Omega Dual Bond

My heart shattered as my father flung my suitcase out the door. It narrowly escaped slamming into my toes. "Get out of my house, you shameless loser. You're mateless at almost nineteen. All you do is bum around and waste my money on ridiculous dresses for mating balls, yet you always come back empty-handed!” His voice thundered through the yard like a warning siren, loud enough to make sure every nosy neighbor knew of my disgrace. "Honey, that’s too much!" my mother cried, as if that would somehow soften the shame now oozing from every pore of my body. Her voice cracked, matching the red spreading across her face. We lived in a community where everyone knew everyone's business. My father continued his public spectacle at the front door, like we were some kind of reality show. His yelling seemed to be standard entertainment for the neighbors. "Adora our only daughter!” My mom cried. “How can you throw her out, knowing the border is swarming with rogues? They could kill her!" "Read my lips, I don’t care!" My dad's words sliced through the air and drew the curious eyes of more people. Prying eyes peeked over picket fences like vultures waiting to feast on the carcass of my dignity. I remained still, fixing my eyes to the cobblestones beneath my feet and pretending the ground would swallow me whole if I just stared hard enough. Silence was my safety net against my father’s dangerous temper. It always made him angrier. The more I cried or begged, the more satisfied he became. But I wasn’t giving him that satisfaction anymore. Not this time. I'd endured eighteen years of insults, each one a little dagger to the soul. This public humiliation meant nothing to me. Being an omega in my pack was a curse. Sure, my pack didn’t kill omegas at birth like some others did, but being alive didn’t mean much when your life was a constant string of insults and rejection. The bonus was my parents both had Beta blood. No one could explain why I was born so weak and pathetic. The DNA test didn’t lie—I was their child. I was just a curse they had to live with, and my father never let me forget it. Despite being at the top of my class, despite having a face that could stop traffic, I was the pack’s resident reject. Every ball I showed up in hopes of finding someone who would see me for more than just my bloodline. But every time, I came home empty-handed, and my father’s hatred for me grew deeper. I didn’t need an alpha. Hell, I didn’t even need a Beta. All I wanted was someone decent and kind enough to take me away from the nightmare that was my family. But that hope was fading fast. My mother and grandmother yelled at my father and their voices rose in an embarrassing public scene, trying to redeem whatever was left of my dignity. Some neighbors even stepped in, scolding me for not begging for forgiveness. Forgiveness? For what? For being born into the wrong body? For being the family’s disappointment? "I have to go,” I said to my mom. My voice sounded flat, like all life had drained from it. "The ball starts at six p.m. This is my last chance." The words didn’t feel real coming from my lips. This was it. This was my last shot at finding a mate before I turned nineteen and became nothing more than an old maid in the eyes of my pack. They let me pass, though my father’s wicked words followed me like a shadow. "Loser! Don't come back if you fail again!" As if I didn’t already know that the clock was ticking, and I was running out of time. Nineteen was the limit. You either found your mate at eighteen, or you were deemed old, past your prime, and thrown into isolation and darkness. I had a month left, and the next step was the Sisters’ Sanctuary—a glorified prison for unmated female omegas where I’d live without s*x all because I couldn’t find a mate. The fear consumed me with every step I took. This was it. This was my last chance before my life became an empty shell. My feet moved faster as I reached the highway, and a quiet prayer slipped from my lips. “Please, goddess, just give me someone. Anyone. I don’t care if he’s old and ugly, just let him be kind.” The air thickened, heavy with the promise of rain, and for a moment, I considered turning back. But my father’s cruel words echoed in my mind, and I kept moving. I had no choice. I was alone on a dangerous path, and fear crept into the edges of my mind. I kept running and drowned out the rising panic with the music pumping through my headphones. Luck for once was on my side, and I made it to the community center. The center was bustling when I arrived. Music poured out of the ballroom and the people inside were laughing and enjoying themselves. Meanwhile, I was wearing a wet, ugly, ill-fitting orange dress, looking like a walking disaster. My hair that would have been my only saving grace, had been styled enough to make me look semi-presentable, but I was drenched and felt like a joke. I stepped into the hall, which had been transformed into a ballroom. Lights twinkled above me like stars. The scent of flowers mingled with the laughter, and the overwhelming pressure of the night settled on my chest. I searched the room for Morgana, my best friend and the one person I could lean on. There she was, stunning in a white dress adorned with pearls. She was Alpha Carter's daughter, flawless as ever, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Her story wasn’t a fairy tale either. She found her mate months ago, he was ten years older and a biology teacher who rejected her bond because she was too young. Morgana had cried for weeks. The fact that even she, with her perfect bloodline and status, had suffered rejection, was the only small comfort in my miserable existence. I was about to head over to her when something stopped me in my tracks. A sharp and intoxicating scent hit me like a mix of pine and rain. My wolf stirred inside me, excited and vibrating to life. My mate was here. “Adora, over here!” Morgana waved, thinking I was rushing toward her, but I barely registered her presence. My wolf was on the hunt, leading me to the source of that addictive scent. I pushed through the crowd and my heart banged against my chest. “s**t, Adora, you look flushed,” Morgana caught up to me, worry etched on her face. “And why the hell do you look so tattered? What’s going on?” “I think my mate’s here,” I whispered, breathless. Her eyes widened in shock, but I didn’t wait for her response. The scent was growing stronger, pulling me in like a magnet. And then I saw him. Tall, rich brunette hair, dressed in designer clothes that screamed wealth and power. His arms were wrapped around a girl, and their lips locked in a kiss so passionate, it made my stomach churn. Fuck me. Morgana stiffened beside me, horror dawning on her face. “Don’t tell me… he’s your mate.” I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. All the hope I had, all the excitement that had built up inside me, shattered in an instant. My mate was already taken, already in love with someone else. He turned, eyes widening as they met mine. Recognition flashed across his face, followed by something colder. Disgust. “No,” he muttered, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe the goddess would be so cruel. “It can’t be.” And just like that, his rejection was clear. His face twisted into something ugly, like I was a stain on his perfect life. I couldn’t bear it. I turned and ran.