CHAPTER 33: THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW

The trembling omega’s breath came out unevenly, his shoulders quivering. Rhea’s gaze softened, though her tone didn’t. "Don’t panic," she said curtly. "You shaking like that isn’t helping anyone."

Another heavy thud rattled the door.

"I know you’re in there, Roff! Open up this instant!"

Rhea groaned under her breath. "What does that annoying walking corpse want now?" she hissed.

The omega’s voice cracked as he whispered, "Is that... Sir Eberhard?"

"Unfortunately." Rhea’s lips curved into a humorless smirk. "The one and only."

Another heavy knock landed, loud enough to make the hinges creak.

"Roff!" Eberhard barked again, tone sharp as steel. "Open this door immediately!"

The omega flinched. "What are we going to do?" he whispered, voice trembling. "They’ll definitely punish us for being found here...in Roff’s room."

Rhea’s eyes narrowed. "First," she said, stepping closer, "you’re going to stop trembling like a leaf. And second..." she paused as another bang came, harder than the rest. "...nobody is punishing anyone. Not while I’m here."

"You don’t understand," the omega said, voice breaking. "Omegas aren’t allowed to be with another male that’s not their mate."

"Oh, shush it." Rhea said, irritation threading through her tone. "They were the ones trying to force themselves on you. If anyone should be punished, it’s the idiots who ignored you when you needed help."

The omega blinked at her, stunned. For a moment, he just stared, his fear giving way to quiet awe. This couldn’t be the same girl everyone called filth, traitor, unfit to be Alpha’s mate. If only they knew , he couldn’t believes she was the only one who’d actually stood up for him.

"Rhea!"

The voice outside made the omega stiffen violently. His eyes widened further, face draining of color. "Th—that’s the Alpha," he gasped.

"I know." Rhea’s tone was flat. "Let’s just open it and see what they want."

"Are... are you sure?" he asked, voice small.

"Yeah. Stay here. I’ll check what the damn commotion’s about."

He nodded hesitantly, clutching his arm, as Rhea moved toward the door.

Outside, the air was tense, everyone was waiting. Nikki, of course, was at the front, lips twitching with smug excitement.

"They probably don’t want to open it because they’re about to be caught red-handed," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Ares’s jaw flexed, his patience thinning. "Ellie," he said lowly, "break it down."

Eberhard immediately stepped aside, giving the Beta space. Ellie exhaled, flexing her leg, ready to slam into the door, when it suddenly flung open.

His leg froze mid-air before he awkwardly lowered it, eyes widening at the sight before Rhea. She stood in the doorway, calm and unimpressed, clearly wearing his favorite T-shirt and his jeans?

"You’re... really in there?" Ellie asked, disbelief coating his voice.

"See, Alpha?" Nikki jumped in immediately, pointing accusingly. "She’s even wearing Roff’s clothes, she must’ve rushed to dress before opening the door!"

Rhea stared at her like she’d just declared herself Queen of the Idiots.

From the crowd, Seraphine’s lips tightened. Lyra and Lena exchanged uneasy glances. Even Marta frowned — they had seen Rhea in that same outfit earlier in the day, long before the supposed scandal.

Ares’s gaze swept over Rhea, his eyes lingering on the loose shirt and jeans. His expression hardened. "What’s the meaning of this?" he demanded.

The crowd murmured behind him, tension rippling through the hall.

"What’s the meaning of what?" Rhea asked lazily, leaning against the doorframe, eyes flicking across the crowd behind him. "What’s going on here, what’s with all these people?"

"Stop feigning ignorance!" Nikki snapped, stepping forward. "Just call Roff out already, we know what you’ve been doing."

"What I’ve been doing?" Rhea she echoed, genuinely confused. "You’re going to have to be a little clearer, pink."

Eberhard, tired of the stalling, shoved past her, only to stop dead in his track, eyes widening.

Rhea turned sharply, frowning as Ellie pushed the door wider — revealing the chaos inside.

The collective gasp from the crowd followed almost instantly.

Two men lay sprawled out cold on the floor, and Roff was groaning weakly, half-conscious near the bed, clutching his mangled arm.

Nikki stormed inside, face pale, voice shaking. "W–what’s going on here?"

"I should be the one asking you that," Rhea said flatly, folding her arms.

The crowd broke into a wave of whispers, ncks craning to get a glimpse.

"Is that... Is that Tavian?" someone asked, pointing toward the frightened male omega pressed close to the wall.

Rhea followed their gaze. "Tavian?" she repeated, testing the name. "That’s your name?"

He nodded, hesitantly.

"Hmm," she said with a faint smirk. "I like it. It suits you."

Tavian blinked at her, utterly dumbfounded. Was she seriously complimenting his name. Right now? Any sane omega would be trembling in fear at being caught like this, and she stood there all calm and unbothered talking about his name?

He swallowed hard. Rhea was either the bravest girl he’d ever met, or completely unhinged.

"What happened here?" Ares’s voice cut through the low murmurs, deep and sharp with disbelief as his gaze swept the room.

"Nothing much," Rhea said coolly, brushing invisible dust off her sleeve. "They were being idiots, so I handled them like idiots."

A murmur ran through the gathered pack. Eberhard blinked, his disbelief bordering on offense. "That’s impossible," he said tightly. "You expect us to believe you did this?"

Rhea arched an eyebrow, expression dry. "Do I look like I care what you believe?"

Ellie, who had been silently scanning the room, felt his stomach twist.

She actually did this? His eyes darted between the unconscious men and Rhea, who looked completely unfazed There was no trace of panic, no sign of fear, just calm irritation. She had same look when she dealt with Eberhard and his cohorts.

Something isn’t right. There’s no way she could have done all these. unease crept down his spine. Omegas weren’t built to take down wolves higher in ranks and she’s a wolf-less one. But then again... who else could it have been?

This was not the girl he used to know. What happened to you? he wondered, watching her as if seeing her for the first time.