Guest had always known his place. As the omega of the Shadowclaw Pack, he was the lowest of the low, constantly treated like an afterthought. He was supposed to be cherished by his mate, adored, and protected. Instead, he was a punching bag for the alpha—his supposed mate, Declan. The bond between them was cruelly one-sided.

While Declan’s dominance demanded respect from everyone, it was Guest who was forced to cower, enduring endless scorn from both his mate and the rest of the pack. He'd expected more when he first felt the pull toward Declan, the spark of the mate bond igniting the moment their eyes met. But it didn’t take long for reality to twist that spark into something harsh. Every night, he’d dream of escaping, of finding a place where the bond wouldn’t feel like chains.

That night, the pack had been celebrating another victory. Declan was surrounded by his elites, laughing and feasting, while Guest sat in the shadows, invisible. His heart pounded as he made up his mind. He slipped away from the pack's territory, the sting of betrayal driving his legs faster than they had ever moved.

The woods were thick, but he didn’t stop running. Even as his legs ached and his breath grew ragged, he pushed forward. Every step felt like a weight lifting off his chest. For the first time in years, Guest dared to hope. The pack border loomed ahead, the scent of Shadowclaw fading behind him.

Before he could even process the threat, two massive wolves stepped into his path. Their eyes glinted in the darkness, cold and calculating. He shifted back into human form, his hands raised in surrender, but it was too late. They closed in, growling. No matter how much he struggled, their hold was firm.