CHAPTER 1: THE OMEGA'S BARGAIN

“Freya!”

The piercing screech rips through the air, as I cup my ears fast enough to block out most of the sound.

She doesn’t give me a chance to recover from her attack before sending a large ceramic vase my way. Luckily she misses me just by an inch.

Luckily for me, that is.

The vase shatters into a million pieces against the wall behind me,a few slashing my skin in the process.

I stagger back a bit, clutching the scarred skin on my cheek. It’s going to heal. I’m not worried about a scar, but it did still hurt a lot. However, I dare not scream — not in front of her at least.

“You crazy bitch!” She yells out, seething violently as her chest expands and deflates from her heavy breathing.

I smell something suddenly. Something is burning.

A small cloud of clear white smoke suddenly floats up, drawing my attention to what’s actually burning.

The steam iron that had been in my hand a few minutes ago is now flat against the beige shirt I was told to straighten earlier. Now, that shirt was burning under its searing heat. 

Her shirt to be precise.

Ah, so that’s why she threw the vase. No wonder she’s mad.

I switched off the power socket immediately after. Then turn to look at her again, meekly.

Her honey brown eyes, much identical to my doe-eyed ones, flicker with flames of rage and I immediately know I have to escape from this furious person in front of me.

My dearest eldest sister.

She lunges forward and I dodge the other way, quickly dashing towards the exit.

“Mom!” She screams from behind me as I dash away to safety.

I ran into the dining room, sliding my bare feet against the tiled floor.

My three older brothers are already there, getting ready for breakfast. I barely crash into the eldest, ducking below his raised cereal bowl filled with milk.

“Watch where you going, runt!” He yells angrily, but I ignore him.

I run fast enough, past the dinner table, down the inner hallway, straight through an old but sturdy door at the end of the passage and down the steep stairs into the cellar.

I pause momentarily, catching my breath. My chest is pounding too fast.

“Freya! I swear, you'd be dead today!”

I immediately know I’m not safe. I have to escape before it’s too late, before I’m caught and beaten, like on every other day that I commit ‘sins’.

They called it ‘sins’ — my family — because unlike the rest of my Beta blooded household, I was born a weak omega. 

To them I was dirt. 

Unwanted. Hated. Omega.

I quickly turn to the old dryer by a corner in the small dim lighted room I stand in, running towards it. I push it to the side, bringing into view a small vent in the wall that I know leads to a tunnel to the outside, farther away from this place.

This is my glorious chance to escape. 

Today is the day everything changes for me.

I pull out the vent door, crawling into the small space that easily fits my slender body. I move through it for awhile before finally reaching the end and pushing against a huge boulder on the other end till I’m fully free and step out into the open world.

The fresh air fills my nostrils with force as I take in a deep breath, briefly basking in the serenity of the natural greens around me. My wolf, Dalia, revels in its beauty. A bold smile stretches across my face.

My life of horrors ends today and a new destiny awaits me- 

One that involves me being reborn into an Alpha. Like the wizard had promised.

Yes. Today I’ll transform. From an Omega to an Alpha.

It may sound impossible. But that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

I dash the familiar forest with only one purpose in mind - to get to the point we had previously arranged. 

And soon, I reach a large clearing atop a small hill.

Just below the hill, far in the distant was where it stood, tall and proud, in all its intimidating and classic glory - Crescent Moon Academy. 

It is a prestigious institution for the Alpha bloodline and offspring of high ranking werewolves, and every single day, it’s been my dying wish to be part of those highly placed werewolves.

Although it is no place for an Omega like me, I still can not stop myself from fantasizing on what it would be like to belong, to be honored, to be beautiful and wanted like most of the girls of my age that attended Crescent Moon Academy.

The place I had come to stare at every single day of my life. My dream. My freedom.

The bushes behind me suddenly move and my ears prick up on high alert.

Had I been followed? Or was it a wild animal?

Suddenly, an elderly man emerges from the bushes and my heart calms, recognizing his familiar face.

“You’re here,” he says simply, folding his hands behind him.

“Yes, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” I try to mask the desperation and buzz in my voice but only barely.

He’s wearing the same clothes as he’s always been since the first day I stumbled upon him on my hill.

He clearly knows how desperate I am. It only keeps me more on edge, regarding the fact that I barely knew anything about the wizard - except that he is willingly to change my life for good.

“Did you bring it?” My heart drums in anticipation.

He smiles eerily and then digs into the sleeves, pulling out a rainbow colored liquid. 

It swirls within the tiny glass bottle, changing color based on what direction the light hits it.

I lunge forward to grab it from him but he pulls back faster.

“Not so fast, child.” 

“What? You said you’d give it to me. You said you’d make me into an Alpha female.”

“I did and I will. All you need to do is drink the full contents of this bottle and your dreams would all come true - at least, to the extent you wish.”

He’s teasing me as he dangles it in front of my eyes again, testing my almost nonexistent patience.

“That’s what you keep saying but…you’ve never quite told me what you want in return, Mister.”

He smiles like a Cheshire cat now; a full-on grin that makes me shiver, subtly causing my fingers to tremble.

“Smart little girl. Fair is fair and all I ask from you is a simple simple favor in return for my…generosity.” The dark glint flicks through his eyes.

“A simple favor? 

“What’s the favor?”

“In time, I’ll make it known. For now, child, all you need to worry about is the future that awaits you in your reborn scent of an Alpha.”

I watch him closely, maybe trying to catch a glimpse of potential danger in his eyes. But asides his characteristic eeriness, I find nothing. 

“Fine, a small favor in exchange for the elixir.” I agree, unable to take my eyes away from the glimmering liquid in front of me.

It’s almost unbelievable. 

It is deceitful

But it also happens to be my only chance of being accepted. By all means, I refuse to lose it.

“Perfect.”

He tosses the bottle to me and I quickly grab it midair.

“But I must warn you, this action has its ghastly consequences. It’s forbidden by the moon goddess to trifle with your nature.”

I swerve back to him now, my heart plummeting.

“I’m a-aware. I’m willing to take my chances, as risky as it might seem.”

He holds my stare for a second and nods, a cold resolve settling in his eyes. My will is unshakable and he seems to know this. I look down at the bottle once more, the tempting liquid calling my name. When I look up to ask a small question, the wizard is gone.

Simply vanished.

Weird.

But I’m too excited to ponder much on it or care. In seconds, I’m ripping off the cap and downing it fast. I gag a bit once it’s all in, given its disgusting taste.

Nothing changes in seconds. I don’t feel any difference.

Maybe it would take some effect in a few hours. The wind picks up slightly, blowing the air around me fiercely and it suddenly feels like I can almost hear a calling in the distance. 

A calling drawing me closer and in the direction of the school.

Without another thought, I answer. Jumping down the small hill and dashing towards the building in full speed, I’m almost tempted to change into my wolf but I don’t have spare clothes with me and I couldn’t risk heading back home stark naked.

I stop at the large erected black gates of Crescent Moon Academy.  Then suddenly I realize I’ve done something I haven’t before. I’ve wandered too close and anyone could see me at any moment, but curiosity tickles and I’m peeping into the walls through the gates.

Just one peep is all I need. Just one.

I look down into a beautiful garden with perfectly trimmed hedges and colorful flowers. A white fountain shaped like a formidable wolf, gushing out water from its howl.

It’s breathtaking, just as I had imagined.

Growing footsteps pull me out of my reverie. I quickly ran into a tall, large tree. My heart drums. 

Being found peeking around Crescent Moon Academy is punishable by severe whipping in our pack.

The footsteps seize and I peep out from my hiding spot, only to see him standing with an unrivaled air of dominance, staring down at his watch - a scowl etched to his brutally handsome face.

As if on cue, he turns and our eyes clash. 

My heart skips a beat and the breath halts in my lungs.

Cold gray orbs that held depth, mischief and danger look back into mine. His raven dark hair is tousled messily in a way that reminds me of a Greek god，with his perfectly sculptured face and pink kissable lips. 

I am lost in everything about this alluringly sexy guy.

My eyes rake over him. He’s tall, definitely above 6ft with lean muscles that slightly bulge through his fitted shirt. He’s an obvious hunk and he knows it as the aura he gives off is one of suffocating arrogance and confidence.

His gaze on me hardens and he rolls his eyes dismissively. He looks away, answering a call. The trance breaks instantly. Before he turns back to me, I turn swiftly, dashing away towards the direction I had come from.

However, every last bone in my body, including my wolf, calls me back to that boy with gray beautiful eyes.