Athena
The first mistake I ever made was finding myself in a pack like the Lion’s Mane pack. The second mistake was being a female. I’ve heard stories about my kind from other cities. It made me realize how much injustice there was in this world, especially in the village where I grew up in. I witnessed the labour of one of the warrior's mate in the Gamma’s quarters one night—one of those nights I sneaked out of the cage called a home to breathe in fresh forest breeze.I was eight, but I knew alot, since my father was a warrior. The rage in the eyes of the male gamma was so frightful you would think he wanted to devour the new born child in cold blood.“it’s a girl, gamma Richard,” a woman announced as she stepped out of the wooden house with a fire stick in her hand and a slouching back. She was frail and old, I could tell she was one of those women that handled childbirth in the village, exceptionally skilled, so I heard.“Impossible! How can she bring such shame to me. The seer swore I was gonna have a son!” the man raged as his voice roared into the night. I ducked from where I was, clutching the bark of the slender tree stem when he dashed past me.I was scared he caught me that night. It would have been a different story for the eight-year-old me roaming about. After he left, the surrounding was less busy. I tiptoed toward the house, standing by a window. A room was dimly lit with a lantern on a small table at the center. My eyes travelled down to the silhouette of a woman sitting on the floor. Tears flowed down my eyes as I beheld the little creature wrapped in white wool, placed inside a basket few meters away from the woman. They were tears of admiration. It looked so innocent and pure as it made subtle happy noise. It made me remember the birth of my younger brother, Carl. Then, there was noise from the main entrance of the house. I knew what it meant. We all knew. It was a female child. There was no way she was going to be allowed a normal life. I wondered why my pack hated females so much, especially females born outside the blood line of an Alpha or a superior warrior. My heart was sore as I saw a troop of men barge into the room.“please, don’t take her away. Allow me touch her even if its going to be the last time.” The woman’s pleas were to no avail as they yanked the baby from one of the nurses’ hands who tried to yield to the pain of a mother about to loose her child forever. I didn t realize when I began to sob loudly until a voice asked from beside the window where I stood, “who’s there?”I froze in surprise and fear and instinctively ducked to the ground. No one has caught me since I began my nightly quest for temporary freedom. Thankfully, there was a flower pot beside me, large enough to conceal my tiny body. I heard the footstep fade away as the other voices from within the house diminished, except the crying woman. I felt so much compassion for her. My mother had told me stories of that kind but I never believed them because I thought she wanted to instill fear in me just to keep me locked in that house. AS I planned to leave, the woman in the house stood from the floor where she sat and the next sound I heard was a gruesome cry. I walked around the house to satisfy my curiosity. Maybe I should have disobeyed my whims that night. I wouldn’t have had so much nightmares to deal with while growing up. The whole kitchen was flooded as the knife gradually fell from her hands. Blood gushed out from her belly as it travelled to meet the blood dropping from beneath her already dripping skirts. The night wasn’t cold but I developed a sudden fever as I stumbled my way out of the compound. My feet were betraying my speed but I didn’t stop regardless. I just witnessed another suicide. It wasn’t on the news. It was right before my very eyes. I threw up along the way as my brain couldn’t digest the gory sight. This would be me in few years to come, I whispered to myself as I dashed across the forest grounds. I was born a female, but my parents hid me from the eyes of the Alpha when I was born. I’ve been in hiding ever since. I don’t know how long was left until my secret would be discovered, and I’m not doing a great job at concealing my identity either, but the thought of my future keeps haunting me daily and making me more hardened.“Where were you, Athena! Haven't I warned you severally about leaving the house?” my mother questioned in a disturbed whisper as I tried to sneak into my room unnoticed—it was too late. I corrected my posture as I stood upright. My limbs were frozen on the spot. I didn’t have an excuse this time. It was way past 11pm and I knew how dangerous it was to roam the forest at such a dangerous time. I whispered underneath my breath, “I’m sorry, mum” For the first time, I meant my apology. I just witnessed a disturbing scene. My mother’s fear for my life was justified. I turned to face her and fell to my knees. “I’m sorry, mum. I really am but Why am I girl, mother. Why didn't you make me a boy like my brother?” I wailed bitterly as I held on to my mother’s limbs asking for the impossible. “The moon goddess knows all. We can’t question her decisions. Now get up and go back to your room before your father finds out about this.” She helped me to my feet and pushed me into my room briskly. Immediately, I heard my father’s voice from behind my door. “who was that, Olivia?”“nothing serious, my Lord. It was a wild cat,” my mother replied with a shaky voice—She feared my father more than I did.“don’t you dare lie to me. I heard you speak with someone just now!”The next reply I heard was my mother’s scream. “Where is she!” my father raged as he banged my room door open. I jumped on my bed before he came in, pretending to be asleep as I tried so hard to hold back my sob. It was not the first time my mother defended me. It was not the first time I heard her cry from my father’s pounches. The pain she went through because of me made me obey her for a while and remain locked up but something in me always wanted more. Something in me wasn’t ready to be caged. I choked my mouth with my bedspread to muffle my silent sobs as my father entered into my room.“i hope you pretend to the Alpha the day you fall into his traps. Ungrateful bunch of shits!” he cursed angrily and slammed my room door close that made the windows rattle from the impact.Few minutes passed. My eyes were still sore and wet. I stared vaguely at the full moon above a large palm tree beside my window from where I laid. I questioned whatever being was up there, watching all these happen. Then , my mother’s silhouette blocked my view. She sat at the edge of my bed. Immediately, I flung my hands around her neck as my tears increased, resting on both knees on the bed as I sniffed on her shoulders. I was deeply sorry for the pain I caused her.“it’s okay, Athena. Just don’t put yourself in trouble. I don’t want you to end up like me.” I didn't understand what she meant.I noded my head as she tried to pat me to sleep. I wanted to ask questions. I wanted to know why they chose to keep me hidden. I wanted to know why she allowed my father hit her because of my stubborness. Was I a special being or was I a curse never to be seen? Questions I wished I had answers to at such tender age. Just as my eyelids were falling, a terrible thunder vibrated the whole house. I flew out of bed and met the frightened look on my mother’s face. Only one person could make such fearful growl. He was around. Right in our house.Athena“Go!” my mother's tensed whisper rang in my ears as the noise drew closer. This was the end of my life eventually. There was no escaping again. I was finally joining the rest of my kind or maybe get killed for ever trying to decieve the Alpha. It was as though the tears dropping from my swollen eyes were drying immediately as they fell as I lifted my tiny body out of my room window while my mother dashed out of the room in panic.“Don’t you dare lie to me, Rowan. Her scent is all over here,” the murderous voice echoed as I heard my father stand in my defense. This was the first time the Alpha visited our home. This was the first time he ever stepped into our house. Somebody must have seen me while I was running. I scolded myself as I sat in fright, shivering and suppressing the cry ready to burst out of my mouth. It was a hard rock to bite that night. “I would never lie to you, Alpha Gonzalo. I and my mate have been the only inhabitant of this house after my son joined your wa
AthenaAlthough my father wasn't my best of friends, I was glad to see him. I ran into his built arms as he threw me on his shoulders. The forest grounds moved briskly before my eyes as I groaned in pain on his shoulders.He flung my body unto the floor. The rug was familiar. I realized i was back in my room and the house was still. The Alpha had left.“I should have allowed you to die a long time ago” he clasped his palm around my thin neck as I struggled to breathe.“You should be thankful for your life and this is the very last time. I promise you. If I ever hear of your disobedience, I'll personally hand you over to the Alpha” he released his grip on me and stormed out of my room. I struggled to catch my breath as I crawled towards the foot of my bed.As much as I was in safety, I knew that the memory of that night would stay with me forever.The screams, the blood, and the terror of that night would haunt me forever as well. I couldn't believe that such violence and evil existed
AthenaThe young boy gave me a nasty look as he spoke with urgency. “I haven't seen this face around here…” The young man was immediately interrupted by who I just knew was a Shaman, “Tell the Alpha the enemies are stronger than we are but he can proceed if he believes in miracles. I'll be here if he needs my physical presence. Hurry now.”“But the Alpha…” “Do as I say, Charles. You may leave now” The boy dashed out of the room after what seemed like a minute of confusion. My mind raced in panic as I heard about the presence of the Alpha. There was nothing that could convince me from thinking that it wasn't finally over. But did it have to be on my birthday? My whole body was shivering from the thought until the Shaman spoke, “you shouldn't be here, young man. Today's training is about to begin.”I was caught between running away or telling the shaman the truth. But, what if the Alpha caught me on my way out? What would become of me? What if the Shaman hands me over to the Alpha hi
AthenaThe troop briskly dissolved while I paced, holding on to my hair like I wanted to yank them out. I couldn't let three years of hard training go to waste. It was the time I was waiting for yet I felt scared for my life. The time to prove the Alpha wrong about us—the feminine gender. We were stronger than what they thought us to be if we were given the chance. But, I was scared of being a scapegoat. A laughing stock. Worst of it all, what if he passes a death sentence? “Are you scared of getting your ass kicked, Styles?” One of the best at my level, Scott, scorned me as he approached the exit. It was pointless to respond to him but I was in a tense state and whatever he said made me angrier with myself. Although, he hated me for being one of his strongest contenders.“Of course not. I'm scared of no one, including the Alpha,” I replied angrily, telling that to myself rather than the nuisance in front of me. He laughed like a snoring pig. I guess that was the right amount of mot
AthenaAlthough I hadn't met him, I knew he would be just as heartless as the Alpha. I limped out of the school's premises hating my legs and the terrible pain in my abdomen. A random reptile crossed my path. It ran over my worn-out shoes. What a mistake it made. I crushed its head with my heels, stamping my feet aggressively until it was impossible to recognize its form as a once colorful spiky lizard. Countless times my mother had thought I needed a therapist after killing a stray cat the last summer. No one accepted the fact that it ate my pet fish, Goldie—the only loyal friend I ever had. How could I let that slide? I turned to continue my journey home, leaving the dead carcass for the swarm of flies settling on its bruised body. I strode down the almost deserted streets. It was one of those days I enjoyed the bliss of freedom and what it felt like to be part of a learning institute, though unwelcomed. I should be sorry for the Alpha's potential loss of his only son, but I wasn't.
Athena “What’s the whole noise about?” he roared. I paused, still facing the white wooden walls that were oozing out termite eggs on the floor due my impact as the voice probed behind me. I gulped down my dry throat. The sight of my mother’s pain had clouded my reasoning. “What is that thing you’re wearing?” he asked with his usual monotone. I could feel every sound of his footsteps as the aura in the room intensified, but I stood still without the slightest attempt to face him. My heart raced, ceaselessly as I remembered his last warning. I looked down at my training suit and realized how screwed I was.“Are you deaf? Where did you get that!” he roared behind me. At this point, I was beginning to tremble but I fixed my gaze on the three-year old me smiling at me from a picture frame sitting on the shelf in front of me. I smiled back at my younger self and turned to face my father, I mean, Mr. Styles. I retained the smile on my face as I looked into his eyes. All my aim was to make
(an omega curse)Athena I blinked rapidly unable to fathom what was before me. The girl that responded to me earlier left my side as soon as a hefty-looking man approached me. His chest was bare. The only clothing on him was the hide of a leopard around his waist, such that a flimsy view of his muscular lap was exposed. The beards on his face were so much that his mouth was almost invisible.“When did you arrive?” the husky voice inquired. I used to think my father had the scariest voice but I was proven wrong right on the spot. I began a tireless palpitation as I struggled to crawl away from him, moving on my already-bruised elbows. Sporadic coughing flew out of my mouth in replacement for an answer to his question. He pulled me by my hair towards what seemed like a thatched house in the midst of forest ground. The chaotic noise diminished as we approached the onlookers—a large group of young females and a scanty number of males. All looking unkempt and scrawny. I could tell I was t
AthenaI ran into one of the scrawny-looking souls scattered at the front of the building. Surprisingly, he was a male. “Watch where you’re going,” he protested as some others grumbled from the impact as I unintentionally made a few of them trip.“Who are you?”“she’s one of us now,” the fat woman responded for me as I pulled myself back to my feet.“In that case, you need a change of clothing. You cannot hunt dressed as a clown. The man who seemed to be the leader stepped close to me as the crowd surrounding me dispersed. I saw a heap of old clothing drop before me. They were faded camouflage trousers and a bralette.“Hurry up,” the man commanded as I picked up the piece of cloth that looked like my perfect fit. Maybe this was a chance to finally get to learn the martial arts without having to hide, I said to myself, as my new outfit resembled the ones used by the warriors, except that they looked old. I crawled until I got to my feet. I searched around for a place to change when th