Chapter 1 Mating ball

"Murderer."

The word hit me like a slap. I froze, my hands still soaked in soapy water.

Then someone shoved me hard from behind. My face plunged into the icy basin.

Laughter erupted around me like a wildfire.

I tried to pull up, gasping, but a hand—huge and merciless—pressed down on the back of my neck. I kicked, flailed, clawed at their arms, but the pressure only grew stronger.

The laughter faded. My lungs burned. Was this it?

Maybe it’s better this way... maybe death will finally be peace.

I let my eyes close.

"Bitch."

My head was yanked back by the hair. My skull slammed onto the concrete floor with a sickening crack. I collapsed, coughing, water pouring from my nose, eyes, throat.

“Relax, it was just a joke,” the she-wolf who led the attack smirked. “We’re just playing around.”

I glared at her with what little strength I had left.

I have grown used to this treatment and from experience, it is always best to stay down and never react. For if I do, it will only get worse. And if I don't, they will simply grow bored and hopefully… leave me to finish my chores with the least amount of bruises.

My name is Alysia and I am the lowest-ranking Omega of the Blood Moon Pack. Though my father is a Beta, and I am born with Beta blood, my family has always hated me and were more than happy to keep me as a quiet and obedient Omega to push around.

It all started when I was eight years old and my sister accused me of poisoning our mother in front of the entire pack. It wasn't true. I loved our mother and I was so young. I was only eight. I couldn't have possibly done such a thing but no matter what I did, what I said or how much I pleaded, no one believed me. Everyone believed her.

No one would ever doubt the words of my beautiful and utterly brilliant sister Sarah. She was everyone's favorite.

The star.

The one that could do no wrong.

And I was the opposite.

With that, and without even holding a fair trial on a mere child of eight, I was stripped of my status and rank, and reduced to the lowest of the low: an Omega.

They say that was mercy.

They say I should have died instead.

But instead, they were supposedly kind by keeping me alive and becoming a slave for everyone.

When I am sure my tormentors are gone, leaving me alone in the laundry room, I finally pull myself from the cold water, dripping wet and shivering. My eyes on the ticking clock, I quickly finish my chores and rush home before I am late.

My family absolutely hates it when I am late— often punishing me for every second that I am not there. And when it comes to cooking their meals, especially dinner, my Beta father and perfect sister Sarah are incredibly strict and mean for they can never miss a meal. A strong and powerful family should never go hungry.

Along my way home, I pass by the training grounds and although I am rushing, I cannot help but pause for a moment. It is hard to continue as I watch the young wolves sparring, learning and laughing— living. Though I would not consider myself as a bitter individual, I cannot help but feel the jealousy and bitterness swell inside me at the sight of them.

I had wanted for so long to be part of them, to be like them. I wanted to learn, to laugh, to know more than just chores and get beaten when I don't do them right. But my father has made it clear a long time ago that someone like me doesn't deserve to have an education. I didn't even deserve to live.

With my head down, hoping to go unnoticed, I quicken my pace as I remember that I had to make dinner still. Unfortunately, I am always noticed and a group of young wolves run towards me, close enough that they can spit and push me down on the ground.

"Look, the monster is here!"

Pitiful, I take it all without a sound and wait for them to finish releasing their hatred.

"Be careful or she'll kill you like she did her own mother!"

Finally, when they're done, I run home, blinking away tears. Sadly, when I get there and hurry to prepare dinner, I am late by a minute and my father is already waiting with his feet impatiently kicking the floor.

I prepare for the worst, bracing myself for a punch or a kick, but he only glares at me with pure hatred.

This shocks me, my body frozen.

What's going on?

I would usually be bleeding by now.

It continued again during dinner when Sarah suddenly stood from her seat and pulled my hair before forcing my face down on her plate of hot food.

"You forgot to put in my favorite sauce, you incompetent fool!" She screams, pushing my face harder into the steaming soup.

I expected my father to help her with it— as he usually does or maybe ignore me but he surprises me even more when he turns to Sarah dismissively.

"Enough!" He shouts back at her. "Stop it already."

My face almost burned red, I held on to my cheek and blinked back in surprise.

What's happening?

He has never done this before.

Does he finally love me again? Does he finally see how bad it's been for me?

I shouldn't have kept my hopes up as he clicks his tongue in displeasure, that same disgust and hate in his eyes as he stared down at me.

"Tomorrow the pack is hosting its annual Mating Ball." He turns to both Sarah and I but focuses on me with even more hate than usual. "You will serve as a maid. And to show the visiting packs that we are above everyone, with good Omegas, you will not be seen with visible injuries."

Of course.

I should have known.

With the most powerful Alphas attending, our pack can't afford for our reputation to be tarnished by letting outsiders see how Omegas are treated. It wasn't about me. It was about them. It was about how they looked to others.

"Ugh," Sarah growls in disapproval. "We really should have killed you instead of being such a pain for this family."

Pushing the bowl of soup down the table, making a mess, she slams her shoulder on my chest before leaving the table with a scoff.

Uncaring that I have fallen on the floor, the soup all around me, my father puts his chin up in disgust. "Clean this up and make sure you are presentable in the morning."

I blinked up at him. "Yes, father."

He raises his hand threateningly. "What was that?! What did you call me?!"

My lips quivered as I looked down, bowing low submissively. "Sir. I meant to say, Sir."

On my hands and knees, wet from the laundry and the soup and the spit while crusty with dirt, I clean up the kitchen and the dinning room. And only when everything is spotless do I return to my small, windowless room in the basement.

Lying on my bed, I do not even have the strength to check on my new injuries from today. The pain in my body pulses with every breath I take. Years of malnutrition and constant beatings have stripped me of my werewolf healing abilities. My wounds take forever to heal— if they have a chance to. Most days they are always replaced with more painful ones.

‘Don't cry.' Molly— my wolf, whispers to me. ‘Hang in there. Only a few more days, okay?'

‘Thank you, Molly.' I sniffled, wiping away the tears. ‘Thank you for reminding me. It was a very difficult day and I almost forgot.'

‘I know but it's okay. I got you.' She promises softly, her presence comforting. ‘You're not alone.'

Molly has chosen me when I was thirteen, many years before any other werewolf does, which is eighteen.

I always wondered why but I do not question it for she is all I had in this world. Perhaps it is the universe's way of compensating for my miserable life. If it wasn't for her, her voice, her presence and unwavering support, I do not think I would have survived this long.

‘Tomorrow, you turn eighteen, Alysia.' She happily cooed at me. ‘You know what that means right? You're free to leave. You're free from all of them.'

According to pack law, at eighteen, I will be allowed to leave my pack.

Ten years, it took to get to this moment.

And I will not wait a moment longer.

‘I have no idea where we will go but it doesn't matter. Nothing is worse than a home, a family and a life, built on lies and violence and fear.' I whisper back to her, feeling determined and feeling a little bit stronger for the next day. ‘I just have to get through tomorrow. That's all. And after I finish my duties at the ball, we will run, Molly. We will run and never come back. We will never be beaten into submission again.'

‘Never again.' She swears back, excitement for our freedom, our life ahead, obvious in her tone. ‘We can do this.'