Professor Wilson’s arrival silenced the gossip, and I lost myself in taking detailed notes. When class ended, my phone vibrated with a text from Liam Thorne, captain of our rival school’s basketball team and one of my few friends.
Meet me at the court in 10? Need help with the chem problem set.
I texted back a quick confirmation. Liam was easy to be around – kind, smart, and never made me feel like the lowly omega I was.
“Gotta go,” I told Sera. “Liam needs help with chemistry.”
Sera wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Chemistry, huh? Are you sure that’s all he’s interested in?”
“Stop it,” I mumbled, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “We’re just friends.”
“If you say so. Text me later!” She bounced off toward her next class, leaving me to navigate the crowded hallway alone.
The basketball court was on the other side of campus. I hurried, keeping my head down and my books clutched tightly to my chest. As I approached the outdoor court, I noticed a group of basketball players but didn’t see Liam among them.
“Well, look who it is,” one of them called out as I hesitated at the edge of the court. “Little omega nerd alert!”
My cheeks burned as they snickered. I turned to leave, deciding to text Liam that I’d meet him at the library instead. In my haste to escape, I didn’t notice the person rounding the corner until I crashed right into them.
My books tumbled to the ground as I bounced off what felt like a brick wall of muscle. Strong hands gripped my upper arms, steadying me. I looked up – way up – into the dark, intense eyes of Rhys Knight himself.
My heart stopped, then raced double-time. His scent – pine, musk, and something dangerously wild – overwhelmed my senses. Up close, he was even more breathtaking – sharp jawline, full lips now quirked in surprise, and those eyes that seemed to see right through my carefully constructed façade.
I couldn’t move and speak. I was trapped in the gaze of the one person I’d tried hardest to avoid.