Derek's POV
I stood frozen in the doorway, looking at Maya while Elder Rosa gripped her wrist like it was on fire. The old woman's face had gone white with shock.
"What's wrong?" I asked, stepping into the room. Something was happening here, something important, and every sense I had was screaming at me to protect Maya.
"Nothing, Alpha," Rosa said quickly, dropping Maya's hand. "Just checking her heart. She looked dizzy."
Liar. I could smell fear and joy rolling off the elder in waves. And Maya... Maya smelled like sunshine and honey and something else. Something that made my wolf pace inside my chest, desperate to get closer.
"I need to speak with Maya alone," I said.
Rosa's eyes went wide. "Alpha, perhaps that's not—"
"Now."
My voice carried the full weight of my power. Rosa bowed her head and rushed out, but not before shooting Maya a look full of warning and worry.
The door closed behind her, leaving Maya and me alone. The air between us felt electric, like right before a lightning storm. I'd never felt anything like this before.
"You came back," Maya said softly.
"I forgot something." The lie rolled off my mouth easily. I hadn't forgotten anything. I'd made it halfway to the main house before something pulled me back here like a rope around my chest.
"What did you forget?" You, I almost said. But that was crazy. I barely knew this girl.
Instead, I walked closer, breathing in her smell. My wolf was going nuts, pushing against my control. It wanted to take her, mark her, make her mine right here and now.
"Derek?" Maya's voice was small and confused. "I mean, Alpha?"
"Say my name again."
"I... I shouldn't. It's not right."
"Say it."
"Derek." The word was barely a whisper, but it hit me like a punch to the gut. No one had ever made my name sound like that before. Like it was holy.
I reached out and touched her cheek. She didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into my hand like a cat seeking warmth.
"How long have you worked here?" I asked.
"Three years. I already told you."
"And in three years, I never noticed you." Shame burned in my chest. What kind of Alpha doesn't know his own pack members? "How is that possible?"
Maya's smile was sad. "Omegas are good at being silent. It's safer that way."
"Safer from what?"
"From getting hurt. From hoping for things we can't have."
Her words cut deep. I thought of Sarah, waiting for me at the main house. Beautiful, cold Sarah who would be my wife in three weeks. The partnership marriage that would secure peace between our packs.
But looking at Maya, I couldn't remember why that had seemed so important.
"What if you could have anything?" I asked. "What would you want?"
Maya's breath caught. "I can't answer that."
"Why not?"
"Because you're promised to another."
The words hit me like silver bullets. She knew about Sarah. Of course she did. The whole pack knew about the alliance marriage.
"That's politics," I said, though the words tasted bitter. "This... this is something else."
"What is this?" Maya asked, her voice barely audible.
I didn't know. All I knew was that every second I stood here, the pull between us got stronger. My wolf was demanding I claim her. My human side was yelling that this was wrong, dangerous, impossible.
But I couldn't make myself leave.
"I don't know," I admitted. "But I need to find out."
Maya's eyes filled with tears. "Derek, I can't be your secret. I won't be the omega you hide while you marry your Luna."
The pain in her voice made me want to howl. "It's not like that."
"Then what is it like? You're getting married in three weeks. Everyone sees it. The whole pack is excited about the partnership."
"I don't love her."
The statement tore out of me before I could stop it. Maya's eyes went wide.
"But you'll marry her anyway."
"It's my duty."
"And what am I? Your escape?"
"No!" I stepped closer, my hands finding her shoulders. "Maya, what I feel for you... it's not some game. It's not me looking for fun before my wedding."
"Then what is it?"
I stared into her brown eyes, so warm and honest, and the truth hit me like a runaway truck. "I think... I think you might be my mate."
Maya went very still. "That's impossible."
"Is it? Haven't you felt it too? This pull between us?"
"I—" She stopped, biting her lip.
"Tell me you haven't felt it."
"I can't."
"Because you have felt it."
She nodded slowly, tears spilling down her face.
Before I could think, I cupped her face and leaned down. Our lips were almost touching when the door burst open.
"Derek!" Sarah's words cut through the room like a blade.
I spun around to find my future wife standing in the doorway, her ice-blue eyes taking in the scene. Maya jumped away from me like I'd burned her, but it was too late. Sarah had seen everything.
"So this is where you've been hiding," Sarah said, her voice deadly calm. "I was wondering what could be more important than greeting your future wife."
"Sarah, I can explain—"
"Oh, I think I understand perfectly." Her cold smile made my blood freeze. "You're slumming with the help before our wedding. How... predictable."
Maya's face went white. "I should go."
"No," I said strongly. "Sarah, you can't just—"
"Can't what? Can't stop you from whatever this is?" Sarah stepped into the room, her power filling the space. "I'm going to be Luna of this pack in three weeks, Derek. I suggest you remember that."
She turned to Maya, her smile turning nasty. "And you, little omega, should remember your place. Derek belongs to me."
"He's not a possession," Maya said quietly.
Sarah laughed. "Isn't he? We have a deal. A binding deal between two packs. You have nothing but a pretty face and fantasies."
"That's enough!" I stepped between them, anger burning in my chest.
"Is it?" Sarah raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Because from where I stand, it looks like you're having second thoughts about our plan. I wonder what my father would think about that. Or yours."
The threat was clear. If I broke the partnership, both packs would suffer. Wars had been fought over less.
But looking at Maya's tear-streaked face, I wasn't sure I cared.
Sarah must have seen something in my face because her mask slipped. For just a moment, I saw fear in her eyes.
"This conversation isn't over," she said finally. "But it is postponed. Maya, I suggest you think very carefully about your next moves. Some games are too dangerous for little girls to play."
She swept out of the room, leaving the smell of expensive perfume and menace behind.
Maya was shaking. "I'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen."
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
"She's right, though. You belong to her. The contract—"
"Forget the contract."
"I can't! And neither can you. Your pack needs this union."
She was right, and we both knew it. But standing here, looking at her, I realized I might be willing to let the whole world burn before I gave her up.
My phone buzzed. A text from my Beta: Emergency pack meeting. Now. Sarah's father is here and he's angry.
I looked up to find Maya watching me, her eyes full of goodbye.
"Go," she whispered. "Do your job, Derek. Marry your Luna. Forget about the invisible omega."
"I could never forget you."
"You have to."
I started to argue, but she turned away, discarding me. The gesture hurt more than any physical blow ever had.
I made it to the door before I realized something that stopped me cold. In all my years as Alpha, in all the women I'd been with, I'd never once felt jealous or territorial. I took what I wanted and walked away without looking back.
But the thought of any other man touching Maya made me want to commit murder.
And if what I suspected was true—if Maya really was my fated mate—then walking away from her might just kill me.
The phone buzzed again. This time it was my father: Get to my office now. The alliance is in danger and Sarah is demanding answers.
I looked back at Maya one more time. She was cleaning up, pretending I wasn't there, but I could see her hands shaking.
In three hours, I'd gone from a simple Alpha with a clear future to a man torn between duty and a love I didn't understand.
And I had the terrible feeling that no matter what I decided, someone I cared about was going to get destroyed.