"Get the fuck off my bed," Valen ordered. His voice lacked any warmth, cutting through the quiet room like a knife.

I gripped the mattress edge, dragging my battered body toward the side. Fire ripped through my ribs, stealing the air from my lungs. A sharp gasp tore from my throat, but I refused to stop moving.

"I'm trying," I gritted out. My bare feet finally hit the cold floorboards. My knees wobbled instantly.

"Try harder." Valen crossed his arms. His massive frame blocked the doorway, casting a long shadow over me. "I want my sheets burned."

"You don't have to be cruel," I whispered, clutching my side. "I didn't ask to be put here."

"You didn't fight it, either." He took a step forward, his jaw tight. "You saw an opportunity and you took it."

"I was unconscious!"

"Keep your voice down," a new, deep voice rumbled from the hallway.

The door swung open wider, forcing Valen to step back. Grace walked in carrying a steaming bowl on a wooden tray. A tall, broad-shouldered man followed close behind her. He shared Valen's piercing blue eyes and rigid posture, radiating an authority that made my Omega instincts flare in panic.

"Valen, stop crowding her," Grace ordered, completely unaffected by the tension in the room. "She needs to eat at a proper table, not hunched over in the dark."

"I'm not touching her," Valen sneered, backing away as if I carried a plague.

The older man leveled a hard stare at his son. "You will do as your mother asks, or you will answer to me."

"It's fine," I interrupted quickly. I couldn't handle their fighting. "I can walk on my own."

I hobbled past Valen, keeping my gaze fixed on the baseboards. His hostility radiated against my skin, raising the hairs on my arms. He didn't offer a hand. He just watched me struggle.

The journey downstairs felt like a marathon. Halfway down the wooden staircase, my foot slipped on the polished edge. I pitched forward.

I braced for a broken neck.

Instead, a strong hand clamped onto my shoulder, yanking me upright. It wasn't Valen. It was his father.

"Careful," the older man murmured, steadying me. He shot a furious look over his shoulder at Valen, who was trailing behind us with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "A true Alpha doesn't let an injured wolf fall."

"She's not my responsibility," Valen fired back, refusing to meet his father's eyes.

We reached the kitchen. Bright overhead lights illuminated a massive oak dining table. Grace set the tray down and pulled out a chair for me.

"Sit," she instructed gently. "I'm Grace, by the way. Sarah is just my work name at the clinic."

I eased into the wooden seat, wincing as my bruised muscles stretched. "Thank you, Grace."

Her husband took the head of the table. "I'm Richard. Alpha of this territory."

I stiffened, dipping my chin in immediate submission. "Alpha Richard. I'm Mave."

Valen dropped into the chair furthest from me. He leaned back, resting his boots on the table edge, glaring at the opposite wall.

Grace handed me a silver spoon. "Eat. And while you do, tell me exactly why a young Omega was wandering the northern woods without a pack escort."

I stared at the chicken broth. My appetite vanished, replaced by a heavy knot of shame. "I don't have an escort. I don't have a pack."

Richard frowned. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wood. "Every wolf belongs to a pack. Who are your parents?"

"Betas," I answered, my voice barely above a whisper. "They expected a Beta or an Alpha. When I presented as an Omega last year, they... they didn't want the burden."

Grace covered her mouth, her eyes widening in horror. "They abandoned you?"

I traced the rim of the bowl with my thumb. "The rest of the pack didn't want an unclaimed Omega draining their resources. They made it clear I wasn't welcome. The bullying got worse every day. So, I packed my things and left."

"And walked straight into rogue territory," Valen muttered, drumming his fingers against his knee. "Brilliant survival strategy."

"I didn't know they were there!" I shot back, lifting my head to glare at him. "I was just trying to find a quiet place to sleep before classes started."

"That pack's cruelty is unforgivable," Grace snapped, her maternal instincts flaring. She looked at Richard, her expression fierce. "We are reporting them to the regional council. You don't just throw an Omega to the wolves."

Richard agreed silently, his gaze calculating as he studied my bruised face. "Where do you go to school, Mave?"

I shrank back under his intense scrutiny. "Ridgeview Academy."

Silence dropped over the kitchen. The only sound was the hum of the refrigerator.

Richard shifted his attention to his son. "Ridgeview. Isn't that your academy, Valen?"

"Unfortunately," Valen grumbled, dragging a hand down his face.

"You're classmates." Grace clapped her hands together, a bright smile replacing her outrage. "That solves everything."

Valen’s head snapped up. "Solves what?"

"Your commute," Richard stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Starting tomorrow, you will take Mave to school. You will escort her to her classes. You will ensure her safety until her wounds heal."

Valen slammed his hands flat on the table. The silverware rattled against the wood. "Absolutely not."

"It wasn't a request," Richard warned. His Alpha aura flooded the kitchen, heavy and suffocating. The pressure pushed me further into my chair.

"She's an Omega!" Valen shouted, standing up so fast his chair tipped backward and crashed onto the floor. "Do you have any idea what my pack members will say if I show up dragging her around? She's a target. I'm the Alpha heir. I am not playing bodyguard to some weak stray."

He didn't say the rest, but I heard it loud and clear. I knew exactly how the hierarchy worked. I was at the very bottom. Hated. Mocked. If the golden boy showed up with me, the school would lose their minds. He would become a joke, and I would become an even bigger punching bag.

I stared at my lap. My chest tightened, but I refused to cry. I already knew what I was. I didn't need him screaming it.

"You will protect her," Richard commanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous growl. "That is final."

"Watch me," Valen spat.

He turned on his heel and stormed toward the back door.

"Valen!" Grace called out, rushing forward. "Your father offered you the car! Don't be stubborn."

"Keep it!"

The heavy oak door slammed shut, shaking the windowpanes. A second later, the sharp screech of bicycle tires echoed from the driveway, fading quickly down the street. He hadn't even waited for his father's keys. He just wanted to get as far away from me as possible.

The kitchen felt incredibly empty.

Grace sighed, picking up Valen's fallen chair. She walked over and rested a warm hand on my shoulder. "I am so sorry about him, Mave. He has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but that doesn't excuse his manners. I'll talk to him tonight. I'll convince him to take you."

"Please don't," I said, pushing the soup away. "It's fine."

"It is not fine," Richard disagreed gruffly, crossing his arms. "You are injured. You need an escort."

"I'm used to it," I replied, forcing a hollow smile. "I've always walked alone. One more day won't kill me."

"Are you sure?" Grace asked, her brow furrowing with worry. "The school can be vicious."

"Positive. I don't want to cause any

The heavy car door slammed shut, trapping me inside.

"From now on, you two commute together," Grace announced, buckling her seatbelt in the passenger seat.

"Let me out," Valen demanded, grabbing the interior door handle. He yanked it. Locked.

"Sit back down," Richard ordered from behind the steering wheel. He shifted the SUV into drive.

"I am not riding with her." Valen shoved his shoulder against the tinted glass, putting as much distance between us as the leather bench allowed. "Unlock the door, Dad."

"You will escort Mave every single morning," Richard stated, his eyes meeting his son's in the rearview mirror. "End of discussion."

I shrank against the opposite door panel. My ribs throbbed from the sudden movement, but I clamped my teeth together to stay quiet.

This was the closest I had ever been to him. His broad shoulders took up half the seat. The sheer heat radiating off his skin made the small space feel like an oven. A strange, nervous energy coiled in my stomach. My pulse pounded in my ears, and a sudden flush crept up my neck. I pressed my hands flat over my thighs, trying to steady the tremor in my fingers.

Valen twisted his head, catching my movement. His upper lip curled.

"Move away from me," he snapped.

"I'm against the door," I whispered, my voice barely working.

"Then press harder." He glared at my knees. "If you touch me, I'll throw you out the window."

"Valen," Richard growled, the steering wheel creaking under his grip. "Show some respect. Be polite to your guest."

Valen crossed his arms, staring straight ahead. He didn't say another word. His jaw locked so tight a muscle jumped in his cheek. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, all the way to the campus gates.

The SUV pulled up to the main drop-off zone. Before the tires even stopped rolling, Valen kicked his door open. He vaulted out onto the pavement.

I scrambled out my side, clutching my backpack to my chest.

Richard lowered the passenger window. "Have a good day, Mave. Valen will meet you here at three."

"Thank you, Alpha Richard," I said, ducking my head.

The SUV pulled away, blending into the stream of morning traffic.

I turned toward the main entrance. A hand shot out, grabbing the strap of my backpack.

Valen yanked me backward. I stumbled, barely catching my balance before I hit his chest.

"Listen to me very carefully," he hissed, backing me into the brick pillar of the front gate. His eyes darted around the courtyard, making sure no one was close enough to hear.

I flattened my spine against the rough stone.

"You do not tell a single soul where you slept last night," he ordered, leaning down until his face was inches from mine. "You do not mention my parents. You do not mention my house."

"I wasn't going to," I replied quickly, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"If anyone asks, you don't know me." He pointed a rigid finger at my collarbone. "You don't look at me in the halls. You don't speak to me. You stay exactly where you belong—in the shadows."

"Understood." I nodded instantly.

"Good." He took a massive step back, wiping his hand on his jeans again. "Now get out of my sight."

I didn't wait for a second command. I spun around and hurried up the concrete steps, keeping my head down.

I could never understand why Valen should be so utterly at odds with that of his kind-hearted parents.

I ducked behind the thick trunk of an oak tree near the entrance doors, pausing to catch my breath. My side burned.

Down in the courtyard, Valen was already turning to head toward the Alpha training wing.

"Valen!" a high, melodic voice called out.

A girl with perfectly styled blonde hair and a pleated skirt trotted across the pavement. Chloe Thorne. The reigning school beauty and the only female wolf who strutted around campus like she already wore a Luna crown.

She stopped right in front of him, planting a hand on her hip. "Why were you talking to that Omega?"

I froze, pressing my back against the tree bark.

Valen stopped. He shoved his hands into his pockets. "What are you talking about?"

"I just saw you," Chloe said, pointing a manicured finger toward the stairs I had just climbed. "You were standing with Mave. You never talk to that annoying stray."

"You saw wrong," Valen lied smoothly, his tone flat and bored. "I wasn't talking to her. She got in my way, and I told her to move."

Chloe tilted her head, studying his face. "Really? Because it looked like you two rode in together."

"My dad dropped me off," Valen countered. "She was just loitering by the gate."

Chloe's suspicious frown melted into a bright, glossy smile. "Well, good. She ruins the aesthetic of the courtyard anyway."

Valen didn't laugh. He just stared at her. "Did you need something, Chloe?"

"Actually, yes." She unzipped her designer tote bag and pulled out a thick, cream-colored envelope. She held it out to him, her voice dropping to a softer, more intimate register. "My eighteenth birthday party is next month. My presentation ceremony."

Valen glanced at the envelope but didn't take it.

"I'm inviting the whole elite tier, obviously," Chloe continued, stepping closer to him. "But I wanted to give you yours in person. You mean a lot to me, Valen. I really hope you'll be there."

He finally pulled his hand from his pocket and took the invitation. "I'll check my schedule."

"Make sure you do," she purred, brushing her fingers against his forearm. "It won't be a real party without the future Alpha."

She spun on her heel and walked toward the main building, making sure her hips swayed with every step.

I peeked around the bark. Valen stood alone in the courtyard, staring down at the cream envelope in his hand. He flipped it over, his expression unreadable, before shoving it roughly into his jacket.

He lifted his head.

His gaze snapped perfectly onto the oak tree.

He knew I was still there.

He didn't yell. He didn't march over. He just stared right at my hiding spot, his blue eyes flashing with a sudden, sharp intensity that made my stomach drop.

Then, he reached into his jacket, pulled his phone out, and typed a quick message.

A second later, my own phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, staring at the cracked screen. An unknown number had sent a single text.

*Meet me behind the gym at lunch. Alone. Or I tell the entire pack where you really sleep.*