Chapter 1.

"Your husband arrives today. Stop scrubbing and make yourself presentable," Jared barked, striding into the living room.

"Yes, Uncle," Talia murmured, rising from her knees. She wiped her hands on her threadbare dress.

"Alina! Alina!" he shouted.

"Yes, Father!" Alina swept in, eyes immediately landing on Talia. A smirk curled on her lips.

"Finish the cleaning," Jared said to her. "Talia has a husband to impress." He paused, then added, "He'll be here in a few hours. They're already at the borders."

The words hit Talia like a slap. This was it. The cruel old Alpha. The one Jared had promised her to after trading her freedom for Alina's school fees.

She stood still, silent, as the weight of it settled.

"Yes, father" Alina replied, and watched Jared walked up to Talia, then touched her shoulders.

"There's a red dress in your room. You must try your best to look---" he searched her bony face, with eyes filled with disgust "Good. You must not embarrass me" he added.

"It's the least you could do... For Alina."

"I took you in after your parents died. Fed you, clothed you... even though you're... an omega." the words came out his lips like a sting to Talia.

"You owe this family, so it's your responsibility" he finished and patted her shoulder before stepping away, going to get other things ready.

"It's nice to see you've stopped whining like a baby, Talia" Alina grinned, making Talia look up at her. She had forgotten her cousin was still there.

"I mean, a few months ago the news was broken to you, you were always crying and moody." She shrugged, grabbing the bucket.

"Crying won't change my fate, would it?" Talia murmured, as if consoling herself.

"That's right. You must consider yourself lucky then. Getting married to Alpha Talone Creed. He's rich after all. Even though he's old, mean, and smells like boiled blood" An annoying laugh erupted from Alina's throat which made Talia turn away in disgust.

She stormed down the hall, clutching the locket in her pocket which suddenly felt heavier, as if it was a burden. It was the only property she had left of her parents.

'What if the plan fails and Alpha Creed takes us anyway?' Her wolf, Titi, whimpered in her mind.

"Don't start now, Titi" She muttered.

Biting her lower lips, she got to her room and closed the door after her.

The Smell of old paint engulfed her and the feel of the old hard door behind her back assured her she was in her safe space. It was hers, despite its weary looks, the sagging cots where she had cried in so many times and the hard walls she had stared at every night when sleeping proves impossible.

Each thud of her heart felt like a countdown. If she waited a second longer, she might lose her nerve.

Hurrying to the window, she saw that a parcel had been delivered as planned.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she dipped her left hand into the parcel, and brought out a piece of paper which had shabbily written words on it.

"Drink the potion when you are alone.

Your heart will stop and your body cold as ice.

The gravediggers will receive your body.

I have the antidote.

Good luck, Talia.

~Lucien"

"He kept his promise." She snigged, and swallowed hard. "He didn't abandon the plan"

Her fingers trembled, with legs wobbling as she stared blankly at the letter.

A voice screamed at the back of her head, but she ignored the warning. Her mind was set.

"I don't like this eerie feeling I'm having, Talia" Titi spoke in her head again.

She darted to the candle, but paused. What if the ashes raised suspicion? With a grimace, she shoved the letter into her mouth and chewed, then swallowed.

A knock suddenly came at the door, startling her, as Alina's voice barked from outside.

"You better hurry up, Talia!" Then she spoke in a shrill mocking voice. "Alpha Creed and his escorts are here. You wouldn't want to keep your old ugly husband waiting, would you?" She laughed maniacally.

"I'm coming, give me a second!" Her voice was shaky and she hoped Alina wouldn't want to come into the room. Luckily, she heard Alina's footsteps retreating as she heaved a sigh of relief.

Quickly, she took off her shabby dress and wore the red gown that was kept on the bed. These type of dresses were only worn by Alina.

The dress clung to her skin like it would mask her omega-scent. She scowled at her reflection in the mirror. "Like an animal, ready to be slaughtered"

Walking to the table, she snatched a quill, and scrawled a quick note with trembling hands. Pushing the letter aside, she grabbed the tiny bottle from the parcel and raised it to her lips.

"If you die, I die too," Titi whispered in her mind. "I'm scared."

"Then so be it. I'd rather die than live as a rich monster's possession" she said with unsteady voice and shaky hands.

"Please, moon goddess... Let this work. Please" she prayed under her breath and downed the whole content of the bottle, her anxiety engulfing her.

'What if he doesn't find her to give her the antidote?' This thought rang in her head as her vision became blurry, and her head banged with a high-pitch sound, ringing in her ears.

She felt the room spinning and her wolfside was slowly losing grip of her. Slowly, her heartbeat began to drop.

And like a flash of light, she crashed to the ground and everything went blank.

A few minutes later, a loud knock came from the door, impatient and fast.

"Talia! What are you still doing there?! Come out this instant!" Alina waited, but was greeted by silence. With a grunt, she pushed the door open and stepped into the room.

"God, I hate the stench of your room! I don't like coming here--" she was still speaking when her eyes darted to the bedside to see Talia lying on the floor. Her face immediately carved into a deep frown.

"Is this a joke or what?" Alina scoffed and kicked her.

"Get up!"

Still no movement. She knelt and turned Talia over to see the foam lined around her lips.

Alina stumbled back, her face pale. "Talia?" With shaky hands, she shook her but no response.

Swiftly, she scurried, rushing to the living room. The men stopped their conversation, glancing at her.

She hurried do Jared's side and whispered something in his ear. Jared was able to conceal his shock as he fidgeted with his tie and stood up.

Alpha Creed who was impatiently standing at the fireside watched them, his cruel old eyes squinting instantly.

"Is anything the matter, Mr. Jared?" He questioned, his baritone voice reverberating in the room.

"Not at all, Alpha Creed. I'll be right back" he stood up immediately and left with Alina, almost breaking into a run.

They both got to Talia's room and found her in the same state. He knelt next to her and placed his head on her chest. He couldn't get a heartbeat.

He touched her wrist, but felt no pulse. Her skin was pale and as cold as ice.

"She's... She's... dead!" He almost choked on his words, speaking in a whisper.

"Dead?" Alina's voice cracked through the air.

He staggered backward as his eyes darted to the letter on the table. In a state of panic, he rushed, and grabbed it, almost stumbling onto Alina.

"I'll choose death than share a bed with a cruel, old Alpha.

I choose the silence of death over a life where love is a cage.

If there's peace beyond this world, may my parents welcome me home.

~The girl you called a burden."

"Hurry, Alina! Get the Grave diggers, go through the back door" Jared was in a state of panic as he began burning the letter.

"What?" Confusion spread across Alina's face.

"Just do as I say, you fool! This is suicide. If word gets out that the Alpha's bride committed suicide, we'll be banished!"

He grabbed and shoved her "Do you hear me?"

Alina's eyes widened, she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her gaze rested on the corpse as a strange breeze blew past her skin, making the hairs on her body stand still.

"Hurry, Alina!" Jared shook her as he scurried around, until he stumbled onto the tiny bottle. He placed it in his pocket without thinking and began shifting her body.

"What about the Alpha? He wouldn't go without Talia!" Alina, finally coming out of her trance, pointed out.

Jared glanced at her. She was right. Alpha Creed has come all the way to the outskirts of the village to pick Talia, and he wouldn't go empty handed.

"Then you will have to go with him, as his bride" Jared said without thinking.

"What?" Her lips trembled as she shook her head repeatedly.

"No father! He's old! I don't want him!" Tears choked in her throat as Jared grabbed her shoulders.

"Do you rather we be banished as outcasts and live as rogues?!"

"Do what I tell you. Get the Grave diggers, now?" He pushed her to the door, making her stumble on the floor.

With tears falling down her cheeks, she scurried through the back door, her heart hammering in her ribcage.

Chapter 2

The morning breeze whispered through the trees, making them bow gently as if in greeting. Birds chirped overhead, their wings flitting through beams of sunlight that danced across the shack's weathered roof.

Talia lay still on a hard wooden bed, her lips cracked, her skin pale. The red dress clung to her like a second skin.

Beside her sat a boy with bushy hair, an uneven beard, and ocean-blue eyes sunken into bony cheeks. His clothes were stained with dirt and dried blood, like he'd worn them through a war and back.

Suddenly, her eyes shot open. She gasped and bolted upright, her body trembling as if it remembered death before life.

"Talia! You're awake! Oh, thank the moon goddess!" the boy breathed, pulling her into a shaky hug. His lashes fluttered, trying to blink back tears clinging to the corners of his eyes.

"Lucien?" she choked out. "It worked? You found me?"

He nodded, and she clung to him, overwhelmed. He had kept his promise.

"Everything went just like we planned," he said, pulling out of the hug.

"At one point, I really thought you were... dead. Talia! You were out cold for six hours!"

He tossed supplies into a bag made of animal hide. 

"Six hours?!" she gasped, hand flying to her mouth.

"The grave diggers came just like we arranged. And as we guessed, your uncle didn't want anyone knowing it was a suicide."

Lucien paused, facing her now.

"He told them to bury you in secret... in the woods."

"They buried an empty coffin. We received your body," Lucien said quietly.

Talia slid off the bed and rushed into his arms. He stumbled back a little, nearly tripping over a wooden chair. After a brief hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her as she pressed her head to his chest.

His cheeks flushed tomato-red, and his heart thudded hard beneath her ear.

"Come on... we must hurry. The carriage will be here soon," he mumbled, trying to mask how flustered she made him.

She stepped back slowly, giving him space. He rummaged through the clutter, fingers twitching with urgency until he found a dagger and motioned for her to sit.

She obeyed, sitting still as he began cutting her hair.

"Talia, I told you before, that if you're caught, faking your death to escape your fate, you'd..." he paused. 

"Be executed" she finished for him and sighed. "I know... I signed up for this. I'd rather die than be Alpha Creed's luna"

Lucien didn't respond. He just kept trimming in silence.

Talia exhaled deeply. A strange weight sat on her chest. She'd planned this for months, but now that it was happening, something inside her trembled.

"You'll take the identity of Sage Storm," he said finally. "You'll enroll at Alpha Crest Academy--"

She spun around to face him, brows furrowed. "What?"

Their eyes locked, which made him nervous and he quickly looked away. 

"Isn't that the school for the Elite? I'm an omega, Lucien. That's suicide. Real suicide." Her voice wavered as a cold breeze crept through the shack.

The same academy Alina was supposed to go that made her uncle sell her off to Alpha Creed. 

"It's the only place they won't think to look for you," Lucien said. "You can't stay here with us. We're rogue outcasts. The Council will kill us on sight."

He looked her in the eyes. "That school... it's your only chance."

Talia clenched her fists, trying to reach out to her wolf, but there was nothing. 

"I can't feel her," she whispered. "Titi's gone."

"She's still there. It's the potion. It numbs the bond for a while. She'll come back."

She nodded faintly, watching strands of hair fall to the ground like dead leaves. Her fingers twitched. Doubt clawed at her chest.

Was this really the right path?

"What about my omega scent? I'll be exposed the second I walk in there."

"Wolfsbane. I'll give you enough to mask your scent. When you run out, send a letter. Quietly."

He paused. "But you have to be careful. You're not just hiding-- you're taking someone's life. Sage Storm is the Beta's son from Blue Claw Pack."

"Where is he?" she asked.

"No one knows. He rebelled and disappeared. His father thinks he's at Alpha Crest, but he never went. We've kept eyes out for him."

"And if he comes back? If someone finds out I'm a fraud?"

"He won't," Lucien said with a wink. His smile was crooked, revealing a few blackened teeth. "And if he does... we'll handle it."

Just then, the door creaked open and a scruffy boy peeked inside.

"Master Lucien, the carriage is here," he said.

"Thanks, Oscar," Lucien waved him off, then turned to Talia. "Your clothes are in that bag. Get dressed."

He stepped outside, giving her a moment alone.

She muttered a silent prayer to the moon goddess while taking off the red dress.

A few minutes later, Talia stepped out of the shack with the animal-skin bag slung over her shoulder.

She was dressed in a loose checkered shirt and faded knicker shorts, her chest tightly bound beneath the fabric. The belt cinched her waist just enough, but from a distance, she could pass as a wiry boy.

"Perfect," Lucien said with a proud smile, walking up to her. A few rogue boys stood nearby, watching in silence.

"My mother's locket... I can't find it." Her voice cracked. She lowered her gaze, chewing the inside of her cheek. "It's the only thing I have left of them."

Lucien's smile faltered. "Talia... you can't go back. It's too dangerous."

"But--"

"You're already dead, remember? Going back now would undo everything."

Talia clenched her jaw. She knew he was right. Still, the ache in her chest only deepened.

He helped her onto the carriage, steadying her as she climbed in. The moment her foot hit the wooden floorboard, something inside her shifted. 

This was it. No turning back.

"Alpha Crest Academy isn't far from town," Lucien said, avoiding her eyes now. "The driver knows what to do."

"Good luck, Talia," he muttered. "Or... Sage."

The carriage jerked forward, wheels creaking against the forest path.

Talia leaned out one last time. Lucien gave her a small wave, and she raised her fingers in return. 

*.*

ALPHA CREST ACADEMY

The office smelled like old paper and something minty. Talia stood there, sweat rolling down her spine, trying not to fidget under the sharp eyes of the woman behind the desk.

Mrs. Doris looked over the letter slowly, lips pursed like she'd just bitten into something sour. Her eyes flicked up, scanning Talia from head to toe.

"You were supposed to be here two weeks ago," she said finally, her voice flat.

"I--uh-- got lost ma'am" Talia said, forcing her voice deeper. It sounded wrong in her own ears.

Mrs. Doris didn't blink. "Call me Mrs. Doris." She handed Talia a small card. "Wing E. That's your dorm. Your uniform will be sent there."

Talia nodded quickly. "Thank you, Mrs Doris"

Mrs. Doris narrowed her eyes slightly, sniffed the air like she smelled something off, then muttered, "Odd... no scent."

Talia's heart jumped. Did she notice? But the woman just waved her off, but her gaze remained on Talia, trying to figure out something. 

"Assembly starts in two hours. Derek, the Wing Prefect, will take you there."

Talia stepped back, trying to breathe normally. She'd done it. Her hands were cold and clammy, and her chest ached from the tight band.

"If I fooled her, maybe I can fool the rest too..." Talia let out a small grin, her first real one in days. She was still riding the relief when she almost collided with someone just outside the office door.

"Whoa-- careful," the boy said, steadying himself. He looked about her age, maybe a little older, with a friendly face and an easy smile.

She blinked up at him, still trying to get her footing.

"Hi. I'm Derek," he said, offering a handshake.

She stared at his hand for a second too long before snapping back. 

Right. Boys shake hands. She took it quickly and muttered, "I'm Ta-- Sage. Sage Storm."

He chuckled. "New kid nerves. No worries."

His grip was firm, but not rough. Talia tried to focus on his face, and not on how much she was sweating under her disguise.

"Come on, Sage. I'll show you to your dorm," Derek said, already turning down the hall.

She followed, as she gaped around, the towering stone walls, the metal trim, the way sunlight filtered in through high arched windows. 

Ivy crept along the edges outside, and somewhere across the courtyard stood a tall wolf statue, proud and weathered by time.

A few boys passed by, either chatting in low tones or glued to their own thoughts. No one paid her much attention, and for once, that was a good thing.

"Here we are," Derek finally said, stopping in front of a door. A metal plaque read Wing E. The he knocked twice and waited. 

They heard footsteps approached, and the door creaked open. 

A tall boy stood in the doorway, towel wrapped around his waist, water dripping from his dark hair. His chest was bare and broad, with faintly visible abs.

His eyes barely flicked to Talia before turning to Derek.

Talia froze, with her heart slamming against her ribs. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, but not before stealing one last glance.

"You coming in or what?" he said flatly, then disappeared into the room, walking straight to the bathroom. 

His voice rattled her, his aura and the way he walked was intimidating. 

"Who was that?" she asked quietly, her eyes fixed on the bathroom door. 

Derek smirked. "Damon Creed. Son of Alpha Talone Creed."

Her blood ran cold and her throat went dry as she stood motionless at the mention of Alpha Talone Creed. 

"Lucky you huh? He's the alpha's heir" Derek said cheerfully, and gave her a friendly punch on the shoulder. 

She winced but quickly masked it, turning her face away so he wouldn't see the flash of pain.

"He'll be your roommate," he added casually with a shrug as she turned swiftly to look at him. 

"What?!" Titi screamed in her head, finally surfacing.

Chapter 3

A cold bead of sweat trailed down Talia's forehead as she gazed at Derek, swallowing hard. He just grinned at her and glanced back at the bathroom door.

"He'd be back in a jiffy. Damon is very particular about his looks"

Talia turned to the door, cheeks flushed, biting her lower lip as heat surged in her chest, but she kept her face neutral.

"We're doomed, Talia! We can't stay here. He's Alpha Creed's son!" Titi whined in her head but Talia was trying to concentrate in shutting Titi off.

"It's suicide! We can go back home and beg Uncle Jared to take you back. It's not too late" Titi continued.

"You don't understand, I can't" she mumbled under her breath, making Derek turn to look at her.

"Huh?" He furrowed his brows.

"Oh no, I... I was talking to my wolf... Titi" she half smiled and tried to look away.

"You can do that without speaking out loud, you know--" He stopped when the bathroom door creaked open. Damon stepped out, damp-haired, in sweatpants and a T-shirt.

Damon ran a towel through his wet hair, water droplets flicking into the air. Talia tried not to stare, but failed miserably.

"Damon, meet your new roommate, Sage Storm" Derek introduced them, and Damon only glanced at her and nodded.

"So, he finally shows up," Damon mumbled under his breath and turned to Derek. "Come on, let me see you outside for a second"

"Alright" Derek replied, then nodded at Talia "Assembly is in an hour, you better dress up" and with that, they both walked outside the room.

Talia finally let out the breath she had been holding in as she clutched to her chest. She walked over and sat, dropping her animal-hide bag beside her.

And for the first time, she sank in the beauty of the room, it was something she had never seen before.

Two bunk beds faced each other, labeled A and B, one by the window with a closet beside it. A chandelier bathed the black-and-grey room in soft light, sleek and nothing like her uncle's worn-out house.

She opened the closet to find uniforms, sportswear, and a few casual outfits. Carefully, she arranged the clothes Lucien had given her and tucked her bag neatly beside them.

Grabbing a uniform, she stepped into the bathroom and hung it on a rope. Locking the door behind her, she peeled off the tight band across her chest and exhaled. Finally, she could breathe.

After her bath, she rewrapped the band around her chest and changed into the uniform; trousers and a long-sleeved checkered shirt. She stared at the tie in her hand, unsure how to knot it.

With a sigh, she draped it around her neck and tied it the best she could. The clothes were slightly big, so she folded the sleeves and trouser hems.

Once ready, she unlocked the bathroom door and stepped out, only to meet Damon's gaze.

"Oh my--" she yelled and stumbled backward, before regaining her posture. Then she cleared her throat and stood upright.

"I... I wasn't expecting anyone" she sighed, but he was just staring at her without saying a word with his brows furrowed.

His lips were drawn in a thin frown, yet her eyes lingered on their curve.

She walked to her bedside and pulled out the shoes she came with. When she turned, Damon was still watching her, his face unreadable.

"Did I do something?" she asked at last, confusion flickering across her face as he kept staring.

He closed the distance in two strides, while she backed away until her back hit the hall.

"Don't look him in the eyes" Titi warned.

She looked elsewhere, batting her lashes. The scent of pine and musk curled into her senses, unfamiliar but achingly warm. He leaned in, sniffing deeply, and she held her breath.

He pulled back and met her eyes. She held his gaze for a moment before looking away, exhaling softly through her nose.

"What--- what do you want from me?" She stuttered, still looking away from him. '"You shouldn't be this close to... another guy. It's weird, right?" She added, not knowing whether she was supposed to say that.

Damon took a step backward and then pointed at her while she gazed at him. "You are putting on my uniform" He finally said as she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, and her eyes remained wide open.

"And that's my bed space you've occupied with your property" he continued while a flush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks.

"I-- I didn't know. I'm-- I'm sorry" she stuttered and cleared her throat. "I'll take it off and then... Rearrange my stuff" Her fingers fidgeted at her side.

"There's no need. I'm sure my uniform already smells like your sweat," he said, turning toward the other bed. "I have spares."

He walked to a door she hadn't even noticed, disappeared inside, and returned moments later with a fresh uniform.

She looked away but it was too late as his shirt was already hitting the floor, and heat rushed to her cheeks.

When he reached for his pants, she quickly turned her head, covering her face with her hand.

"W-What are you doing?" she gasped, jerking back.

He scoffed. "What am I doing?"

Shaking his head, he pulled on the uniform. "Don't have funny ideas, I don't do boys," he muttered, buttoning the shirt and stepping into the trousers.

"Oh right, I'm a boy. Shit!" She said in her head and swallowed hard, then turned to look at him. He was knotting his tie and staring at her.

"There," he said, pointing to the bed near the window marked with an A. "That's Alpha. It's mine."

He nodded toward the other bed by the wall, labeled B. "And that's Beta."

As he finished knotting his tie, he added, "Since your father's a Beta, it's assumed your wolf is too. At least until the school board identifies your wolf spirit."

"But you... there's something off. You don't have a scent," he said, eyes fixed on her.

She said nothing, meeting his gaze in silence.

'What if he finds out? If the board discovers I'm a girl... an Omega...'

She clenched her trousers, trying to stop her hands from trembling.

He took some steps toward her and she made to step backward but she pressed her palms flat against the wall.

His eyes dropped to the sloppy knot at her neck, then back to her face. Beads of sweat clung to her forehead.

His gaze stayed on the tie as he raised his left hand, then let it fall back into his pocket with a sigh.

Then, without a word, he swallowed, stepped closer, and took hold of the tie around her neck, beginning to knot it.

Her eyes widened as his fingers brushed her skin. His lashes were lowered in concentration, but she couldn't stop breathing in his faint lemon scent. Her heart thundered.

"This used to be my favorite tie," he murmured when he finished.

She parted her lips to speak but shut them again, afraid she'd say the wrong thing.

"Hart... he likes you. He never likes anyone. That's what scares me." He said, stepping away from her but his gaze remained locked in her eyes.

"So, you can keep the bed space, and the uniform. Especially the tie," he said, a quick grin flashing across his face before vanishing too fast for her to be sure it was real.

"Hart wants you to have the tie" He grabbed a book and headed for the door, while a nervous tremor crawled down her spine

"He thinks you're our mate," he muttered. "I told him that's insane-- the moon goddess wouldn't mate me to a guy." he shrugged and stepped outside.

"Who's Hart?" She finally asked.

"Hart's my wolf." He said, shutting the door after him before Talia could say a word.