Howl of the rejected

Zyra huddled in the corner of her small den, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to drown out the sounds of her pack mates running and playing outside. She knew that it was only a matter of time before they would find her, and she would once again become their target.

The young she-wolf had always been different from the others in her pack. Her parents' sacrifice left her alone and isolated. Despite her efforts to make friends, she was constantly ignored or even outright bullied by the others around her. With her mating ceremony only weeks away, Zyra had come of age to get a mate. There was always a special day in their pack when mateless wolves found their mates. Other wolves would get their mate next week, assuming they eventually got one. Zyra knew that things were only going to get worse.

She had caught the eye of the pack's alpha son, a handsome and popular wolf named Cade. But despite his interest in her, it was clear that he didn't truly care for her. It was all about power and status, and Zyra was nothing more than a pawn in their games.

As she huddled there, trying to calm her nerves and steady her breathing, she heard a sudden commotion outside her den. Her heart leaped into her throat as she recognized the voices of Cade and his friends.

"Come on, Zyra, don't be shy!" Cade called out, his tone mocking as he and his friends approached her den entrance. "We just want to have some fun!"

Zyra tensed, her muscles coiling as she prepared to defend herself. But she never got the chance. In one swift move, Cade and his friends broke through the entrance of her den, shoving her roughly to the ground.

"Look at her, all pathetic and alone," Cade sneered. His lip curled in disgust as he stood over her. "No wonder her parents died trying to save someone else."

The other wolves snickered and jeered, their eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. Zyra quivered with rage and humiliation, her eyes burning with unshed tears as she struggled to get back to her feet.

But it was no use. Cade was too strong, too powerful. He towered over her, his fists clenched as he prepared to strike.

Cade grabbed her by her collar, gritting his teeth and looking into her eyes with rage.

"Please," Zyra whimpered, tears streaming down her face as she gazed up at him. "Just leave me alone."

But Cade didn't listen. With one swift blow, he struck her in the face, sending her tumbling to the ground once again. Zyra cried out in pain, her vision blurring as she struggled to breathe.

"Pathetic," Cade spat, his features twisted in a sneer as he turned away. "Let's go, boys. We've had our fun for the night."

Zyra watched as they disappeared into the darkness, leaving her alone and battered. She curled up into a ball, her body shaking with sobs as she tried to slow her breathing.

Why did they hate her so much? What had she done to deserve this kind of treatment? The questions circled through her mind as she trembled in fear and pain.

She could feel the cut on her lips and gingerly rubbed her thumb over the wound. When she withdrew her thumb, she saw blood stains, causing her to recoil. She pressed her lips together, trying not to burst into tears again.

"How wicked of you to hit a lady," she thought, her words filled with bitterness as she sucked in her lower lip and spat out the blood.

Eventually, the physical pain began to fade, leaving Zyra with nothing but the ache of her broken heart. She wiped away her tears and forced herself to stand, taking deep breaths to steady herself.

As she emerged from her den, she saw the other wolves gathered around, watching her with cold eyes. None of them offered her a hand, and none of them spoke a word to her. She was an outcast, unwanted and unloved.

And it was something she must get used to.

Zyra knew that she couldn't keep living like this. She needed to find a way to survive, to fight back against the pack that had rejected her.

"It is not like I chose to join the pack," she thought bitterly, her determination fueling her thoughts. "I was ordained to, and instead of welcoming me, they rejected me."

And maybe, just maybe, she would find a way to make them pay for the pain they had caused her.

With those thoughts in mind, Zyra turned and walked away, her head held high despite the bruises and cuts that marred her face.

She was a fighter, and she would not be broken by the likes of Cade and his pack mates.

She made her way away from her den, yes, even though it was technically her den, it felt more like a prison where she was tormented.

Zyra's POV:

Ignoring the stares of the others, I walked into the building. I was half-human, just like every one of them, yet they treated me like I was not one of them. I stepped through the door and scanned the large living room, observing the other pack members engrossed in various activities. This mansion, built by Alpha Grayson, Cade's father, was meant for the pack members. Soon, Cade would take over, becoming the new owner of the mansion and in charge.

"Pstt! It's this bitch. When is Alpha Grayson going to do away with this bitch?" I heard someone whisper behind me, but I brushed it off.

"I wonder why too. It's not like she even has a wolf or knows how to shape-shift. You can't expect me to accept that she's a werewolf," another clicked his tongue, his words dripping with disdain.

I clenched my teeth, ignoring their cruel remarks, and made my way up to my room. However, before I could reach it, I was approached by Elara, one of the pack's betas, and Gaia, Alpha Grayson’s daughter. Elara was notorious for her rudeness, and Gaia was known to be even fiercer than Cade.

"Poor little Zyra," Elara mocked, her voice laced with venom. "When will you realize you don't belong here?"

Gaia's eyes flashed with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Honestly, Zyra, you should just give up and leave. You're nothing but a burden to the pack."

I gritted my teeth, determined not to let their words get to me. Ignoring them, I continued walking toward my room. They trailed behind me, hurling insults and taunts, but I refused to show any weakness.

Finally reaching the sanctuary of my room, I closed the door behind me, shutting out their venomous voices. Alone in the silence, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead.

It was clear that my path within the pack would be filled with resistance and animosity. But I would not allow their hatred to consume me. I vowed to rise above their cruelty and prove my worth.

Fueled by determination, I started planning in my mind. I needed to find allies, wolves within the pack who shared my discontent and were ready for change. Together, we would create a new, united front against the oppressive hierarchy.

With each passing day, my resolve grew stronger. I would train harder, learning the skills necessary to protect myself and stand my ground. And when the time came, I would confront Cade, Elara, Gaia, and all those who had tormented me.

There was a fire burning within me, a fire that refused to be extinguished. They may have tried to break me, but I would not be broken. I would rise from the ashes, stronger, and reclaim my rightful place in the pack.

With renewed determination, I let go of the pain of the past and embraced the challenges that lay ahead. The journey toward vengeance and redemption had begun, and I was ready to face it head-on.

Bound by resilience and an unyielding spirit, I would carve my own destiny and forge a path where I could finally find acceptance and true belonging in the world of wolves.