I stumbled towards my scooter, my vision still blurry from tears. It was all normal to me, but they rarely got physical. As I hopped on the scooter and turned the engine on, a rush of cool air hit my face. It was a relief to feel something other than pain. The ringing in my head slowly subsided as I gained some speed on the empty streets.
I could feel my heart aching with betrayal at the thought of my wicked sister. She set me up, knowing what could happen. It was all a game to her, but she didn't care about the real consequences. I had always hoped that sisters were supposed to be best friends, but it wasn't the case for me. I was an outlaw in her eyes, and nothing would change that.
As I drove through the streets, the buildings blurred past me like a dream. I longed for the blood moon, where I could find my true mate. Someone who would cherish me and care for me, unlike the people I had just left behind. I knew I deserved better, and I wouldn't stop until I found it.
The blood moon was a spectacular astronomical event that occurred once a year. In that period, the sky was painted a deep shade of crimson, and the moon itself appeared larger and more intense than ever before. It was a time of magic, of possibility, and of transformation.
As the moon rose higher in the sky, its light bathed the forest in an eerie glow. Shadows danced in the corners of our vision, and the air was alive with the sound of howling wolves. It was said that during the blood moon, wolves up to the age of eighteen would find their mates. For those of us who were single and hoping to find our lifelong partners, the blood moon was a time of intense anticipation and excitement.
The pain in my head was nothing compared to the trauma I felt in my heart. I could feel it weighing me down, like a heavy burden that I couldn't shake off. But as I drove through the night, the wind in my hair and the roar of the engine beneath me, I felt a glimmer of hope. A hope that someday, I would find the happiness and peace I deserved.
I whisper a prayer to the moon goddess, hoping that she would smile upon me and guide me to a good mate. I know that finding a mate during the Blood Moon wasn't the only thing that matters, but finding a good one was equally important. The extremely lucky ones usually end up with powerful Alphas as their mates, while others were satisfied with being mated to Beta males. However, I cursed silently under my breath at the thought of being paired with a weak Omega. It was a fate that I did not want to face. I longed for someone who would cherish me, care for me, and make me feel loved. A mate who would be my companion through thick and thin. I hoped that the goddess would bless me with a mate who would not only love me but also appreciate me for who I was.
I no longer wanted to be reminded constantly of how weak I was. Everyone saw me as weak, someone who couldn't even protect herself, let alone be a valuable member of a pack. Safe to say those Alphaholes were making sure they took an advantage of that. It was a constant reminder that I wasn't good enough and that I would always be at the bottom of the pack hierarchy. The weight of all these expectations and judgments was suffocating, making me feel trapped and powerless.
I arrived at the small pizza shop I worked, my eyes squinting as I tried to read the bright neon sign out front. I quickly checked my watch and let out a sigh of frustration. I was ten minutes late. Mr. Gareth was never one to tolerate tardiness. I swallowed my fear and ran into the building, hoping to avoid his wrath.
As I rushed to the counter, I could feel the disapproving looks from my coworkers. They always seemed to relish in the fact that I was the weakest link. The thought of their disdain only added to my growing anxiety.
Just as I was about to grab the next order, I heard Mr. Gareth's voice booming through the shop. He was calling my name, beckoning me to his office. I hesitated for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew what awaited me in his office, so I gripped the scooter keys tightly in my fisted fingers and took a deep breath.
I made my way to his office, my palms sweating and my knees weak. My heart was pounding in my chest as I entered Mr. Gareth's office. His scowl was the first thing that greeted me, and I could feel a cold sweat break out on my forehead. I tried to explain that I had hit traffic, but he wasn't buying it. He called me a liar and a slacker, and I could feel my face turning red.
I could feel his eyes piercing through me. He sat behind his desk, his face contorted with anger. I knew that this was not going to be a pleasant conversation.
"Emily," he growled, his voice dripping with disdain that. I shuddered as though I would wither "You're late. Again."
"I expect better from you, Emily," he said, his voice dripping with an unusual condescension. "You're lucky to even have a job here. We could replace you in a heartbeat."
I wanted to defend myself, to tell him that I was doing the best I could, but I knew it would be pointless. Mr. Gareth had a temper like a thunderstorm, and once he started, there was no stopping him.
"You're costing us money, Emily," he continued, his voice rising. "Every minute you're late is a minute we can't serve our customers. I'm docking another five dollars from your pay, and if this happens again, you'll be out on your ass."
I nodded, too scared to say anything. Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, and I tried to blink them away.
Mr. Gareth's scowl deepened. "Don't cry, it won't get you anywhere," he said. "Just get out of my office and get back to work. And don't let it happen again."
I tried to apologize, but my words seemed to fall on deaf ears. He continued to berate me, his words cutting through me like a knife. I could feel my eyes welling up with tears, but I refused to let them fall. I knew that showing any signs of weakness would only make the situation worse.
As he ranted on, I tried to focus on the sound of his voice. It was like a distant hum, a white noise that I had learned to tune out. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that had settled deep within me.
I stumbled out of his office, trying to hold back my tears. I left, feeling defeated and broken. I knew that I would never be good enough for him or anyone else in this world. My co-workers gave me disapproving and disgust-filled looks as I passed by them. I knew they thought I was weak and incompetent, just like everyone else did. But what could I do? I was just a weak girl trying to make it in the big Pack, and it seemed like the world was against me.
