I stood in a corner of the ballroom, pretending to be composed with a glass of red wine in my hand. I could feel the weight of countless stares, accompanied by hushed whispers:

"Is that Mr. Castillo's mate? I heard she's an Omega."


"What? A lowly Omega?"

"Shh—keep your voice down. I heard Mr. Castillo is quite taken with her."

No matter how quietly they spoke, I could still hear them. My husband, Bruce Castillo, was the most powerful Alpha in our werewolf clan, while I was just a weak Omega.


I was born into an ordinary Omega family. After my mother passed away, my father remarried and had a daughter with my stepmother. From that day forward, I became the forgotten child.

But I wasn't useless. My golden hair caught everyone's eye, and I possessed a rare talent for jewelry design.


However, my stepmother and stepsister were jealous of me. They stole my design plans and sold them without giving me a penny. They even tried to force me to marry a wealthy old merchant who only wanted my body.

I begged my father for help, but he turned away with cold indifference.

Ever since my mother died, I had bent over backwards trying to please these people, desperate for their approval. And this was how they repaid me—by sacrificing my future!

Driven by anger and resentment, I fled from home, but was quickly discovered by the businessman and my family.

It was a night of torrential rain. I ran until my lungs burned, my clothes soaked and covered in mud, looking utterly disheveled. The businessman had paid good money for me, and he wasn't about to let his investment escape. He pursued me relentlessly through the downpour.

That's when I ducked into a narrow alley and met Bruce.

Bruce was leaning against the brick wall, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. The fading twilight cast an eerie glow on his tall figure, making his crimson eyes gleam in the darkness.

I'll never forget that scene: his raven-black hair seemed to absorb the very darkness around him, while his eyes emanated an alluring sense of danger.

He turned to look at me, and I immediately rushed forward as if grasping at a lifeline. "Please help me."

He flicked away his cigarette, the ember tracing a glowing arc in the darkness. With predatory interest, he stalked toward me, looking down with those burning eyes. "Help? What's in it for me?"

I clenched my fists and met his gaze head-on. "If you help me escape, I'll do anything for you. Anything."

He lifted my rain-soaked hair with his long fingers, his gaze boring into mine with frightening intensity.

I knew that look—raw, unfiltered desire. My heart raced with fear. Had I escaped one predator only to fall into the clutches of another?

"Give me one night," he spoke, his voice a seductive purr, "then I'll help you."

I bit my lip. In that desperate moment, I had no choice but to gamble. Rising on my tiptoes, I pressed my lips against his.

It was an unforgettable kiss. I pressed against him boldly, feeling his body shudder with unexpected response.

But my control was short-lived. In one swift move, he pressed me against the cold brick wall, his kiss turning dominant as his tongue invaded my mouth.

Bruce's scent—wild and primal—made my blood boil. I couldn't help but surrender to it. My knees buckled, and I collapsed against his hard chest.

One hand gripped my waist while the other cradled the back of my head, holding me in place as he took what he wanted. When he finally pulled away, satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. Without a word, he scooped me into his arms and carried me toward a sleek black car.

Cradled against his chest, I looked up at his face, my heart thundering against my ribs. It was probably from that moment that I fell in love with him.