The Wolfless Omega: The Alpha's Runaway Bride

Chapter Six

Raine's Perspective

On the morning of the engagement ceremony, the entire pack was in a frenzy. The corridors echoed with hurried footsteps.

I sat motionless on the edge of the bed, gripping the prepared fake ID, which I had wrapped in cloth and bound tightly to my forearm.

Last night, Ronan had decided on a whim that I must stay by his side all day. My heart had sunk to the very bottom, convinced that five years of planning were about to crumble. But by dawn, a twist of fate arrived.

The escort party meant to receive the Crestmoon Pack delegation had been set to depart before daybreak. Yet at first light, word came from their side—their young lady insisted that Ronan himself must personally greet her, or the engagement would be called off.

The messenger spoke politely, but the arrogance in his tone brooked no negotiation.

No one dared refuse. An Alpha might be noble, but the other side was an even more prestigious pack. This marriage was not his to decide alone.

Ronan's face darkened, but he still had to prepare to leave.

Before departing, he called me over.

"Raine, I can't bring an Omega with me on an occasion like this. Stay in the pack center like a good girl. You're not allowed to go anywhere."

I was inwardly overjoyed, wishing he would leave immediately. But outwardly, I pulled a long face and shot back in a resentful tone: "Off to pick up another woman, and you say it so righteously."

With that, I turned to leave in a huff, my boots stomping against the floor with loud thuds, making my "anger" perfectly clear.

"Raine."

He was speechless for two seconds, then caught up and grabbed my hand. He lowered his head close to my ear, his breath warm against my skin, carrying the faint scent of his cologne.

"Let me finish."

I turned my face away, refusing to look at him. His other hand reached over, his fingertips brushing my chin and gently turning my face back.

"I'm only going through the motions. I can't refuse them. When it's over, I'll come straight back to you first."

"Is that true or not?"

I kept my face stiff, as if I didn't want to hear his sweet words.

He was quiet for a few breaths, his thumb gently rubbing my palm. "It's true. I promise. The one I care about most is still you. Even if I get engaged to her, there will always be a place for you in my heart. Don't be angry. Stay here and wait for me, alright?"

His face drew close to mine, our noses touching.

His soft lips gave me a light kiss, and then he smiled. "Be good and wait for me, okay?"

For a moment, I couldn't tell if I was pretending or not—heat rose to my cheeks.

I feigned a softening of my anger and gave a reluctant "Mm," my expression deliberately still a little unwilling.

I had delayed Ronan for quite a while, and he left in a hurry. But as he looked back at me from the doorway, the corner of his mouth carried a smile he couldn't hide.

The door closed, and his footsteps faded.

Once I confirmed the corridor was completely silent, I wiped every trace of grievance from my face and turned back toward the bed.

I quickly pulled the fake ID from my sleeve, straightened my clothes, and pushed open the door.

The corridor was indeed empty. Everyone had been pulled to the main hall to handle ceremony affairs. Time was short, so I kept my steps measured and hurried toward the unloading area, avoiding the scattered servants along the way.

Using the routes I had memorized over the past few days, I made it to the unloading area without incident.

The scene there was exactly as I had expected—goods piled everywhere, but most of the manpower had been reassigned. Only two or three people were frantically counting inventory in the distance. No one noticed me.

The return convoy's carts were already hitched, their beds piled with empty crates and debris from the unloaded goods. The gaps were just barely enough to squeeze a person into.

I crawled into one of the carts about to head back, my knee knocking hard against a wooden crate. The pain made me suck in a sharp breath, but I didn't dare make a sound.

I curled myself into the narrow space between a pile of empty sacks and crates and held my breath.

Soon, someone climbed into the driver's seat. The engine rumbled, and the cart lurched before slowly moving forward.

As the wheels rolled over the road, I realized I hadn't brought even a drop of water or a bite of food since I'd made my move. But my heart was pounding.

Like a dream. My heart ached with the melancholy of leaving the place I'd lived for five years, yet soared with the joy of returning to a normal life.

Human society. I was truly coming back.

Wind slipped through the gaps in the wooden boards and brushed against my face, filling my lungs with a relief I hadn't felt in years.

After the cart had traveled some distance, I seized the right moment and rolled off the side.

I hit the ground and rolled half a turn across the dirt, scraping my shoulder raw. It stung fiercely.

I stood by the bushes and watched the cart carry the dust and clamor far away.

A question suddenly flickered through my mind—what did the Luna who was about to marry Ronan look like? Would they be happy together?

But in an instant, I shook my head and dismissed the thought.

Because it was over. None of it had anything to do with me anymore.

What followed was a long trek on foot. I could only rely on my faded, half-forgotten memories of the route back to human territory.

My mouth was parched, but there was no water anywhere.

By the second half of the journey, my legs were growing weak. Every step felt like walking on cotton, and my vision began to sway.

I was probably running a fever, or maybe it was hunger and thirst.

I pushed forward on sheer willpower.

Forward.

Only forward could take me back to where it all began.

The sun moved from overhead toward the west. When the sky began to darken, I finally spotted the outline of a building.

The Human Embassy. A low building with a single lamp glowing at the door, casting a small circle of warm yellow light in the twilight.

The moment I saw that long-missed building, the blood in my veins began to boil.

I dragged my unresponsive legs to the door and, with the last of my strength, knocked.

Footsteps sounded from within.

Just as the door was about to open—my vision went black, and I collapsed into endless darkness.