NICOLAS
The sky was gray, mirroring the grief that hung heavy in the air. Raindrops pattered against the polished wood of the coffin, the only sound besides my mother's quiet sobs. She clung to my father's arm, her face pale, her body trembling as the priest spoke solemn words over my brother's grave.
My father remained silent, his face like stone. I stood beside them, watching as the earth swallowed the last trace of my brother.
Nathaniel Blackwood. The perfect son. The one my father always wanted.
I should have felt more sorrow, more pain—but we were never close. He had been the shining example of what an alpha should be: strong, intelligent, charming. And me? I was the disappointment. The omega born into a family that prided itself on producing dominant alphas. My father had never hidden his preference, and I had long since learned not to expect his love.
But it didn't matter. I had my mother, Lucas, and Lachelle—my boyfriend and my boyfriend's sister. They were my world.
As I stood there, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message from Lachelle.
LACHELLE: heard about your brother. Wanna go out to cool off?
I hesitated before typing a response.
ME: I have to stay with my mom.
The rain began to fall harder, and soon, we left the cemetery.
The next morning, I walked into the dining room to find my father already seated, eating his breakfast in silence.
"Good morning, Dad," I greeted cautiously.
He barely spared me a glance, offering only a curt nod.
"Young Master, would you like your breakfast?" one of the maids asked.
I gave her an obvious look—why else would I be sitting here?—before asking, "Where's my mother?"
"Madam hasn't come down. She said she isn't hungry and has been in her room all morning," she replied.
A pang of worry settled in my chest. I pushed my chair back, intending to check on her, but my father's voice cut through the room.
"Sit, Nicolas. I need to speak with you."
I clenched my jaw, already knowing this conversation wouldn't end well. Still, I sat back down.
"Cabel is coming."
I blinked, confused. "Who?"
"Your fiancé."
I almost choked. "Excuse me?"
"You're getting married," he stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
A cold wave of shock washed over me. "Why would I need a fiancé? Why am I getting married?!" I demanded.
"Stop being selfish, Nicolas. You're an omega—prove useful and give this family an heir. Your brother is dead. We need a successor."
My stomach twisted. "You want to sell me off like I'm some baby-producing machine?" My voice shook with barely contained rage.
"An omega cannot run this company," my father continued as if I hadn't spoken. "Cabel comes from a powerful background. This marriage will strengthen our family's standing."
I felt like I was going to be sick.
"I already have someone I love, Dad!" I snapped. "Lucas is the one I want!"
"Lucas Callisto is irrelevant," he said coldly.
I stood up so fast my chair scraped against the floor. "No. I can't do this."
I turned on my heel and stormed out of the house. My fingers shook as I pulled out my phone and texted Lachelle.
ME: Meet me at Blue Hour. Now.
Blue Hour was an exclusive club, a haven for the rich and reckless. And tonight, I needed to be reckless.
I arrived early, the heavy bass of the music vibrating through the walls as I entered. Eyes followed me the moment I stepped in. They always did. I had a presence—ethereal beauty wrapped in arrogance.
Sliding into the VIP section, I ordered drink after drink, trying to drown out the reality of my life. The alcohol burned its way through my system, but no matter how much I drank, I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal.
Then, something else hit me. A familiar heat pooled in my stomach. My body felt too hot, my senses hazy.
No. Not now.
My heat was coming. And I had no suppressants.
Panicked, I grabbed my phone.
ME: Lachelle, come fast. My heat—
LACHELLE: Stay away from any alpha. I'm coming!
The bathroom was the only safe place I could think of. I stumbled inside, gripping the sink, splashing cold water onto my face. It did nothing. My scent was thick, unmistakable.
Then the door creaked open.
I stiffened.
A stranger walked in, his expression unreadable. I caught his scent—alpha. My body reacted instantly, instinct screaming for me to move toward him.
His silver-gray eyes flickered over me, sharp and assessing. He was stunning—tall, muscular, with dark, messy hair that fell over his forehead.
He turned to leave.
I grabbed his wrist.
And then I kissed him.
At first, he remained still, but as the kiss deepened, something inside him shifted. His grip tightened on my waist, pulling me flush against him.
"Don't regret this," he murmured against my lips.
I already did.
He lifted me effortlessly, carrying me from the bathroom into a private suite within the club. The moment he laid me on the bed, he hovered above me, his gaze dark with hunger.
"Beautiful," he whispered.
My breath hitched. His hands roamed my body, his touch igniting every nerve. He pulled off his shirt, revealing a body carved from discipline and lot of workouts, his chest adorned with intricate tattoos.
He stripped me down with equal urgency, his fingers tracing my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
"You're so tight," he groaned, sliding his fingers inside me. I gasped, gripping the sheets as he curled them just right.
"P-please," I whimpered, my body trembling.
"No begging, My prince," he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear.
I moaned loudly when he found that spot inside me, pleasure sparking through my veins. I barely had time to recover before he pulled out a condom, rolled it on, and positioned himself between my legs.
My whole body tensed.
"It's not gonna fit," I choked out, staring at his length.
"It will," he assured me. "Just relax, baby."
I cried out as he pushed in, a mix of pain and overwhelming pleasure flooding my senses. His movements were slow at first, allowing me to adjust, but soon, his pace quickened, sending me spiraling.
Each thrust sent shockwaves through me, our bodies moving in sync, lost in raw, primal instinct.
And then, just when I thought I couldn't take any more, he whispered, "You're mine now."
Before I could comprehend his words, his teeth sank into my scent gland.
Pain exploded through me, followed by an unbearable pleasure as his scent fused with mine, the bond locking into place. My vision blurred, my body trembling as the overwhelming sensation crashed over me.
The last thing I heard before passing out was his voice, filled with something close to regret.
"What have I done?"