Because of an accident, my life changed completely.
It all happened on my birthday, during a celebration at a hotel with my friends. Out of nowhere, a strange man—clearly under the influence of something—pulled me into a dimly lit hallway. Before I could even process what was happening, he bit me on the neck. A strong, overwhelming pheromone flooded through me, instantly filling my senses with his scent.
I gasped, struggling to resist him. But a mark only feels overpowering if the one who leaves it holds a higher rank. My heat was supposed to start next week, but his pheromones hit me hard enough to trigger it early. Our scents merged, growing stronger and stronger, sparking an uncontrollable desire between us.
I was marked, nearly overwhelmed by his dominant instincts. This wasn't how it was supposed to be—my boyfriend was meant to be the one to claim me, not a stranger! I wanted to escape, but his pheromones suffocated me, leaving me too weak to fight back.
"I'm sorry, it was an accident," the man murmured, as if coming back to himself from the haze of whatever drug had taken hold. He looked at the mark he'd left on my neck, a mix of regret and something darker flickering in his eyes.
I thought he would leave, but after his apology, he scooped me up in his arms. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around his neck, my body betraying my mind.
"W-what are you doing? L-let go of me..." I protested, struggling to keep my eyes open. But the potency of his pheromones was too strong; dizziness washed over me, and soon I was lost to unconsciousness.
As he carried me to the elevator leading to the penthouse suite, he couldn't help but be captivated by my beauty. Yet, his admiration was interrupted when he noticed a tear slipping down my cheek. He gently wiped it away, and after a long silence, he vowed, "Don't worry, I'll marry you."
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
After that night, I was marked and claimed by an Alpha.
I had a boyfriend, also an Alpha, and we had been long discussing our future together—marriage was on the grasp of our hands. But then this accident shattered everything.
In a world that claims to value equality, the idea of fated mates has become almost like a myth. Those who can't find their destined partners often take out their frustrations on Omegas, who are seen as the weakest link in the hierarchy. They're often treated like property, subjected to physical and emotional abuse that many Omegas simply can't endure. Tragically, some have taken their own lives to escape the pain. To protect the remaining Omegas, the council enacted a law: if an Alpha or Luna marks an Omega, they are obligated to marry them.
Never in my life did I think that such an accident would happen to me. Whenever I felt my heat approaching, I would immediately take inhibitors to suppress it, ensuring that others couldn't detect my condition. My virginity was meant to be preserved for my future husband, and I had always believed that waiting until marriage was the right choice. But unfortunately, that plan was shattered in an instant, and now my life felt like it was spiraling out of control.
At this moment, my boyfriend, Jake Aragon, and I are calmly discussing our breakup.
Jake is the kind of person who radiates kindness; he's a considerate lover who always puts others first. Since our relationship began, he has been nothing but caring and understanding. Even now, as he grapples with the reality of our situation, he struggles to accept it but refuses to blame me. Yet, the scent of the Alpha that marked me lingers on my skin, and I can see how much it pains him.
I know Jake is the kindest partner I've ever had, and as I sit here, guilt washes over me. I feel frustrated at the man who marked me, but I'm also heartbroken. Even though my body now belongs to someone else, my heart can't be so easily claimed.
After a long, heavy silence, I finally spoke, my voice solemn. "I'm really sorry. It doesn't matter if you want to blame me, but please don't forget that I still love you."
Jake wanted to say, "It's not your fault," but he felt like a victim himself, powerless to criticize me. After a moment of silence, he finally replied, "You know I don't blame you," his tone laced with helplessness.
"Aren't you mad at me?" I asked, my head bowed in shame.
Jake frowned, gently taking my hands in his. "I'm angry... I feel like I'm going crazy... But what can we do? We can't change the law..."
"I know..." I said, taking his hand and gently placing it against my cheek, trying to endure the grief swelling in my heart. "And it seems our love story ends here..."
"Stella... my sweetheart..." Jake's voice was heavy with sadness as he watched me struggle to hold back my tears.
"You need to find someone better than me," I said, lowering my head to hide the tears that were now spilling down my cheeks. "Otherwise, I won't be able to forgive myself."
Jake longed to hug me one last time, but as he moved closer and caught a whiff of the other Alpha's scent lingering on me, he slowly withdrew his arms. He looked at me, words of comfort caught in his throat. "I wish you happiness," he finally said, his voice tinged with bitterness.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
The Alpha who marked Stella was Lukas Monteverde.
At twenty-eight, he had already made a name for himself as the CEO of Monteverde Groups, having taken the reins at just twenty-one. In the business world, he was known for being ruthless, decisive, and cold, leaving a trail of destroyed companies in his wake. His aggressive tactics had earned him many enemies among fellow businessmen.
The day he met Stella was also the day he fell victim to a drugging orchestrated by one of his rivals. Given his status, he could have chosen any Omega he desired, but that day, while trying to hide from the chaos around him, he lost control. In a moment of weakness, he marked an unwilling Omega, igniting her heat.
Originally, a one-night stand meant nothing to Lukas. But after marking Stella and igniting her heat, he was forced to accept his fate.
In the days following the end of Stella's heat, Lukas quickly arranged everything. Since they barely knew each other and marriage felt too rushed, he decided they should live together for the time being. Regardless of their circumstances, the bond they now shared could never be broken.
I had no objections to what he proposed. Even if I did, I had no choice but to surrender to him, as Omegas naturally become dependent on the one who marked them. During the time I was grappling with my heartbreak, I hadn't seen Lukas for about a week, and I began to sense that something was amiss.
In the days when I was in heat, I had ignored Lukas' appearance, focusing solely on easing my own desires, often imagining I was making love to Jake. The only glimpses I caught of Lukas were when I woke up earlier than him, and I couldn't help but notice his handsome yet cold demeanor. It was clear from his lavish lifestyle and impeccable wardrobe that he was wealthy.
When I finally learned his name—Lukas Monteverde—I was stunned. How could I not have known him? Everyone in the business world knew of Lukas, the ruthless genius who commanded respect and fear in equal measure.
During the first week of living together, Lukas and I treated each other like we were invisible, existing in the same space but completely ignoring one another.
Lukas maintained a business-like demeanor, going to work each day and returning home only to sleep. Despite sharing a home, we occupied separate rooms, and our vastly different work schedules meant we barely crossed paths throughout the week.
I, on the other hand, was a small-time employee working from 9 to 5, which left me with plenty of free time on weekdays. I couldn't help but reminisce about the past—how Jake and I would visit each other's homes for dinner, watch movies together, cook side by side, share stories about our work, and even plan our holiday adventures. Those memories brought me both joy and sorrow. Now, I felt I no longer had the right to see Jake.
Returning to the empty house I shared with Lukas, I found it hard to feel lonely, not with his scent lingering in my body and in the air. It was both comforting and torturous at the same time. Damn this scent of his! The perfect sleep I once enjoyed was slipping away, as I found myself waiting for Lukas to return, often in the middle of the night, before I could finally drift off to sleep peacefully.