WISHING I CAN SHIFT

Rhett Riley is the father of two children, Alex Riley and Serenity Riley. His wife died years ago when there was a war between the demon people and the werewolf people. It is said that he single handedly stopped the war.

The man is historic, and a very legend. He is respected by most but feared by all. He might be well advanced in years now, but he is still strong enough to kill a demon in its prime. “Excuse me, everybody!” Someone says loudly at the same time that the music gets turned off. I sniffle as I break the hug with my sister and we all watch what is happening along with a crowd of other people. It’s one of Alex's friends, the one with blonde hair. He has a mic in his hand and Alex is standing right by him. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like I can feel Alex's emotions. He is very sad, and nervous. Maybe it's because I am his mate and there is some kind of connection between him and me. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter anymore.

Imelda is right, Rhett Riley is a very strict and powerful man. When he makes a decision, it gets done no matter how the situation may seem. Alex would do anything to stay in his father's grace even if it might his cost his life .

I'm no perfect girl for Alex to take to his father, I'm a just commoner, someone who is weak and broken. Exactly the complete opposite of him, confident with loads of friends while I'm just a shy insecure girl with just one friend and my sister by my side

"Today is this dude's birthday" he says loudly as he stretch one of his arms around Alex. Everyone cheered loudly as Alex smiled expect from me , cheering was the least of my problem at the moment .

He eyes widen when they land on me and then he bows his head in shame

"As much as I want to him to have fun tonight, he has to find his mate before midnight" the blonde guy continued

When I looked around, I discovered that almost the whole town is present at the party

" A little birdie already told me that Alex has seen his mate"the blonde guy says in a high pitched voice causing the crowd to laugh expect me who barely smile . He handed the mic to Alex and gave him an encouraging pat

"Um.." Alex chuckled nervously as soon he collected the mic from his friend " after a night of being with my friend and the people I have found a mate" he continued confidently and everyone began to murmur.

Laura and Imelda held my hands as a way to comfort me and I held on to them firmly waiting for the word to fall off his lips

"It's a girl I didn't meet until tonight, she made my heart race and my mouth dry even though we only talked for few minutes, but it's only about my heart but about my head. I have heard of her weaknesses and I have no choice but to reject her" he said firmly and stared straight at me and everyone gasped.

" It's okay, go ahead" Imelda said to me and i let go of her and Laura's hands and walked towards Alex. people realized he was talking to him from his line of sight and they paved way for me to pass .

"I,Alex Riley,Alpha of lycos blue tide pack reject you sophie as my mate and my future luna"

I made no attempt to go any closer because if I do I would be forced to slap the alpha and call him a coward in front of the crowd

I, Sophie accept your rejection Alex Riley, alpha of the lycos blue tide pack" i used every ounce of confidence and strength in me to say the words to him without crying.

This is not what I dreamt the day would look like , i thought it was going to be a happy ending i guess that only happened in sunmisola's romantic novel that I have read .

I inhale sharply and turned away from him as I walked back to my sister and Laura " you did great" both of them say as they hug me.

When I break from the hug I can feel a lot a lot of people's eyes on me " i was seen as the broken omega and now i would be seen as the rejected omega" i said as tears rolled down my eyes.

Alex's blonde hair friend takes the mic from him and ruffles his hair " come on man, tonight is your birthday, don't give room for sad endings. Let's give this people a happy one " he said as he cheered the crowd

"Let's get out of here" Laura suggested and I agreed

He's probably about to choose his new mate and I don't have to be here for it. As laura, Imelda and I tried to make our way of the party ,i heard Alex's voice " i would like to make imelda my mate"

What the actual f*ck

"Are you f*cking kidding me?"Imelda looked surprised but very angry and furious "f*cking no" she yells back and I tried to calm her down

"He's the Alpha, son of the werewolf that brought peace to our land. You cannot reject him, this is an opportunity to help our family to be seen with worth and respect " I said to my sister and she nodded in response . I gave her a nod letting her know I'm okay with her with her mating with Alex Riley

" Congrats Imelda" I tried to sound as excited as I could. She hugged me and begged us to leave before she accepts his proposal .

The air was thick with tension as Sophie and Laura made their way through the dimly lit forest, the sounds of the party fading behind them. Sophie couldn't shake off the sting of Alex's rejection, and the weight of it pressed heavily on her heart.

"Hey, Soph," Laura began, her voice hesitant. "I think I'm going to head home alone tonight. I need some time to think."

Sophie looked at her best friend, surprised by the request but understanding. "Sure, Laura. Take care, okay?"

"You too," Laura replied, offering a weak smile before disappearing into the darkness, leaving Sophie alone amidst the towering trees.

Taking a deep breath, Sophie ventured further into the forest she has a favourite place she would always go whenever she feeling down. She walked down to the place hoping the solitude would help clear her mind. But as she walked, a strange sensation washed over her. Her nose twitched, picking up an unfamiliar scent that sent shivers down her spine.

"Demon," she whispered to herself, her senses on high alert. She paused, listening intently, and heard the faint rustle of leaves and the soft padding of feet approaching her.

Demons are the werewolf worst enemy. Since I have been little I have been told stories about the demon people and how they spill blood , they are ruthless and evil being and they have been banned from entering the wolves territory

"Is anyone there?" she called out, her voice quivering slightly. "I know you're there. Show yourselves!"

But her warnings fell on deaf ears. The creatures lurking in the shadows remained silent, their intentions unknown.

Growing more anxious by the second, Sophie tried to retreat. As she moved, she encountered a group of people from the party who had also ventured into the forest.

"Guys, there are demons here," Sophie warned, her eyes wide with fear.

Her words were met with laughter and mocking glances. "Come on, Sophie," one of them scoffed. "You can't even shift. Why would demons be interested in you after the alpha rejected you?"

Another chimed in, "Maybe they're here to save us from your drama."

Frustrated and humiliated, Sophie wished more than ever that she could shift, that she could prove them wrong. "I'm telling the truth! We need to get out of here!"

But her pleas were ignored, and the group continued on their way, leaving Sophie behind once again.

Alone and feeling vulnerable, Sophie's fear gave way to anger. "I warned them," she muttered to herself, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the creatures.

" This is one time I wish I can shift so I can howl and prove this people wrong"

Sophie's thoughts raced as she moved through the forest, her senses on high alert. "I wish I could shift," she thought desperately, knowing that her ability to transform would offer her some protection against any potential threats.

Before she could dwell on it further, a strong hand grabbed her arm, pulling her into the darkness. "There you are," an unknown figure said, their voice filled with malice.

As panic surged through her, Sophie instinctively struggled, trying to break free from the demon's grasp. Surprisingly, the figure released her, and Sophie stumbled back, regaining her balance.

"At least I warned them about the demon," Sophie muttered, her voice shaky but defiant.

The figure turned to another person standing nearby. "Martin, let her go."

Martin hesitated, his eyes fixed on Sophie. "This is my first time interacting with another species," he said, his curiosity evident. "I want to learn more."

Feeling trapped and frightened, Sophie's emotions overflowed, and she cried out for help. "Let me go! If you don't release me, I'll report you!"

The group of figures exchanged glances but remained unmoved by her pleas.

"Do you even realize where you are?" Sophie challenged, trying to appeal to their sense of reason. "This is werewolf territory. You know the rules."

One of the figures scoffed, "We're not afraid of a pack of mutts."

Frustrated and desperate, Sophie acted on impulse. With all the strength she could muster, she struck one of them in the stomach, creating enough space for her to break free.

Seizing the opportunity, Sophie turned and ran as fast as she could through the forest. But in her haste, she stumbled over a root and fell heavily to the ground. Before she could regain her footing, a figure appeared in front of her, blocking her path.

Her heart pounding in her chest, Sophie looked up and realized it was Sylas, one of the individuals who had been part of the group that captured her.

"Going somewhere?" Sylas taunted, his eyes cold and calculating.

Before Sophie could react, Sylas struck her hard on the head with a heavy object. A sharp pain flashed through her skull, and everything went black as she was knocked unconscious

****

Sophie groaned, her head throbbing as she slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in an unfamiliar place. Dark stone walls surrounded her, and the air felt cold and damp. Chains bound her wrists and ankles, restricting her movement.

Panic welled up inside her as she tried to recall what had happened. Flashes of the previous night's events came flooding back: the confrontation in the forest, the mocking from the group of figures, and the chilling encounter with Sylas.

"He knocked me out," Sophie whispered to herself, her heart sinking as she realized she was no longer in werewolf territory but trapped in the demon's domain.

Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, Sophie assessed her situation. She needed to find a way out of her chains and escape before her captors returned.

But as she strained against her restraints, she heard footsteps approaching. The sound of laughter echoed through the corridor, sending shivers down her spine.

The door creaked open, and Lucas walked in, his expression unreadable. He glanced around at the others who had followed him in. "Leave us," he ordered, his voice cold and authoritative.

The other figures hesitated for a moment, exchanging uneasy glances, but ultimately obeyed, filing out of the room and leaving Sophie alone with Lucas.

Once they were gone, Lucas turned his attention back to Sophie. "I apologize for their behavior," he said, his tone softer than before. "They will be punished for their actions."

Sophie eyed him warily, unsure if she could trust his words. "Why am I here?" she demanded, her voice trembling with fear and anger.

Lucas sighed, his eyes reflecting a hint of regret. "You're here because of a misunderstanding," he explained. "But I assure you, I have no intention of causing you harm."

Sophie's curiosity piqued, and she couldn't help but wonder why he was being so kind to her. "Why are you being nice to me?" she asked cautiously.

Lucas paused for a moment before responding, "I am Lucas, the Demon King. It's not in my nature to harm the innocent. I want to make things right."

Sophie frowned, still skeptical. "How can I trust you?"

Lucas looked her in the eyes, sincerity evident in his gaze. "I understand your distrust, but I hope you'll give me a chance to prove myself to you."

Sophie hesitated, torn between her instincts to flee and the possibility that Lucas might be telling the truth. "What do you want from me?"

Lucas sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "I want to help you return to your pack safely," he said. "And perhaps, in time, we can find a way for our species to coexist peacefully."

I should be jumping at this opportunity of returning back to my territory but instead I am contemplating if I want to return to a place that I was seen as a low ranked omega who means nothing to her pack. Not even now that I have been publicly rejected by the alpha. So going back to me was an option but an opportunity to more torture and bully

"You don't have to"I said and he raises his brow in confusion

"Because I'm staying"

"Huhhh"