Chapter 2- Withdraw

OLIVIA

"You're really going to participate?"

I looked up from my book and saw my mother standing in the doorway.

She was wearing a pale blue dress, and although her face looked a little pale, she still managed to give me the warmest smile.

"Mom!"

I immediately stood up and approached her.

"What are you doing here? You should be resting."

"I'm fine, sweetheart. I just wanted to see you."

I helped her sit on the edge of my bed, then took the chair opposite her.

Mother had been discharged from the pack hospital two days ago, but her condition hadn't improved much. She still looked frail, and sometimes, even walking a short distance left her breathless.

It hurt me to see her like that.

If only I could find a way to make her healthy again.

"I heard from one of the omegas that your siblings registered you for the regional competition," she said.

I sighed.

"They did."

"And you're planning to participate?"

I nodded.

"I want to win, Mom."

She studied my face for a moment.

"Why?"

I lowered my gaze.

"I want to leave this pack."

The words came out more quietly than I intended.

Mother didn't immediately respond. She simply reached for my hand and gently squeezed it.

"Because of Tony?"

"Not just because of him."

I shook my head.

"Even before he rejected me, I was never treated well here. Father has always made me feel like I'm someone he regrets having. Doel and Dina never considered me their sister. And now that Tony has chosen Dina, things have become even worse."

I paused, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life being reminded that I don't have a wolf. I want to live somewhere where I can be myself without having to prove that I deserve to exist."

Mother's eyes softened.

"Oh, sweetheart..."

She pulled me into a hug. I buried my face against her shoulder, inhaling her familiar scent.

I know my mother is strong. She has a wolf, but even my father didn't know. Mom was afraid of something she didn't want to tell me.

"Do you think I'm selfish for wanting to leave?" I asked.

"Of course not."

She gently stroked my hair.

"You have every right to choose the life you want, Olivia. You don't owe anyone your happiness."

I closed my eyes.

For a moment, I wished I could stay like that forever. But eventually, Mother pulled away and took hold of my shoulders.

"However, there's something I need you to remember."

I looked at her.

"Your wolf is different from theirs. Don't let anyone provoke you into revealing it."

"I know, Mom."

"Promise me you won't summon her unless it's absolutely necessary."

I nodded.

"I promise."

She smiled, although I noticed the sadness that briefly crossed her face.

"Good. And remember what I taught you. Your body is the foundation of your strength. Continue training, even when you think you've reached your limit."

"I will."

Mother touched the tattoo beneath my sleeve.

"One day, you'll understand why I gave you this wolf."

I wanted to ask what she meant, but she had already withdrawn her hand.

"Now, go and prepare yourself. If you're determined to join the competition, you need to be ready."

I smiled.

"Yes, Mom."

Three days later…

"Again!"

I gasped as I pushed myself off the ground.

My knees trembled, and sweat soaked through my training clothes.

I had been running around the training grounds for almost an hour before moving on to strength and endurance exercises.

Mother had taught me that ordinary werewolves relied heavily on their wolves during combat. But members of our bloodline couldn't afford to depend on that alone.

Our bodies had to be strong enough to withstand the strain of summoning our wolves. When we fight, we're two different bodies.

And mine had to be stronger than most.

"Come on, Olivia. You can do this."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and resumed my training.

I punched the training bag repeatedly, alternating between powerful strikes and quick movements.

Afterward, I practiced dodging and counterattacking.

I wasn't particularly interested in becoming the strongest person in the world.

I simply wanted to survive.

If I entered the competition and faced opponents stronger than me, I needed to know how to defend myself without relying on my tattooed wolf.

That was why I had spent years training in secret.

Mother had arranged everything.

She even taught me how to control my breathing and recognize an opponent's movements before they attacked.

I was about to continue when I heard someone clapping.

"Well, well. Look who's pretending to be a warrior."

I stopped.

Tony.

He was standing a few feet away with two of his friends.

My former mate.

Although he had rejected me two years ago, seeing him still stirred something uncomfortable in my chest.

He was wearing a black training shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders. His brown hair was slightly disheveled, and his expression was as arrogant as I remembered.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Is that how you greet your Alpha's son?"

I lowered my gaze.

"Sorry. Good morning."

He glanced at the training equipment, then looked at me again.

"I heard you joined the regional competition."

I didn't answer.

He chuckled.

"Are you really that desperate for attention?"

"I'm not."

"Then why would you join something you can't possibly win?"

I clenched my jaw.

"That's none of your business."

His expression darkened.

"What did you say?"

I immediately regretted speaking.

But before I could apologize, one of his friends laughed.

"Maybe she thinks she'll impress you, Tony. After all, she used to be your mate."

Tony scoffed.

"Don't remind me."

Those words stung more than I wanted to admit.

He stepped closer.

"Listen, Olivia. I don't care what you do with your life, but don't drag the Crescent Moon Pack's name through the mud. If you embarrass us during that competition, you'll have to answer for it."

I looked directly at him.

"What if I win?"

He laughed.

"You?"

"Yes. What if I win?"

His smile disappeared for a moment before he shook his head.

"Then I'll personally congratulate you."

He said it as though the possibility was so ridiculous that he didn't even need to consider it.

"Just make sure you don't get yourself killed."

With that, he turned around and walked away with his friends.

I watched him leave, then looked down at my hands.

Two years ago, I would have cried after hearing those words.

I would have wondered what was wrong with me and why I wasn't good enough.

But not anymore.

Tony had already made his choice. And I had finally decided to make mine.

At the Crescent Moon Packhouse. I saw my father and sister talking.

"Father, have you heard about Olivia?"

I was passing by the living room when I heard Dina's voice.

I stopped near the doorway.

Gamma Frank sat on the sofa, reading documents.

"What about her?" he asked without looking up.

"She actually agreed to participate in the regional competition."

Father finally raised his head.

"What?"

Doel laughed.

"We registered her without telling her. Surprisingly, she didn't withdraw her name."

Father frowned.

"Why would you do something like that?"

"What's wrong with it, Father?" Dina asked innocently. "We only wanted to give her a chance to participate."

"She can't even shift. What makes you think she can compete against trained warriors?"

I lowered my head.

I should have known he would react that way.

"Exactly!" Doel exclaimed. "Imagine how embarrassing it would be if she got beaten up in the first round."

Father placed his documents on the table.

"Tell her to withdraw."

I stepped into the living room.

"I won't."

All three of them turned toward me.

Father's expression immediately hardened.

"What did you say?"

I took a deep breath.

"I said I won't withdraw my name."

He stared at me as though I had just insulted him.

"Do you even understand what you're saying? That competition is not a game, Olivia. People get seriously injured there."

"I know."

"Then why are you being stubborn?"

"Because I want to participate."

He stood up.

"You think you can represent this pack? You don't even have a wolf!"

I lowered my gaze, trying to control my emotions.

"I'll do my best."

"Your best?" He scoffed. "Your best won't be enough!"

Dina covered her mouth, pretending to hide her laughter.

Doel leaned against the sofa, clearly enjoying the situation.

Father pointed toward the door.

"Withdraw your name. I don't want to hear another word about this."

I remained where I was.

For years, I had obeyed him.

Whenever he told me to do something, I did it. Whenever he scolded me, I accepted it. Whenever he compared me to my siblings, I simply lowered my head.

But this time, I couldn't.

If I withdrew, I would lose my only opportunity to leave.

"I'm sorry, Father, but I won't."

His face turned red.

"You ungrateful child!"

He raised his hand, and I instinctively flinched.

But before he could say anything else, Dina spoke.

"Father, just let her participate."

She smiled sweetly.

"If she loses, she'll finally understand that she's not meant to be a warrior."

Doel chuckled.

"That's right. Besides, it'll be entertaining."

Father looked at them, then turned his attention back to me.

"Fine. Do whatever you want. But don't expect this family to help you when you embarrass yourself."

I bowed my head.

"Thank you."

I didn't wait for another response before leaving. My hands were trembling, but I refused to cry. I had already made up my mind.

A few days later, the annual werewolf regional competition was just days away.

The university had already submitted its final list of participants, and the Crescent Moon Pack had begun selecting the warriors who would accompany them.

I was sitting in the cafeteria when a familiar voice called my name.

"Olivia!"

I turned and saw Grace approaching with two cups of coffee.

Grace was one of the few people at the university who treated me normally, and our beta's daughter.

She placed one cup in front of me before sitting down.

"Here. I bought you coffee."

"Thank you."

She glanced at the announcement on her phone.

"So, is it true?"

I looked at her.

"What's true?"

"That you're joining the regional competition?"

I sighed.

"Yes."

Her eyes widened.

"Olivia! Are you serious?"

I nodded.

She leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Do you know how dangerous that competition is? Some of the participants are already experienced warriors. Even people with strong wolves struggle to win."

"I know."

"Then why are you joining?"

I stirred my coffee.

"I have a reason."

Grace studied me for a moment.

"Is it because you want to leave the pack?"

I looked at her in surprise.

"How did you know?"

"Because I've seen how they treat you."

She sighed.

"Honestly, I don't understand how people can be so cruel. Just because you can't shift doesn't mean you deserve to be treated like that."

I smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Grace."

She reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

"Just promise me you'll be careful, okay? I don't want you getting hurt."

"I promise."

That evening, I returned to my room and stood before the mirror.

I slowly rolled up my left sleeve.

The black tattoo seemed almost ordinary beneath the dim light.

But I knew better.

I placed my palm over it and closed my eyes. A faint warmth spread beneath my skin.

For a brief moment, I could feel something stirring.

Something alive.

My wolf.

I smiled.

"Not yet."

The warmth slowly disappeared.

Mother had told me that summoning my wolf required more than simply wanting to fight. I needed to be physically and mentally prepared.

And I wasn't going to reveal her just because someone challenged me.

I lowered my sleeve and returned to my bed.

In a few days, I would stand among the region's strongest warriors.

I didn't know who my opponents would be, or what awaited me.

But I knew one thing.

I wasn't going to let fear stop me.

I had spent two years being treated as though I didn't belong in the werewolf world.

Now, I was finally going to prove that I deserved a place in it.