Chapter 2 Her first heat is triggered. Ewans avoids her.

Jade's POV

I couldn't sleep. Not after what he did. It was just a touch, a brush of his fingers against my cheek but my body had betrayed me completely. I could still feel the heat of it, still hear the tension in his voice when he told me to leave, to go before he did something we'd both regret.

What exactly did he regret? The look in his eyes? The fact that he didn't pull away the second his skin met mine? Or the raw, cracked edge of his voice, like it had hurt him to even speak?

I didn't know. And not knowing was going to drive me mad. So I did what I always did when the world became too much: I trained. The sparring field was still damp with morning dew when I threw my first punch at the worn training bag. My knuckles stung, wrapped in thin cloth, and each jab echoed in the silence like thunderclaps of rage.

It wasn't enough. It never was.

Because I wasn't mad at the bag. I was mad at him for rejecting me, for confusing me, for giving me that look, that touch, and then turning his back like nothing had happened.

And maybe I was mad at myself, too. Mad for wanting him. For needing him, even when my pride screamed not to.

"Nice form," came a lazy voice from behind me. I didn't need to turn to recognize it. Beta Marcus. Ewans' second-in-command and pack golden boy. He had a swagger that made most of the she-wolves giggle like idiots. Not me. I rolled my eyes.

"Didn't know Betas had time for flattery."

"I'm off-duty," he said, striding into view. "And when I saw the sandbag quivering in fear, I had to see what poor soul was beating it senseless."

I smirked. "Not poor. Deserving."

Marcus raised a brow. "Let me guess. Alpha troubles?" My jaw clenched. "Not your business." He leaned against the fence, watching me with a knowing glint. "You've been avoiding him."

"I've been training."

"Uh-huh. And the reason you're punching with the strength of a rabid rhino has nothing to do with the fact that Ewans hasn't left the packhouse since the rogue attack?" I stopped. Turned. Narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?"

Marcus shrugged, but there was something careful in the way he spoke. "He's not been himself. Snapping at everyone. Missed two council meetings. Smells like rage and regret."

My heart betrayed me by thumping. "He doesn't regret anything."

"You sure about that?" Marcus tilted his head. "Because if I didn't know better, I'd say our Alpha is spiraling."

I hated the spark of hope that flickered inside me. I snuffed it out fast. "You do know better," I snapped. "Ewans doesn't spiral. He controls. He calculates. And he certainly doesn't care about me."

He studied me a second longer, then pushed off the fence. "If you say so."

I went back to punching, harder this time-like maybe I could beat the thoughts out of my head.

Later that day, I tried to stay out of sight, doing my Omega duties in the shadows. Cleaning, sorting, pretending like my heart wasn't a storm. It was working. Until I ran into her.

Clara.

Tall. Blonde. Daughter of a high-ranking Alpha from another pack. She'd been visiting for weeks now, and if her constant hovering around Ewans wasn't obvious enough, she made it clear with every smug little glance in my direction.

"Oh," she said with a mock pout, stepping into my path in the corridor. "Still scurrying around like a rat, Omega?" I smiled sweetly, tightening my grip on the tray I was holding. "Only when I see a snake."

Her eyes narrowed. "You're very full of yourself for someone who sleeps in the servants' wing."

"And yet I've managed to get under your skin without even trying. Funny how that works."

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "He's not going to pick you, you know."

My body tensed. "I'm not trying to be picked." She laughed. "Please. Everyone knows you're obsessed with him. The way you look at him? Pathetic."

I inhaled slowly. "Careful, Clara. You might not like what happens when you keep pushing."

"Or what? You'll bite me?" She sneered. "Face it. Ewans is a true Alpha. He needs a Luna with status, power. Not some stray mutt who got lucky."

I didn't say a word. Just looked her dead in the eyes and let my wolf show-just a flicker, just enough.

She paled and then I turned and walked away before I did something reckless. Like rip out her throat.

That night, I was summoned. It was unexpected. Omegas didn't get called to the Alpha's study unless something was wrong-or they were in trouble. I wasn't sure which I preferred.

The guards let me in without a word, and I stepped inside the massive room lined with shelves of ancient tomes and relics of war. A fire crackled in the hearth. The air smelled like leather, pine, and something darker.

Ewans stood near the window, back to me, arms crossed.

My stomach twisted.

"You asked for me?" I said, voice steady.

He turned slowly. His eyes looked tired-shadowed. But his presence was still commanding. Dangerous. Magnetic.

"Close the door."

I did.

He didn't speak for a long moment. Just studied me with an unreadable expression.

Then-"Are you hurt?"

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"From the rogue fight." His jaw tightened. "You didn't shift back right away. You were shaking."

"I'm fine," I said. "Is that why you called me?"

He said nothing.

I folded my arms. "Because if it's about my performance, you can talk to Marcus. I've been doing everything expected of me. Better, even."

"It's not that."

Silence stretched again. The fire crackled and then he said the one thing I didn't expect.

"I shouldn't have touched you."

My breath caught.

He stepped closer. "It was a mistake. I let my instincts override my judgment. That won't happen again." Something in me shattered-quietly, but completely. I smiled, cold and sharp. "Of course. Wouldn't want to break protocol."

He frowned. "Jade-"

"No," I cut in. "I get it. I'm beneath you. You don't have to worry-I'm not expecting anything. Your secret's safe. I won't tell anyone you touched the help."

He flinched, just barely.

I turned to leave.

"Wait."

I paused. Against my better judgment.

"I don't think you're beneath me," he said softly. That stopped me cold. I faced him, heart pounding. "Then what am I, Ewans?" He didn't answer.

Coward.

I shook my head. "Forget it." And then I did something I knew I'd regret. I stepped forward-fast-grabbed his collar, and kissed him.

He froze.

For one beautiful, gut-wrenching second, he kissed me back and then he tore away, eyes blazing.

"This isn't how it works," he growled.

"Then tell me how it works, because you sure as hell don't act like someone who doesn't want me!"

His jaw clenched.

I laughed bitterly. "Right. You'd rather choke on control than admit you feel anything."

"Go," he said.

"Say it."

"Go."

I left.

This time, I didn't cry. This time, I let my rage burn hotter than my heartbreak.

The next morning, I woke to whispers and not just among the Omegas. Someone had seen us. Heard us. The entire pack buzzed with rumors of the Alpha and the rejected mate who wouldn't go away but that wasn't the worst part.

No.

The worst part came later that day, when Alpha Ewans Thorne stepped onto the packhouse stairs and announced, before the entire Silverfang Pack:

"I will be choosing a Luna. The selection process begins this week." And just like that-he shattered what was left of me.

To be continued...