Kimi's POV
"Kimi, leave. Go with your mother. They will kill you both."
My father's desperate voice cut through the chaos. His eyes filled with terror as he stared at the approaching wolves from across the forest clearing.
"N-No," I sobbed, my childish voice breaking. Blood pooled beneath his wounded legs.
"Little girl, always take care of your mother," he gasped, struggling to sit up. The crimson stains spread across his torn flesh.
"Christine, run away with Kimi. Don't waste time," he commanded my mother, who knelt beside him, her tears mixing with the dirt.
"How can I leave you in this condition, Edwin?" Mom's voice cracked with anguish.
The sound of breaking branches echoed around us. Snarling wolves circled closer.
"Leave. I can't shift to protect you two because of my wounds. At least save our little child." Dad's voice grew weaker with each word.
Mom's eyes widened as one of the lead wolves took a predatory step forward. She scooped me into her arms and ran in the opposite direction, my small body bouncing against her chest.
"Don't look back," she whispered through her tears.
But curiosity killed my obedience. I turned my head just in time to see two massive wolves leap onto my father. Their jaws clamped down on his throat.
"DAD!"
I bolted upright in my bed, my scream echoing through my bedroom. Sweat drenched my nightgown. My heart hammered against my ribs like a caged bird.
"I was dreaming again," I muttered, pressing my trembling hand to my forehead.
The same nightmare haunted me every few weeks. It wasn't just a dream. It was a memory burned into my soul.
More than a decade had passed since that terrible night. Dad died protecting us. The enemy pack had targeted his legs before he could shift, leaving him defenseless.
Mom and I fled our old pack and begged for shelter elsewhere. Alpha Sean Zachary of the Arcane Phantom Pack showed us mercy. We'd been living here ever since.
But mercy came with a price. We were omegas without a male protector. Every day was a careful balance of staying invisible.
"KIMI, YOU WILL BE LATE."
Mom's voice drifted up from the kitchen.
"YES, MOM. I'M COMING," I called back.
I stumbled to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. The girl in the mirror looked fragile. Dark circles shadowed my eyes. My long black hair hung limp around my shoulders.
I pulled on a white dress that hung loose on my frame. It covered me from neck to ankle, hiding any hint of curves. The oversized glasses came next, perched on my nose like a shield.
My eyesight was perfect. But the glasses served a different purpose. They helped me disappear into the background. Nobody looked twice at the nerdy omega girl.
I braided my hair into a simple ponytail and avoided makeup completely. Plain was safe. Invisible was survival.
The other students called me a nerd because of my high grades and boring appearance. I'd learned to take it as a compliment. Better to be ignored than targeted.
Downstairs, Mom waited with breakfast. Dark worry lines creased her face. She'd aged years in the past few months.
"Morning, Mom." I hugged her tight, breathing in her familiar lavender scent.
We ate in comfortable silence. Mom's hands shook slightly as she lifted her coffee cup. The stress of our situation wore on her constantly.
"Kimi." Her voice was soft but serious.
"Yes, Mom?"
"Your coming-of-age birthday is just around the corner. You'll find your mate soon." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Before that happens, I want you to promise me something. Don't get involved with anyone else. Don't cause trouble."
I nodded, understanding the weight behind her request. We lived in this pack by the Alpha's grace. One wrong move could get us banished or worse.
"You already know how we got into this pack. You're an omega. We don't have a male member in our family to protect you, my dear." Her voice cracked slightly.
The reminder stung, but she was right. Without Dad, we were completely vulnerable. Alpha families ruled this pack with iron fists. Beta families held significant power. Even gamma families commanded respect.
But omegas? We existed at everyone's mercy.
"Don't worry, Mom. I promise I won't mess up with anyone. I'll keep my head down and focus on my studies." I reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
"My child, I long for the day when you finally find your mate. He will accept you, and I will be able to die peacefully."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I jumped up and rushed to hug her.
"Mom, don't say that, please." Tears pricked my eyes.
She'd never remarried after Dad's death. She'd dedicated her entire life to keeping me safe and fed. The guilt crushed my chest sometimes.
"I just want to see you settled and protected before I leave this world," she whispered against my hair.
I held her tighter. The mate bond was supposed to be a blessing. The moon goddess paired each wolf with their perfect match. But what if my mate was disappointed in me? What if he rejected me for being weak?
The thought terrified me more than any nightmare.
After reassuring Mom that I'd be careful, I grabbed my backpack and headed to the bus stop. The ride to campus gave me time to steel myself for another day of invisibility.
Arcane Phantom University loomed ahead, its name etched in bold letters across the main building. This was where the pack's elite sent their children. I was here on a scholarship, a charity case among the wealthy.
Students clustered in groups across the courtyard. Designer clothes and expensive cars marked the social hierarchy. I kept my head down and hurried toward my first class.
A girl deliberately bumped my shoulder as I passed.
"Bloody nerd," she sneered.
I didn't respond. Engaging would only make things worse. I quickened my pace and slipped into the classroom just as the professor arrived.
My friend Olive waved from our usual seats. She was one of only three people who treated me kindly here. Her family had money, but she'd never made me feel inferior.
The lecture began, but whispers from behind us proved distracting.
"Have you seen Kolton today?" one girl asked.
"No, what did I miss? Don't tell me he took off his shirt again."
"I heard his friends mention tonight's party."
"Oh my god, I can't miss that."
Kolton Zachary. Even his name made my heart race traitorously. He was our future Alpha, the most dangerous and desirable boy on campus. Dark hair, mysterious eyes, and a body that made every girl lose her mind.
He was also a notorious playboy who broke hearts for sport.
"Kolton Zachary never dates. He only believes in one-night stands," Olive whispered beside me.
I turned to her, trying to look disinterested.
"You innocent girl, don't listen to this gossip," she smirked.
"I was just—"
"Babe, I know you too well. But let me tell you something. He's waiting for his mate. That's why he doesn't date. Those are his own words."
I forced myself to focus on the lecture instead of responding. But my treacherous heart had other ideas.
Every time I saw Kolton Zachary, my pulse quickened. Every time he walked past, my wolf stirred restlessly.
I told myself it was just a silly crush. Someone like him would never notice someone like me.
And maybe that was for the best.
Because if the stories were true, Kolton Zachary was the kind of danger that could destroy everything Mom and I had worked so hard to protect.