Chapter 4 The Dress

Rachel's POV

I headed straight to the luxury district of the Bloodmoon territory.

Fifty thousand credits was a fortune to a low-ranking Omega like me. But to Daniel? The Alpha? It wasn't even pocket change.

"I’d like to view that dress," I said after gathering my courage as I stepped into the elite boutique.

The salesgirl gave me a quick once-over and sniffed the air. My scent was faint, suppressed and it entirely lacked the musk of a high-ranking bloodline.

"That piece is 49,800 credits, Omega."

I smiled.

Perfect.

That was exactly what I had left. "I'll take it. Wrap it up, please," I said calmly and sat down on the lounge as my legs were aching.

The salesgirl attitude flipped instantly. Her eyes flashed in submission and she bowed as she went to bring the dress.

The moment I held the dress, it felt heavy in my hands but didn't feel more powerful because of it. If anything... I felt even smaller.

As I was about to leave the counter, another piece in an enchanted glass display case caught my eye. It was a heirloom collar, glowing faintly with lunar magic. "How much is that one?"

The collar looked familiar. Daniel had gifted the exact same heirloom to Elena at the last Moon festival. When Elena wore it, she looked every bit the regal Alpha female.

"That’s a limited-edition Council piece," the salesgirl smiled tightly. "To even bid on it, you need at least 30 million credits in accumulated contributions to the Alpha Pack Council or you must belong to a ruling lineage."

I froze.

Thirty million.

What did 30 million mean?

For Daniel, it was a casual tribute, something he’d burn just to make Elena purr. For the Omega orphanages on the edge of the territory, it could feed and shelter hundreds of neglected pups for a decade.

Why was the Goddess so damn unfair? The gap between me and Elena wasn't just the price of a collar. Elena was born to a long line of Alphas. She was educated to rule, not to serve.

Daniel would never toss a few credits at Elena and command her to go away, because her blood commanded respect.

I was never meant to be with the elite. Funny how I once thought my secret bond with Daniel meant something.

Back at my cramped apartment in the lower territory, I listed the dress on a rogue-market trading website. The piece was brand new, priced slightly lower, it would sell quickly to some wealthy Beta's mate.

Once the credits hit, I would send them straight to the Omega sanctuary's director. The pups still didn't have heavy winter furs and the solstice frost was coming. Forty grand would keep them warm.

After a hot wash to scrub the scent of the elite district off my skin, I stood by my meager wardrobe to pick what to wear for tomorrow’s secret meeting with Alpha Silas of the rival pack.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Without warning, Daniel walked in.

Startled, my inner wolf whimpered and I instinctively grabbed a fur throw to cover myself.

"You submitted a resignation letter?" Daniel frowned and tossed a bag of cheap meat gotten from the lower markets onto my table.

He never showed up empty-handed but it was always small and insulting. Scraps of meat, low-grade healing herbs or simple bundles of forest flowers.

"Yeah." I nodded.

My apartment sat on his personal territory anyway. His coming and going was a right he claimed by blood.

"Don't worry about Cassidy. I've got it handled." He pinched my cheek lightly and his claws grazed my skin just enough to assert dominance.

He pulled me onto the bed. "Still sore from the heat cycle?"

I lowered my gaze to avoid locking eyes with him and shook my head.

"I already spoke to the Pack Betas. Your resignation is void. Just take a few days rest and come back to the Pack House whenever you want," he said.

It sounded like kindness but I only felt a cold dread. He always made it feel like he was pitying me from his high throne.

Honestly, it had always been a pity play. Ever since he found out his cruel sister had led the people who stripped me of my clothes and hunted me through the woods.

Daniel had been protecting me. Probably just to cleanse his own pack-alpha conscience.

"You're taking her as your Luna, right?" I took a deep breath and the words out.

Daniel went dead silent. His inner wolf didn't even growl.

I smiled through the burning sting in my eyes. "I won't go back to the Pack House. I'll move beyond the border soon, too. Daniel, let's end this arrangement. Best wishes to you and your new Luna."

I still had my pride. I wasn't going to be the dirty little Omega hiding in the shadows of another female's mating ceremony.

Daniel’s jaw tightened and his eyes flashed a dangerous warning. "Are you challenging my authority, Rachel?"

I gave a weak, tired smile. "No..."

He pulled me forcefully into his chest and wrapped his massive arms around me as if he was soothing a disobedient pup "Stay here for now. We'll talk about arrangements after the Luna ceremony."

His tone was casual as if he didn't see me as someone with a soul.

"About that border accident last week..." Daniel continued and his hand slid possessively along my slim waist. He was still obsessed with my flawless and delicate build.

At nineteen, I didn't look like this. Back then, I was a starving, malnourished Omega. It was Daniel who had brought me into his private quarters and ensured I got nourished.

"Elena was spooked during the run," Daniel murmured. "She felt bad that her pack warriors ran you off the trail. Tomorrow night, Elena is hosting a family dinner. A few visiting Alphas are coming and I plan to officially present the mating bite to her. Come early and help serve the feast."

He tugged the fur throw from my body and his teeth scraping the scent gland on my neck.

I closed my eyes as realization washed over me like ice water.

Had Elena not fully satisfied his wolf during their weeks away?

"I'm not going..." I said and grabbed the throw from the floor while my stomach churned with absolute revulsion.

I had a meeting to strike a deal with Alpha Silas tomorrow night anyway.

"If you don't show up, she’ll smell a rat," Daniel's tone instantly turned icy as this was the first time I had ever denied his wolf. "She’s a rejected she-wolf, her last mate's rejection made her highly sensitive to other females. I don't want her to catch your scent anywhere near my throne."