I woke to the scent of smoke and pine, rich and overwhelming. My body felt heavy, my limbs tangled in something soft and warm. Blinking against the dim light, I took in my surroundings—a grand chamber, the walls made of dark stone, the windows draped in heavy black silk. The bed beneath me was massive, covered in deep red furs, a sharp contrast to the cold emptiness inside my chest.
Panic surged through me as memories crashed in all at once.
Cedric's rejection. Running through the forest, heartbroken and lost. And then… him.
A shiver ran down my spine. My body knew before my mind did.
Dante.
The scent that had wrapped around me in the woods, the voice that had sent a thrill through my aching heart—he was here.
I sat up too quickly, dizziness rushing to my head. That's when I noticed it. My clothes were gone, replaced with a thin silk nightgown that clung to my skin. Heat flushed through me as I grabbed the furs and pulled them tighter around my body. Had he dressed me?
A low chuckle came from the corner of the room.
"You're finally awake."
I whipped my head toward the voice, my pulse spiking. Dante stood by the fireplace, arms crossed, golden eyes glowing in the dim light. He was impossibly tall, his broad shoulders casting a shadow that stretched across the room. Power radiated from him in waves, an Alpha presence so intense that it made my instincts scream.
I swallowed hard. "Where am I?"
"My castle." His voice was smooth, like silk over steel. "Shadowfang territory."
Shadowfang. The rival pack, known for their brutal warriors and their ruthless Alpha. The very same Alpha who was now standing before me, looking at me like I was something he owned.
"I want to leave," I said, gripping the fur tighter. "Take me back to Nightbane."
Dante's jaw tensed, and something dangerous flickered in his gaze. "Back to the mate who rejected you?" He took a slow step forward, his boots echoing against the stone floor. "Why? Do you enjoy groveling for scraps?"
I flinched at his words. My bond with Cedric was shattered, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. "It's none of your business."
His gaze darkened. "You made it my business the moment you collapsed in my arms."
I sucked in a sharp breath. "I didn't ask for your help."
His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "And yet, you're here."
Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words. My Omega instincts warred within me—one part of me wanted to submit, to let his presence soothe the hollow ache inside me. But another part, the part that had been shattered by rejection, refused.
"I don't belong to you." I lifted my chin, willing my voice to stay strong. "I don't belong to anyone."
Dante studied me for a long moment, something unreadable in his expression. Then, to my surprise, he let out a low hum of amusement. "Good."
I blinked. "What?"
"I don't want a weak mate." He turned away, walking toward the door. "But don't mistake your freedom for an escape. You're in my territory now, little Omega. If you run, I will find you."
A chill ran down my spine at the quiet promise in his words.
He paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder. "Get some rest. You'll need your strength."
And then, just like that, he was gone.
I stared at the empty doorway, my heart pounding. The air still carried his scent, a mix of fire and earth, powerful and inescapable.
I had escaped Cedric, only to end up in Dante's grasp.
But as I lay back down, staring at the ceiling, one thought refused to leave me.
For the first time, I wasn't just an unwanted Omega.
I was something worth keeping.