Two weeks later

Snow’s P.O.V 

I pressed a trembling hand to my flat belly, staring at the two pink lines on the pregnancy test and the world tilted on its edge. 

Positive. 

No. No, no, no. 

This couldn’t be happening. 

I stumbled back, clutching the edge of the sink in the dirty bathroom. My reflection stared back at me, pale and wide-eyed, as if even she didn’t recognize who I was anymore. A silent sob wracked my body and I bit down on my lip hard enough to draw blood, trying to keep myself from falling apart completely. I’d been throwing up and fainting since that night with…with him. 

A part of me didn’t want to accept the possibility of a pregnancy until the head maid commented on my sickly appearance, asking if she should get the doctor. It wasn’t that she cared about me, but if i died under her watch, the alpha would destroy her. 

So i quickly refused and decided to take the test…and now, this. 

Pregnancy out of wedlock was forbidden for an Omega, especially one like me. Worse still, my brother would kill me. If he knew I had…had sex. He’d do worse than kill me. 

I pressed my fist to my mouth, stifling the soundless cry that threatened to escape. I coudln’t let anyone find out. Not even the other maids. 

This secret had to stay buried, like everything inside me. My hands trembled as I shove the test deep into the trash, covering it with scraps of paper and clothe. 

Just then, the shrill voice of the head omega maid echoed through the corridors. I wiped my face, cleaning all evidence of my tears before stepping out. 

I was surprised to see almost all the omegas of the Midnight pack where guarded in the yard. Everyone was murmuring under she cleared her throat and stood centerstage. 

“The Lycan King is coming to our pack.” She announced and every single person present gasped, including me. “Alpha Liam expects all of us to prepare for a grand feast. No mistakes. No delays.” 

Her next words blurred in my mind as I became awestruck. The Lycan King was coming here? 

I’d never seen the Lycan King before and it filled with an odd sense of trepidation. It was said that he was built like a mountain and could lift a building on his back. Why was he coming to our small pack? 

At that, Head maid’s voice pierced into my thoughts, “…the King is searching for a mate. Alpha Liam said if the King chose a mate from our pack, it would elevate us all and secure us a spot as royalty!” 

A bitter smile curled my lips at their naivety. Liam was a selfish alpha and his desperation for power was his only motivation. He didn’t care about any of them and yet they were fooled. 

The preparations were relentless. 

For two days, the pack buzzed like a disturbed hive. Every surface was scrubbed, every corner was polished. The omegas, including male and females were groomed and buying their best dresses. I just did my best to stay invisible, hiding behind tasks that kept me in the background. 

In another life, I may have been excited too, but I had to hide my pregnancy. 

On the third evening, the King arrived. 

Everyone gathered by the pack border as he stepped out of a gleaming black car. His scent immediately pulsed in the surrounding area, making all the women around scream and gasp. 

I was behind a few maids and I had to push my head between them so I could catch a glimpse of him too and when I did, my heart stopped. 

Because it was Grey Eyes. 

The man from that night. My mate. 

My legs locked in place and somehow, I pressed myself against the nearest wall, praying he wouldn’t see me. He was taller than I remembered, his scent even more overwhelming now that I recognized him. 

Those grey eyes of his swept over the gathered pack members, cold and calculating and I ducked my head, running back to the omega packhouse. 

•~~~• 

The feast was a blur of music and laughter. Omegas, deltas and even beta wolves danced, their movements practiced and enticing as they all tried to catch his attention. 

But he didn’t even look at them. I could feel his gaze cutting through the crowd, his nose flaring as he probably caught a whiff of my scent. 

I’d used a scentmask perfume but he was a Lycan…so I wasn’t safe at all. I wish I could hide somewhere but the head maids had instructed me to serve wine to the guests he came with so I just kept my head down. 

“Snow!” The hissed warning from another maid made me flinch and jerk my head up. My heart crashed into my stomach as I realized my brother was glaring at me from across the room where he sat next to the king. He was shooting daggers at me as if he didn’t want me here. 

I barely had time to leave before a hush fell over the crowd. 

“I’m not interested in this,” The King’s deep voice rumbled and my core clenched, reminding me of how he’d whispered dirty words in my ears with that same voice. “I have seen my mate. Her.” 

I froze, every nerve in my body on high alert. 

He was looking at me. 

Oh gods. 

Gasps echoed through the room, followed by murmurs. Liam’s face twisted in rage and disbelief. “That one?” he sneered. “She’s just a deaf and dumb, a fucking runt. Snow can’t be your mate. She’s not even worthy to lick the stain off your shoe. Your majesty maybe–” 

The king’s growl silenced Liam. it was low and promised a world of violence. 

“You dare question me?” His grabbed Liam by the throat, flinging him across the feast table. I was sure everyone was just as shocked as I was, gaping at the King. 

Liam’s face turned purple and he clutched at his throat as he tried to stand up from the mess of various dishes that had toppled all over his head from the broken feast table. 

But when the King glared at him, Liam let out a pitiful whine and remained on his knees. His head bowed in forced submission. 

Without another word, Lycan King strode towards me. I stepped back, heart hammering against my chest, but there was nowhere to run. 

His hand closed firmly around my wrist and he pulled me through the quiet, stunned crowd. 

•~~~• 

The door to his private room slammed shut behind us and I tripped, barely catching myself on the edge of a chair. My blood was roaring so loud that I wondered helplessly if the king could hear. 

“Did you think you could run, Kitten?” He bared his teeth at me, grey eyes almost black. “That night, after I fucked you, I had to go away on business. But when I returned to that room, you had disappeared. Why did you leave the Hallow pack?” 

He’d come back for me… 

I shook my head, not knowing how to explain to him that it wasn’t my pack. My entire body shook, caught between fear and the undeniable pull of the mate bond. 

He took a step closer, crowding me against the wall. “I saw it, Snow. you were going to kill yourself that night. Why?” His voice was cold, but there was something else beneath it. Anger. Frustration. 

My eyes darted to the side but he slammed his fist into the wall, mere inches from my head. The entire thing cracked, making a huge dent. “Fucking respond to me, dammit!” 

I flinched, tears pooling in my eyes. My voice wouldn’t come even if I tried. So swallowing a choked breath, I brought my hands out and slowly signed. ‘I can’t speak.’ 

His eyes only narrowed at me. “So your alpha wasn’t lying.” He pressed his nose to my neck and let out a frustrated growl. “Why the fuck can’t I scent you?” 

Trembling, I held his gaze and mouthed. ‘I used a mask.’ 

His eyes darkened with rage and he wrapped his fingers around my throat. “Were you trying to hide from me, huh?” 

No, I lied, shaking my head as I struggled to breath. 

He released my throat and pointed to the bathroom. “Go. Get rid of that fucking mask. Now.” 

I obeyed and scurried away, locking myself in the bathroom. I quickly washed off the scent mask from my neck and returned to the room, my heart pounding in my chest. 

As soon as I emerged, he lunged at me and buried his nose into my neck. He inhaled deeply, like a drunk man and his chest rumbled with a growl. 

“Ah, fuck.” His voice was guttural. “Your scent is exquisite. Never use a fucking scent block again, okay?” 

I could only nod in response. He terrified me. 

“I would take you back to my pack right now but it’s too late to travel.” He hissed, still licking and sucking on my neck. “You’re coming with me tomorrow.” 

My eyes widened in a panic and I found the strength to push him away or maybe he let me shove him 

Either way, I mouthed. 

NO! I’M NOT GOING! 

Nobody ever wanted runts like me so I knew he was taking me to his pack to make me his slave. 

The devil I knew here was better than an angel I didn’t.