"Snow, I know what I did was unforgivable..." she admitted, acknowledging the gravity of her actions.

Liam’s frustration reached its peak as he yelled at her, his jaw clenched tightly. "Then why are you apologizing if you already know it’s unforgivable?" he demanded, his words reflecting his inner turmoil and confusion.

Anastasia stood her ground, her voice resolute as she replied, "Because I can."

Liam’s anger surged, his fist clenched tightly, and his jaw tightened in frustration.

"You are still so selfish and self-centered," he snapped angrily. "You think the only opinion that matters here is yours. You believe you are better and can force everyone and everything to bend to your exact will."

With a nervous gulp, Anastasia mustered the courage to respond. "You are right," she admitted, her voice tinged with humility.

"I am technically capable of doing that, but I am genuinely trying to change. I believe I have made some progress... even if it is just a small step."

Liam’s glare intensified, his voice dripping with bitterness. "I don’t care if you’ve changed because nothing and nobody can give me back what I have lost," he retorted sharply.

Anastasia’s voice trembled, her words heavy with regret. "You are right. I can’t undo the damage I have caused," she acknowledged. "But please understand, without seeking an excuse or absolution, that if I had known you were my m... Fated mate, I would never have made those choices."

Liam’s anger reached its peak as he erupted, his voice filled with frustration. "Are you trying to say that it’s my fault for what you did? Are you insinuating that I’m to blame because I hid it from you?"

Anastasia shook her head hastily, her eyes pleading for understanding. "No, Snow, it’s not your fault. You had nothing to do with it,"

she assured him. "It’s all on me, I swear. I’m only saying that if I had been patient enough to share the exact issue with you and discuss it openly, none of this would have happened. But the reason I didn’t was because... because you, omegas..."

Her voice trailed off as Liam angrily interrupted her, his frustration boiling over. " Us Omega? Us omegas what? Why do hate us now?"

Anastasia’s bold reply hung in the air, her words laden with frustration and resentment.

"Yes, you omegas are insufferably foolish and infuriating," she exclaimed without hesitation. "You prioritize everyone else’s lives above your own, being so selfless that it makes me want to punch each and every one of you in the face."

Liam’s expression shifted from confusion to shock, his initial expectation of insult and disdain shattered by her unexpected words.

As he struggled to process her statement, Anastasia continued, her voice carrying a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I was absolutely certain that if you weren’t my mate and I had told you about the fact that nobody survives the pregnancy by true blood, you would have said, ’I don’t care. I’m ready to sacrifice my life for my baby.’ A life you wouldn’t even have the chance to witness. I couldn’t let history repeat itself. It happened once, and I couldn’t bear to let it happen again. That’s why I made the choices I did."

Silence enveloped them as they locked eyes, the weight of their emotions hanging heavily in the air.

Liam finally spoke, his voice low and laced with a simmering anger. "Honestly, I don’t care about any of that," he admitted. "But just to put something out there, the reason I was afraid to tell you that I’m your fated mate was because of your deep-seated hatred toward us omegas."

Anastasia lowered her gaze, feeling a surge of shame wash over her. "I’m so sorry," she whispered, her voice filled with remorse.

"Truly, I am. I’m trying to make amends. I’ve started talking to some omegas now, even reaching out and touching Katie’s hand. But I can’t change everything overnight. You were the only omega I could touch and speak with freely, the only one who didn’t make me feel suffocated."

Liam’s gaze remained fixed on her, his tone hushed as he responded, "I can’t forgive you. No matter what you say or do, I simply cannot bring myself to forgive what you did. I don’t even want to forgive you. I just can not forget."

She nodded understandingly, her smile patient and accepting. "I know, and I won’t ask for forgiveness because you have every right to hate me and withhold forgiveness for what I did. Requesting forgiveness would be nothing short of selfishness. I wouldn’t dare. I’ve apologized, but you have the right to either accept or reject it."

Liam maintained his silence, holding their eye contact, his mind flooded with memories of the past.

The image of that catastrophic day in her bathroom, inside the bathtub, flashed before him—the moment he had opened the drain to let the bloody water and their unborn child slip away before he could hold him, uttering the words, "I reject it."

Anastasia nodded, acknowledging his response. "And that’s okay. You are right."

A heavy silence settled in the room, thick with unspoken emotions.

Suddenly, Anastasia sniffed the air, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Snow, I apologize for this personal question, but when is your heat?"

Liam looked at her, annoyance flickering in his eyes at the intrusion into his personal affairs. "Why are you asking?" he questioned, his tone guarded.

She remained silent for a moment before speaking in shock, her voice laced with concern. "Because I can smell your heat approaching."

Liam shook his head, dismissing her claim. "That’s not even logical. My heart is due in two weeks."

Anastasia’s panic intensified as she vehemently shook her head. "No, you idiot! You’re going to have your heat in the next couple of hours. I can smell it."

Liam took a moment to process the information, his eyes widening in realization after counter. "You’re right," he admitted, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Anastasia growled under her breath, her frustration evident. "Fuck, I need to get you out of here."

Liam looked at her, perplexed by her panic. "Why are you panicking?" he questioned.

Anastasia met his gaze, and her frustration was evident. "Why aren’t you panicking?" she retorted.

Liam spoke with confidence. "I don’t know, probably because I’m also an alpha and can suppress my heat."

Anastasia paused, confusion etched on her face. "You can do that?" she asked, seeking clarification.

Liam nodded in affirmation. "Yeah, but you’ll still be able to tell I’m in heat. I’ll need moonflower to mask the scent."

Anastasia’s eyes widened with a mix of fear and concern. "Oh, fuck no. I need to get you out of here. We can’t afford to let them know you’re an omega."

Liam’s frustration boiled over, and he yelled at her, hating the fact that she thought he needed her help. "They can’t do shit to me!"

As Anastasia’s urgent concerns filled the air, whispered with a mixture of anger, frustration, and genuine worry, Liam listened intently. " One or two even five can’t, but a whole pack very much can do a lot."

His eyes locked with hers, seeking reassurance amidst the impending danger.

" what about you?" When he meant the subject of her own well-being, his voice low and laden with concern, Anastasia responded calmly, her words carrying a hint of the hidden dynamics at play.

"I can’t get pregnant, so I’m fine," she reassured him, alluding to the potential peril he faced as an omega—a risk of being exploited as a breeder by the pack. Meanwhile, her status as true blood provided her with a different level of protection, though it did not entirely alleviate their worries, at least they could not use her as a breeder.

Before Liam could utter another word, the creaking rusty door swung open, unveiling a figure that commanded attention.

Standing at an imposing height of 6’4", the man possessed a rugged handsomeness that captivated observers.

His piercing blue eyes held a hint of danger and intelligence, while his very long blond hair cascaded effortlessly over his broad shoulders.

Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, every detail of his attire spoke of opulence and refinement.

The long coat that draped his tall frame exuded an air of authority, its fabric hinting at the wealth that surrounded him.

Adorned with expensive jewelry that caught the light, he wore these symbols of affluence with confidence—a testament to his position within the hierarchy.

But it was the watch on his wrist that drew attention—a timepiece of exquisite craftsmanship, its intricate design reflecting his discerning taste and status.

Each movement of his hand seemed deliberate as if he were accustomed to the finer things in life and the power they bestowed upon him.

" Who are you?" Asked Anastasia the question that ran through her and Liam’s mind.

"I’m Cobra Storm, my love," he declared in his deep thick voice, leaving Anastasia and Liam both confused.

My love?