Remi's POV

The kitchen buzzed with activity, the clatter of pots and the hum of conversation filling the space. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling herbs filled the air, but none of it brought me comfort. My hands moved on autopilot as I chopped vegetables at the counter, the rhythmic motion grounding me. Another day in paradise, right? Omega duties were my life—cooking, cleaning, and staying out of sight. Just the way they liked it.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Almost three. My chest tightened, the bond stirring like an itch I couldn't scratch. I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore it, but the familiar ache blossomed in my chest, sharp and unforgiving. He's with someone else again. The bond didn't just let me know—it made me feel it. The pain was raw, like claws scraping at my soul.

I blinked back the sting of tears and focused on the knife in my hand. Chop. Slice. Focus. Don't think about him.

The kitchen door creaked open, and my stomach sank. I didn't need to look up to know who it was. His presence filled the room like a storm, suffocating and electric. Elias.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite little omega," he said, his voice dripping with that same mocking tone I'd grown to despise. "Hard at work, I see."

I straightened my spine but didn't turn to face him. "Someone has to be."

He chuckled, the sound low and cruel. "Careful, Remi. That tongue of yours might get you into trouble."

I kept my focus on the vegetables, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. It wasn't easy. Everything about Elias demanded attention—his voice, his presence, the sheer arrogance he wore like a crown. His cologne mixed with the faint scent of another woman. I felt bile rise in my throat.

"You know," he continued, stepping closer, "Vanessa was quite... enthusiastic earlier." He said her name like it was meant to stab me, and it worked. The bond twisted, sending another jolt of pain through my chest. "She's not the only one, either. Tonight, I think I'll see if I can double my efforts. The beta's daughter and maybe Astrid. She's been giving me that look, you know?"

I gripped the counter so hard my knuckles turned white. My wolf growled in my mind, but I swallowed the sound before it could escape. Don't let him win.

Finally, I turned to face him, forcing my expression to stay neutral. "Is there a reason you're here, or did you just come to brag?"

Elias smirked, leaning casually against the counter as if he owned the room. Well, technically, he did. "Just checking on things. Big day tomorrow, after all. My crowning ceremony. I'll need everything to be perfect. Think you can manage that, little omega?"

I clenched my jaw, my wolf clawing at the edges of my mind. We should be standing beside him, not hiding in a kitchen. But instead of saying that, I kept my tone even. "I'll do my job. You don't have to worry."

"Good." He pushed off the counter and headed toward the door, pausing just long enough to glance back at me. "Oh, and Remi? Try not to burn anything. It would be a shame to ruin such a special occasion."

As the door swung shut behind him, I felt my composure crack. My hands trembled as I turned back to the counter. I wanted to scream, cry, something, but all I could do was stare blankly at the cutting board.

"Remi, sweetheart," Ethhel's voice broke through my haze. She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, her touch warm and steady. Ethhel had been the closest thing I'd had to a mother since I was a kid. She'd been the one to patch me up after every scrape and wipe my tears when no one else cared. Her presence was a lifeline.

I shook my head, blinking back the tears. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine," she said softly, her eyes full of concern. "You've never been a good liar, Remi."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Guess it's just another thing I'm bad at."

"Don't say that." Ethhel stepped in front of me, forcing me to meet her gaze. "You're stronger than you think. I've seen it. And one day, they'll see it too."

I wanted to believe her. God, I wanted to. But it felt like the walls of this pack were closing in on me, suffocating me a little more each day.