Cynthia Dion: I drifted into sleep as soon as they placed me in the bed. Time became a blur, and it felt like I'd been here for ages. They only allowed me out for short bathroom breaks and a quick clean-up before another injection. There was no extra food or drink, leaving my body weak. The thought of leaving the bed seemed like an impossible task. It must have been countless days later when Atticus finally came to my room one evening. I was barely awake, as they hadn't injected me for a few hours. Atticus paced around nervously, while I struggled to stay conscious. "You know," he began speaking when he realized I might not fully comprehend him, "I lost my parents when I was just a child. I faced people who wanted to exploit me for money from my pack. Some even tried to rob my pack by manipulating me into giving them the keys to the security office, but those were random events. Even when I encountered the worst people, none were as heartless as you. You came into my life, and from the very first moment, I was certain you were my mate. I started falling for you, but then you made me realize that beautiful faces can hide the ugliest souls. You turned out to be a cold-hearted person," his words floated over me. His confession of having a crush on me held no weight because he hadn't shown a hint of affection before this moment. But here it was again, the wild accusations. "But I'm glad now," he continued, "because I've had the chance to teach you a lesson. So when you think about ruining another girl's life, you'll remember this day," he chuckled, finally relaxing his tense muscles and hopping into the bed beside me. I couldn't move away from him; I was badly intoxicated. "I," I struggled to open my mouth, but nothing came out. "What? Do you want to say something?" He turned his face towards me and brought his ears closer to my lips to taunt me. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you over my outstanding victory," he said, then leaned his face over mine and asked, "Come on, don't be shy, say it." "Why are you staring at my lips? Don't tell me you're turned on just by looking at someone's lips. What, do you want to kiss me?" He knew I couldn't move away from him. "So the rumors are true; you do get turned on by staring at someone's lips," he teased, frowning, and then shifting his gaze down to my lips. "You can. A little kiss won't hurt anyone, right?" He whispered near my lips and leaned in, but then he pulled away abruptly, wrinkling his nose. "You disgust me," he remarked, pretending to gag. A tear rolled down my cheek, catching his attention. "Ow! Don't cry. I know you're bored. Do you want me to cheer you up?" He stroked his chin, feigning deep thought before retrieving his phone and muttering, "I have something for you." I watched as he scrolled through his phone, a smirk dancing on his lips as he played something for himself before showing it to me. "This will make you happy and also enlighten you on what girls like Rosalie receive and what she-wolves like you get," he drew a clear distinction, referring to Rosalie as a decent she-wolf and me as something else entirely. The video began to play, and it didn't take me long to see what was happening. "I, Atticus Snow, accept Rosalie Woods as my chosen mate," he stood proudly before her, accepting her in front of a small group of his friends who cheered and clapped in celebration. Rosalie looked stunning in her white knee-length dress, adorned with a flower crown, resembling a princess. She blushed and stood with utmost grace. It tore at my heart because I hadn't been treated the same way. "I, Rosalie, accept Alpha Atticus as my mate," she whispered, shyly taking his hand. The two smiled for the camera, and then Atticus leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. I closed my eyes and shuddered, my heart aching. Why had I been brought here if he had already accepted a chosen mate? Let me guess! He simply wanted me to suffer. "I didn't show you this video for you to cry. Come on! You'll find someone too. Oh wait! I guess not. Nobody will be crazy enough to accept a rogue Omega with a mark on her wrist," he scoffed and shook his head. "Now, I'm gonna go because my sweet mate is waiting for me. You can go home now; I don't need you anymore," he declared, stepping off the bed and stashing his phone in his pocket. Just like that, he exited the room, leaving the door unlocked. I lay there for a few moments with my eyes closed, then turned over and struggled to lift myself onto my feet. I needed to seize this opportunity to escape, so I began to move my legs, forcing myself to walk. The surroundings seemed to spin, and I felt a chilling sensation. Upon leaving the room, I was taken aback to find that there was no one in the vicinity, not even near the entrance. It seemed like I had been trapped in an abandoned house for an unknown period of time, as there was no one in sight. The cottage was situated in a forest that I recognized, one that was close to my home. The birds in the treetops were chirping, and the bright sunshine directly in my eyes made me squint briefly before I gathered my resolve and resumed walking. Everything felt like a terrible dream, but I knew it had happened, evidenced by the mark on my wrist. As I walked, a whirlwind of worries and fears consumed my thoughts. Would I ever get the chance to see these people regret all the things they had done to me? Was Atticus going to start a new chapter with Rosalie after he had ruined mine? I was headed home now, fully aware that I would have to face the consequences of my disappearance.