Chapter 1

Layla's POV

It was midday. I'd just stepped out of the Werewolf Medical Research Institute when a group of males surrounded me.

Knox was at the front—my childhood friend, the one I'd grown up beside, one of the top Alphas in the training camp.

He was grinning, way too excited. "Layla, we need you for something."

Before I could even react, a hand clamped over my mouth. Then everything went dark.

When I came to, I was chained to a stone pillar in the middle of the training camp square with silver links, trussed up like a slab of meat. Students crowded around me, their faces twisted with mockery.

The silver burned into my skin, relentless. Sweat poured down my face as I whimpered and thrashed, my voice cracking into raw, wounded sounds.

Worse—I'd been injected with rage-inducing serum. My Omega pheromones were leaking out in weak, helpless waves. My wolf half-emerged, but she was just a small, snowy-white thing, snarling and snapping with zero intimidation factor.

The crowd ate it up.

"This is an Omega? Omegas can even go into a frenzy?"

"I'm dead—this is supposed to be a frenzy? Her pheromone pressure is pathetic! Why is trash like this even alive?"

"Film it! People will pay good money for this!"

Phones popped up everywhere. Some males even reached out to tear at my clothes.

I twisted and fought, trying to roar them down, but the serum had wrecked my throat. All that came out were broken, pitiful whines—like a trapped animal.

Mia stood at the front of the crowd, hands shoved in her pockets, head tilted as she studied me like I was a lab specimen. Then she glanced back at the girl beside her and laughed. "So that's what an Omega frenzy looks like? Not scary at all."

Someone recognized me. "Wait—isn't that Layla Graham from the Wolf Ascension Program?"

"The Omega who just buries her nose in books?"

"Yeah, yeah! The one always trailing after Knox!"

"Tch. The top Omega in the whole camp, and look at her now. What good is studying when you've got zero power? Still ends up chained to a rock."

"Serves her right. An Omega who can't do anything—what makes her think she deserves to stand next to a top Alpha?"

The laughter swelled.

Mia watched it all.

She didn't stop it. She just covered her mouth and giggled, then turned and shot a wink at Knox, like she was approving his little performance.

Knox puffed out his chest, pride radiating off him. No guilt. None at all.

Then Mia stepped back, giving the crowd the silent signal to do whatever they wanted.

And the more they hurt me, the wider her smile grew.

The crowd took the hint and went feral.

Someone painted ugly designs across my face with marker, then pierced the marks with a needle until blood beaded through.

Someone yanked out clumps of my hair and shoved them into my mouth.

Someone raked claws across my body, carving shallow wounds into my skin.

Someone snapped my wrist bones just to hear the sound, laughing as they did it.

I screamed for my wolf. I fought to break free. But the silver chains only bit deeper, tightening around my wrists and ankles until they burned raw. Hot blood ran down my arms, pooling at my feet—a mix of what they'd carved into me and what the silver had eaten away.

Two hours.

Two full hours.

I was treated like an object—tied up, gawked at, mocked, violated.

A teacher walked by at one point. Glanced over. And hurried off.

Knox was an Alpha. I was just a lowly Omega. Not worth his interference.

No one helped me. Everyone wanted a piece.

They all thought I was just some powerless Omega. They didn't know I was actually from Healer's Hollow Pack.

Healer's Hollow was made up entirely of Omegas like me, but we controlled every medical resource on the Werewolf Continent. We were the most respected Pack of all.

Our abilities were mostly healing-based, but the conditions for awakening them were incredibly strict. That's why I'd been sent here to train when I was just a pup.

For over a decade, the only one by my side had been Knox.

Three months ago, my father reached out through our mind-link. A witch had brewed a potion that could unlock my power. He told me to come home.

I refused.

Because I'd promised Knox we'd stay together forever.

I gave up going back to my father. I gave up my chance to awaken. All for him.

And he'd thrown me away—just because Mia was curious what an Omega frenzy looked like.

I looked at Knox, chatting and laughing with her like nothing had happened.

Something cracked in my chest.

Sixteen years, Knox. Sixteen years of us. And this is what it meant to you?

Fine.

If you don't care about us, then I don't want you either.