**Snow Pack Meadow**
“Hey! You...Omega!”
Amora froze mid-step. She knew that voice. Her stomach dropped.
Juliet glanced back. “Ignore him.”
But the guard was already closing the distance, boots crunching grass. Amora turned her face away. “Don’t look, Juliet. That’s the one I told you about.”
“The creep who tried to corner you last month?”
“Yeah.” Amora quickened her pace, heart hammering. “Let’s just go.”
Too late. A rough hand clamped around her wrist and yanked her backward.
“I’m talking to you, Omega,” he snarled. Before she could twist free, his palm cracked across her cheek—hard enough to make her ears ring.
Amora stumbled. Juliet gasped.
“Come with me.” He dragged her toward the tree line.
**Restroom (near the meadow edge)**
Amora hit the cold stone wall with a thud. Pain exploded in her shoulder.
The guard loomed over her, eyes raking down her body like she was meat. “How dare an Omega refuse me?” He traced a finger along her arm, admiring the unmarked skin. “It’s simple. Either I have you… or no man ever touches this pretty skin again.”
“Strip.”
“Please,” Amora whispered, voice cracking. “Have mercy.”
He laughed once—short, ugly—and drove a fist into her shoulder. She crumpled to the floor. Another blow to the opposite side. Stars burst behind her eyes.
“You think you can stop me?” He knelt, grabbed her chin, and forced his mouth against hers. His tongue shoved in. Tears burned down her cheeks. Her arms felt like lead; she couldn’t even push.
His hand slid lower, forcing its way inside her pants. Rough fingers found her clit, rubbing in slow, deliberate circles. Unwanted heat sparked against her will.
“So tight,” he murmured against her ear, pushing two fingers deeper, curling them. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
“Please…” Pain and humiliation choked her.
He pulled back just enough to unbuckle his belt. His cock sprang free.
Terror gave her one last surge. She snapped her knee up—hard—into his groin. He howled, doubling over. His fingers ripped free.
Amora scrambled up and ran—blind, sobbing, legs shaking.
“Get back here, you filthy Omega!”
She didn’t look back. Branches whipped her face. Footsteps thundered behind. He caught her by the hair, wrenched her around. Silver glinted in his hand—a blade.
Amora’s blood turned to ice. Silver. The one thing that could kill them slowly, poison the wolf inside.
“Please…” she begged, tears streaming. “Don’t.”
“You won’t let me have you?” He smiled, cruel. “Then I’ll ruin you first.”
The blade sliced into her upper arm. Hot pain seared through muscle. Blood welled instantly. Amora screamed. Inside her mind, Ora—her wolf—howled in agony.
*Ora, please—do something!*
*I can’t… the silver’s burning us. You have to shift. Now.*
With what little strength remained, Ora forced the change.
Fur erupted. Bones cracked and reshaped. A tiny white wolf—blood-soaked, trembling—took Amora’s place. She snarled, fangs bared, silver wound smoking.
The growl echoed across the meadow.
Within moments, guards and omegas poured in from every direction. Juliet arrived last, shoving through the crowd.
“Amora!” she cried, eyes wide with horror.
The attacker pointed at the bleeding wolf. “She tried to bite me! Seize her!”
Juliet lunged forward. “That’s a lie! Look at her—she’s the one bleeding! He’s been after her for months—why are you all blind?”
A whip cracked across Juliet’s back. She cried out, dropping to her knees. “How dare you speak?” the guard spat.
Juliet bared her teeth. “He’s lying!”
He drew his sword. The crowd recoiled.
Amora—still in wolf form—growled low, swaying on her paws. The silver was spreading; every breath hurt.
*Ora… calm down. Let me take over.*
The wolf hesitated, then receded. Amora shifted back—naked, covered in blood, trembling on the grass.
Gasps rippled through the omegas.
“Capture her!” the guard barked.
Juliet threw herself between them. “She’s hurt! Can’t you see? He attacked her!” Another whip—this one across Juliet’s shoulder. She staggered but didn’t fall. The guard raised his sword toward the other omegas. “Anyone else want to speak?” Silence. Heavy. Terrified.
“Take her,” he said. “She’ll get what’s coming when we reach the castle.” “No!” Juliet screamed, surging forward.
A different guard caught her, pressed cold steel to her throat.
“Move again and you die,” he said quietly.
Amora’s eyes widened. “Juliet—no. I’ll be okay. Please.”
Tears poured down Juliet’s face. “Bestie…”
“I’ll be fine.” Amora forced a tiny nod. “Take care of Mom for me, okay?”
“Move!” The attacker shoved Amora forward.
The crowd parted. Omegas stared, faces pale. They all knew: she probably wouldn’t come back alive.
Juliet sank to her knees, sobbing.
A lone guard—quiet, standing apart—watched the whole thing. After the group dragged Amora away, he walked over and crouched beside Juliet.
“Hey.” His voice was low, gentle. He touched her shoulder. “Wipe your tears. Your friend’s innocent. She’ll be okay.”
Juliet looked up, startled.
“Go do what she asked—take care of her mom.” He stood and walked away, disappearing into the trees.
Juliet stared after him until he was gone. Then she rose, pushing through the stunned omegas, tears still falling.
**Snow Pack Castle – Luna’s Chamber**
Luna Cleo reclined on silk pillows while two maids worked scented oil into her feet. The door opened without a knock.
Lisa—her personal maid—hurried in and bowed low.
“Old Luna…”
Cleo lifted her head. “What is it?”
“Princess Brielle is missing.”
Cleo sat up sharply. “What? Her maids? The guards assigned to her?”
“Gone silent. No one’s seen her since this morning.”
Cleo’s jaw tightened. “Summon them. All of them. And make damn sure the Alpha hears nothing of this.”
“Yes, Old Luna.” Lisa bowed again and slipped out.
Cleo stared at the ceiling, fingers curling into the sheets.
“That child,” she muttered. “Always running toward trouble.”