The Three Who Chose Me

Josie

The world tilted on its axis.

"Bring her to the stage," Thorne growled, and the command hit me like a punch to the chest.

Eyes turned. Conversations died mid-sentence. The crowd parted, slow and awestruck, like I was some kind of fire about to consume them all.

Me.

The omega nobody wanted.

I tried to step back, to disappear again—but hands gripped my arms. Two guards I didn’t recognize materialized out of nowhere, their grips firm but not unkind. My heart thudded against my ribs like a trapped thing.

"No, wait," I breathed. "This—this can’t be real. I’m not—this has to be a mistake—"

But they were already guiding me through the sea of whispers and stares. Marcy’s wide eyes met mine across the room. Her mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear her. Everything sounded like it was underwater.

I was shaking. My knees threatened to buckle. And then—

I was standing on the stage.