Grandpa and Grandma showered me with praise, calling me an obedient Omega, yet my father remained silent. His expression was dark, his wolf simmering with suppressed frustration. The unspoken tension coiled around us, thick as fog, lingering until nightfall.

       After what felt like an eternity, we finally finished shaping two hundred and fifty kilograms of meatballs. My fingers throbbed, stiff and aching, barely able to curl into a fist.

       My father stepped out, saying he needed cigarettes, while Grandpa and Grandma retreated into the kitchen, their focus shifting to cooking the meatballs. I collapsed onto the couch, absently scrolling through my phone. Every so often, I glanced at the moon-drenched sky, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

       For once, I had spent the entire day indoors, not even setting a foot outside. This time, no one could pin my stepmother’s miscarriage on me—at least, that’s what I naïvely believed.

       Just as I took a sip of water, the front door slammed open with a force that rattled the walls. A familiar scent rushed in before I even saw them—Beta Finn, my so-called mate, half-dragging my stepmother, Olivia. Her swollen belly was gone, replaced by the acrid stench of grief and rage.

       The moment her eyes locked onto mine, they blazed with fury, her wolf rising beneath her skin. “Megan! You wretched, heartless thing! I’ve done nothing but treat you kindly, yet you still had the audacity to make me lose my pup!” she screeched, her voice raw with accusation.

       I barely had time to part my lips before Beta Finn’s voice rang out, thick with disappointment. “She’s right, Megan. I never thought you’d be this vicious. You’ve let me down. I refuse to be mated to someone as cruel as you—I’m rejecting our bond.”

       I blinked, feigning innocence. “What are you talking about? Mom, you were pregnant? Since when? Why didn’t I know?”

       Olivia’s sobs grew louder, her body trembling with dramatic intensity.

       “Don’t play dumb! Just last night, I told you I was carrying a pup! And this morning, you deliberately tricked me into going to the market for discounted eggs, knowing the place would be packed. You planned it, made sure I was shoved and trampled until I lost my baby!”

       She clutched her stomach, shaking as fresh tears streamed down her face. “I barely survived the hospital, and now you dare stand here, acting clueless?”

       The house was old, a traditional courtyard home that my grandparents refused to abandon despite our new apartment in the city. Since tonight was Full Moon Eve, many Pack members had gathered outside, laughing as they built snowmen and set off fireworks. Naturally, the loud accusations drew their attention.

       One by one, they approached, their curiosity thick with the scent of gossip. Olivia, ever the performer, stayed by the door instead of stepping inside. Her voice rang out, designed to be heard.

       “Megan is a monster! A disgrace to our Pack!”

       The murmurs started immediately, their whispers turning sharp like fangs.

       “I always thought she was a gentle Omega, but look at her—so deceptive.”

       “We watched her grow up, yet we never realized how dark her heart truly was.”

       A middle-aged Omega scoffed. “That settles it. I’ll warn my son and daughter-in-law to keep their pups far away from her. Who knows what she’s capable of?”

       The voices of agreement rose like a tide, swelling with distrust. One by one, Pack members made it clear—I was to be shunned.

       Tears welled in my eyes, but unlike in my past life, they weren’t born of helplessness or despair. No, this time, excitement curled in my chest like a sleeping beast stirring.

       Olivia, mistaking my reaction for fear, grew bolder. She fed the fire, spinning her tale, painting me as the villain to anyone who would listen.

       Meanwhile, Beta Finn—my supposed mate—didn’t even give me a chance to speak. He grabbed my wrist, yanking me forward until I stumbled to my knees before Olivia.

       “You’ve not only disrespected your stepmother, but you’ve also taken away her pup. You will apologize and make amends.”

       “As an Omega, you are meant to obey. First your father, then your mate. As your future Alpha Beta, it’s my duty to discipline you.”

       With that, he fisted his hand in my hair and forced my head down. Again and again, he made me bow, my forehead striking the wooden floor with brutal force. Seven. Eight times. The pain pulsed, a dull throbbing that soon turned warm as blood trickled down my face.

       And still, Beta Finn acted as if he saw nothing. Instead, he took it further.

       “Words alone won’t make up for this crime. Compensation must be given.”

       He released my hair, but his next words carried more weight than his grip ever could.

       “Megan, hand over your year-end bonus so your stepmother can buy supplements. And while you’re at it, sign over your new apartment to her. She deserves a proper place to recover.”