Meet Talia

Talia's POV

“No, this is a mistake! A wolfless, overweight werewolf can't be my mate.”

His words hit me hard. Alpha Bran of the Moonlight Pack doesn’t even hesitate as he says it, his voice clear enough for everyone to hear. Whispers rise from the crowd almost immediately, spreading fast like wildfire. Disbelief. Judgment. Some don’t even bother to lower their voices.

No one tries to stop him. No one questions him. Not when it’s their Alpha speaking.

But I won’t let them see how much it hurts. I won’t give him that satisfaction.

I square my shoulders and force a smile that feels like it might crack my face. “Well, Bran, I guess the Moon Goddess has a sense of humor after all,” I say, ignoring the pain running through me. “Too bad she didn't give you one.”

Silence falls just as quickly as the whispers started. No one expects me to talk back. Not to him. Not to the Alpha.

Bran’s eyes turn red with anger, the faint glow of his wolf showing through. A warning. A reminder of who he is and who I am not.

But I hold my ground.

“Talia,” he starts, his tone lower now, more dangerous, but I cut him off before he can continue. He is going to reject me anyway. There’s no point letting him drag it out.

“Don't worry, Bran,” I say. “I'm sure there's some loophole you can find to get out of this. After all, you can't have someone like me ruining your perfect reputation, right?”

A few gasps echo from the crowd. Wolves shift uneasily. Speaking to the Alpha like this is not just bold—it’s wrong in every way the pack believes in. But I don’t stop.

The air feels tight, heavy with tension. For a moment, I see something shift in his eyes—uncertainty, maybe even conflict. The bond is there. I can feel it pulling at me.

And I wonder if he feels it too.

He turns away from me like I don’t matter. “This conversation is over, Talia. You should leave.”

Just like that. No formal rejection. No ceremony. Just dismissal.

It feels like something inside me cracks, but I don’t show it. I won’t give him or anyone else the chance to see me break. Not here. Not in front of wolves who already see me as less.

I nod, keeping my head high, even though my chest feels tight. Then I turn and walk away, each step steady, even when it feels like I might fall apart at any second.

************

MEET TALIA (My life before today)

Everyone knows that the beauty of a wolf lies in their fur and their ability to shift—having a wolf, in short. In the Moonlight Pack, it means even more than that. Your strength decides your place. Your wolf decides your worth.

But in my case, it’s the opposite.

My name is Talia, a wolfless wolf, about 5'6” to 5'8”, with a curvy body. Most of my weight sits in my hips, thighs, and stomach. It makes me feel heavier, more noticeable, especially when I stand next to the lean, well-trained wolves in my pack.

In a pack where everyone is ranked, where strength and ability place you somewhere on an invisible ladder, I already know where I stand.

At the bottom.

Not officially. No one says it out loud. But it shows in the way people look at me. The way they talk around me. The way I’m always the last to be considered, if I’m considered at all.

My hair is a frizzy mess of curls that I can barely control, and it constantly reminds me that I don’t fit in. Most wolves keep their appearance sharp, clean, and controlled—just like their wolves. Mine refuses to cooperate, no matter how hard I try.

My skin is fine but has a few blemishes, enough to make me self-conscious when I notice how flawless everyone else seems to look. I have rounded cheeks and a soft jawline that make me look kind, approachable even, but those are not traits this pack values.

Strength. Control. Power. That’s what matters here.

Sunlight comes through the curtains and spreads across the floor in thin golden lines. I blink slowly and adjust to the light as my room comes into focus. Everything is familiar—small, worn, but mine.

For a moment, I think about pulling the blanket over my head and going back to sleep. Sleep is easier. No whispers. No looks. No judgment pressing in from all sides.

But I can’t stay here forever.

I sigh and push myself up, my joints creaking slightly. My body always feels heavy in the morning, like it takes extra effort just to move. My hair is everywhere, a tangled mess that brushing barely fixes.

I glance at myself in the cracked mirror and snort. “Good morning, beautiful,” I mutter, my tone dry as I try to pull apart a stubborn knot.

The bed creaks as I stand, like it’s complaining under my weight. I pause for a second, then shake my head. I’m already tired, and the day hasn’t even started.

Still, one thing makes it easier.

Breakfast.

My stomach rumbles almost immediately, like it agrees with me. That small, simple comfort is enough to get me moving.

I walk barefoot across the worn carpet, heading straight for the kitchen. My kitchen. Not a shared space. Not the large pack dining hall where rank decides where you sit and who serves you.

I’ve been there before. Everyone has.

High-ranking wolves sit at the center tables. Warriors and trusted members close by. Others fill the outer space. And wolves like me? We take whatever is left, if we go at all.

So I prefer this.

Here, I don’t have to think about any of that.

Here, it’s just me.

I open the cupboards and look through what I have. Not much, but enough. A small smile forms on my face anyway. Just thinking about food lifts my mood a little.

“Pancakes sound good today,” I say quietly to myself. “Maybe with extra butter and syrup. Why not?”

No one is here to judge how much I eat. No one is watching.

I bring out the ingredients and start cooking. The process is familiar. Cracking eggs, mixing batter, heating the pan—it gives me something to focus on.

Something I can control.

The butter melts and sizzles, the sound filling the quiet kitchen. I pour the batter and watch it spread, simple and even. For a moment, everything feels calm.

When the pancakes start to brown, I feel a small sense of satisfaction. I flip them carefully, making sure they don’t burn. The smell fills the space, warm and sweet.

I’m wearing loose sweatpants and an oversized hoodie with bits of flour on it, but I don’t care. No one important is here to see me. No one is judging how I look or what I’m doing.

This is my space.

But even here, my thoughts don’t stay quiet for long.

They drift back to the pack. To the looks. The whispers. The laughter that always seems to follow me.

Especially from those just above me—wolves who aren’t at the top but still need someone lower to remind themselves they’re not at the bottom. Here in the Moonlight pack, they claim every wolf is equal, no Omegas who are used as slaves like in some neighboring packs. Every wolf has a family, just like the humans call it. Yet, wolves like me don't escape the murmurs.

I shake my head. “Not today, Talia,” I say under my breath. “Just focus on the pancakes.”

But it doesn’t work for long.

The thoughts come back anyway.

I compare myself to them without meaning to. The way they move with confidence. The way everything about them seems controlled—body, appearance, even their wolves.

Meanwhile, I stand here with messy hair, a body that never quite fits their standard, and a wolf that has never shown up.

I don’t hate myself. Not completely.

I’ve learned to live with who I am, at least on most days. But the pack makes it harder than it should be. Here, your place matters. Your strength matters. And whether anyone says it or not, I know mine is already decided.

The pancakes are ready—golden, soft, and stacked high on a plate. I add butter and watch it melt before pouring syrup over everything.

I sit down and take a bite. It’s sweet. Warm. Simple. For a moment, everything else fades.

Then the thoughts return.

What will they say today?

More remarks about my weight?

More jokes about how much I eat?