If Seraphina was a storm in stilettos, Lucy Greene was a summer breeze—sweet, soft-spoken, and everyone's favorite fake nice girl.
And unfortunately for me, she'd just walked through the doors of the dining hall like this was her kingdom too.
"Olivia?" Her voice lilted across the room like honey and broken promises. "Oh my goddess, it is you!"
I stiffened. Of course she'd show up now.
"Hi, Lucy," I muttered, not turning around.
Silas leaned over, whispering low enough for only me to hear, "Friend of yours, darling omega?"
"Nope," I said, stabbing my food a little harder than necessary.
But Lucy wasn't going to be ignored. She glided across the floor, all platinum blonde faux locks and blue siren eyes, and slid into the empty seat beside Riven like she belonged there.
"Kael," she greeted with a practiced smile, her white teeth sparkling "it's so good to see you again. You've been keeping secrets. A bonded mate and no announcement?"
Kael barely acknowledged her. "Lucy."
That was it. Just her name. No warmth, no welcome.
Didn't stop her.
She turned her full sunshine-on-syrup smile to me. "I was so surprised to hear you were back in the pack. I thought you… you know… ran off with that rogue?"
Riven raised an eyebrow. "You ran off with a rogue?"
"No," I said flatly. "But thanks, Lucy. Great storytelling, as usual."
Lucy giggled. "Oh, come on. We used to be close. It's okay to talk about the past. Everyone makes… mistakes."
That sweet tone? It was a trap. She wielded passive-aggression like a blade dipped in sugar.
"Some of us just stopped pretending we were perfect," I replied, locking eyes with her. "You should try it sometime."
The tension around the table spiked.
Silas was grinning like Christmas had come early. Riven was watching us both like he was waiting for a catfight. Silas was smirking like he had just won the ultimate prize.
Kael…
Kael was watching me.
There was heat in his stare now, something new beneath that ice—like the sight of me baring my teeth intrigued him.
Lucy leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "You know, you could've told me you were bonded. I would've helped you… adjust. You're clearly overwhelmed."
"I'd rather eat glass," I said sweetly.
Her smile faltered. Just for a second.
Seraphina scoffed. "This pack has gone soft. We used to put mouthy girls like you in line."
"And now we put outdated mean girls in retirement," I snapped.
Riven let out a low whistle grinning like a goat. "She's got claws. I like her."
Kael stood abruptly and banged his hand on the table. "Enough."
Everyone froze.
Kael rarely raised his voice. When he did, it felt like the earth tilted.
His gold eyes moved from Seraphina to Lucy to me, then finally to Riven and Silas. "This dinner is over."
"But I just got here," Lucy said pouting, all sweetness.
Kael's voice cut like a knife. "Then you're late."
Riven leaned in, brushing a curl from my face. "Come on, darling. Let's get you out of this den of vipers."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I muttered, standing.
"You'll come with me," Kael said.
I turned slowly. "Excuse me? I'd rather go with Mr Viper here than with you"
"Training. At dawn. You need control. You're coming. End of discussion."
"Wasn't aware we started a discussion," I said, but the fire of rage in my chest was roaring and it was about to consume me.
Control. That was rich coming from him.
Kael's stare didn't waver. "You're mine. Your strength reflects on me. I won't have a weak mate."
And that—that—was the moment something inside me snapped. I couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Blah blah blah. Always going on and on about strength. You want strength?" I asked, voice ice. "Then stop talking down to me and watch how a cursed omega fights back."
The table went dead silent.
Even Lucy looked rattled.
Riven let out a slow laugh. "This is getting fun."
Kael's eyes gleamed. "Dawn. Training yard. Don't be late."
"I won't," I promised, turning on my heel. "Wouldn't want to embarrass my dear golden Alpha."
And with that, I walked out. Head high. Blood boiling.
Lucy wasn't my friend. Seraphina was a viper. And the triplets? They were chaos wrapped in power.
But me? I was done playing nice.
Tomorrow, I'd show them all just how dangerous a cursed omega could be.