SERA'S POV
Riley's words echoed in my head like a death sentence. *Rogues surrounding the territory. Blocking all exits.*
I couldn't breathe. This was a trap. All of it.
Alpha Dominic smiled at me like a wolf who'd just cornered his prey. "As I said, no one leaves tonight. Especially not our precious new Omega."
My wolf snarled inside me, wanting to fight. But I was one newly-shifted wolf against an entire pack who'd just watched their Alpha reveal himself as a monster.
"You can't keep me here," I said, hating how my voice shook. "That's kidnapping!"
"That's protection." Alpha Dominic stepped closer. "The mate bond makes you vulnerable, child. Rejecting it weakens you both. Rogues can smell that weakness for miles. They'll tear you apart if you leave pack lands."
He was lying. I knew he was lying. But some part of me wondered if he was also telling the truth.
The rejected bond felt like broken glass in my chest, cutting deeper with every breath. Kaden was still on his knees where his father had knocked him down, blood dripping from his mouth.
*Good,* I thought viciously. *He deserves worse.*
But my wolf whimpered, wanting to help him. Wanting to fix what I'd just broken.
"Sera." My mother's voice cut through the chaos. She pushed through the crowd, my father right behind her. For a second—one stupid second—I hoped she'd help me.
Then I saw her face.
"How could you embarrass this family?" Mom hissed, grabbing my arm hard enough to bruise. "Rejecting your mate publicly? Do you know what you've done?"
"He made my life hell!" I yanked away from her. "All of you did! And you expect me to just accept him because some bond says I should?"
"Yes!" My father's voice was cold. "That's exactly what we expect. The Moon Goddess chose him for you. You don't get to refuse her will."
I laughed, and it sounded a little crazy even to me. "The Moon Goddess? You never cared about her will before! You told me I was worthless! You let everyone treat me like trash! But now that I'm useful, now that I have power you can use—"
My mother slapped me.
The clearing went silent. My cheek burned, but I didn't cry. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
"You will accept the bond," Mom said quietly. "You will mate with Kaden. And you will stop being selfish."
"No."
The word came out stronger than I felt. My wolf pushed power into it, making everyone step back slightly.
"I said no. I'm done being your pawn. I'm done pretending you're a real mother. And I'm definitely done with—"
Lyanna's scream cut me off.
My sister launched herself at me, her face twisted with rage. "You stole him! You stole MY mate! This was supposed to be MY night!"
She shifted mid-leap, her golden wolf aiming for my throat.
Instinct took over. My silver wolf burst out, catching Lyanna's attack with teeth and claws. We crashed into the ground, rolling and snarling.
*She's trying to kill us!* my wolf snarled.
*I noticed!*
Lyanna was bigger and had years more experience. But I had something she didn't—pure rage and Omega power that made the ground shake when I howled.
Strong arms pulled us apart. Pack warriors held Lyanna back while she snapped and growled. I shifted back to human, grabbing another ceremonial robe.
"Enough!" Alpha Dominic roared. His Alpha command made everyone freeze. "Lyanna, control yourself. Sera is Kaden's true mate. You will accept this."
Lyanna's human scream was full of hatred. "Never! She's nothing! She's always been nothing! I won't lose to HER!"
"You already did," Kaden's voice said quietly.
Everyone turned. He'd stood up, wiping blood from his mouth. He looked straight at me, and something in his eyes made my heart skip.
"Sera's my mate," he continued, his voice getting stronger. "The bond chose her. Not Lyanna. Not anyone else. Just her."
"Kaden—" his father started.
"I reject the engagement to Lyanna." Kaden pulled a ring from his pocket and dropped it on the ground. "I won't marry someone who isn't my mate."
My stomach twisted. This should feel like victory. But all I felt was trapped.
"How touching," Alpha Dominic said coldly. "But it changes nothing. Sera will stay in pack lands until the bond is accepted properly. For her own protection, of course."
"Of course," I repeated bitterly.
Riley pushed through the crowd to stand beside me. "You can't force her to accept a mate bond. That's against Moon Goddess law too."
"I'm not forcing anything." Alpha Dominic's smile was cruel. "I'm simply keeping our Omega safe until she comes to her senses. However long that takes."
He meant forever. He'd keep me prisoner until I gave in.
My wolf howled in fury, but what could I do? Fight the entire pack? Run past the rogues he'd definitely hired himself?
"There is one other option," a new voice said from the darkness beyond the clearing.
Everyone spun around. A man stepped into the moonlight—tall, dangerous-looking, with scars covering his arms and cold blue eyes.
"Who are you?" Alpha Dominic demanded.
The stranger smiled. "Name's Darius. Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack." His eyes locked on me. "And I'm here to offer sanctuary to the silver Omega."
My heart stopped.
"In exchange," Darius continued, "for her hand in marriage to me."