Slut!

The word echoed in Olivia’s ears  as a dagger stab in her heart, slicing through the fragile veneer she tried to maintain. Her pulse thudded with pain and humiliation. I’m not lying—I am his mate… We are soulmates. How could he do something like this to me?

Desperation curled in her chest, suffocating and raw. Please, Alex, let me go, or stop him! It’s so painful… I can't take it anymore. My wolf is dying inside me… Alex, please let me go.

Each plea sounded weaker, her spirit tattered, fraying at its edges.

Fragments of her past life fluttered behind her eyes. Her hand trembled visibly as she brought the cigarette to her lips, the bitter smoke swirling around her like regret. She inhaled, hoping the ritual would steady her, but the ache remained—a constant, gnawing companion.

Olivia knew she would never truly forget what Marcus had done to her. The betrayal burned in her soul, a wound refusing to heal no matter how many years passed.

As she drew a shaky breath, her gaze drifted to the man sleeping on the bed across the room. He lay peaceful, oblivious to the storm roaring inside her. Heat rushed to her cheeks as memories from a few hours ago surfaced—passion and vulnerability mingling together. A bashful smile tugged at her lips, even as guilt fluttered beneath her skin.

When they’d met, he was innocent—a virgin, uncertain and shy. Now, he knew her every secret, every contour of her body, as if he’d spent a lifetime memorizing them. Yet, the world remained dangerous. Shadows lingered, threatening all she cared for. Olivia felt the weight of her lineage pressing down—what if he learned she belonged to a clan despised by werewolves and humans alike?

Her doubts gnawed at her. Would he recoil in disgust? She remembered vividly the day she’d admitted to being an omega werewolf. He hadn't believed her then—had accused her of spinning stories to push him away.

That evening replayed with haunting clarity.

Seven years ago, longing to escape the reality of her past, she’d stepped into the world of humans.

Her first act of rebellion against loneliness was simple: enrolling in St. Xavier Patterson College for Administration and Management.

The building towered above her, promising a future, perhaps even redemption.

Lost in the chattering crowd one sunlit afternoon, Olivia finished her Management class. Her thoughts drifted to the apartment she shared with two friends—a meager comfort, but it was home.

She exited the classroom, yet determined. Olivia didn’t fight; she recognized Nathan’s touch, felt the urgency beneath it. He guided her into a deserted classroom, closing the door with a sharp click that sealed them from the world.

Nathan faced her, his body blocking escape, eyes red-rimmed with unshed tears. His breath shuddered as he tried to compose himself, but his vulnerability was all too clear.

“You’re getting bolder by the day, Johnathan,” Olivia managed, her tone wavering. She attempted to push him away, her hands dwarfed by his strength. He wouldn’t release her—instead, he pinned her wrists above her head, leaving her helpless both physically and emotionally.

“Why, Lia? Why are you doing this to me?” The words tumbled out, fractured and urgent. “You’ve ignored me for two weeks, like I’m some disease. I’m going insane—I can’t even hold onto my sanity.”

Nathan’s voice cracked as emotion overwhelmed him. “It’s not fair, Lia. Ever since I told you how I feel, you’ve put up walls between us. I’m not asking you to love me back, not even a little. But we shared something special—friendship. I don’t want to lose that.”

He broke, tears streaming down his cheeks. Olivia saw not weakness, but raw devotion. He masqueraded as strong, but in her presence, his defenses crumbled.

She longed to comfort him. Nathan was her anchor—the one who had pulled her out of depression, who had helped her rebuild the self-esteem she’d thought lost forever. He called her his hero, never realizing she relied on him just as fiercely.

But secrets formed walls between them. For two agonizing weeks, she kept her distance, hoping for clarity—or at least the courage to choose.

In that silent, charged moment, Olivia made her decision.

“We can’t be together, Nathan. We’re not from the same world. You can’t even imagine who I am.” Her confession was quiet, but each syllable rang with finality.

Nathan’s face twisted in confusion. “What do you mean, ‘not from the same world’?” His voice was gentle—a lifeline she feared to grasp.

He finally released her wrists. Olivia rubbed her aching skin, biting her lower lip. “I mean… I’m not human.” The secret tumbled from her lips, barely audible, but it carried the weight of years.

He blinked. “What are you then—an alien?” He sounded incredulous, grasping at explanations she could scarcely believe herself sometimes.

She suppressed a laugh—humans could imagine creatures from other planets but remained blind to the supernatural woven into their own world. How ignorant humans could be, she thought bitterly.

“No, not an alien. A werewolf—an omega,” Olivia stated firmly, owning the truth for the first time.

She poured her story out, a confession spanning twenty years. Nathan listened, eyes wide and mouth agape. By the time she finished, darkness had blanketed the world. Olivia glanced out the window, realizing she’d shed her burden at last. Relief surged through her—a forbidden freedom.

Nathan remained silent, unmoving, his shock making him a statue. She sensed his rejection and felt her heart fracture.

Tears burned her eyes, blurring each step as she walked. She barely noticed the college gates rush past, her hand raised to hail a taxi—until she heard his voice behind her.

“You don’t have to make up a lie, Olivia. If you don’t like me, fine. But don’t pretend—it hurts even more,” he said, voice tinged with frustration.

He didn’t believe her. Olivia stared, speechless, as Nathan approached.

He insisted she join him in the parking lot and unlocked his car for her. “It’s late. Let me take you home,” he offered, emotion hidden behind cold formality. She accepted silently, as she’d always done.

The car’s headlights painted the silence between them. When they reached her building, Olivia blurted out the question burning inside her. “Will you go out with me, Nathan?”

His face flickered with hope beneath careful restraint. “Is this a date?” he asked quietly.

“We’ll decide tomorrow—after you know everything. Meet me at Carter’s old library at four p.m.,” Olivia replied, masking her anxiety with a wry smile. She climbed from the car, walking toward her apartment with uncertainty thrumming in her heart.

Her pulse raced, equal parts hope and fear, uncertain whether her confession was wise. Yet she knew: if there was any chance for their future, honesty was the only path.

Tomorrow, she would tell Nathan about her past—about Marcus Campbell—and the secrets that still haunted her.

****************