We had been on the road for approximately three hours when we pulled into a gas station. Right next to it, there was a restaurant with eye-catching advertisements plastered on the exterior. 'Best Cheeseburger in the World Right Here!' and 'Value Meal at Only $4.99! Wow!'

As I read the enticing ads, I couldn't help but realize that I hadn't eaten for nearly two days. The thought of that cheeseburger made my stomach grumble loudly, and I tried to suppress the hunger pangs. Unfortunately, I didn't have any money to buy food.

Watching Beta fill up the gas tank, I contemplated whether I should ask him for some money. My wolf companion in my thoughts agreed with the idea, reminding me that I needed to eat. However, I hesitated, not wanting to burden him. I convinced myself that I could endure a few more days without food.

Archer went into the convenience store and returned with two bottles of water. At least I had something to drink, which slightly eased my hunger. As he started the car and prepared to hit the road again, I bid farewell to the delicious-looking cheeseburgers.

But just as he was about to speak, my stomach betrayed me with an embarrassingly loud growl. I tried to play it off, pretending that I was fine and not hungry. Archer looked at me skeptically, pointing towards the restaurant, and offered to grab something to eat.

In a desperate attempt to avoid revealing my true hunger, I clumsily denied it, trying to sound nonchalant. My stomach, however, had other plans and roared louder this time. It was beyond embarrassing, and I wished the ground would swallow me up.

Inside my head, my wolf chided me for being stubborn and urged me to accept Archer's offer. I felt a mix of embarrassment and frustration, feeling like I was being punished for some unknown sin. Should I just give in and admit that I needed food? The internal battle continued as I grappled with my pride and my growling stomach.

My wolf was laughing inside my head, and soon enough, Archer's boisterous laughter filled the air as well.

"H-hey!" laugh "if you were so hungry," laugh "y-you should've just told me!" he beamed, and I couldn't help but feel my face turn as red as a tomato. I tried to hide my embarrassment, lifting my hand and waving it dismissively. "I'm fine, really. L-let's just go," I said, but he continued laughing, thoroughly amused by the situation.

After a while, he finally composed himself and parked the car right in front of the restaurant. Confused and embarrassed, I glanced at him, wondering what he was up to. With an amused smile, he turned off the engine.

"C'mon, let's go before I change my mind," he said, stepping out of the car. Cursing myself for being so stubborn, I reluctantly followed him. Stepping outside, I couldn't help but notice the unfamiliar scent of human territory. This was my first time being in this kind of place since leaving my old pack. The smell of gasoline annoyed me a bit, but I could bear it.

As I looked around, taking in the new surroundings, I took a deep breath and turned to follow Beta Archer. He was already holding the door open for me, and when our eyes met, he burst into laughter again. Oh great, he's definitely going to tease me about this later.

I managed to mutter a thank you as I went in first, appreciating the gesture as it was the first time someone had done that for me. A blonde lady, probably around my age, approached us quickly and offered us a booth by the windows, which we gladly accepted.

Once we were seated, she handed us the menus, and she seemed to be giving more attention to Archer, complete with a wink and a perfect smile. Archer responded with a flirtatious smile, and I couldn't help but feel awkward, so I hid behind my menu to avoid the scene.

"Hello, my name is Aria, and I'll be your waitress for today. I'll leave you some time and take your order, alright honey?" she said, emphasizing the last word while looking at Archer, before leaving us to decide.

Raising an eyebrow at Archer's reaction, I couldn't help but comment, "Gross," sticking my tongue out playfully.

He laughed it off and focused on the menu. I did the same, trying to distract myself from the awkward encounter. "Your mate would hate that," I said, teasingly.

He huffed before replying with a chuckle, "Well, too bad 'cause I haven't met her yet." I was taken aback by his nonchalant response. 'Too bad?' I shook my head, trying to shift my attention back to the menu and choose between the cheeseburger with fries or chicken nuggets and fries.

After a while, Aria came back to take our orders. I opted for the cheeseburgers since they were heavily recommended in the advert.

"I'll get the same as her, and add two milkshakes too. One strawberry and one chocolate," Archer said with his usual charming smile.

Once she left, I glanced outside and casually remarked, "So you assumed that I like strawberries?"

"What? No. The strawberry is mine. You look more like you like chocolates," he replied, shaking his head playfully.

As we waited for our food, I found myself lost in thoughts, particularly about my mate. Archer had mentioned his name is Ezekiel, and he's an Alpha. That's all I knew, and I wanted to know more about him – his personality, likes, and dislikes. But the situation seemed impossible, considering our initial encounters where he had broken my arm.

Unconsciously, I rubbed the spot where my arm had healed miraculously in less than an hour. Archer interrupted my thoughts, asking if I knew anything about his pack. I recalled it was something like "Pan-something," and I shook my head to confirm I didn't know.

With a hint of sadness in his smile, Archer informed me, "Moonwood Mill is unofficially considered a warrior pack. Most members are skilled fighters, and they detest weakness..." He looked directly into my eyes, conveying the message that they wouldn't be too accepting of my Omega status. "I wish you luck."

The conversation fell into an uncomfortable silence, leaving me unsure of what to say. I didn't want to reveal that I was Ezekiel's mate and an Omega, knowing they might see me as a liability.

Thankfully, the food arrived, and we began eating. However, Archer's earlier words lingered in my mind, and I couldn't fully enjoy the meal.

"What about my mate?" I finally asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

"He despises weakness above all else," Archer replied, and I felt my appetite diminished.

"Wow, thanks for that information," I said sarcastically, taking a bite despite the disheartening revelation.

Archer's demeanor brightened as he tried to lighten the mood. "But don't you worry, at worst, he won't reject you. After all, mates are supposed to strengthen each other, right?" He said cheerfully, attempting to bring some optimism back to the conversation.

I managed to smile and nodded. "Oh, right. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me more about your pack and my mate?" I asked, hoping for more insight.

Archer burst into laughter at my request. "Wow, you've really been kept in the dark, haven't you?" he said, shaking his head. "Moonwood Mill is one of the most powerful pack ranks in the Americas. That's why I can't believe you haven't heard of us." He took a sip of his strawberry milkshake before continuing, "As for Ezekiel... I won't tell you anything about him just yet. I'll let you get to know him yourself." He flashed a devilish smile and locked eyes with me. "That'd be very interesting to see," he added mischievously.

As we entered the pack's borders, I could feel the strength of the protective barrier surrounding it. Looking out of the window, I was captivated by the beauty of the territory. If they were truly the top pack in North America, the landscape spoke volumes about their power.

The lush green grass and tall trees were a stark contrast to my old pack's neglected surroundings. As we drove higher up the mountain, I was awestruck when I spotted a waterfall in the distance. My wolf expressed her excitement, and I couldn't help but share her enthusiasm.

However, my elation was dampened by Archer's words about the Moonwood Mill pack. I recalled hearing stories of their fear-inducing reputation - a pack that rarely allowed outsiders in, undefeated in countless battles, and known for their brutal nature.

As an Omega, the idea of becoming their Luna seemed impossible. I felt weak and unfit for such a prestigious position. I couldn't fathom how unlucky my mate must feel to be paired with an Omega, and I sympathized with the pack even more.

Archer's serious tone brought me back to the present. He instructed me to stay quiet and not speak to anyone until my formal introduction tomorrow. I nodded, acknowledging the importance of following his guidance.

Soon, we approached a tall gate emerging from the fog, and even in the darkness, I could see the glowing strength of the barrier protecting the pack. As we drove closer, I noticed Archer's surprise when he realized that I could see the barrier. I playfully rolled my eyes at his astonishment, comparing it to a glow-in-the-dark stick that anyone could see.

Passing by guards who bowed at the sight of our car, Archer turned and parked in front of an enormous building that seemed to stretch on forever. The pack house was impressive, and I couldn't help but marvel at its size.

We reached the door, and I was about to step out when Archer stopped me, remembering something he had to tell me. His face showed an apologetic expression as he spoke, "Never tell anyone that you're Ezekiel's mate."

"Simple instruction," I replied, trying to brush off Archer's attempt to get a reaction from me. I was used to being treated this way – after all, I was an Omega, the lowest of the lows.

He stepped out of the car first, and I followed suit. As we made our way towards the backdoor, Archer started explaining various things about the pack house. He mentioned that currently, only staff and high-ranking wolves like the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were residing there. Despite entering, he didn't give me a tour, leading me straight to the second floor.

As we walked through the hallway, I noticed the layout of the second floor, consisting of a small living room with a television and sofas, along with various doors that likely led to different rooms. We continued until we reached the very end of the hallway, where I spotted the last door, isolated from everything and everyone.

"You will be staying in this room," Archer said, taking out a set of keys from his pocket to unlock the door. I followed him inside, and the room appeared vacant, likely unused for quite some time. It had a bed, a nightstand, a wooden vanity with a chair, a small table and chair beneath the window, and two doors, presumably leading to a closet and a bathroom.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment with the cozy and comfortable appearance of the room, and a smile crept onto my lips as I looked around. Archer asked if I liked it, and I nodded, expressing my approval. His smile mirrored mine, and he placed my small bag of clothes on the vanity chair.

He suggested getting me something to eat while I settled down, but a thought crossed my mind, and I mustered up the courage to ask, "Can I come with you? I'd like to see the pack house as well." My excitement was evident, but his smile faded into a frown, and I knew what his answer would be.

"Han--"

"No, it's okay. I understand," I interrupted, turning around to hide my disappointment. Pretending to be annoyed, I playfully rolled my eyes and added, "I'm hungry."

He nodded before leaving to get me some food. I did understand why they wanted to keep me hidden, not wanting anyone to know about me. This room was lovely, but the seclusion made me feel lonely already. Then again, I reminded myself, I had always been lonely and alone – having a mate wouldn't change that.

But my wolf reminded me differently, whispering, "I'm here."