Chapter 6

　　Kaira:

　　Ashmount Palace no longer felt like home. It felt like a gilded cage, and I was the lowest prisoner of all. My father had made it clear: I was no longer Kaira Morgen, his daughter. I was simply "Kaira," the wolfless Omega servant. The crescent moon mark on my wrist was hidden beneath long sleeves, and the bite on my shoulder throbbed constantly—a secret no one else could see.

　　I had fallen from grace, and was forced into servitude and Emma, my cousin thrived in it.

　　My cousin had always lived in Kim's shadow. She was the ambitious, sharp-tongued daughter of my father's younger brother, though he was deceased. Assassinated by father's enemies as a warning. And my father had taken her in as a daughter, to honor his brother. Even treated her with more love than he'd ever shown me or Kim. She had sleek auburn hair, catlike green eyes, and flawless Beta born, brown wolf. Though Emma had spent years trying to outshine Kim. Now that Kim was gone, she had no need hiding in the shadows anymore. Her gaze locked onto me like a predator spotting wounded prey.

　　She made sure I felt every second of my degradation.

　　"You really think you can just crawl back here after everything?" she hissed on a hot afternoon while I scrubbed the floors of the east wing on my hands and knees. My knuckles were raw, with red blisters, the water icy. "Kim was the only one worth anything. You? You're the reason she's dead. Wolfless. Cursed. Disgusting."

　　I kept my head down, the cloth moving in mechanical circles. At least Father had kept the disgusting truth of our assault private. He had fabricated a story about wild rogue wolves attacking us, painting Kim as a hero who died protecting me. It was a lie, but it was the only shield I had left.

　　Every insult landed like another blow to my already shattered heart, but I refused to give Emma the satisfaction. Not anymore. Tears were for girls who still had hope. I had only revenge.

　　She smiled sweetly whenever my father or the guests were near, playing the perfect, dutiful hostess. But the moment we were alone, her mask dropped.

　　Today, the Rogue King and Alpha King Aven had left for border negotiations, leaving the mansion quieter… and Emma bolder.

　　She cornered me in the kitchens as I joined the other servants to prepare meals for the remaining guests. "Take this to Alpha King Cassian's room," Emma ordered, shoving a heavy silver tray into my hands. It held a decanter of red wine, two crystal glasses, and a plate of sunny eggs, bacon, toast and cream. "He hates being disturbed, but someone has to do it. Since you're the new Omega here, it might as well be you."

　　I hesitated, feeling a knot loose in my stomach. "Emma… please. I don't want trouble."

　　Her laugh was soft and venomous. "Oh, Kaira. You already are trouble. Just do as you're told. Or should I tell Uncle Victor how incompetent his 'niece' is being? Maybe he'll decide you're not worth the food you eat."

　　The threat hung heavy. I had no choice.

　　With trembling hands, I carried the tray up the grand staircase and down the dimly lit corridor to the east, the guest wing. My heart hammered against my ribs. The bite on my shoulder pulsed in warning, a dull ache that spread down my arm, but I pushed the feeling down.

　　I knocked softly on the door.

　　No answer.

　　I knocked again, louder this time.

　　Still nothing.

　　Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pushed the door open just enough to slip inside, intending to leave the tray on the side table and flee.

　　Cassian was already in a foul mood.

　　He stood by the tall window, his back to me. The stormy gray sky outside reflected in his posture. He examined a delicate dagger—with a hilt encrusted with rare moonstones. His brown hair fell across his forehead, a towel draped around his waist. Signaling he just had his shower.

　　The moment the door creaked open, he finched.

　　The dagger slipped from his fingers. It clattered to the floorboard, and one of the moonstones cracked with a sharp sound.

　　Cassian whirled around. His golden eyes blazed with fury, swirling with a dark, violent energy.

　　"You clumsy little…" His voice was a low, dangerous growl. "Who the hell gave you permission to barge in here?"

　　"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, the tray shaking in my hands. "Emma said to bring this. I knocked…"

　　"Come here." He took a menacing step forward, his Alpha power rolling off him in waves, pressing against my chest like a physical weight. "Now."

　　Panic surged through me. I backed away too quickly, nearly tripping over the rug. The tray tilted dangerously. Wine sloshed over the rim. I managed to set it down on a nearby table before bolting from the room, my heart pounding in my ears like a war drum.

　　I ran blindly down the corridor. Emma's mocking laughter echoed somewhere behind me, faint but cruel. Tears burned my eyes, blurring my vision. I couldn't think straight. Any room. Any door. Just somewhere to hide for a moment. Somewhere safe.

　　I shoved open the next door I saw, slipping inside and pressing my back against it, breathing hard.

　　It wasn't empty.

　　The room was larger than Cassian's, darker, filled with the scent of leather, steel, and something dangerously masculine. Heavy curtains blocked most of the light. A massive bed dominated one wall. Weapons and maps lay scattered across a wide wooden desk.

　　And in the center of the room stood the handsome scholar.

　　He was shirtless. His broad shoulders and powerful chest glistened with a light sheen of sweat from what looked like recent training. His brown hair fell messily across his cheek. His eyes narrowed the instant they landed on me. The muscles in his arms flexed as he slowly lowered the blade he had been swinging.

　　For a heartbeat, our surroundings went still, with a deafening silence.

　　Then his eyes flashed bright gold. A low, guttural growl rumbled from deep in his chest, vibrating through the floorboards. The sword in his hand lowered gently, but his stance remained predatory.

　　"You," he said, his voice rough and thick with something dark and primal. He took one slow step forward, then another, stalking toward me like the wolf he was. "What the fuck are you doing in my room, little Omega?"