Morning arrived slowly, painting the sky in shades of soft gold. Birds chirped from the tall pines surrounding the Bloodfang Pack, and a faint breeze carried the scent of early dew. It should have been a peaceful start to the day.
But Omeira's peace never lasted long where Lila was involved.
She stood in the pack kitchen, quietly washing the cup she used for tea. The omega quarters were always busiest in the morning—clattering pots, murmured conversations, the smell of baked bread filling the air.
A few omegas glanced at her now and then—not with ridicule like in the past, but with something closer to curiosity. Last night's events had reached even the kitchen.
They saw her dodge Lila's wine spill.
They saw Kael looking at her differently.
They saw her shift from a timid shadow to something more composed.
Whispers traveled quickly in packs.
"Is that Omeira?"
"She seems… calmer today."
"You saw how she moved yesterday…"
Omeira ignored the whispers. She had more important things to think about.
She wiped her hands with a towel and turned to leave the kitchen.
That's when the air changed.
Lila walked in, dressed in a pale pink gown, hair perfectly styled as always. But her smile—too sharp, too forced—carried the weight of humiliation from yesterday.
Several omegas turned to look at her. The red stain on her silver dress was still a topic of gossip, and Lila knew it. She kept her chin high, pretending she didn't see the stares.
Her gaze locked onto Omeira instantly.
"Sister," she said sweetly. "A word."
Omeira didn't react. "I'm busy."
Lila blinked, thrown off by the bluntness. "Busy? Doing what? Standing?"
Omeira walked past her. Lila grabbed her wrist.
Not hard enough to hurt—just enough to insist.
"Don't you dare walk away from me," Lila hissed under her breath. "Not after what happened yesterday."
Omeira slowly turned her head toward her, eyes calm, unbothered.
"Let go," she said.
Lila scoffed. "What's with this attitude? You avoided my spill yesterday—don't think I didn't see you move. You embarrassed me."
"You embarrassed yourself," Omeira replied softly. "Next time, don't raise the pitcher so high."
A few omegas nearby paused, listening.
Lila's face reddened. She lowered her voice. "You think you're smart now? Acting bold because Kael looked at you?"
Omeira lifted a brow. "I don't care who looked at me."
Lila stepped closer, her eyes darkening. "Listen carefully, Omeira. You've been invisible your whole life. Don't confuse a lucky moment with importance. You are an omega. Weak. Forgettable."
In her past life, those words would have shattered her.
Now?
They barely scratched her surface.
Omeira leaned slightly closer, voice quiet but sharp enough to cut clean through Lila's arrogance.
"Then why," she whispered, "are you the one who's trembling?"
Lila froze.
Her fingers twitched around Omeira's wrist. Her breath hitched. Because she realized—really realized—that Omeira wasn't afraid. Not even a little.
Omeira gently pulled her wrist free and turned away.
But before she stepped out of the kitchen, she paused.
Her voice carried clearly—soft, but with a weight that settled heavy on Lila's shoulders.
"Sister… stop trying to ruin me or I'll stop pretending not to notice."
The omegas nearby stiffened, glancing between the two sisters with wide eyes.
It wasn't a threat.
It was a warning.
A quiet one.
A dangerous one.
Lila swallowed hard, her perfect smile cracking.
Omeira walked out of the kitchen without looking back.
---
The moment the door swung closed behind Omeira, Lila's facade crumbled. She gripped the counter with shaking hands, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
What had happened to her sister?
Why wasn't she scared?
Why wasn't she crying?
Why did she look so… confident?
A flicker of fear crept into Lila's chest.
"No," she whispered to herself. "No. She's still the same weak little nothing. She's just pretending."
But even as she said it, doubt gnawed at her spine.
Because Omeira didn't look like she was pretending.
She looked like someone who knew something Lila didn't.
---
Outside, Omeira walked through the pack grounds with a sense of freedom she hadn't felt in either life. The trees stood tall and ancient around her, their leaves whispering in the breeze.
Every path she took felt like rewriting the past.
She remembered how easily Lila and others manipulated her before. How fragile she once was. How silent she stayed while they crushed her spirit piece by piece.
Those days were gone.
She would not let history repeat itself.
She paused when she reached the training grounds. Warriors were sparring, their grunts echoing in the air. She had once avoided this place—fear of judgment, fear of Kael, fear of being weak.
Now?
She stepped forward.
Every day she trained in secret in her past life, every lesson she learned through blood and tears… she would use it now.
Because the girl she once was had died.
And the one standing here now had revenge in her bones.
As she walked by, several warriors glanced up in surprise. Omegas didn't walk through the training grounds unless ordered to. But Omeira simply ignored them and moved to an empty corner.
She began stretching—calmly, quietly—and even that drew attention.
Someone whispered, "Is that… Omeira? What is she doing here?"
Another mumbled, "She looks different."
Omeira pretended not to hear.
But she did feel something else—something heavy, warm, and unmistakable.
A presence behind her.
Kael.
She didn't turn, but her body recognized the energy. His wolf was strong, dominant, impossible to miss. Warriors straightened as he approached, bowing slightly.
Kael's footsteps stopped a few feet from her.
"You're here," he said, voice low.
She didn't answer.
Kael studied her silently. "Training grounds aren't for omegas."
"I know."
"But you're here."
"I am."
Kael's jaw clenched. "Why?"
Omeira straightened and finally faced him. Her eyes were clear, steady, without fear.
"To get stronger."
Kael's brows drew together. "Why the sudden interest in strength?"
"I don't want to be weak anymore."
Kael opened his mouth—then closed it again, unusually lost for words.
He took a step closer, his eyes scanning her face.
Something in her had changed. He could feel it more clearly now than yesterday. It wasn't just confidence. It was something deeper. Something he couldn't name.
"You're not yourself," he said.
Omeira met his gaze. "Or maybe I've finally become myself."
Kael… actually paused.
Even the warriors around them stopped training for a moment, shocked by her boldness.
Kael's chest tightened. His wolf growled inside him, restless—drawn to something it didn't understand.
Her voice, her eyes, her aura… nothing matched the weak omega he knew.
"What happened to you?" he asked softly.
Omeira walked past him without answering.
But as she did, she said something low—quiet enough for only him to hear.
"Not everything is yours to know, Alpha."
Kael turned slowly to watch her walk away, confusion and frustration tightening in his chest.
His wolf snapped at him, urging him to follow, to understand, to get closer.
Kael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
Omeira Grey was becoming a problem.
A problem he couldn't look away from.