Lyra

"Hiss—"

The sharp intake of breath escapes before I can stop it.

The needle pierces my fingertip for the eighth time.

I watch the blood bloom across white silk. My hands shake as I press my thumb against the wound, but I'm too late.

The damage is already done. Just like the damage Kyle did to my heart.

Eight. This number is nothing short of a curse.

Eight years of loving Kyle. Eight years of reshaping myself into someone worthy of standing beside an Alpha. Eight years of believing his promises were made of something stronger than words.

All of it, destroyed the moment my wolf awakened.

An omega.

Omegas could not become Luna. That was the rule. The law. A fate I had never been allowed to argue against.

And I was easily abandoned—as if those eight years we had together didn't matter.

I force myself to look at the dress spread across my lap—MY wedding dress.

The one Kyle and I chose together when the future still belonged to us.

"You look breathtaking," Kyle's voice had been soft against my ear, his hand warm on my back as the seamstress pinned the silk.

I'd laughed, trembling. "I can't believe this is really happening."

"Believe it." His fingers laced through mine. "In three months, you'll be my Luna. My wife. Nothing will change that."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing," he'd promised, pressing his lips to my temple. "I'm yours, Lyra. Forever."

Forever lasted until my wolf awakened.

What a fool I'd been.

Now I sit here, altering every seam and stitch, tailoring my dream to fit another woman's body.

The Alpha who once promised to stay by my side...will now stand beside his Luna.

Another drop of blood falls onto the fabric. I let out a laugh that sounds more like a sob caught in my throat.

"Careful bitch! What if you would ruin the wedding dress for the Luna?!"

The voice brought me to my senses, and I heard Cassie, one of the pack maids, standing over my shoulder.

Beside her, Mara smirks. "Tsk. What else can you expect from an orphan Omega? Some people are just better suited to the filth they came from."

Their laughter was sharp and filled with mockery. The other maids who were watching the show, giggle behind cupped palms and their eyes were glinting, clearly enjoying to see me in humiliation.

"Still dreaming about being the Alpha's Luna?" Cassie spat out a laugh. "Please. You should have seen yourself in the mirror. An Omega like you—the closest you'll ever get to him is cleaning his boots."

I paused from my needlework, looking at her in the eyes and let out a soft chuckle. "An Omega like me? You talk a lot for someone who folds the Alpha's sheets but will never lie in them."

Her face flushed and for a moment, I saw the fury and jealousy she was trying hard to hide beneath her taunting words.

"How dare a worthless Omega like you talk back! Don't forget whose wedding it is today—you're nothing but the woman he threw aside!"

I paused, feeling the sting in my chest but I swallowed it down, keeping my expression calm. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I've fallen far. But isn't it pathetic that even down here, I'm still higher than where you're reaching from?"

"You, bitch—" Just when she was about to raise her hands, it happened that Beta Darren had appeared.

"Enough," he coldly said, his sharp gaze fell to the pack maids then to Cassie whose hands were on the mid-air. "Get back to your chores. Now."

Although reluctant, they scattered, grumbling and even before Cassie left, she gave me a death glare while gritting her teeth as if she can't wait to crush me down.

I helplessly sighed and glance at Darren who was also looking at me. "You okay?"

I gave him a bitter smile as I showed him the wedding dress. "What do you think?"

Darren let out a heavy sigh and reached out to pat my head. "Kyle...fuck, how could he be so cruel? Making you sew a wedding dress for his Luna... you should've refused."

I let out a soft laugh, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Refuse the Alpha's order? You know that's something an Omega like me doesn't get to do."

"But—"

Before he could finish his words, the door to the sewing room burst open. Before I could ask if they are here to collect the wedding dress, when they barked already.

"Omega Lyra, the Alpha requests your presence."

My throat tightened. I wiped my bloodstained finger on the hem of my apron, trying to keep my voice steady. "Now?"

The guard nodded. "He said it's urgent. He wants to see you."

Something inside me faltered, as if my heart had forgotten how to beat for a moment. Even after everything, just hearing that he wanted to see me was enough to shake my walls that I slowly built piece by piece.

"Lyra..."

I looked at Darren who was looking at me with worry. I just nodded at him and gave him a reassuring smile.

I don't know why he still wants to see me. Was it not enough to make me suffer by making our dream wedding dress for his new Luna?

I followed the guard through the corridor of the Alpha's House. Every step echoed like a countdown. I could even hear the loud thump of my heart that is impossible for me to deny.

Upon arriving there the guard simply left me standing alone, in front of the familiar door that had contained a lot of memories in our time together.

I was about to raise my hand to knock on the door when the door swung open, and a hand caught my wrist. In one pull, I stumbled forward, crashing into his chest. The familiar scent of sandalwood enveloped me as e wrapped his arms around my waist.

Realizing how close we were, I tried to push him away, but his grip only tightened, refusing to let go.

"W-why...why did you call me here, Alpha?" The word felt heavy on my tongue, unfamiliar...distant. I couldn't even bring myself to meet his eyes—afraid that if I did, everything I'd been holding together would shatter.

I happen to see his brows furrowed and he caught my chin, forcing me to look at him... and my eyes fell onto the suit he was wearing.

I forced out a small smile. "You're getting married...congratulations."

He didn't answer.

When I finally dared to look up, his eyes weren't golden anymore—it was red. His aura was different from the Kyle I know.

I was about to speak when my lips had been caught by him. My eyes widened. I hurriedly pushed him away—this is wrong.

However, no matter how hard I tried to push him away, he still found his way back to restrain me.

I tried to turn away, but he hugged me from behind.

My breath hitched when I felt a cold moisture trailed on my neck that made me tremble.

"Stop—Kyle! Please..." I couldn't even recognize my voice no more. "...you are getting married."

However, he didn't listen. It was as if he had become deaf to my words and continue doing what he was going to do.

When he pushed me backward, my body reacted before my mind did. I tried to fight him, tried to push him away, but he only grabbed me tighter as he claimed my lips back again while his hands were roaming around my body, tearing my clothes as he bought me to his bed.

Realizing what he's going to do, I tried to push him away, to run away from here—but he grasped both of my hands and put it above my head as he restrained my legs with his thighs while his kisses slowly fell from my neck, to my bare skin.

"Please... don't do this..." I pleaded again, voice breaking but he never listened.

The next moment, I found myself giving in to his touch—his warmth, his scent—like we had slipped back into a time when he was still mine, and I was still his Luna.

I do not know how much time had passed, just that when the world finally settled, Kyle lay beside me, his breathing calm and steady as though nothing happened between us.

My throat tightened. Tears slipped down my cheeks. I felt so dirty of myself. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself, trembling. I wanted to leave, I wanted to disappear but my legs wouldn't move.

When I finally gathered the courage to stand, the doorknob turned.

The door flew open.

"Kyle, it's time for the wedding! What took you so long to prepare—" a voice shouted

I froze. In the doorway stood his parents — Alpha Marcus and Luna Helena — their faces etched with horror upon seeing such scene. Behind them, a woman in white.

Kyle's fiancée. The new Luna.

And she's wearing the wedding dress I made.

Her eyes went wide, her face draining of color as she froze in the doorway. Kyle lay peacefully beside me, his arm tangled with mine, while I sat frozen—barely able to breathe.

Shame burned through me as I clutched the sheets tighter.

"L-Let me explain..." My voice were hoarse as I tried to speak but the woman cried and hurriedly left while dragging the wedding dress.

"You slut! How dare you sleep with my son!" Kyle's mother, Helena, angrily cursed as she turned around and chased after Kyle's fiancee.

My feet moved before I could think, dragging me outside despite the dizziness clouding my head.

I had to explain. I had to make them understand—

But the moment I stepped onto the street, everything stopped.

Crash!

With that deafening roar, the woman in the wedding dress was hurled into the air.

The next second, she plummeted to the ground!

Her body lay lifeless, wrapped in the wedding dress I made... the same one that was supposed to symbolize love, now soaked in blood.

I stood rotted on my spot, in disbelief at what happened.

"NO!"

My whole body was trembling as I was listening to the scream and cries as they called her.

When Kyle's mother saw me, she wiped her tears and walked towards me. Before I could speak, the slap burning across my cheek.

Her voice broke into a snarl.

"You disgusting little slut! You killed her! You killed the Luna who was supposed to stand beside my son! You think sleeping with my son makes you his mate again? You're nothing but filth he used and threw away!"

I...I killed her?

N...No, I didn't...

I really... didn't...

I tried to speak, to explain—but the moment I saw the hatred in their eyes, the words died in my throat.

I shook my head and took a step forward, desperate to make them understand, but they stepped back—as if I were some kind of monster.

Helena's voice cut through the air like a whip. "Guards! Take this wretched Omega to the cells!"

As the guards stepped closer, my legs gave out beneath me.

I knew there was no escaping what was coming.