Chapter 3

After the competition, I stumbled home, utterly humiliated, only to be met with a barrage of curses from my parents.

“Our Blackwood family has been in the jewelry business for generations, and we value integrity above all else!”

“You actually plagiarized in the competition, and it was your own brother’s design! Aren't you utterly mortified?!”

Integrity? Who was really lacking integrity? I thought with a bitter laugh.

“Mom, it wasn’t me...” I tried desperately to explain. “Julian copied *my* design, it was *him*! Not me!”

“You still dare to argue! Julian has always been sensible, pure-hearted, how could he possibly do such a thing?” Dad, who had been silent, grabbed the ashtray from the table and hurled it at me.

I dodged it, narrowly.

I watched them comfort Julian, and suddenly I didn’t want to explain anymore. It was pointless; they wouldn't believe me anyway. They only believed Julian.

“We truly regret ever having you as a son!” Mom shrieked, pointing towards the front door. “Get out! Get out of here right now!”

I said nothing more, turning to leave this suffocating place without hesitation, desperate to escape.

As I stepped out the front door, I heard Julian fake-cry, “Mom, Dad, please don’t send Noah away. Maybe he was just confused for a moment...”

“What nonsense are you talking about? He should have left ages ago,” Mom’s voice softened instantly. “My darling won the competition, what do you want to eat tonight? Mom will cook it for you.”

Watching the 'happy family' of three, my heart began to ache.

That didn't belong to me. It never had.

The school expelled me. My life, just like that, was ruined.

A sharp sting. Caleb Sterling released me after he was done venting.

The room was a disaster zone. I curled up on the bed, trembling uncontrollably.

“Disgusting,” he sneered, looking at me with cold disdain. “Your scent is getting more and more repulsive!”

My face was pale with pain. I just lay there, silently crying.

He let go of me, dressed, and left.

My scent gland was severely damaged. The doctor had warned me last month that if I kept using suppressants without an Alpha’s pheromones, I would completely lose all sense of pheromones.

The final outcome would be a surgical removal of my scent gland, leaving me permanently disabled.

I begged Caleb for just a little of his pheromones, even a tiny bit, but he said it was what I deserved.

He also said he wouldn't mark an Omega he didn't love.

I didn't know how much longer my scent gland could hold out...