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I’ve always been the good Omega, obedient and predictable. The riskiest thing I’ve ever done was falling for my brother’s friend, a Delta warrior who never seemed to notice me until I confessed my feelings. The day Casey Olson found out, he was taken aback—his piercing blue eyes widened, and his broad shoulders stiffened. But eventually, he agreed to be with me. I thought we were building something real, something that could withstand the rigid hierarchy of our pack. I thought we were in love. But on the night of the pack gathering, Casey shattered that illusion. He stood before the crowd, his commanding presence undeniable, and marked Lilyana Graham, a Beta from a rival pack, as his mate. The room fell silent, the weight of his decision pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. “I, Casey Olson, Delta of the Silvermoon Pack, mark Lilyana Graham, Beta of the Crimsonfang Pack, as my mate,” he declared, his voice steady and final. In that moment, my world crumbled. My knees threatened to give way, but I held myself together, refusing to show weakness in front of the pack. I was just an Omega, after all. Unremarkable. Unworthy. --- When I first saw them together, I thought it was a cruel joke. Lilyana, radiant in a scarlet gown that seemed to mock my plain attire, stood beside Casey, her hand resting possessively on his arm. They looked like royalty, the kind of pair the Moon Goddess herself would bless. I don’t remember how long I stood there, watching them, but it felt like an eternity. Every glance, every touch between them was a dagger to my heart. The way he held her, the way he looked at her—I had never seen that tenderness directed at me. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a sound of pain and betrayal. I tried to silence her, to bury the ache deep inside, but it was too late. The bond I had foolishly believed in was broken. Casey’s friends—other warriors in the pack—had warned me to let him go. Their disdainful looks and hushed whispers made it clear they thought I was out of my league. “If you truly love him, you’d want him to be with someone who matches his status,” they said, their words cutting deeper than they realized. But I didn’t understand then. All I knew was to try harder, to prove myself worthy. I followed Casey like a shadow, always nearby, always waiting for a moment of his attention. He would sigh, running a hand through his dark hair, his muscular frame tense with irritation. “Thalia, I’m not going anywhere,” he would say, his voice calm but distant. I would nod, believing him, yet I’d still text him later, checking on him once more. Eventually, Casey gave in. He stood before me, his towering figure casting a shadow over me, his eyes—those captivating eyes—softening for a fleeting moment. “Okay, I’ll stay with you,” he said. But things changed. He grew quieter, more distant. His laughter, once so vibrant, became rare. I told myself it was just stress, the weight of his responsibilities as a Delta. But deep down, I knew the truth. Every moment he spent with me was a burden he didn’t want to bear. The night of the gathering, I teetered on the edge of a breakdown, my wolf restless and my heart heavy. Casey appeared, his presence as commanding as ever. He stood in the shadows, watching me silently, his expression unreadable. I gazed at him, my vision blurred with tears. Casey stepped into the light, his hoodie hanging loosely over his broad frame, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place—regret, perhaps, or pity. “Thalia,” he said, his voice low and measured, “did you understand what I did tonight?” I nodded numbly, my throat too tight to speak. He walked over, his steps deliberate, and wrapped his arms around me. His scent—musky and familiar—enveloped me, but it brought no comfort. “Take a moment to rest,” he murmured, his voice heavy with meaning. “There’s more I need to say.” I closed my eyes, clinging to the illusion that this was just a dream, that the bond we once shared wasn’t truly broken. But deep down, I knew the truth. Casey had chosen his path, and it didn’t include me.