Omega Of Ashes

When The House Turns Hostile

Julian caught my agonized expression.

“Mi amor,” he said softly, cupping my cheeks in his palms. “You can’t let them get to you. You’re stronger than this. One day… maybe one day there’ll be someone who’ll come and sweep you off your feet. A prince charming of sorts—someone who’ll save you from all this.”

What?

He offered me a hopeful smile, though I could hear the ache beneath his words. Julian still believed there was some kind of fairy-tale ending waiting for me.

“This isn’t a fairy tale, Julian,” I said quietly. “This is real life. And real life doesn’t have happy endings for people like me.”

“Hm,” he hummed thoughtfully. “Have you forgotten so quickly? That Beta at the Luna Hunt Gala. He certainly seemed like a prince charming to me, didn’t he?”

I froze.

That night.

That beautiful, confusing, awful night.

The night Robert had stood up for me—had defended me against the crowd. My breath hitched. Was it possible? Did Robert care? Or had he simply been a momentary knight in shining armor?

I drifted into thought, picturing his face—his eyes. Powerful. Protective.

Where was he now? Would I ever see him again? Would I ever get the chance to thank him properly?

Julian’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and heat rushed to my cheeks. “Oh, you’re looking dreamy now,” he teased, leaning closer with a mischievous grin. “Tell me—were you thinking about Robert just now?”

I looked away quickly, trying to compose myself. “W-what? No! I wasn’t thinking about him,” I said too fast, the warmth in my face betraying me.

“Oh, really?” Julian’s smile widened. “Because you certainly looked like you were. You know, if you are thinking about him, you could always talk to him. He might be waiting for you to come back and say thank you—for saving your butt at the gala.”

No. No. No.

I groaned and buried my face in my hands, mortified.

“Stop teasing me, Julian. I don’t think he’s waiting for anything from me.”

His tone softened, the teasing melting away. “It’s alright, Liana. You’re allowed to have feelings. And if he’s someone who treated you well, maybe… maybe he’s someone worth knowing.”

Who said anything about wanting to know him? Please. A hopeless, worthless Omega was probably the last thing on his list.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I had enough to worry about without daydreaming over a Beta who probably didn’t care.

“Please,” Julian said gently, reaching out, “let me help you with your bruises. I don’t want you going out like this.”

I hesitated. “I don’t want to get you into trouble, Julian. You’ve already done so much for me.”

He shook his head firmly. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll do it in a way that won’t get me caught. Let me help you.”

I was skeptical, torn between reason and the simple desire to be cared for.

The inner child in me won.

“I should refuse,” I thought—but something in his expression made it impossible.

“Okay,” I finally said. “But I really don’t know if I should let you do this. You shouldn’t risk your position for me.”

Julian smiled reassuringly. “You deserve it. Let me help you take care of yourself.”

After tending to the bruises on my face and arms, he studied me again, still dissatisfied. “Will you let me come with you to the butchery? I don’t think you should go alone.”

What?!

Did this man not value his job at all? Father would have his head if he found out.

That errand was one of Father’s many ways of disciplining me—his way of making up for all the years he claimed he’d wasted spoiling me with the so-called princess treatment.

I shook my head immediately. “No. You can’t. What if someone sees you with me? It’s not worth it.”

Julian’s expression softened, but the stubborn glint in his eyes remained. “You’ve never been to the butchery. It’s not a pleasant place, and I don’t think you’ll handle it well alone. Please, let me come.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the imagined stench, grimy floors, and the echoing slam of slaughterhouse doors stopped me.

For a moment, I almost agreed.

But then I thought of Dad.

“No, Julian. I’ll be fine,” I said firmly. “I have to face this. It’s just another task. I can handle it. Just… don’t worry about me.”

He studied me for a long moment before sighing. “Alright. But I’m still wishing you luck,” he said, then added lightly, “And when you come back, let me really help you. I’m not finished with you yet.”

I managed a faint smile. “Thank you, Julian. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’ll never have to find out, Liana,” he said softly. “I’ll always be here for you.”

I stepped out of the house, the chilly evening air biting at my skin as the door slammed shut behind me. My heart pounded—whether from the anticipation of leaving or the dread of what awaited me, I couldn’t tell.

I paused on the front step, staring down the long driveway. The idea of taking my car, driving away from this place and into the unknown, was tempting. But freedom—doing something purely for myself—felt almost absurd in my current reality.

As I neared the garage, my hand brushed against the black convertible—the one that once made me feel alive, in control. I imagined myself behind the wheel, wind in my hair, the open road stretching endlessly ahead… far away from all this.

But just as my fingers closed around the door handle, a voice stopped me cold.

“Señorita Liana Nash!”