"Let them talk." I kept my voice pleasant, controlled. "I'm fine. I just need some time to think."
A pause. Then, "Alright, dear. Don't stay up too late."
Her footsteps retreated down the hall, and I let out a slow breath. My mother meant well, but she'd never understood. She'd accepted her place in the world—a middle-class beta married to a middle-class beta, living a middle-class life. She'd never wanted more.
I'd always wanted more. From the moment I presented as an omega at sixteen, I'd known I was destined for something greater. Omegas were rare, precious, sought after by the most powerful alphas. I should have had my pick of packs, should have been courted and cherished and claimed by men who would give me everything I deserved.
Instead, I'd set my sights on Oliver's pack—the most prestigious in the region—and I'd waited. Patiently. Perfectly. For years.
Then Daphne Evens had appeared out of nowhere and ruined everything.I moved to the window, staring out at the darkening sky. Tomorrow. I would do it tomorrow. The pack had some kind of meeting in the afternoon—I'd overheard enough gossip to know that much—which meant Daphne would likely be alone at her cabin for at least a few hours.
Plenty of time.
I ran through the plan again in my head, looking for weaknesses, for potential problems. The biggest risk was being seen—but I'd already thought of that. I'd park my car at the old Miller farm, abandoned for years now, and walk through the woods to Daphne's property. No one would see me coming. No one would know I was there until it was too late.
And afterward?
I smiled at my reflection in the darkened window. Afterward, I would finally have what I deserved. The pack would seeDaphne for what she really was—weak, pathetic, unable to handle even the slightest challenge. They'd realize their mistake. They'd come crawling back to me, grateful that I'd shown them the truth.
It was going to be perfect. I turned away from the window and began to prepare. Clothes that wouldn't stand out, shoes I could move quietly in, a bag with everything I might need. The vial went into a small zippered pocket, safe and secure.
As I worked, I let myself imagine how it would feel. Walking into that cabin. Watching Daphne's face when she realized what was happening. Seeing the fear in her eyes when she understood that she'd lost.
She'd taken everything from me. My future. My pack. My place in the world. It was only fair that I take something from her in return.
The night stretched out before me, full of possibility. I lay down on my bed but didn't sleep—couldn't sleep, not with anticipation thrumming through my veins like electricity. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Oliver's face. Garrett's strong hands. Levi's bright smile. Micah's quiet intensity.
They should have been mine.
They would be mine.
I just had to remove one small obstacle first.
Morning came slowly, gray light creeping through my curtains like it was reluctant to witness what the day would bring. I rose before dawn, dressing carefully, checking and rechecking my supplies. The vial sat heavy in my pocket, a promise of what was to come.
I crept downstairs while my parents were still sleeping, leaving a note on the kitchen counter. "Gone for a drive. Needto clear my head. Don't wait up." Vague enough to explain my absence, specific enough that they wouldn't worry.
Not that they ever really worried about me. They'd stopped asking questions years ago, content to let me manage my own life as long as I didn't cause them any embarrassment.
The drive to the Miller farm took twenty minutes. I parked behind the old barn, where my car would be invisible from the road, and sat for a moment, gathering myself.
This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for. I got out of the car and started walking.
The woods were quiet this early, mist hanging low between the trees, muffling sound and softening edges. I moved carefully, avoiding fallen branches and dry leaves, keeping my footsteps as silent as possible. I'd walked this route three times already in the past week, memorizing every twist and turn, every potential hazard.
I wasn't going to make any mistakes. Not this time. Daphne's cabin came into view through the trees, and I stopped, pressing myself against a thick oak trunk. Smoke curled from the chimney—she was home. Good. The pack's vehicles were nowhere to be seen, which meant she was alone.
Perfect.
I watched for nearly an hour, waiting for the right moment. She moved around inside, visible occasionally through the windows—making breakfast, tidying up, doing whatever boring domestic tasks filled her pathetic little life. At one point she stepped out onto the porch, and I shrank back further into the shadows, heart pounding.
She didn't see me. Of course she didn't. She had no idea what was coming.
Eventually, she went back inside, and I heard the sound of water running. A shower, probably. This was my chance. I crept closer, staying low, using the overgrown garden beds ascover. The back door was my target, I'd noticed on previous reconnaissance that she often left it unlocked during the day. Trusting. Naive. Stupid.
The handle turned easily under my fingers, and I slipped inside.
Her kitchen was warm and cluttered, herbs hanging from the ceiling, jars of honey lining the shelves. It smelled like her, that sickly sweet omega scent that made my nose wrinkle in disgust. How the pack could stand it, I had no idea. How they could prefer this to me...
