LOGINLayla's POVI turned my head and saw a group of people being held back by the guards outside the fence—a dozen or so, young and old, well-dressed but panicked, clutching bags and boxes of gifts in their hands.The guard announced, "Members of Crimson Pack, Wind Pack, and Stone Pack have come to apologize."My father glanced at me. I nodded.The guards stepped aside. The group practically stumbled through the gates. The one in the lead was a middle-aged female wolf draped in gold and jewels. The moment she saw me, she lunged forward and nearly dropped to her knees at my feet."Miss Graham! Miss Graham! We're here to apologize! My son posted those things on the forum—we punished him severely at home! He didn't know what he was doing—he was manipulated!"She yanked a cowering Beta out from behind her. His legs gave out as he dropped to his knees, too afraid to even lift his head. "Layla, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have joined in on the insults... Mia was the one stirring
Layla's POVOn the morning of the fourth day, I finally opened my eyes.Light streamed through the window, and I realized—I could feel everything. Every herb, every plant across the entire territory. The evening primrose on the eastern slope had just sprouted new shoots. The blood-clot flowers in the western valley were in full bloom. Even the wolf-spirit grass buried deep underground, not yet broken through the soil, trembled faintly at the edge of my awareness.I knew it then. My ability had finally awakened.My father pushed the door open just as I was standing at the window."Layla." His voice was tight.I turned. He was standing in the doorway, staring at me, his eyes already red.Then he smiled—proud, overwhelmed, barely holding it together."My daughter," he said, crossing the room and pulling me into his arms. "You've finally awakened."I pressed my face into his chest and let out a soft "Mm."That morning, my father gathered every elder and senior member of Healer's Hollow Pa
Layla's POVMy father was the Alpha of Healer's Hollow Pack. The day I came back, the entire Pack turned out to welcome me.He stood at the very front, eyes glistening with unshed tears. He opened his arms and pulled me into his chest."Welcome home."Those two simple words broke something inside me. All the hurt I'd been holding in for so long came crashing down.I buried my face in my father's warm chest, didn't say a word. Just let my shoulders shake.For the next three days, I barely left my room.My father sent over the potion the witch had brewed. Deep purple liquid swirled inside the glass vial, catching the light like captured starlight.I tipped it back and drank. The bitterness spread from my tongue all the way down to my stomach, then bloomed into warmth—slow, steady, flowing through every limb, every vein.Then I curled up on the bed and let the potion take effect. It worked just like my mother's necklace used to—steadying my wolf, quieting the turmoil inside me. Bit by bi
Knox's POV"Knox?" Mia's voice pulled me back. She was sitting right beside me, her arm looped through mine, her chest pressing against my bicep. Her Alpha pheromones were pouring out, thick and unsubtle, practically dripping with invitation. "What are you thinking about?"A wave of discomfort hit me. I pulled away and stood up fast.I walked to the door, pulled it open, and stepped aside. "You should go."This was mine and Layla's place. If she ever found out Mia had been here, she'd never forgive me. And I needed her to forgive me.Mia blinked. "What?""I said, go." My voice was flat. No emotion.She bit her lip, then slowly got up from the couch. When she passed me, she stopped, tilting her head up to look at me. "Knox, she's just an Omega. You're seriously going to throw everything away for—""Out."I shoved her out the door and closed it behind her.Then I stood in that empty living room for a long, long time.The sunset bled through the windows, painting the floor in warm gold. B
Knox's POVAfter I walked out of Layla's place, I handed the necklace to Mia. She barely looked at the pendant—just turned it over once, laughed, and said, "Honestly, it's kind of plain." Then she tossed it back.I shoved it into my pocket and took Mia to dinner. We strolled around the training camp afterward. Her fingers brushed against the back of my hand every now and then. She tilted her head up at me and smiled."Knox, thanks for today. Layla... she's really okay, right?""She's fine," I waved it off. "She'll get over it in a couple days."At midnight, my phone buzzed.I figured it was her. A text apologizing. That's how it always went—she'd hold out for a while, but she always cracked first. She'd come to me, voice small, eyes red, asking if I was still mad. And I'd let her off the hook because, well, she was Layla. She always came back.But this time, I opened the message and saw the words: "Knox. We're done. Forever."I stared at it for three full seconds. Then I snorted and t
Layla's POVWhen my father learned what had happened to me, he sent me a healing potion that even an Alpha King couldn't get his hands on.I downed it in one gulp. The wounds on my body knitted back together in seconds.But the wounds on my heart wouldn't heal so easily.Especially not when the training camp's forum suddenly flooded with videos of my humiliation.The comments stabbed at my eyes, one after another.[LMAO, that's an Omega frenzy? This is the top student in the whole camp?][Knox the Alpha is such a legend—went all out just to please his goddess Mia][Layla always acted so high and mighty. I thought she was something special. Look at her now][Been waiting for someone to take her down a peg. So annoying, always clinging to Knox][Like a piece of gum stuck to his shoe. Knox is way too patient with her]I scrolled through them all. Even found Knox's post.[Today's dose of fun for you. @Mia Happy now?]With a photo of me—dirty, broken, chained to that stone.Mia replied: [Yo







