FRAGILE

Chapter 24: Two Steps Backwards

Levi awoke to the unfamiliar comfort of the Alpha's bed, the softness beneath him so different from the cold, hard floors he had grown used to. For a brief moment, he felt safe—wrapped in warmth and the lingering scent of his Alpha. But then, reality began to seep back in, and with it, confusion.

Was he supposed to be here?

He lay perfectly still, his mind scrambling to figure out what he was supposed to do. The rules, the training—it all raced through his head, but there was no clarity. Should he stay where the Alpha had left him? Move to the floor where he belonged? Should he seek out the Alpha to serve him, or was that presumption too bold? Levi swallowed hard as a sense of dread began to pool in his chest.

The Alpha.

Levi scolded himself sharply. His Alpha? No. He had no right to call anyone "his." He was property, a pet—something that existed to be used, not to own. Levi squeezed his eyes shut, mentally rebuking himself. He was 2197, nothing more.

His spiraling thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps—heavy and purposeful. They echoed through the hallway, growing louder with each passing second until they stopped just outside the bedroom door. Levi's heart pounded in his chest, and instinctively, he pulled the covers over his head, as if he could somehow hide from what was coming.

A soft whimper escaped his throat as the door handle turned with a slow, deliberate creak. The sound of the door opening was like the beginning of some nightmare, and Levi pressed himself further into the bed, waiting for whatever punishment might be coming.

The scent of the new arrival was unfamiliar, a mix of sharp perfume and something bitter. Levi peeked from beneath the covers just enough to see a tall woman standing in the doorway. She was striking in a harsh, intimidating way. Her honey-blonde hair was pulled back into a severe bun, and her clothes—tight, fashionable, but practical—clung to her form in a way that was more commanding than feminine. In her hand, she held a small, rectangular device, her fingers furiously tapping at it.

Her scowl deepened as she glanced at Levi, eyes narrowing with disdain before turning back to the device in her hand.

"Stupid thing," she muttered before putting the phone to her ear. "Yeah, I'm in his room. I don't see what the big deal is. He's just lying there. Lazy little runt."

Levi froze at her words, the venom in her tone piercing through the fog in his mind. The contempt in her voice was unmistakable, and Levi's stomach twisted in knots.

The woman—Vanessa—was a mid-ranking wolf in Maximus's pack, someone with enough status to feel entitled but not enough power to challenge the Alpha. She had served as a liaison for the more delicate operations, someone Maximus had trusted for tasks like information gathering or overseeing minor disputes. But her ambition had always been clear.

She wanted more.

The fact that Maximus had taken an Omega—this Omega—had been a deep blow to her ego, and her bitterness was palpable. She had been chosen to watch Levi while Maximus dealt with a threat on his territory, something he didn't trust her to handle. To her, this was an insult, and her resentment simmered beneath the surface.

Levi's instincts kicked in as he realized his mistake. He shouldn't be on the Alpha's bed. He didn't belong there, and the longer he stayed, the worse it would be for him. Without thinking, Levi scrambled off the bed, falling to his knees before the woman. His body moved on autopilot, driven by the years of conditioning, driven by fear.

How could he forget his place?

Vanessa's eyes flicked back to him as a cruel smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She lowered the phone from her ear and crossed her arms, the sneer on her face deepening as she looked down at him.