Three Years Ago... ISABELLA "Are you certain you wish to end the pregnancy? With a body as delicate as yours, it could take a serious toll upon you. Let us go over the risks once more," the physician said, adjusting his spectacles before looking back at me. I was certain he could scent my distress. I drew in a shaky breath. "I know the risks." My gaze fell to my trembling fingers. "I have made my decision," I said, forcing the words past the lump in my throat. "It must be done." The physician studied me for a moment before finally nodding. "Very well. The attendants shall prepare you." I was led into a small chamber, where I changed into the plain hospital gown that had been provided for me. When I stepped out, my eyes immediately fell upon my stomach. It was still flat, barely bearing any sign that a life was growing within me. My trembling hand slowly settled over it. The supposed father of this child has no knowledge that I am about to end the pregnancy. And I doubt he would care even if he knew. An Omega's pregnancy was sacred. So was the pup growing within them. An Omega's body was naturally fashioned to protect and nurture the life it carried. But mine was doing the opposite. My body was rejecting the pregnancy. Gestational rejection. It had begun the moment my Omega detected the lingering scent of another female's perfume upon the man she believed to be her mate. My Omega had sensed what I had been desperately trying to deny. Something was wrong. I pressed my palm against my stomach one final time and closed my eyes. Then I drew a deep breath. I reached for the door handle. My fingers curled around it. I turned it. The door opened without a sound. I stepped out. Three Years Later... "Boss Isa! Table six has requested Asta Black wine and red cheese, and the kitchen is running short of onions!" Renley threw his hands into the air, his face twisted with frustration. "Damn these suppliers! I swear, I shall ride down to their farm myself and dig those onions from the earth. They were meant to deliver them yesterday!" I groaned. A headache was already beginning to form. Renley was the finest at what he did, but whenever matters failed to unfold according to plan, he became exceedingly restless and irritable. He was my general steward and my closest friend. He was also a male Omega-one of the rarest in the region. I allowed my gaze to wander across the supper house. The evening patrons had begun to settle in, filling the hall with the gentle clatter of cutlery and the murmur of conversation. Warm lanterns cast a welcoming glow over the tables, giving the supper house the comfortable atmosphere I had worked so hard to create. Everything looked as I desired. Peaceful. Normal. My eyes returned to Renley. He was the anchor of this place, the one who somehow kept everything from falling into disarray whenever I was not present. In a world where Alphas ruled the great houses, commanded armies, governed territories, and held the highest seats of power, Betas were regarded as the balanced ones, while Omegas were expected to live within the boundaries society had drawn for them. Renley was considered something of a glitch. A male Omega. Rare. Unusual. And, to some, unacceptable. But within my supper house, none of that mattered. Renley was simply Renley. Three years ago, I never would have imagined that someone like him would become such an important part of my life. To everyone else, Belda's Home belonged to me. But only I knew that without Renley, this place likely would not still be standing. "Stop staring at me. Table six shall not serve itself!" Renley clapped his hands. I blinked and looked at him. "You do remember that I am the mistress of this establishment, do you not?" "Nobody cares." He rolled his eyes. "Besides, you are the one who insisted that I keep order and granted me leave even during the busiest weekends, claiming that you wished to actually enjoy the fruits of your investment." A playful smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. I sighed. "Fair point." I took up a serving tray and made my way toward table six. The night stretched on. Patrons came and went, filling the supper house with laughter, conversation, and the occasional clatter of dishes. After serving a family who had gathered to celebrate a birthday, I returned to the counter and leaned against it, finally allowing my weary body a moment of rest. I had barely settled when something changed. The atmosphere shifted. I lifted my head. A man stood by the entrance. My eyes instinctively followed him as he stepped into the supper house. There was something about his presence that caused the room to grow quieter. Not because he demanded attention. It simply followed him. He was tall-towering over most of those around him-with broad shoulders and an imposing frame. His dark garments were impeccably tailored, every detail about him proclaiming wealth and authority. Then I recognized him. Adrain Pierce. A Prime Alpha. A man whose wealth could rival that of every soul seated within the supper house combined. The man behind the vast Pierce Enterprises, one of the most powerful enterprises in the territory, whose influence stretched far beyond its borders. And somehow, that man was standing inside my supper house. My eyes widened. Oh, Goddess.

ADRAIN PIERCE The moment I stepped inside Belda's Home, eyes followed me. The establishment was exactly as the reviews had described-warm lighting, polished wooden tables, quiet music, and an atmosphere that managed to feel both elegant and comfortable. It wasn't the kind of establishment I frequented. But Lord Kain of Northvale House, with whom Pierce House had an ongoing trade arrangement, had requested that our meeting be held here. I preferred the quiet of my private chambers or the grand dining halls reserved for nobles-places where conversations remained discreet and every detail could be arranged according to my preference. But the matter concerning Northvale was too important to be dismissed simply because of the choice of a supper house. For months, Pierce House had been negotiating for a vast stretch of land on the eastern edge of the territory. The land was strategically positioned along one of the oldest trade roads, making it valuable for the expansion of our holdings. Northvale House possessed the rights to it. If I secured them, Pierce House could begin construction of a new commercial quarter-residences for the wealthy, merchant halls, healing houses, and several establishments that would bring considerable wealth to the territory. As I crossed the threshold, conversations gradually faded. That was nothing unusual. My presence often had that effect. Being a Prime Alpha from one of the oldest families came with certain privileges. It also ensured that I was rarely permitted to enter a room unnoticed. I ignored the curious glances and searched the crowded hall for Lord Kain. He was nowhere in sight. My jaw tightened. Just then, something-or rather, someone-caught my attention. A woman stood behind the long wooden counter at the far end of the hall. She was looking directly at me. Our eyes met. For a few seconds, neither of us moved. Then she blinked and lowered her gaze. As though remembering herself, she stepped out from behind the counter and walked towards me. ISABELLA Adrian Pierce's arrival had caught me completely off guard. I had heard his name spoken countless times, but seeing him in person was an entirely different matter. He was far more imposing than I had imagined. His dark gaze had moved across the dining hall before settling on me. Just for a few seconds. But somehow, those few seconds had been enough to make me forget myself. Isabella, get yourself together. He was a guest. A very powerful guest, perhaps, but still a guest. I drew a slow breath, straightened my shoulders, and stepped forward. I crossed the dining hall, weaving between the tables as servants carried platters of food and goblets of wine to waiting patrons. The closer I came, the more aware I became of his presence. His aura was difficult to ignore. I stopped a few steps away from him. "Lord Pierce." His gaze lifted to mine. He said nothing, his expression unreadable. "I am Isabella, the owner of Belda's Home." I offered him a polite smile. "Welcome to Belda's Home. I hope your journey here was pleasant." He gave me a curt nod in response, his attention soon returning to the hall. "Are you waiting for someone?" I asked. His gaze returned to me. "Lord Kain of Northvale." I nodded politely. Before I could say anything else, a familiar figure approached from the direction of the inner chambers. Lord Kain's right-hand man. He stopped before us and bowed respectfully. "Lord Pierce. Lord Kain has been expecting you." Adrian gave a slight nod. The man turned towards the inner corridor. "If you would follow me." Adrian moved to follow him. For some reason, I glanced after them. Our eyes met one last time before he turned away. I quickly lowered my gaze. I didn't know why I had looked back. Perhaps it was simply curiosity. Or perhaps there was something about Lord Adrian Pierce that made it difficult not to notice him. I dismissed the thought and returned to my duties. ADRAIN PIERCE I followed Lord Kain's right-hand man through the establishment. The moment I stepped into the quieter corridor leading toward the private chambers, the sounds of the dining hall gradually faded behind me. Yet my mind remained strangely occupied. With her. Isabella. I frowned. It was absurd. I had spoken to hundreds of people today-nobles, merchants, advisers, guards. Why was I thinking about her? Perhaps it was because something about her had been unusual. I had sensed the presence of almost every beast in the establishment the moment I entered. It was instinctive. A Prime Alpha did not need to consciously search for them. Yet hers- Nothing. I had felt no beast from her. For someone who carried herself as an ordinary Omega, that was strange. Very strange. The right-hand man stopped before a set of wooden doors. "Lord Kain is inside." He opened the door and stepped aside. I entered. Lord Kain was seated at the far end of the private dining chamber. His attention immediately shifted towards me. "Lord Pierce." "Lord Northvale." We exchanged the customary nod. He gestured towards the chair opposite him. "Please, sit." I took my seat. The matter before us left little room for pleasantries. Lord Kain reached for the scroll resting beside him. "I trust you have had time to consider our previous terms." "I have." "And?" I placed my own scroll on the table. "I am prepared to make a revised offer." His brows lifted slightly. "Then perhaps we can finally put this matter to rest." A faint smile touched his lips. "I certainly hope so." The negotiation began. We discussed the price of the land, the rights to the eastern trade road, construction boundaries, and the portion of revenue Northvale House would receive once the new commercial quarter was established. Neither of us was willing to give ground easily. But after several rounds of discussion, we began to reach terms acceptable to both houses. Still, despite my attention being on the negotiation, my thoughts occasionally drifted back to the woman in the dining hall. Isabella. I couldn't understand why. There was nothing remarkable about our brief exchange. Yet there had been something about her. Something I couldn't identify. And most of all, I could not understand why I could not sense her beast.

ADRAIN PIERCE I kept running. I must have been running for hours-first in my human form, then shifting into my beast. My hind legs pounded through the woods with brutal speed. Heavy rain soaked through my fur and chilled me to the bone, but the freezing weather did nothing to cool the fire in my blood. For an entire week, my thoughts had drifted back to that dinner. I had convinced myself the memory of that female would fade, but like a hunter stalking its prey, the thought of her kept hunting me instead. I had even considered seeing a mind healer, wondering if I had been bewitched. My beast was no better. The fact that we couldn't perceive her beast disoriented him completely. He was practically clawing at my ribs, desperate to return to the dinner, pull her close, and breathe in her scent until he could finally sense what lay beneath. *The thought alone is absurd. I growled beneath my breath and pushed myself harder, my feet guiding my path through muscle memory. I ran past familiar hunting grounds and crossed the Old Stone Bridge, where the trees grew thick enough to block out the moonlight. I had no destination in mind, yet somehow I found myself standing before the gates of the Valebrook estate. Lord Theron Valebrook-my oldest friend. Theron and I had known each other since we were pups, long before either of us inherited our titles or learned the heavy burdens that came with our names. Shifting back into my human form, I stepped onto the grounds. A servant immediately handed me a robe without a word, far too accustomed to my sudden, unannounced visits. I didn't bother asking where Theron was; I simply followed his scent straight to his private chambers. I pushed the door open and caught him in the act. He had a female pinned against the wall, her moans filling the quarters as he pulled back and drove into her again. "Oh gods," she gasped, gripping his arms. "Please, my Lord, fuck me..." "Theron, please," I cut in, my voice dry. "Lord Valebrook, don't you think you're a bit too old for all this?" Theron turned toward the door with a fierce glare. "What are you doing here?" he grunted, slipping out of the female before ordering her out. "Do not take your foul mood out on me," I said, walking past him straight to where he kept his ancient wines and pouring myself a glass. "How many has it been today?" He ignored me, heading straight for his closet to strip off his damp robe. "When are you going to stop being stubborn and go look for him?" I asked. "None of your business," he replied flatly, pulling a plain black robe from the lower rack and sliding it on. "You know no matter how many females you take to your quarters, none of them will ever be your mate," I said, my tone softening with genuine concern. "You're only torturing your own heart. Gods know the battles you're fighting daily." Theron let out an irritated sigh. "Don't give me that lecture about mates. I am not you, Adrain Pierce-I don't refuse to bed anyone who isn't my fated match." "That's a very nice way to dodge the point, Lord Valebrook. You've never told me the full story of what happened five years ago, but from everything I know, you're the one to blame. Still, I'm not here to trade insults. All I'm saying is go search for your mate. Maybe if you kneel down and beg, he might actually forgive you." Theron rolled his eyes, a shadowed bitter look crossing his face. "That's assuming he even wants anything to do with me. You think I haven't tried? Five years ago, I tried reaching out to him twice, but he kept moving. I'd hate myself if I became the reason he spends his life running like a criminal." "And you think the solution to that is taking whores in your quarters every single day?" I challenged. "Five years is a long time. People change, situations change. Just give the word and I will send my own people out looking for him." "You will do no such thing," he snapped, heading for the exit. I followed him into the corridor and threw an arm across his shoulder. "Fine! I'll drop it for today. But know this: if things get worse, with or without your consent, I will hunt him down. I don't care if he's willing or not-I will drag him back to this estate myself." Theron stopped to study my face, searching for any sign of a joke. But he, of all people, knew that Adrain Pierce didn't make idle threats. A small, breathless chuckle escaped him. "I didn't know you loved me this much." I shoved his shoulder, giving him a look of pure disgust. "I know no such thing." "So what actually brought you here?" Theron asked, turning down the corridor. "Obviously you didn't run all this way just to dissect my pathetic love life." The reminder brought a deep scowl back to my face. For a few brief minutes, I had actually managed to forget the face that had been taunting my thoughts for an entire week. "Ah, my friend," Theron said, catching my expression. "I can tell that scowl isn't about business. Spill it. What's got you so twisted up?" I hesitated, contemplating whether to share it, before finally exhaling. "At the meeting with Lord Northvale a week ago..." "What did that old, vile man do now?" Theron interrupted. "Let me finish," I groaned. "I met someone." As we walked, I recounted the entire strange encounter to him. Theron listened in silence until I finished, at which point a slow, wicked grin spread across his face. "So all this dramatic running is because you're interested in a female?" Theron laughed. "Well, it's about damn time. I was starting to think you were broken. What you need to do is invite her over, lose yourself in her sweet body, and everything will be fine." "Sometimes I wonder how we ever became friends," I muttered, shaking my head. "I never said I liked her. In fact, I hate the thought of her." "And those thoughts will clear right up the second you're buried in her," Theron laughed, thoroughly enjoying my misery. "I will do no such thing." I turned the corner into the stone courtyard that led toward his stables, Theron trailing closely on my heels. "So what are you going to do?" Theron asked, leaning against a post as I approached the stalls. I selected a tall black stallion, grabbing its reins and mounting the horse in one fluid motion. I adjusted the leather grip, staring down at my friend from the saddle. "Now," I said, checking the path ahead, "I go settle this myself."