Maya's POV
I threw myself against my cell door and slid the lock shut just as someone knocked.
My heart was still pounding from what had happened in Drake's office. The kiss. The pack council finding us together. The terrible moment when Elder Morrison's face had turned black with rage.
"Maya." Drake's voice came through the wooden door, soft and anxious. "Please let me in."
I pressed my back against the door, trying to catch my breath. "You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
"If someone sees you—"
"I don't care."
That made me stop. Drake had just risked everything by kissing me in front of the pack council. Elder Morrison had been so angry I thought he might challenge Drake right there in the office. Only Marcus stepping between them had prevented a total disaster.
"The council will banish me," I whispered. "They'll say I tried to seduce you."
"No one is banishing you." Drake's voice was strong. "I won't let that happen."
"You can't stop them. You have to marry Lila Cross. The whole pack is depending on it."
Silence stretched between us. Then Drake said, "What if I don't want to marry her?"
My heart did something funny in my chest. "What?"
"Open the door, Maya. Please."
I stared at the lock for a long moment. Every smart thought in my head said to leave it closed. Drake was the Alpha. I was an omega. This could never work, and trying would only get us both upset.
But my heart was louder than my brain tonight.
I opened the door.
Drake stood on my tiny porch, and even in the darkness I could see the focus in his silver-blue eyes. He looked like a man who'd been fighting with himself and lost.
"Can I come in?"
I stepped aside, and he walked into my small house. It was embarrassing how tiny my home was compared to his house, but Drake didn't seem to notice. He was looking at me like I was the most important thing in the world.
"The council meeting," I started to say.
"Is over." Drake moved closer. "I told them I was checking on you because you seemed upset during dinner service. They bought it."
"This time. But Drake, we can't—"
He kissed me again, cutting off my protests. This time was different from the desperate kiss in his office. This one was soft and gentle, like he was asking a question instead of making a statement.
When we broke apart, I was breathing hard.
"I've been thinking about you all evening," Drake said quietly. "About what you said, about wanting to see the ocean. About how you light up when you talk about trips."
"Those are just dreams."
"Why can't dreams come true?"
I looked up at him, this strong man who could have any woman in the world, and wondered if I was dreaming right now. "Because I'm nobody special."
"You're wrong." Drake cupped my face in his hands. "You're the most special person I've ever met."
"You don't know me."
"Then let me learn."
Something in his voice made my knees weak. This was Alpha Drake Wolfstone, the man every girl in the pack dreamed about. And he was standing in my cabin, looking at me like I held all the answers to questions he'd been asking his whole life.
"What about your wedding?" I whispered.
"What about it?"
"It's in two days."
Drake was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Maya, what if I told you I've never wanted anything the way I want you?"
"I'd say you're crazy."
He laughed, and the sound sent warmth through my whole body. "Maybe I am. Maybe you've driven me totally insane."
"Drake—"
"Stay with me tonight," he said suddenly. "Just tonight. Let me pretend for a few hours that I'm not the Alpha and you're not an omega. Let me pretend we're just two people who found each other."
I knew I should say no. This was dangerous and impossible and would only lead to sadness. But looking into his eyes, I realized I didn't care.
"Okay," I whispered.
Drake's smile was like morning. He pulled me close and kissed me again, and this time I kissed him back with everything I had. All the lonely nights, all the dreams of being important to someone, all the wishes I'd made on stars came pouring out.
"You're shaking," Drake whispered against my lips.
"I'm scared."
"Of me?"
"Of this. Of how you make me feel." I looked up at him. "I've never felt anything like this before."
"Neither have I," Drake revealed. "That's how I know it's real." We spent the night talking and kissing and holding each other. Drake told me about the pressure of being Alpha, about feeling stuck by everyone's expectations. I told him about my dreams of adventure, about feeling unseen for so long.
"You're not invisible to me," he said, stroking my hair as I lay against his chest. "You're the only thing I can see clearly."
As dawn started to creep through my windows, I felt happy than I'd ever been in my life. Maybe fairy tales could come true. Maybe an Alpha could love an omega. Maybe I was special after all.
"I have to go," Drake said grudgingly. "Before people start waking up."
"I know."
He kissed my face. "This isn't over, Maya. Whatever happens with the wedding, with the pack, this isn't over."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
After he left, I lay in bed smiling, still able to smell his scent on my pillow. Everything felt different now. The world seemed brighter, full of opportunities I'd never dared to imagine.
I was still smiling when I heard voices outside my hut.
"She's definitely in there," someone was saying. "I saw the Alpha leave just before sunrise."
My blood turned to ice. I crept to the window and peeked out through the curtains.
Elder Morrison stood outside with three other council members. And behind them, looking hurt and angry, was Marcus.
"This ends now," Elder Morrison said sadly. "Before she destroys everything we've worked for."
They were coming for me.
And from the look on Marcus's face, I realized with rising horror that my best friend had been the one to tell them about Drake's visit.