Chapter 2 Chapitre 2

Sitting in the kitchen in the pale light of dawn, the heroine felt the tension filling the room. His mother and father sat on opposite sides of the table, exhausted, their faces marked by the anxious night they had just spent. Since the announcement of their loss to the rank of Omegas, a heavy silence reigned over their family, crushing every space with bitter resignation.

" For what ? » her mother whispered hoarsely, her eyes glued to the table as if searching for answers in the veins of the worn wood. "Why do this to us, when we've always been loyal? »

The heroine lowered her head, her jaw clenched. She knew no one here had an answer to that question. But rage rumbled inside her, a dull, burning anger that she struggled to contain. His father seemed broken, almost resigned to their fate. "Maybe... that's how it is," he said in a low voice. "Omegas also have their role. Perhaps it is our destiny to..."

" No ! » she exclaimed, cutting off her father's sentence. She stood up abruptly, her hands clenched into fists. "This is not our destiny!" That's not fair! We didn't do anything to deserve this! »

Her father looked up at her with sad eyes, placing a soothing hand on her arm. "Sometimes it's better to accept and learn to live with it. To resist a man like Jaxon ... is to risk your own doom. You've seen what he's capable of, right? »

She nodded, remembering the Alpha's cold, unforgiving gaze. She had faced him, defied him silently, and she had gained nothing except a bitter burning deep in her heart. But give up? Accept this humiliation without saying anything? No, she couldn't imagine it.

"So what? » She raised her voice, feeling her frustration erupt. "Are we going to put our heads down, let him trample us like insects? We were his warriors, Dad! We risked our lives for the pack, for our Alpha! And he drags us through the mud without even a glance! »

His mother placed a gentle hand on his father's, silently seeking his support. With tears in her eyes, she whispered, "You don't know what this man is capable of. If he finds out you're thinking about rebelling..."

The heroine shook her head. "It's not rebellion. But... I can't let him win so easily. » A plan was beginning to form in his mind, as dark as the shadow that hung over them. She thought of Jaxon's arrogance, the way he seemed to dominate every room he entered, the confident look in his eyes that looked at her like she was nothing more than 'a simple pawn. She knew that he believed himself to be invincible, above the laws and the emotions of others.

What if she exploited that arrogance? If he thought he was so superior...then why not let him let his guard down? To be seduced? She knew her beauty, knew that other men had let themselves be captivated by her gaze, by her appearance... Maybe, just maybe, she could use it against him.

Her heart beat faster just at the thought, and she leaned toward her mother, whispering as if the simple act made her plan more concrete. "What if...what if I seduce him? »

Her mother's gaze shifted from surprise to disbelief, and finally to worry. "Don't talk about that, you don't know what game you're playing." This man is not like the others. If you think you can manipulate Jaxon ..."

"Maybe I can." Maybe this is our only chance," she replied defiantly. She felt within herself a strange conviction, a certainty that pushed her to move forward. She wouldn't let him crush their family without taking action. If seducing Jaxon could make her relax, let her guard down, then she would do it, even if it meant losing herself a little in the process.

The next day, she went to the large common room, where Jaxon held his meetings, where he dictated his orders with that same imperious and authoritarian tone. She slipped among the other members of the pack, keeping a neutral face but scrutinizing every detail, every movement of the Alpha. His voice was loud and confident, and she couldn't help but notice the way the others cowered almost instinctively, intimidated by his mere presence.

But her? No. She refused to submit. She stood straight, refusing to look away as he passed her. And it was at this moment that their eyes met.

Jaxon stopped for a moment, his gaze slightly frowning. She felt a shiver run through her, but she didn't blink. She wouldn't back down. This was his first step. The first contact, the first sign that she was not like the others. She stared at him without saying anything, her lips slightly arched in an indecipherable smile, a barely veiled insolence.

He watched her for a few more seconds, his steely gaze lingering on her. She held this gaze, feeling an electric tension building between them. Finally, he raised an eyebrow, visibly amused. "You seem to have something to say," he said, smirking slightly.

She shrugged her shoulders, looking falsely detached. "Perhaps not everyone here is so impressed with your...authority." »

A surprised silence fell in the room. The other members of the pack looked at her in shock, unable to believe that she dared to respond in this way. But she remained motionless, straight, her gaze fixed on him, like a silent challenge.

A burst of laughter burst from Jaxon 's throat. " Really ? » he said as he approached slowly, closing the distance between them. "So what do you think of me? Tell me, little Omega. »

His voice was soft, almost caressing, but she sensed the underlying threat. She swallowed, but didn't look away. "I think you are a man who likes the idea of being scary. But fear is not respect. »

Jaxon stopped a few inches from her, his eyes glinting with a dangerous spark. "Fear is respect, little one. You will soon learn the difference. »

She didn't respond, just looked at him with a smirk. She knew she was provoking him, that she was playing with fire, but she also felt that she was touching something in him, a sensitive chord, a flaw that she could exploit.

Finally, he stepped back, examining her thoughtfully. "I will watch over you," he said in a voice that admitted no doubt. Then, without another word, he turned away, leaving behind a charged atmosphere, a feeling of unfinished business.

She stood there, her heart pounding. That first exchange had left an imprint on her, a silent promise of something more, something dangerous and irremediable.