Chapter 4 VILLAINISING THE OMEGA

YVAINE

I had taken my shame with me last night when I eventually left the laundry room. I guess it was a good thing it was late and I didn’t have to deal with any other person after having been used by my mate again and left on my ass. But I don’t think I have anyone to blame for my own foolishness at this point.

It was foolish of me to even have the slightest sliver of hope that maybe—just once—what we did last night meant something to him.

I slipped out of bed and got dressed in no time. The mark Roan had left wasn’t visible, but it hurt nonetheless, like the ache in my heart. I hated that he had marked me even though it wouldn’t be visible for anyone to see since it wasn’t done properly through the mating rites. But if I were to ever leave this pack, it would make it difficult for another alpha to imprint on me or claim me.

There was a strange feeling in the air as I made my way to the pack house, but I shrugged it off. It was too quiet, which shouldn’t be unusual given how early it was, but the packhouse was usually buzzing with people around this time. Gamma Luca should be somewhere down the hall barking orders, but he wasn’t there.

My skin pricked as I padded down the hall barefooted, but I shook it off as I turned into the corridor and then the kitchen, but it was empty as well. I was on my way out when I found Elle by the door.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“Alpha called the enforcers at dawn for a meeting,” she replied without sparing me a glance.

A frown etched on my face. “Why?”

She finally turned to look at me, and something felt off, but she shrugged as she answered. “I’m not sure, but I think it’s something about a traitor or someone feeding information to rogues.” She eyed me warily for a few seconds. “You probably shouldn’t be here.” She added, causing my frown to deepen.

“Why? What does that have to do with me?”

Shrugging as she turned to leave. “Just saying,” she mumbled before walking out of sight.

I wasn’t sure what to make of what just happened but decided I wasn’t going to waste my time thinking about it. Pack-related issues weren’t really my cup of tea. My duty here was to run errands for everyone and take beatings until I’m broken. If someone was conniving with rogue wolves, that was none of my business.

I took the stairs two at a time as I made my way towards Roan’s wing of the pack house. The first course of action each morning was to clean his room. I usually didn’t have to knock because he was mostly out of the pack house by this time of the morning, either training or running patrol.

I opened the door and walked in, ready to get around to cleaning. As I made my way through the living room to the bedroom, I stopped in my tracks when a voice filtered through the slightly opened bedroom door.

“Are you certain she doesn’t suspect a thing?” a gruff voice asked. I did a double take. I knew that voice.

That was Roan’s friend and future enforcer.

“She’s too stupid to suspect anything. She was so easy last night; she probably thought it meant something.” Roan replied in that cold, calculating voice I was already used to.

“And you don’t think there might be another way to go about this? That doesn’t have to do with villainising the omega?” Malik asked.

My breath turned to stone in my lungs as I tried to make sense of what they were talking about. It was obvious at this point that the person they were talking about was me, but what did I do? What was Roan planning?

“No, that runt is as tough as a nail. This is the only way to get rid of her without raising questions. Dad doesn’t care about what I do as long as I’m not killing pack members. He hasn’t pressured me to claim her as my mate, which only confirmed what I already know. He doesn’t want her as the next Luna. She’s a liability, and the elders are starting to question why I haven’t claimed her. It is better to get rid of her now before she starts growing wings.”

My knees buckled from the force of shock that hit me. Get rid of me? Roan was planning to get rid of me?

“I doubt the council won’t investigate,” Malik voiced. Which, of course, was right.

“Not as long as they believe she was the one selling information to the rogues. I mean, that doesn’t need much convincing. Dad already believes it, and she’s already been filed as a rogue. The transfer will be done quietly.”

My legs trembled, and I stumbled back, falling into something behind me, and the noise rang through the room. I picked myself up as the door to Roan’s room opened, his eyes widening comically as they landed on me.

“Fucking rat. You were eavesdropping,” he sneered, coming out of the room towards me.

Despite the million questions playing in my head, I stood and bolted out of the room. Tears clouded my eyes as I sprinted down the hallway.

“Fuck! We need to get her before she runs away.” I could hear Roan curse behind me as I sprinted down the stairs without looking.

I knew he was using me all this while, but to go this far? Goddess, it was difficult for me to wrap my head around what I had heard as I ran. He framed me? He wanted to transfer me? To where? And they’ve already registered me as a rogue? What was last night, then? Goodbye sex?

Then why the fuck did he mark me?

Tears streamed down my face as I replayed all the times I’d let him use my body ever since we found out we were mates. All the times I’d let myself be stupid enough to think he might change, yet, all the while, he was busy planning how to get rid of me?

The betrayal stung, and my heart caved in from the pain. I almost made it to the entrance of the pack house when a force slammed into me from behind. It knocked me into the ground, and my head hit the floor with a loud smack minutes before my vision darkened and I blacked out.