Chapter 2

Matilda's heart pounds in her chest as the werewolves circled around them, their hot breaths and bared teeth sending chills down her spine. She clutched the stranger's hand tightly, ready to make a run for it if the opportunity presented itself.

But before she could act, one of the hunters yelled out, "Shoot them, damn it! Shoot them!" The sound of gunfire filled the air as the hunters fired their weapons at the werewolves.

Matilda watched in horror as the creatures fell one by one, their bodies convulsing in pain and agony. She wanted to look away, but couldn't. The violence was too much to bear.

As the last werewolf fell to the ground, Matilda realized that she was now completely isolated. 

"She's one of them." One of the hunters said.

"How do you know that?"

"I just do."

"Hey buddy, I'd advise you not to hang around her." The leader of the hunters said, turning to the stranger.

"But she saved my life."

"We are leaving and she can't come with us."

"I'm sorry I have to go, thank you for saving me," the stranger said.

Before Matilda could answer, the hunters and the stranger left her and went their way.

Matilda felt life draining out of her. She was alone, with no one to protect her or guide her. She was at the mercy of this strange and dangerous world, and she didn't know if she had the strength to survive it alone.

       

                 ******

Days had passed since the tragic event that claimed her parents' lives, and Matilda had finally made it back to her pack. She was met with cold and accusing eyes as she made her way to the pack house.

"Matilda, what happened to your family?" Alpha Terry growled, his eyes narrowing at her.

Matilda took a deep breath, gathering the courage to speak. "We were attacked by rogue wolves, and they killed my parents," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I tried to fight back, but I was outnumbered and outmatched. I had to run for my life."

The pack murmured amongst themselves, and the Alpha's face twisted in anger. "You ran away? You left your family to die?" he snarled, his tone accusatory.

Matilda's heart sank. She knew that they wouldn't understand, that they would blame her for not being strong enough to protect her family. "I didn't know what else to do," she said softly. "I am wolfless, I had no chance against the rogues."

Matilda's best friend Jodie stepped forward. " Matilda, we can't blame you for what happened," she said, her voice soothing. "We're sorry for your loss."

Alpha Terry's gaze flickered to Jodie, then back to Matilda ."So, you expect me to believe that a bunch of rogue wolves killed the Packs Beta and his entire family and only you survived?"

"They were protecting a human. I was asked to take him to safety since I can't help them in fighting."

"And where exactly is the supposed human you saved?"

"He left," Matilda said bowing her head sadly.

 "You need to prove yourself to the pack," he said, his tone still harsh. "You need to show us that you are worthy of being part of this pack. We cannot have weak members who run away from danger."

Matilda felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew that she had to prove herself to the pack, but she didn't know how. All she wanted to do was mourn the loss of her family and find a way to move on. But she knew that wouldn't be possible until she had earned the pack's respect.

"I understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do whatever it takes to prove myself to the pack.

As she turned to leave, some of the other pack members began to mutter hurtful things under their breath. "She's a coward," one of them said. "She abandoned her own family." Matilda felt tears prick at the corner of her eyes as she made her way out.

She knew that proving herself to the pack wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to do it. She would show them that she was strong, that she was worthy of their respect. And she would honor her parents by becoming the best she could be.

      

               ******

Days turned into weeks, and Matilda worked tirelessly to earn the pack's respect. She trained for hours each day, pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion. She fought with everything she had during pack hunts, taking down prey with a ferocity that surprised even the Alpha.

But no matter how hard she tried, she could never quite shake the feeling of being an outsider. The other werewolves still looked at her with suspicion and contempt, and Alpha Terry's words continued to ring in her ears. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.

One day, after a particularly grueling training session, Matilda collapsed on the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She felt a pair of strong hands hoist her up, and she looked up to see Alpha Terry standing over her.

"You're not cut out for this, Matilda," he said, his voice cold and unfeeling. "You're weak, and you always will be. You'll never be a true member of this pack."

Matilda felt a surge of anger well up inside her. She had worked so hard, given everything she had, and yet it still wasn't enough. "I won't give up," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I'll keep training, keep fighting. I'll prove you wrong."

 Alpha Terry chuckled. "You can keep trying, but you'll never succeed," he said. "In fact, I think it's time we gave you a new position in the pack. From now on, you'll be the omega. You'll be at the bottom of the pack hierarchy, serving the other members and doing whatever they ask of you."

Matilda's heart sank. Being an omega was the lowest position in the pack, the one reserved for the weakest and most submissive werewolves. It was a position of servitude, one that no self-respecting werewolf would ever willingly accept.

But what choice did she have? If she refused, the Alpha would likely cast her out of the pack altogether. So she gritted her teeth and nodded her head, accepting her fate.

The other werewolves snickered as the Alpha led her away, their taunts ringing in her ears. "Look at her, the omega," one of them said. "She's not even a real werewolf."

Matilda felt like she had hit rock bottom. She had lost everything she had ever known, her family, her status, and her dignity. But she refused to give up. She would show the pack that she was stronger than they thought, that she was more than just an omega. She would fight back and prove them wrong.

"But Alpha, I've been doing everything you've asked of me," she protested. "I've been training hard, hunting, and even doing chores around the pack. What more do you want from me?"

Terry narrowed his eyes at her. "You are still weak, Matilda," he said, his tone cold. "You lack the strength and the ferocity that we need in our pack. I cannot have a weak member among us."

Matilda felt a knot form in her stomach. She had always felt like she was meant for something greater than the life of an Omega. But now it seemed like her dreams were slipping away from her.

"But I can improve, Alpha," she said, her voice pleading. "Please give me another chance."

The Alpha shook his head. "I have given you enough chances, Matilda. It's time for you to accept your place as the Omega of our pack."