Prologue
Chad
I’m standing outside Richard’s building, hugging my jacket tight as a January wind whips through my hair. This concrete fortress is everything he ever wanted—sleek, modern, expensive. The doorman eyes me like I’m a stray about to scratch up the marble floors. I don’t blame him. AfterOmega in Paradise, the world seems convinced I’m the villain who tried to snatch the alphas from sweet, innocent Lilah.
God, how did my life get so twisted?
The door slides open, and here comes Richard, dressed in a tailored coat so sharp it could slice diamonds. He looks me up and down, a sneer curling his lips. He always did love sneering—makes him feel taller, I guess.
“What are you doing here?” he says, voice dripping with the same condescension that used to make me doubt every breath I took.
I straighten my spine. “I came to get the rest of my stuff. You know, the stuff I left before I flew off to film a fake dating show?”
His jaw flexes, and he huffs out a laugh. “Oh,thatstuff. Sorry, Chad, I decided I didn’t want any reminders of youcluttering up my place.” He flips a hand like he’s shooing away a fly. “You should’ve moved it before you embarrassed yourself on national TV.”
I grit my teeth. “Youthrewit all out?”
He smirks. “Don’t look so shocked. I have a new omega—someone who doesn’t come with so much…baggage.”
A spark of pure rage flares in my chest. “So my mother’s ring was ‘baggage’? My laptop? Everything else? You’re a real piece of work.”
He shrugs, unbothered. “They took up space. Just like you used to.”
I clench my fists, knuckles going white. And I hate that tears threaten to burn my eyes, because damn if I’ll let him see me cry. This man, this alpha, was once the center of my universe. I bent over backwards and tied myself into knots attempting to please him. Now he’s just a living reminder of how foolish I was.
I inhale sharply and try to stand my ground. “You know what, Richard? Fine. Keep your apartment, your shiny new omega. Keep living in your fantasy world where you walk all over people.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You’re so dramatic. It’s no wonder you were the show’s villain. I saw those episodes, Chad. You weren’t exactly painting yourself in a good light.”
That does it. “Idid what I had to do to stay on that ridiculous show so Lilah could have her shot at love. I didn’t sabotage her; I boosted her.The producerscut it to look like I was the jerk, but everyone who was actuallythere—Lilah, Willow, the other omegas—they know the truth. We sat on the patio each night, away from the cameras, practicing lines and giving Lilah pep talks because she wasreallyfalling for those alphas. I was just the decoy. But guess what? Lies sell.”
It probably helps that they didn’t start as all lies. But I don’t mention that part. He wouldn’t care either way.
Richard rolls his eyes. “Oh, spare me the sob story.”
I fire back, voice trembling with anger, “Call it what you want, but at least I know I’m capable of loyalty. That’s more than you can say.”
The doorman coughs, trying to get our attention, but I ignore him. I’ve got nothing left to lose here. Richard’s thrown away the last physical pieces I had of my past. And as much as it hurts, it also sets me free. I don’t owe him anything—not tears, not regret, not even a goodbye.
Stepping back, I let the cold air fill my lungs. “Enjoy your glass tower, Richard. Someday, you’ll realize you can’t just toss people out like yesterday’s trash.” Then I force a tight grin. “But until that day comes, good luck. You’ll need it.”
I turn on my heel and march off into the crowded New York street. My heart’s pounding, and my cheeks burn with fury and grief. But I’m done letting him see how I break.
As I walk, the city lights blur, and I hear distant whispers—people recognizing me for the “role” I played onOmega in Paradise. They can keep their assumptions. I know who I really am, and so do Lilah and Willow. Those memories of us—three omegas sneaking away from the cameras, sipping coconut water, making each other laugh until we cried—that’s the real me. No producer can edit out that friendship.
Richard can’t tarnish it either. Not anymore.
I force my legs to move faster, weaving through the late-night crowd as the neon signs blur. A surge of adrenaline still buzzes under my skin from facing Richard. My eyes sting—not just from the biting wind but from the realization that he actually threw away my mother’s ring. It was the one thing she ever willingly gave me.
I want to scream or cry, but I won’t give into either. Not here, not while everyone still sees me as that reality show villain. I’m already the target of enough stares, enough gossip.
My shoulders hunch, and I lower my gaze, too lost in my own thoughts to pay attention to my surroundings until I hear a deep, mocking laugh behind me.
“Hey, look who it is!”
I spin around, and three alphas tower over me on the sidewalk, each clad in stylish coats and brimming with arrogance. I’ve encountered types like them before—rich kids drunk on entitlement.
One of them squints at me. “Is that the guy fromOmega in Paradise? The one who tried to steal Lilah’s alphas?”
