Victoria's POV
"Harder, Ethan! God! Ah..."
"Fuck me harder! Wreck me!"
"I'm about to come!"
I froze in the hallway outside Ethan's apartment, my hand suspended mid-air, ready to knock on his door.My breath caught in my throat. The sound slammed into me like a physical blow. For a second, I thought I’d misheard. But then came the unmistakable rhythm of the bed against the wall.
That voice was unmistakable—Scarlett, my supposed best friend for the past three years.
My wolf Nora growled deep within me, urging me to burst through the door. But I didn't. I remained rooted to the spot as if nailed there.
After a brief pause filled with heavy breathing from inside, Scarlett's voice rang out again.
"Ethan, are you this wild when you sleep with that omega too?"
“You think I’d ever waste my time on her?” Ethan’s laugh was low and cruel. “She actually believes I’m waiting till marriage. That clueless little omega.”
"Being with you is when I truly experience real pleasure."
Their laughter pierced through me like silver daggers.
The sweet chocolate cookies I’d baked for our anniversary slipped from my trembling hands, the tin crashing against the floor and scattering pieces across the hallway. The scent of cocoa filled the air, sharp and cloying—mocking the sweetness that was supposed to celebrate our love.
My wolf, Nora, let out a furious snarl inside me, thrashing against the chains of the magic silver bracelet coiled around my wrist. Her rage pulsed in my veins like liquid fire, demanding release—demanding blood.
But the bracelet held firm, its runes glowing faintly, suppressing everything that made me who I truly was.
I was no Omega.Never had been.
That had always been my greatest secret.
“When are you finally going to tell her about us?” Scarlett purred, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “She still doesn’t know that her perfect little boyfriend has been fucking her best friend for years.”
Each word hit harder than claws across flesh, shredding what was left of my heart.
"Soon," Ethan promised between moans. "I just need to secure my position in the North Creek pack first. Once I'm officially recognized as Lawrence's son, I'll have the status to dump that omega trash."
Five years of love and devotion crumbled in an instant.
My knuckles turned white as I clenched my fists, the urge to storm in and tear those two apart burning through my veins like wildfire.
Heartache gripped my throat, suffocating me. Every instinct screamed for destruction, for recklessness.
But I couldn’t.
Nora’s rage surged inside me, merging with mine. I felt my inner white wolf thrashing wildly against her magical bonds. Trembling, I touched the enchanted bracelet on my wrist—the very thing that hid who I truly was.
I thought I’d found someone who would love me for who I am—not as the Lancaster heiress, not for my rare white wolf lineage. But I was wrong. So terribly wrong.
I drew a slow, deep breath and forced my hands to relax. As the future Alpha of the Crescent Dawn Pack and successor to the family empire, I knew what had to come first. There were far greater things at stake now.
My gaze hardened like steel. Pulling out my phone, I dialed a number I knew by heart.
“Grandfather,” I said, my voice steady—surprisingly so. “Call off the wedding. There’s no need to continue the preparations.”
I had planned to reveal everything to Ethan today—my true identity, the proposal… all of it. On our fifth anniversary.
Now, none of that mattered anymore.
"Victoria?" Grandpa's voice sharpened with concern. "What happened?"
"I'll explain later," I managed to say before hanging up.
The moment I ended the call, an aggressive blend of cedarwood and amber invaded my senses, overwhelming every other scent around me. It carried an indescribable power that sent my blood racing, as if something had struck deep into my very soul.
What was happening?
An instinctual, irresistible urge seized me. Almost involuntarily, I followed the trail of that scent. It pulled me like an invisible thread, leading me across streets until I stopped in front of an opulently decorated club—the infamous *Midnight Howl*, owned by the notorious Sterling family.
Without hesitation, I pushed the door open. The blaring music and the crowded space seemed to fade into nothingness. All my senses were locked onto that distinct cedarwood-amber fragrance.
My gaze cut through the swaying lights and shadows, zeroing in on the most secluded private booth in the club.
A man sat there.
Even seated, he commanded the space like its absolute center. His tall frame exuded an imposing presence, and his impeccably tailored black suit emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist—a perfect V-shape. His thick, dark brown hair was styled with deliberate carelessness, and his sharply carved features could only be described as aggressively handsome. Below his straight nose were sensual lips, and his jawline was clean and defined. His eyes, a piercing gray-blue in the dim lighting, were already fixed on me.
I recognized him—Damian Sterling, Ethan's half-brother.
As he rose and began walking toward me, Nora, the presence I had long suppressed in my mind, erupted into a frenzy.
*"Mate!"*
Her voice was no longer a muffled restlessness or a whisper. It transformed into a crystal-clear declaration, ringing with undeniable ecstasy and certainty, exploding deep within my soul.
*"fated mate!"*
Though Damien was Ethan's cousin, I had rarely crossed paths with him. The last time we met was before I turned eighteen.
Later, whatever I knew of him came only through social media—through those outrageous scandals he was often involved in.
Damn it. This was absurd. How could he, of all people, be my fated mate?
"If it isn't my brother's little omega," he drawled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "On such a lovely evening, what brings you out instead of being with him?"
"Your brother," I said, my voice steady despite the alcohol, "is currently buried deep inside my best friend."
Surprise flickered across his features, then his expression shifted to something unreadable. "And you're here because...?"
I leaned closer, taking in the full impact of his scent—smoky cedar and midnight roses—which made both me and my wolf restless. I was absolutely certain I wanted him!
"One night," I whispered, now close enough that my lips nearly brushed his ear. "No strings attached. No expectations. "
As I pulled back, he caught my wrist, his thumb brushing over the silver bracelet. He smiled—a predatory smile that made my heart race.
"One night," he agreed, amusement threading through his voice, "to help you forget my worthless brother."
He led me toward the private elevator to his penthouse suite, pressing his lips to mine—dominant, burning hot...