01 In your Dreams 2
In our pack, the Alpha and his family were untouchable, perched high atop the social pyramid of our pack, their wealth and influence forming an impenetrable barrier between them and the rest of us. To the higher families, the lower class was nothing more than background noise, insignificant and disposable. We were bred to be submissive, to bow without question, and most of us lived in quiet fear, careful never to step out of line. My mother used to tell me, “A leader is nothing without their followers.” She believed, naively perhaps, that one day the higher breeds would realize how much they relied on us. I didn’t share her optimism.
The divide between the classes wasn’t just social; it was systemic. Cross-breeding between higher and lower ranks was taboo, a scandal to be avoided at all costs. Yet, it happened—quietly, discreetly, against the rules. That was the only reason my relationship with Tomas, the beta family’s eldest son, wasn’t a complete impossibility. There was still a chance, however slim, that we could beat the odds.
For many lower-breed families, the only path to relevance was money. Wealth could elevate a family’s status, even grant them influence, but the system was rigged. The higher families kept the best opportunities—the highest-paying jobs, the most powerful positions—within their tight circles. There was no such thing as a poor high breed. They always had resources, or at the very least, someone to lift them up if they stumbled.
Lower families, like mine, didn’t have that safety net. We were left to scrape by however we could. Some turned to crime, joining the mob in desperation. Others clung to the false hope of casinos, gambling everything they had for that one big win that could pull their families out of poverty. My father was one of those people. He had gambled away everything—our money, our home, our stability. We used to be comfortable, not wealthy but okay. Now, we teetered on the brink of destitution, thanks to his addiction.
If Tomas married me, everything could change. His family’s money and influence would lift us out of this misery. That was why people assumed I was with him for selfish reasons.
They whispered behind my back, calling me a social climber. But those whispers weren’t an excuse for how Tomas had been treating me. For weeks now, he’d been distant, unresponsive. I’d decided I would confront him, give him an ultimatum: either we moved forward, or it was over.
After my shower, I focused on getting ready for the day. I had an interview that afternoon, but it was hard to feel hopeful. Most companies didn’t want to hire someone from a low family for important positions. They said we lacked the confidence and authority for such roles, as if poverty somehow made us less capable.
It made my blood boil. How were we supposed to escape this cycle if we weren’t even given a chance? I hated my father for what he’d done to us, for the hole he’d dug that we couldn’t climb out of. But I kept trying, because someone had to. My brothers deserved better, and if I ever got a chance, I swore I’d make the most of it.
The pack system was brutal. One Alpha ruled each pack, and above them were the mob families, controlling everything from the shadows. I’d resorted to applying for a job outside our Alpha’s territory, a risky move but my only real option. If I got caught, there would be consequences, but desperation had long since outweighed my fear.
As I got dressed, I heard the sound of raised voices coming from the other room. My brothers were arguing. I left my room quickly, worried about what might be happening. As soon as I stepped into the room, they fell silent, their eyes darting toward me as if they’d been caught in the middle of something they didn’t want me to know.
“What’s going on?” I asked, looking at Kyle, the youngest of the four. He glanced nervously at Tevin, the eldest, who sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world rested on them.
“Emma,” Tevin began, his voice unsteady. He was holding an envelope in his hands, his fingers trembling. “Emma, I know you’re strong, and you’ve always been able to handle things, but…” He trailed off, his reluctance only making my anxiety spike.
“Just tell me,” I urged, my patience wearing thin.
Tevin looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite place—pity, anger, sadness all mixed together. “Tomas is getting married,” he said finally, his voice quiet but firm. “To the Alpha’s daughter.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My mind raced, searching for some way to make sense of what I’d just heard. “That’s not possible,” I said, shaking my head. “I just spoke to him this morning. He said he’d see me later.”
Tevin didn’t respond. He simply held out the envelope, his hand shaking slightly. “They were cruel enough to send us an invitation,” he said bitterly.
I snatched the envelope from him and tore it open, my hands trembling. There it was, in black and white: a wedding invitation. Tomas’s name was there, printed neatly beside hers. I stared at it, my vision blurring with tears. Rage bubbled up inside me, hot and bitter. How could he? How could he lie to me, string me along, and then marry someone else?
I felt humiliated, betrayed, and foolish. Just hours ago, I had been thinking about giving him an ultimatum, about fighting for our future. Now, that future had been ripped away, leaving me with nothing but the ashes of a relationship I had believed in. Tomas had not only broken my heart—he had destroyed my trust.
The pack system was cruel, but this… this felt personal.