1. Alethea

Alethea

I take a deep breath as my head plunges beneath the river, the icy water stealing the air from my lungs. Panic floods me as I struggle against a hand that grips the back of my head, forcing me downward.

"You deserve to die, bitch," a rough voice snarls. I gasp as I recognize Maya’s tone, and she yanks my head out of the water.

I choke on the cold air, trying to wipe the water from my face. But before I can recover, a sharp slap smacks my cheek, and I stagger back. My hand trembles as it reaches for the burning pain on my skin, trying to understand what has just happened.

"This is only the beginning, Alethea," Maya hisses. Her eyes flash with anger, "If you refuse to be Xavier’s breeder, I promise you will regret it."

Xavier is the beta’s son, I have been chosen to bear his child. But Maya, his furious girlfriend, is determined to kill me if I do not say no.

I remember the rumors about her mother being replaced by another breeder, a woman her father truly loved. Could that pain be fueling Maya’s rage? Perhaps she fears history repeating itself.

"I’ll do more than drown you," Maya sneers, snapping me back to the brutal present. "I’ll kill you, and no one will ever know."

Her hand slips into her coat, and she produces a silver knife. I gasp at the sight of the gleaming blade. My heart pounds in terror as I desperately search for help, for anyone who might save me. But deep down, I know I’m alone.

This is my life—a life cursed by the Blood Moon pack’s cruel law that marks wolf-less omegas as outcasts. As the youngest daughter of a proud warrior, my failure to shift into a wolf has branded me a disgrace. It is a burden I carry every day, a shame that has poisoned my family’s name. Even my parents would likely be relieved if I simply vanished.

I dream of finding my wolf and mate, the only hope for escaping this suffocating fate. Night after night, I long to prove that I am more than just the daughter of a warrior—a weak, unwanted omega. But today, Maya’s words slice through any hope I have left.

"I’ll give you one last chance," she growls, her eyes narrowing with deadly intent. "Run away from this pack and never show your face again, or I…"

I barely manage to ask, "Or else w—?" before her hand crashes into my cheek once more. The blow is swift and brutal, twisting my head sharply to the side. I taste blood and feel my lip split open. My trembling hand rises to the throbbing wound as I fix my eyes on Maya’s glare.

"Or else you will die," she whispers in a soft, dangerous voice with a twisted smile playing on her lips. Without another word, she turns and leaves, leaving me alone with my fear and pain.

I stand frozen, shocked, and dread pounding in my chest. My face and hair are soaked by the cold river water, and my body shudders in the biting chill. I wish I could live a carefree life like my sisters, but every day here brings only more agony.

I curl up against a tree, tears falling like rain, until exhaustion finally pulls me into a fitful sleep.

When I wake, the sky is dark and the night is silent. "Shit," I mutter, struggling to my feet. Every bone aches as if weighed down by sorrow. I step into the river again, kneeling to wash the salt of my tears from my face.

I wonder what’s worse—this pain or the punishment that awaits me at home, where my mother will likely starve me for being so weak.

Staring into the water, I see my reflection and wish for an escape from this cursed fate.

Suddenly, the bushes rustle near the road. My heart leaps into my throat as I freeze in terror. Instinct tells me to run, yet my legs feel stuck.

Two wolves burst forth from the brush, as they charged straight at me.

My heart hammers wildly in my chest and I throw up my arms in a desperate attempt to protect myself, though I know it is futile.

One of the wolves lunges for my chest while the other circles, trapping me with no means to escape.

Then, with a sickening crack of bone, one of the wolves begins to shift. I watch, horrified, as Maya steps from the shadows. Her eyes burn fiercely as she faces me with her fangs out; her presence terrifies me to the core. She grabs my arms, pulling me close.

“Stop pushing my limits, you wolf-less omega,” she hisses, her fangs nearly brushing my neck. A chill runs through me as her grip tightens. The other wolf moves in again, growling as it prepares to strike, but Maya lifts her hand and stops it with a warning glare.

"Leave, or I’ll tear you apart myself," she warns in a voice that sends icy fear down my spine. At this point, I know I'm trapped, so I can only nod silently.

"Now," Maya growls, and my legs finally obey, forcing me to run. I dare not look back, but I hear one of the wolves behind me, its growls echoing in the darkness, closing in with every desperate step.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, a shadowy figure blurs past me—swift and silent. For a split second, I cannot tell if this mysterious savior is friend or foe. But there is no time to decide. The wolf behind me lunges at me. Its teeth are just inches away from my back. It seems that my life is slipping away.

At that moment, the shadow figure appears between me and the wolf, its presence forceful and undeniable. The two clash fiercely—the wolf snarling, the shadow striking with lethal precision. With one swift motion, the figure snaps the wolf’s neck. The wolf collapses, lifeless, with a heavy thud that echoes in the still night.

I remain frozen on the ground, my heart pounding so loudly I can barely hear my thoughts.

The shadow moves like smoke, radiating a quiet but intense power. Then, its eyes, a glowing, eerie green, lock onto mine. In that gaze, I feel a strange connection, as though an ancient memory is stirring inside me, something long buried now awakening.

I try to speak, but shock and fear tie my tongue. The creature’s deep voice rumbles as it breaks the silence, "Are you alright?" Its tone is warm and I could feel the command, vibrating through the cold air.

I whisper, "No," the word barely audible as my heart spikes as horror and despair overwhelm me. Just as darkness closes in.