Chapter 3 One Night Surrender

Two nights later, I'm rushing through the servant's passages when rough hands grab me. "Well, well." Beta Thomas from Raven Pack leers. "The little omega, all alone." "Please, I have duties—" "New duties now." His grip bruises. "Show me what that pretty mouth can—" A growl shakes the walls. Beta Thomas goes flying. Alpha Jason stands there, eyes glowing gold with rage. "Touch her one more time again, and I'll rip your throat out." *Me? The Alpha is defending me?* Beta Thomas scrambles away. Jason turns to me, nostrils flaring. And then it hits us both at once. *Mate*. The bond snaps into place like a thunderclap. My omega recognizes her Alpha. His wolf recognizes its mate. "No." He slams a fist into the wall. "This can't happen. Not now." "Alpha, I—" "Shut up." He paces, running hands through his hair. "The alliance... the packs need this alliance." I want to run, but my body betrays me. His scent calls to something primal in my blood. By his rigid stance, he feels it too. He stops suddenly. Turns to me with dark intention. "My chambers. One hour." "What?" "One night." His voice roughens. "One night to get this out of our systems. Then we forget this ever happened. I mate Ava, secure the alliance, and you keep your silence. Understand?" I should say no. Should run. Should— "Yes, Alpha." His eyes darken. "One hour. Don't make me wait." I flee down the corridor, his growl of "mine" echoing in my head. Politics, duty, and desire wage war in my heart. One night to taste what I can never have. One night to break my own heart. *** Every step toward Alpha Jason's chambers feels like walking to my execution. The moonlight streaming through ancient windows turns the corridor into a silver dream – or nightmare. My hand trembles as I knock. "Enter." His chambers are massive, all dark wood and deeper shadows. The moon spills through floor-to-ceiling windows, painting everything in shades of midnight. Jason stands by the fireplace, shirt unbuttoned, flames casting golden light across his skin. "You came." His voice is rough velvet. "Yes, Alpha." My heart thunders so loud he must hear it. "Jason." He turns, eyes glowing amber in the firelight. "Tonight, you call me Jason." He crosses the room in predator-graceful steps. I should feel afraid. Instead, my treacherous body leans toward him like a flower seeking sun. "This means nothing," he growls, but his hands are gentle as they cup my face. "One night. Then we forget." "I understand." The lie tastes like ashes. His thumb traces my lower lip. "Do you? Because once I start, I won't be able to stop." "Please," I whisper, though I'm not sure what I'm begging for. Mercy? Cruelty? Both? His kiss is neither gentle nor kind. It's possession, claiming, marking. My omega recognizes her mate, surging to the surface with a need that frightens me. "Mine," he growls against my throat. “I want to claim you as my mate. "Yours," I agree, knowing it's a moment i can't deny nor sense if it's real. We fall into his massive bed, a tangle of desperate touches and broken sounds. He worships my body like I'm precious while whispering reminders that I'm nothing. Each kiss brands my skin. Each touch writes promises neither of us can keep. "Jason," I gasp as he claims me completely. Something wild and ancient awakens in his eyes. For one heartbeat, I see the truth – he feels this too, this bone-deep recognition. This rightness. Then it's gone, replaced by desperate denial. Hours pass like seconds, pleasure mixing with sweet pain. When he finally marks me, teeth breaking skin, the mate bond blazes to life like a supernova. Perfect. Complete. Doomed. After, he holds me too tight, face buried in my neck. For a moment, I let myself pretend this isn't goodbye. "I'll take care of you," he whispers, half-asleep. "Keep you safe. My mate. My—" Dawn breaks. Reality crashes back like a tidal wave. He stiffens, pulling away so fast it feels like being torn in half. "You are awake!." Jason's voice was soothing as the morning sun. "Jason—" "Are you ready to be my mate?." Each word drips ice. "Last night was… great. Tomorrow I will announce you as my mate to everyone. If you breathe a word of this to anyone… what happened last night should stay between us." “Now get out before anyone sees you.” I gather my clothes with trembling hands, his mark burning on my neck. At the door, I pause. "I won't tell anyone." My voice breaks. I flee before he can see my tears, his words cutting deeper than claws. Behind me, something shatters against a wall. Or maybe that's just the sound of my heartbeating fast in anticipation. Finally, i will have a place in this pack. A Luna and no longer the cursed omega. *** Dawn paints the sky blood-red as I stumble to my quarters. In a few hours, Jason will announce his mating to me. The pack will celebrate. But what about Ava, the alliance and duty to the pack? What is Alpha Jason's plan? One thing is certain, i will finally escape this recherche life of been a lowlife omega. One night of heaven. An eternity of sweet life to follow.