CHAPTER 51: _ WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FATED

Daphne swoops in like a vulture spotting the weakness. She laughs lightly, though her hand digs painfully into Heidi’s arm. "Oh, that’s just my new friend," she sheepishly let out, as though it’s the most natural thing in the world. "No need to get dramatic, Lira. She’s just tagging along."

But the moment doesn’t pass unnoticed. Because that’s when the Alpha’s third wife appears.

The front doors of the mansion open, and out she strolls in bright jogging clothes, her hair pulled into a ponytail, sunglasses perched on her head. She’s humming to herself, completely oblivious to the tension in the air.

She halts in her tracks when she sees them all still loitering by their cars. "What on earth are you all doing out here?" she asks, hands on her hips. "Why aren’t you heading to school?"

Her tone is light, almost playful, like she isn’t really expecting a serious answer.

Grayson and Morgan perk up immediately, their spoiled-boy grins materializing on their faces. "We were just about to, mamá," Morgan says, flashing his dimples.

Grayson chimes in with his usual charm. "Yeah, mamá, don’t worry. We’re going."

Their mother beams at them, utterly besotted, walking straight to her sons and patting their shoulders like they’re still little boys. "Well, hurry along then. Today’s a full moon, and you know what that means." Her eyes sparkle with excitement. "You could be lucky enough to find your mates this time."

Grayson and Morgan laugh, exchanging a look of shared mischief. "We’ll keep our fingers crossed," Grayson says.

"Yes, mamá," Morgan echoes but he doesn’t sound as affirmative as he thinks.

Heidi watches, feeling almost dizzy with disbelief. The favoritism is so blatant that it makes her stomach twist. Their mother dotes on them shamelessly, blind to their cruelty, blind to the way the rest of the siblings look on with disgust.

Darien’s jaw ticks. Amias’s eyes are ice. Isolde looks like she’s about to roll her eyes right out of her skull. Even Daphne, for once, seems mildly annoyed. But the doting mother isn’t done.

Her eyes suddenly squint with her nostrils flaring. "Wait a moment. Whose aura is that?"

Her question results in confused arched brows. Her head turns and her eyes begin to scan the small group until they land... inevitably and unavoidably... on Heidi.

The mother’s expression changes instantly into that of interest, awe, and curiosity. She steps forward, her sneakers crunching on the gravel as she walks closer to Heidi with a fixated gaze.

"And who is this?"

The fact that one of the Alpha’s wives is before her and even notices her is a weight that presses down on Heidi like an invisible mountain. Her lips part, her throat works to introduce herself as any well-mannered lady should, but no sound comes out.

She doesn’t want to leave a bad first impression, but she’s already trembling from standing in front of the four brothers. Her every nerve ending is still quivering from their stares that burned her skin like fire. And now—an Alpha’s wife? Her knees feel weak, her heart is pounding like it wants to burst out of her chest, and she doesn’t even know what to do with her hands.

Daphne swoops in before Heidi’s silence gets her into real trouble. "She’s nobody, Luna Rayne. She’s erh... Just my friend."

"Friend?" Rayne tilts her head, her glossy hair bouncing as she steps closer. She has the kind of beauty that looks careless, like she rolled out of bed flawless and put on jogging clothes just to remind the world she doesn’t have to try.

She ignores the icy looks from the other women and the brothers. Her hand lifts, and she cups Heidi’s cheeks. The touch is soft, warm, and too intimate for a stranger. Heidi freezes as her wide eyes interlock with the woman’s.

"My dear, you’re not only beautiful on the outside but also the inside. And unique. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You’re special. I’m telling this to you as an Aura farming werewolves."

’That’s a cool power to have,’ is Heidi’s first thought before the rest of Rayne’s words settle on her. Nobody has ever called her special before in this pack— at least not without it being followed by cruel laughter. Her throat tightens, and she swallows hard, fighting against the tears that threaten to sting her eyes.

And then Darien scoffs out of nowhere. The sound is sharp, and carries all the weight of disdain he can muster.

"Special?" His laugh is cold. "There’s nothing special about her. She’s just an Omega."

The words go straight into Heidi’s chest. Her stomach twists violently, shame flooding her veins. She drops her gaze to the ground, her teeth biting into the inside of her cheek to keep from trembling. Of course. Of course, that’s what she is. That’s all she’ll ever be.

Darien doesn’t wait to see the hurt tinge across her face. He turns, strides to his car with that careless confidence, and slams the door shut. The engine roars, and with a spray of gravel, he’s gone.

Heidi feels hollow in the sudden silence he leaves behind. Why on earth does he do this? What does he really want with her? Even though she hates him too, she is still having a hard time believing this is the same Darien who made love to her overnight, the same one who tried to solve her problems this morning.

What on earth is wrong with him?

"Let’s go too," Lira saying coolly to Amias, cuts through Heidi’s thoughts as she’s already tugging him toward their car.

Amias looks like he wants to protest. His gaze is still flickering in Heidi’s direction like a moth that can’t resist the flame. But he says nothing except to only nod stiffly and follow Lira into their car.

Of course, he’ll leave with his top girl, girlfriend. Of course, she’s a nobody, unworthy of even a minute of their time, Heidi weeps internally. It’s not supposed to hurt this much, but it does. Watching Amias walk away with Lira feels like being torn open — worse than Darien’s insult, worse than anything.

Could this... could this mean that despite all the facts against their union, despite all the odds against them, she still dares to—want them for HERSELF?

What is this heart-wrenching feeling? Is the wave of desires hitting her at every meeting with them slowly turning her into something and someone else?...

Slowly becoming selfish? Is she becoming a selfish mate? Is this what it means to be fated?