Penny POV
The wine pitcher trembles in my grip as I approach the table where my three executioners feast.
Ashen Wolfe sits at Lycen's right, but he's not the feral creature I remember from my death. His silver hair is neatly braided, his golden eyes alert and intelligent. No binding tattoos mark his skin yet. He laughs at something Lycen says, the sound rich and warm.
He is still sane.
"More wine, Alpha?" I asked as I kept my voice steady, eyes downcast.
"Finally." Kael Dren extends his goblet without looking at me. His honey-brown hair catches the torchlight, and his green eyes hold no recognition. To him, I'm just another faceless Omega. "Try not to spill it everywhere like the last girl."
The same voice that whispered promises of love in my ear. The same hands that held me close before shoving me toward the executioner's block.
Flashback to 3 years after
The silver blade slides between my ribs with a wet sound.
"Any last words, Omega?" Lycen's voice carries no emotion. His steel-gray eyes are empty as he twists the ceremonial knife deeper.
I couldn't speak as blood bubbles up my throat, spilling over my lips. The crowd watches in silence from the viewing balconies. No one speaks for me. No one protests.
Kael stands to Lycen's left, green eyes fixed on the stone floor. His hands shake, but he doesn't move to help me. The coward who once whispered promises in my ear won't even look at my face.
"She betrayed us all," Luna Zoraya declares from her throne. "Let this be a warning to any who would sell pack secrets to our enemies."
But I didn't. I never betrayed anyone.
The blade finds my heart.
Pain explodes through my chest as darkness swallows me whole. My last thought is of Ashen, chained in the dungeons below. I failed him. I failed everyone.
Present
I pour the wine with steady hands, muscle memory guiding me through the motions I've done a thousand times. The System interface hovers at the edge of my vision, tracking my biometrics.
STRESS LEVELS: ELEVATED
Emotional trauma detected. Converting to power cache.+2 Power Points earned
"You're new," Lycen says suddenly.
My blood freezes. "No, Alpha. I've served here for"
"Eight years." His gray eyes fix on me with uncomfortable intensity. "But you're different tonight."
"I'm sorry if I seemed"
"I didn't say it was bad." He takes a long drink, studying me over the rim. "What's your name?"
"Penny, Alpha."
"Penny." He tests the name like he's memorizing it. "You have unusual eyes. Almost amber."The same observation he made the night before my execution. The same tone of voice. But this time, I'm ready.
"Thank you, Alpha."
"Don't let it go to your head, Omega." Kael's voice cuts through the moment. "Beauty fades. Usefulness lasts longer."
Ashen snorts. "Speak for yourself, politician. Some of us appreciate beauty for its own sake."
"Beauty is a luxury," Lycen says quietly. "Luxury makes you weak."
"Everything makes you weak according to you." Ashen's golden eyes dance with mischief. "Food, sleep, companionship"
"Survival requires sacrifice." Lycen's tone drops to Alpha command. "You'd do well to remember that."
The conversation continues around me, but I'm not really listening. The System continues its quiet commentary in my vision.
TARGET ANALYSIS COMPLETE
Lycen Vael: Emotional suppression masks deep trauma. Exploit through vulnerability.
Ashen Wolfe: Noble nature conflicts with pack demands. Corruption point identified.
Kael Dren: Ambitious coward. Manipulate through fear and desire.
I finish serving and step back, but Lycen's voice stops me.
"Wait."
My heart hammers against my ribs. "Yes, Alpha?"
"Look at me."
I meet his steel-gray gaze directly. This time, I don't flinch or look away. Something flickers in his expression surprise, maybe interest.
"Curious," he murmurs. "Most Omegas can't hold an Alpha's stare."
"Maybe I'm not most Omegas." The words slip out before I can stop them. It is dangerous but the system hums with approval.
FIRST IMPRESSION: SUCCESSFUL
Target intrigued. Psychological hook established.
+5 Power Points earned
Lycen's lips curve into something that might be a smile. "No. I don't think you are."
A commotion at the hall's entrance saves me from responding. Luna Zoraya enters with her usual dramatic flair, her silver-streaked hair gleaming in the torchlight. The entire hall falls silent and rises to greet the pack's mother.
"Sit," she commands, her voice carrying the weight of absolute authority. "I have news."
I fade back into the shadows with the other servants, but I can feel eyes on me. When I glance up, all three Alphas are watching me with new interest.
The System chimes softly in my mind.
MISSION COMPLETESurvival achieved. Targets identified and engaged.Tutorial mode unlocked
WARNING: Accelerated timeline detected. Events are changing.
My blood runs cold. Changing how? What did I do differently?
Luna Zoraya's voice cuts through my panic. "The Council has made a decision about the Omega breeding program. New selections will be made tomorrow."
The hall erupts in whispers as my knees nearly buckle.
The breeding program. That's not supposed to happen for another six months.
I'm changing things just by being here. The timeline is accelerating.
URGENT SYSTEM UPDATE
Timeline deviation: 67%
probability of early discovery
New mission parameters loading...
Survival window: CRITICALLY REDUCED
Luna Zoraya's eyes sweep the hall and land directly on me.
"Beginning with you."