"Is that Lyrik?" Seraphina asked in a surprised tone as she tugged on Liam's sleeve and pointed in my direction.

He looked panicked when he saw me, before it turned into shameful anger.

I calmly raised my glass to them and took a graceful sip of whiskey.

"This tramp actually followed us!" muttered Seraphina under her breath.

Liam jumped to his feet and stormed towards my table. He looked full of rage.

"Lyrik, what the hell are you doing? How dare you follow us?" he asked, his voice shook with anger.

"Following you?"

I let out a chuckle and continued, "Aren't you mistaken, Liam?"

Seraphina walked over in heels, sat across from me, and smiled smugly.

"I'm curious, Lyrik. How did you get in here? Laurel Manor isn't a place where anyone can enter. Did you use Liam's membership and pretended to be his mate?" she asked, drawing out her words on purpose.

Liam turned red with fury. He asked, "What? Why would I ever bring her here?"

In his eyes, even after seven years together, bringing me to a place like Laurel Manor would have been an insult to his status.

"That's strange. Lyrik shouldn't have the right to get in here alone," she said while looking at me thoughtfully.

Realization dawned on Liam. His gaze turned scornful and he asked, "What tricks did you use to sneak in, Lyrik?"

"I think I know. For girls like you to enter high society, you always need a certain… special method," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

Guests at nearby tables started whispering.

"I understand. Not everyone has the right bloodline or family, but relationships like that never last long," she went on sweetly.

Liam looked at me. He asked in a cutting tone, "When did you become like this, Lyrik? Chasing vanity and willing to stoop this low. I can't believe you're my mate who I wasted seven years with. No wonder you wanted to break up with me last night. You must have found a richer man."

"Are you two done?" I finally replied. My voice was terrifyingly calm.

"We're not judging you, Lyrik. We just think you should face reality," said Seraphina with mock concern.

I stood and asked, "Are you done? If you're finished, then leave. I'll say this for the last time. Liam and I are over. If you want trash like him, you can have him, Seraphina!"

"What did you say? I can bring you here another time if you really want to be here. You don't need to sneak in, and don't you dare disrespect Seraphina.

"Besides, your bloodline could never compare to hers. She's a Highborn, and you're nothing more than an ordinary Omega!" Liam exclaimed as he furiously grabbed my arm and pointed at Seraphina.

Seraphina giggled and said, "Don't be so defensive, Lyrik. Liam and I are just friends. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I pulled some strings and got Liam a marketing director position at the Apex Group."

She turned to me and gave me a provoking look.

The Apex Group was the most powerful business empire in North America.

"He starts tomorrow," said Seraphina.

She paused deliberately and continued, "A company of that level demands real competence and power. I can help Liam. What can you do?"

"Liam's future has nothing to do with me. Bragging about it is meaningless," I fought back calmly.

Liam seemed convinced I was only mad at him. He kept yapping and said, "Don't say things like that while I still have feelings for you. We're more than qualified to work at the Apex Group because of the capabilities of our bloodline."

His tone was full of arrogance.

I could not help but laugh. I said, "Let's see how long you two can last. People with no morals don't stay at the top for long."

"Are you comparing yourself to us, you Omega? Lyrik, you're not thinking about getting into Apex Group too, are you? A place like that doesn't let prostitutes in," said Seraphina with a spiteful gaze.

I sneered and mocked, "Funny, that sounds like projection. Maybe you're the one trading yourself for resources. Why else would you spread rumors so easily?"

Seraphina flushed with rage and pointed at me, stuttering, "You… You…"

I ignored her and walked straight to the elevator.

I finally saw Liam for who he was. He was not worth another ounce of my love.

I only blamed myself for not realizing sooner that he was only a shallow man.

The elevator doors closed, shutting out their voices.

I pulled out my phone and checked out the official website of the Apex Group.

There was a posting on the careers page, the executive assistant to the CEO. I applied without hesitation and uploaded my resume.

It was not to prove anything to anyone, but to begin a new life on my own terms. Not by any connections, nor shameful shortcuts, but with my capabilities.

The notification tone chimed when I sent my application successfully. It sounded clear and determined.

The next morning, I woke to the buzz of my phone.

The caller ID showed that it was from the Apex Group.

"The CEO is waiting for you, Miss Lyrik," said the receptionist at the Apex Group.

Her voice broke my tension.

I followed her into the private elevator to the top floor. I stepped into a huge office when the doors opened.

Behind a massive desk sat a man who took my breath away. It was Adrian, the Alpha of the Apex Group.

His natural Alpha presence intimidated me. He had eyes that seemed to see through everything.

"Sit," he said in a low voice.

He had an authority that allowed no refusal.

I saw across from him and tried to stay calm, but my bloodline started to stir.

He spoke slowly, "Lyrik, do you know why you're here?"

"Because I sent my resume?" I replied.

He laughed. His smile made my heart race for no reason.

He stood and walked around the desk to come closer to me. "No, because twenty-three years ago, our families made an arrangement for us."

My eyes widened. I asked, "What arrangement?"

"The Moonborn Bond. A destiny pact based on an ancient bloodline. Our families chose each other for us before we were born," Adrian replied as he stood in front of me.

My head buzzed. I said, "This isn't possible. I've never heard about this."

"Impossible? Lyrik, you carry the purest Alpha bloodline because you are a Moonborn. It's only because you kept suppressing it," he said as a trace of pain flashed in his eyes.

Adrian's words struck like lightning. The power inside me that was long suppressed began to stir.

Adrian continued to say in a regretful tone, "For seven years, you took medication to suppress yourself for a Beta."

"How did you know?" I asked.

"I know everything about you, including your relationship with that Beta named Liam," he replied with a darkened gaze.

Shame and anger rose inside me. "That was my choice," I said.

"Maybe it was the wrong choice. I hope you can consider our pact," he said. He sounded hurt.

I stood and felt dizzy. The power inside me burned like flames.

"This is all too sudden, I need some time to think," I said.

"I'm not forcing you," he said.

Adrian backed away and continued, "I only want you to know the pact existed. The choice is yours. Maybe you can consider if I have the chance to stand beside you?"

He was sincere, but I was too shocked to answer.

I said I needed time, then rushed out of his office and caught my breath in the elevator.

I had stopped taking suppressants since breaking up with Liam. The power of my Alpha bloodline was burning within me at that moment.

I stepped out of the Apex Tower and saw someone familiar.

"Lyrik!" he called out.

Liam got out of a taxi wearing a new suit and a flattering smile.

"I knew you'd come to find me. Can we talk? What I said yesterday crossed the line. How can we actually break up?" he asked.

I looked at him like he was a stranger. "We broke up, Liam. Please stop harassing me."

"Stop joking. I know you're mad, but we can fix this," he said while trying to reach for me.

"I said, we broke up," I interrupted with a cold tone and backed away.

Liam grew furious and tried to control me. "Don't make me hold you down, Lyrik," he threatened.

The power within me burst out.

A wave of Alpha pressure crashed like a tide. Liam staggered back, and he instantly turned pale.

"This isn't possible… How can you have this power?" he muttered, looking fearful.

I was also shocked, but I tried to stay calm.

"Please don't come near me again, Liam. I'll cut our Mate Bond," I said.

My tone was final.

His shock shifted to anger, then he glared at me.

One of the assistants who worked for Adrian stepped in front of me before I could react.

Liam sneered at that and said spitefully, "Okay, fine. I didn't believe Seraphina when she told me, but it looks like you really did find someone else. No wonder you came to the Apex Group!"

"You have no right to speak to Miss Lyrik like that. I'll call security if you threaten her safety," warned the assistant.

Liam sneered and said with spite, "Okay, fine. Let's break up, but don't think you can find someone better than me. Don't come begging for me to come back when you get dumped."

I thanked the assistant before leaving, and I did not look back.

Adrian contacted me several times after that, hoping that I would join the company. I also wanted to see how Liam and Seraphina would react, so I agreed.

A week later, my phone rang again.

I got a text from Liam. He heard that I got accepted into the Apex Group, and he texted that joining Apex Group would not cause him to notice me.

I stared at the text and thought about what Adrian said about our pact arranged by our families.

I replied that I was about to take part in a Bonding Ceremony soon.

"Lyrik, you actually came!" exclaimed Liam.

It was my first day at the Apex Group. I had barely stepped into the lobby of the Apex Tower when I heard his annoying voice.

Liam wore a brand-new suit, and he stood by the marble reception desk with Seraphina by his side. She was dressed to impress.

Clearly, they had been waiting for me. They were ready to embarrass me as a welcome gift.

"I told you she would come. Still couldn't help but follow me, huh? How pathetic," said Liam loudly. He made sure everyone nearby would hear.

The employees nearby started whispering, glancing at us curiously.

Seraphina giggled and hooked her arm around his. "Don't say that, Liam. Maybe Lyrik just wants a job. Competition here is tough though, and the turnover rate is high. Are you sure you can handle this kind of pressure?" asked Seraphina as she turned to me with a provoking gaze.

I ignored them and walked straight to the elevator.

However, Liam was not done yet.

"Wait," he called out.

He hurried after me and said with superiority, "Lyrik, since we have history, I can look after you. I'm the marketing director now, you know. If you admit you were wrong, we might be able to start over."

"Step aside," someone interrupted.

The voice came from behind us. It was low and full of authority.

Everyone turned to see Adrian standing there, silent and imposing.

He only stood there and did not do anything, but his intimidating Alpha presence made the lobby fall silent.

It was so quiet as if the air itself froze.

Liam was intimidated, and he instinctively lowered his head. He could not make eye contact with Adrian.

His body trembled slightly as if his nature was crushed by something far greater than him.

"Adrian, sir," said Seraphina.

She tried to stay calm, but her voice was shaky, and there was sweat on her forehead.

Adrian ignored her completely and walked to my side.

The staff instinctively cleared a path when he appeared. No one dared to make a sound.

"Starting today, Lyrik is my special consultant. She will directly report to me. Her rank is above the marketing director," he said.

Adrian's voice was not loud, but everyone heard it clearly.

The lobby was dead silent.

Liam widened his eyes in disbelief. Moments ago, he had been bragging about his position, only to discover my position outranked his.

"Also, anyone caught bringing personal disputes into work hours will face disciplinary action," added Adrian with authority in his voice.

His gaze swept over Liam and Seraphina. Both of their faces turned pale.

"Any questions?" asked Adrian calmly, but the threat was clear.

"No, sir," answered everyone in unison.

Adrian led me into the private elevator, leaving behind everyone who looked at each other.

The lobby erupted with hushed voices as soon as the doors closed.

By four o'clock, after my first project meeting, I was in my office sorting files when Seraphina showed up at the door.

She wore a fake friendly smile, but the malice in her eyes was obvious.

"Lyrik, can we talk privately?" she asked.

Her voice was so sweet that it made my skin crawl.

I gestured for her to sit, and I was curious what trick she had up her sleeve.

"I know we have some misunderstandings, but as a woman, I feel I should remind you of something," she said.

Seraphina went straight into it, and she folded her hands neatly on her lap.

"What is it?" I asked, setting my files aside as I looked at her.

She leaned closer and her voice suddenly turned cruel. "Adrian is the most powerful Alpha in North America. He's destined to be with a woman of the highest bloodline. You, Lyrik, are a woman marked by a Beta, a useless piece of trash abandoned by a man. Do you think a powerful Alpha would ever want you?"

I had to laugh at her twisted expression. "Are you threatening me, Seraphina? My position is higher than yours, you know. Do you think you can threaten me?"

"I'm only reminding you of reality. Don't think that you can turn things around by clinging to Adrian. Someone like you will be eliminated eventually, and when that happens, don't say I didn't warn you," she said.

She stood up and glared down on me with superiority.

Her jealous demeanor was a joke to me.

Then, she left my office on her heels, feeling smug and satisfied.

However, she did not know that I stopped being afraid of cheap threats like that a long time ago.