The Omega's Mate

The pack house buzzes with the usual routines. You, Ellie Martin, move through the familiar spaces, invisible to most, a target for others. Another day, another task assigned, another insult hurled. You keep your head down, eyes fixed on the floor, trying to disappear. Today, it's Alpha Aiden's voice, sharp and venomous, after a clumsy spill. It stings, as always, but a deeper pain resonates – he is your mate, and tomorrow is his eighteenth birthday, the day he will know.

Later, alone in your cramped space under the stairs, tears fall freely. The secret of the mate bond, known only to you and your resilient wolf, Alice, is a heavy burden. You brace yourself for the inevitable rejection you believe is coming, reflecting on the years of mistreatment that have convinced you no one could ever want you.

The next morning arrives with dread. Aiden's birthday. You avoid the kitchen, where the pack gathers. But you are summoned. Confronted by Brittany, one of your main tormentors, over the birthday cake, you make a small, defiant stand, mentioning Aiden's actual favorite flavor. His intervention surprises you, and for the first time in years, you meet his gaze. In his eyes, you see something unexpected – regret and sorrow. The connection, the mate bond, flares intensely. Panicked, you run, straight into the surrounding forest, leaving him behind.