Prologue

Prologue

Lacy

R aindrops pelted against the window as I cuddled under the blankets with my alpha boyfriend, Jordan.

I never thought it would be my last night with him.

At the sound of the thunderstorm ripping through the night sky, I hugged him tighter, and he smiled, pressing his lips to mine. I'd known Jordan for three months now after meeting him during my freshman year in college.

I leaned into his embrace, resting my head on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my ear. His cologne mingled with the earthy scent of rain from the open window, creating a sensory haven.

His hand ventured lower to my butt, and I froze.

"Not yet," I said softly. I watched the lines on his jaw tense, and I could sense his energy changing as the seconds ticked by.

He wasn't happy.

He hadn't even introduced me to his pack yet, but I wasn't ready even if he did. I was nineteen, and I wanted my first knotting to be special.

"Lacy, I know you're scared. But sex with an alpha isn't all that scary, I promise," said Jordan, sighing. "It's been three months already. Do you enjoy teasing me? You're barely wearing anything."

"I'm wearing pajamas," I said hotly, my pulse starting to climb. I was wearing silk blue shorts and a tank top. He pulled away from me in bed and looked up at the ceiling with his hands interlocked behind his head.

"It's time we took a break from each other," he said in a low voice.

"What are you saying?" I asked, unable to believe he was giving up on me that easily. Was I hearing him correctly?

"Like I said, we're done, Lacy," he said in a harder tone. "Get dressed. You can leave."

My heart sank, and I got off the bed like it burned me.

In a daze, I pulled on a pair of jeans over my pajamas and a sweater. I couldn't believe he'd do this- his charm and charisma disappearing in seconds. A monster that I wasn't aware of lurking beneath his charming surface.

"Why are you being like this?" I asked, my chest aching. I hoped we'd be something more eventually, and I'd have a pack of my own.

His desire was evident in his gaze, but his frustration was equally apparent. "Lacy, we've been together for months. I care about you, and I want us to be closer."

My brows furrowed. "I care about you too, Jordan, but I need time. I need to feel completely comfortable... before we go any further. Wouldn't you want to wait if you cared about me?"

A tense silence settled over us, broken only by the rain's persistent rhythm. I could feel the weight of Jordan's disappointment pressing against me, a reminder of the unspoken omega expectations that hung between us.

"I can't wait forever, Lacy," Jordan said, his voice tinged with frustration. "If you're not ready to take our relationship to the next level, then maybe we need to reevaluate things. Please leave."

He got up from the bed, and I watched numbly as he grabbed my purse, walking me to the door. I felt like a throwaway omega. I felt like just a random girlfriend who couldn't fulfill the alpha werewolf's needs.

I was nothing special at all.

He opened the door for me, waiting for me to go. I grabbed my jacket and pulled it on. I didn't have a car, and he wasn't offering to drive me anywhere.

"It's two a.m.," I said, looking at the rain splashing down and the lightning ripping through the sky. Maybe his alpha protective instinct might take over, and he would have a little mercy on me going out this late. If my fathers knew what was happening, they'd rip him to pieces.

"You've wasted enough of my time," he sighed. "An omega should obey her alpha no matter what, and you don't seem to have it in you. It's time to move on. Goodbye, Lacy."

I paused at the door, shocked that our time together meant nothing to him.

"I would only obey someone I respect," I shot back. "Go fuck yourself, Jordan. Good luck finding an omega who'll put up with your sorry ass."

My body shaking with adrenaline, I rushed out of the house, stepping into puddles of water.

He closed the door shut, and I didn't care as I walked to who-knows-where. The hill was slippery as I walked down and away from his stupid house.

I couldn't believe what he said to me.

My clothes stuck to my body from the rain. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the downpour of the rain. My mom had told me so many times that I was too young to even be thinking about alphas right now, but I never listened. Nineteen was more than old enough to mate a pack. But I didn't see through his charm. He was a typical alpha trying to prime me up for a good knotting.

He didn't care about my comfort or how I felt. He didn't care that I was stuck out here in the middle of nowhere late at night.

I sought shelter under the roof of a dimly lit bar and pulled my phone out with shaking hands. I called my dad, Alex - no response.

My family was definitely sleeping at this time.

I tried calling my cousin Olivia, but there was no response either. I leaned against the wall, looking at the sidewalk drizzled by rain.

I walked into the bar for some warmth. I was numb to the cold, but my body had started shivering while I was outside. My hair was plastered to my face, and I brushed my hair back with my fingers, squeezing the water out of my red hair. I made my way to a bar stool, and the bartender greeted me with a smile. I wasn't in a smiling mood, but I tried my best to look happy as I always did.

"What can I get for you?"

"Just tea," I said.

"We have black tea, green tea, and herbal tea. Which one?"

"Green is fine," I said, not caring as long as it was tea.

"Hot or iced?"

"Hot," I said. I was clearly wet and shivering on this stool. While he walked away to make my tea, I paid more attention to my surroundings.

A band played on the stage, and the music invigorated my soul, reminding me of the days I used to sing for practice in high school. I watched them for a while, lost in my thoughts- thinking about my fresh breakup.

The bartender finally came back with my tea.

"Tough night?" he asked.

I managed a weak smile in return and nodded, wiping my face dry with some napkins he handed me. "Yeah, you could say that."

As I sat there, nursing the warm mug in my hands, my soul was caught by the electrifying sound of the live band of two. One guy was holding an electric guitar, and the other man was singing. The music throbbed with energy, and the lead singer's powerful voice resonated through the room. It was as if the music spoke to his soul, rekindling the fire that Jordan had tried to extinguish.

The bartender leaned in, his voice carrying over the music. "Like what you're hearing?"

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the stage. "Yeah, I love rock music. I used to play in a band myself."

"Really? You play an instrument?"

"The guitar," I replied, a hint of nostalgia in my voice. "But my boyfriend...ex-boyfriend now, I guess. He didn't really support my music. Said it was a waste of time."

His expression turned sympathetic. "Well, it sounds like he didn't appreciate your talent."

The music continued to flow, and my heart began to sync with the rhythm. I downed the last of my drink. "You know what? I'm going to get up there and show him—and myself—that I'm not giving up."

During the break, I worked up the courage to walk to the stage. I didn't want to join them, but I just wanted to sing for a moment.

"Hi," I said. "I love what you're playing."

"Thanks," said the beta male, holding the guitar and wiping his forehead with the back of his tattooed arm.

"I'd like to sing a duet with you guys," I said, my voice shaking a little. I hadn't done this in over a year.

"Of course, you can join," he said.

"Shit, if she got talent, why not?" said the second bandmate. "My name's Ty. The guitarist is Ben."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Lacy," I said, my heart giddy with excitement when they handed me the microphone.

"Which song?" asked Ben.

"Hmm," I said. "How about Moon's Path by Gray?"

It was a tear-jerker but powerful song of a pack searching for their lost omega.

"You got it, lady."

I removed my wet jacket and threw it backstage to prepare. My heart fluttered with excitement when Ben strummed the electric guitar. The crowd was silent as they waited for me to start singing. Ty sang the first line for the alpha's part, his voice deep and melodic, transporting me to a different world far away. I joined him during the female's line, elevating my voice - clear and haunting. Inside, I was giddy that I still had it. I could still sing. Our voices intertwined that night, shocking the crowd and causing them to cheer and clap at the end.

I smiled, bowing amidst the clapping.

"Damn, you're good," said Ty, making his way over to me.

"Thanks," I said shyly, handing him the microphone. The lights glowed over us, illuminating the band members' faces.

"What if you joined us? Power band?" said Ty.

"What's the name of your band?" I asked. I was excited at the prospect, but I didn't know them.

"The Beta Guys," said Ty.

"How about Electric Rose?" I suggested, and his lips quirked into a smile.

"I like it," he said.

"Welcome to the team," said Ben, setting down the guitar and staring in wonder at the cheers from the crowd. "You're going to take our band to the next level. I can feel it, Miss Omega. Look at how that crowd adores you already. It's going to be fucking amazing."