Chapter 2

Serena POV

The heavy rain was pouring down by the time I rushed to my parents' grand stone mansion.

My mother opened the door and froze for a moment.

She didn't look at my pale face or my bleeding wounds.

"Why are you back at this hour? Did you embarrass us again?"

"I broke the mate bond with Zane."

The bedroom light flicked on.

My father walked out with a coat draped over his shoulders, his face twisting in extreme displeasure.

"Are you out of your mind? You actually threw a tantrum and broke the bond with a pureblood Alpha?!"

As the Elders of the pack, they guarded the ancient bloodlines and viewed power above all else.

Just as I was about to speak, my mother let out a heavy sigh of disgust.

She pulled my father and turned back into the bedroom.

Through the thin wooden door, I heard my mother lower her voice.

"I told her not to always go on border patrols. No Alpha wants a mate covered in mud and scars."

"What's the point of saying this now? She ruined our family's connection to the throne!"

"She's almost thirty. If she looks for a new mate now, she can only settle for a low-ranking Beta."

There was a moment of silence inside.

My father said coldly, "Ask her sister tomorrow if that male from last time is still available."

"We need to marry her off before she becomes completely worthless."

I was still standing in the living room.

My armor was still covered in magical confetti, and my bleeding, swollen foot rested against the side of my travel bag.

My mother's voice came from the bedroom again.

"Keep your voice down, don't let her hear you. We'll force her to go on a blind date tomorrow."

From beginning to end, they never asked why I broke the bond.

They never asked if I was in pain.

The next day at the military camp, my mother bombarded me with over a dozen Mind-Link requests, forcing me to go on a blind date.

"I'm not going."

It was very noisy on her end, and her tone was rushed and threatening.

"It's just a meal. If you don't go, I will personally have you removed from your defense post."

"If you and Zane could still make up, why would I even need to worry about selling you off?"

I had no choice but to rush to the neutral tavern during my lunch break.

Beta Cedric was sitting at a table by the window, his coffee already half-empty.

He was built like a mountain, his eyes dark and cruel.

He reeked of the lingering, pungent scent of cheap cigars.

He looked me up and down, his gaze like a butcher inspecting a piece of raw meat on display.

"For an Omega, you look decent enough, though a bit too old," Cedric grunted while cutting his steak.

"Once we are mated, you will resign from all your duties in the pack."

I stared blankly at my empty plate. "Resign?"

"Of course," he chewed loudly, making a harsh, smacking sound.

"An Omega's only value is breeding strong warriors."

"You will just stay obediently in the den and give me several sons."

A bone-chilling cold instantly shot up my spine.

Suddenly, the heavy glass doors of the tavern were slammed open.

The familiar scent of a brewing storm sweeping through a dark pine forest instantly filled the entire room.

Zane strode in, with Vivian clinging tightly to his arm like a creeping vine.

His eyes immediately locked onto me, swirling with the terrifying, crimson bloodlust of an enraged Alpha.

He wasn't jealous; he was furious that his property was sitting with someone else.

He marched straight to our table, completely ignoring the rules of the neutral zone.

"What do you think you're doing?" Zane growled.

His deep, furious voice made the silver cutlery on the table rattle.

Cedric stood up abruptly, puffing out his chest arrogantly.

"I'm having lunch with my future bride. What does it matter to you?"

A dark, terrifying sneer was squeezed from the depths of Zane's throat.

"Bride? She is my mate. I still hold her mating token."

He lied effortlessly, casually creating the illusion that the bond between us was still unbreakable.

Cedric turned bright red, his entire face twisting violently with anger and disgust.

He glared at me fiercely and spat viciously on the floor next to my boots.

"You actually dared to play me by pretending to be an unclaimed single?"

"You're nothing but a scheming, shameless she-wolf."

He slammed his napkin onto the table and stormed out the door in a rage.

Vivian gently tugged on Zane's sleeve.

"Forget it, Zane, people are watching. Don't let her ruin your mood."

It would have been better if she hadn't said anything.

The moment those words left her mouth, the stares from all around became even more obvious and mocking.

Zane leaned across the table, his handsome face closing in until he was only inches away from me.

"Serena, you are mine, and can only be mine."

"Even if I throw you away, no one else is allowed to pick you up."

"You will sit right here and reflect on your pathetic, degrading behavior."

He turned and walked away coldly, leaving behind the echoing sound of Vivian's smug, sweet laughter.

Trapped under his absolute Alpha Command, I sat paralyzed in my seat, tears blurring my vision.

The gazes of everyone in the tavern pierced into me like poisoned needles.

I had never felt such bone-chilling isolation and absolute humiliation.