Chapter 9

Amber

In other words, I would be kicked out of the shelter if I kept my pregnancy. Tears burned in my eyes as I nodded silently, unable to find the strength to argue.

“Figure it out,” Marilyn said, turning on her heel and walking away, leaving me standing frozen in the hallway.

When I finally made it back to my room, I collapsed onto the mat, my mind racing. If they kicked me out, where would I go? What would I do? It was too dangerous for an Omega on the streets, especially one carrying a pup. I’d heard too many horror stories.

“This wouldn’t be a problem if you’d taken the money,” Irma said, her voice cold.

“I’m not taking his money,” I snapped.

“You need it,” she shot back. “You have no one else. No support. You’re pregnant and vulnerable. Why are you so stubborn?”

“Because I’m not going to sell what little dignity I have left!” I shouted, my voice breaking.

Irma sighed, her frustration palpable. “Then get dressed. We’re going to school.”

****

The school day passed in a blur.

I sat through each class, staring blankly at the board, the teacher’s words dissolving into white noise. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in the endless web of problems I couldn’t seem to escape. I hadn’t slept more than a few hours in days, and the exhaustion was wearing me down. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Rayne—his cold, angry face, his cutting words. And Reed’s betrayal… his fury, his heartbreak. It all played on repeat, an endless cycle of torment.

My stomach churned constantly. My body felt foreign, my mind clouded with dread. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my thoughts always came back to the same questions. What was I going to do? How was I supposed to handle this alone? Where would I go if the shelter kicked me out?

I caught a few curious glances from classmates, likely because of my absentmindedness, but no one said anything. Not that I cared. All I wanted was to get through the day unnoticed and go back to the shelter where I could fall apart in private.

When the final bell rang, I practically bolted from my seat. My bag slung over my shoulder, I kept my head low as I pushed through the crowded hallways, my heart racing.

Please don’t let me run into Reed.

The thought looped in my head as I made my way toward the exit, weaving through students as quickly as I could. My palms were slick with sweat, and my chest felt tight, but by some miracle, I didn’t see him. Relief flooded me as I stepped outside, inhaling the crisp afternoon air.

I took the long route back to the shelter, avoiding the busier streets. The quiet helped, even if it left me alone with my thoughts. The crunch of my shoes on the gravel and the rustle of leaves in the breeze were the only sounds as I trudged along, my head bowed against the weight of my troubles.

That’s when I felt it.

The prickling sensation on the back of my neck, like I was being watched.

I glanced over my shoulder, my heart skipping a beat when I saw a car trailing slowly behind me. Its engine was quiet, almost predatory, and its sleek black exterior gleamed in the sunlight.

At first, I tried to brush it off. Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe they were just going the same way. But as I continued down the lonely road, the car didn’t pass me. It stayed close, moving at the same pace as my footsteps.

‘Trouble’, Irma growled in my mind, her tone sharp and urgent. ‘Amber, run.’

My stomach twisted, and I broke into a sprint, clutching my bag tightly. My feet pounded against the pavement as panic surged through me.

But it was useless.

The car roared to life, easily overtaking me and screeching to a halt a few feet ahead. The doors swung open, and four men stepped out. Alphas.

Their scents hit me immediately, sharp and overwhelming, making my stomach twist with disgust. If I hadn’t been mated, the pheromones might have affected me, but now they just made my skin crawl. For a mated Omega, the pheromones of other Alphas were utterly disgusting.

I stumbled back, covering my nose as I tried to put some distance between us. “What do you want?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

One of them laughed, a low, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine. “Relax, sweetheart,” he said, his voice dripping with false charm. “We don’t mean any harm. We just want to spend a little time with you.”

“No,” I said quickly, my back hitting the trunk of a tree as I tried to retreat further. “I’m not interested. Stay away from me.”

Another one stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Come on, don’t be like that. We’ll be gentle.”

“I’m mated!” I blurted, my voice rising in desperation.

With trembling hands, I ripped off the patch, exposing the mate mark. “See? Now leave me alone!”

The sight of the mark didn’t deter them. If anything, it seemed to make them bolder.

“You think that matters to us?” the first one sneered. “Doesn’t look like your mate’s here to protect you.”

My chest tightened as panic surged through me. Desperately, I reached out to the bond, searching for Rayne. Please, Rayne. Help me. Please.

But his side of the bond remained closed, a cold wall of indifference that left me completely alone.

The Alphas closed in, their scents flaring as they surrounded me. One of them grabbed my arm, his grip bruising, while another covered my mouth with a gag.

I thrashed and kicked, trying to fight them off, but they were too strong.

“Shh,” one of them cooed mockingly as they lifted me off the ground. “Don’t make it harder on yourself, sweetheart.”

My heart raced as they carried me to the car, shoving me inside.

The doors slammed shut, and the vehicle sped away, leaving behind the lonely road.