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."