Chapter 2

Aria's POV

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ 13 years later ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was the shifting season. My memories were slowly returning but i couldn't find a memory of myself being in a clinic for a week. Yes, Lara had told me that I was in a hospital for a week due to an incident. That was all I could get from her. Whenever I tried probing her for further information she would close off on me.

"You'll be shifting today," Lara told me feeling so excited for me.

She was an early bloomer. She shifted into her wolf for the first time when she turned 13. Middle bloomers shifted into their wolves when they turned 16, for me... I believed I was a late bloomer despite the rumors that went around saying I was cursed. I read books and I was sure that curses could be lifted. I had Lara who always stood by my side giving me encouragement all day.

"Yes, hopefully," I replied flashing her a smile.

It was evening time, and the full moon was out. The shifting period was the only time Omega's were allowed to dress in beautiful and handsome dresses. Lara helped me into my milky gown that flowed on the ground. She let my hair fall down. My hair was a shade of chestnut with gold specs on it. 

"Your hair is beautiful," Lara complimented.

"It's a normal color," I responded.

"It's not. Don't deceive yourself," she warned me.

"Fine... Whatever you say," I responded not wanting to dwell more on the subject of discussion.

"Your face is down. A penny for your thoughts?" She asked.

I looked into her eyes before lowering my head to the ground.

"Talk to me Aria," she prodded.

"What if I don't shift tonight," I blurted out my fears to her.

"What do you mean Aria?" She asked holding my hands.

"There are rumors Lara. Rumors that I am cursed," I replied. " My dad doesn't even show up for this shifting period. Like he knows something that I don't know."

"Do you believe them Aria?" She asked.

"Most times I do. I mean I'm the weakest Omega in the servant's ward," I replied.

"Those are just negative thoughts Aria," she said before hugging me. "Go out there and kill it." 

A nervous energy crackled in the air as we all stood in a circle under the full moon's unblinking gaze. Tonight was the night. The night we were supposed to finally shift, to claim our birthright as werewolves. Excitement and trepidation warred within me, a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. We all held hands, a silent promise of support amidst the coming transformation.

As the wind grew stronger, a collective gasp ripped through the group. Bones began to crackle, a sound both terrifying and strangely beautiful. The girl beside me let out a guttural roar, her body contorting as fur sprouted across her skin. In seconds, a magnificent silver wolf stood in her place, its eyes glowing a fierce amber.

One by one, the others followed suit. Shrieks of pain mingled with exhilarated howls as bodies contorted and reshaped. The pungent smell of wet fur filled the air, a primal musk that both repulsed and exhilarated me. I watched, heart hammering against my ribs, as my friends embraced their wolf forms, their excited barks echoing through the clearing. 

But me? I remained unchanged. The agonizing screams had subsided, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. My hand, still clasped in the empty space where everyone once stood, felt impossibly cold. Panic clawed at my throat. I tried to focus, willing the change to come, picturing the searing pain, the bone-deep transformation. But nothing happened. I was a lone statue amidst a whirlwind of fur and fangs.

Tears welled in my eyes, hot and stinging. This wasn't supposed to happen. We were all raised on the same stories of our werewolf heritage. Why was I the only one left unbroken? A chilling loneliness settled over me, heavier than the transforming bodies around me. At that moment, under the mocking gaze of the full moon, the truth sunk in. I wasn't just different. I was cursed. 

I fell onto the ground regretting the day. Once again, the moon goddess had not pitied me. 

"Seems like you're the only one who has refused to change Aria," I heard my Alpha say.

I couldn't respond. I felt numb.

"Cover that hair of yours. Dye it another colour or something. It's not fit for someone like you," he added before going forward to acknowledge the other wolves who had shifted.

Lara rushed to my side, placing a towel over my body as she led me into the servant's ward.

"Why me Lara?" I questioned tears dropping from my eyes over and over again. "Why not someone else? What did I ever do wrong?" 

"I'm really sorry Aria," she said hugging me.

"Does the Moon Goddess regret bringing me into the world?" I asked 

"That's not possible. Everything happens for a reason," she told me as she patted my back gently.

I cried to sleep in her arms. The next morning, I woke up to see my hair black. Gold specs still showed in the places they had been before.

"Lara.... Did you dye my hair?" I asked when she came into the servant's ward to wake me up.

"Yes... I figured you might get in trouble if the head of housekeeper sees the previous color most especially after the Alpha's warning," she responded.

"Oh.... Yes, thank you," I thanked gratefully.

I had my bath quickly before leaving the room to resume my work for the day.  I got multiple stares from people and wondered why they were looking at me like that. I figured it was because of last night, I bit back a tear as I remember the past event. Today I was going to see my father. I needed him to answer a few of my questions. I tried to avoid being flogged or insulted throughout the day but I was unable to do that when a plate slipped from my hand mistakenly. It was a fellow omega that slapped me. She had the right to do that now as I was just a mere human to everyone now. 

When the day ended, I returned to my house rather than the servant's ward.

"What are you doing here?" My dad asked when he saw me at the door.

"I missed you Father," I responded leaning in to hug him.

"Are you allowed to be here?" He asked. " Look Aria, I don't want problems for us."

"It's okay Father. I'm allowed to be here," I  responded.

He hugged me back. Entering into the house, I was met with bottles of uncorked beer.

"You've been drinking," I said.

"Just a little," he responded.

"Dad.... This isn't just a little. Are you trying to kill yourself?" I yelled.

"Lower your voice," he warned.

I ran a hand through my hair tired of his attitude.

"I didn't come here for this Father. Why haven't I shifted?" I asked catching him unawares.

"What do you mean?" He retorted.

"You know what I mean Father. I'm tired of feeling cursed. What were the circumstances around my birth?" I asked.

"I don't have an answer for that," he replied his face lacking any trace of emotion.

"Sure... As expected," I said before walking out of the house.

I should have known that he wouldn't say anything. I was sad and broken. I didn't know how to feel at this point. I ran towards a forest on the side of the house. I ran as far as my legs could carry me till I tumbled over a tree. I bit back a tear as the tree dug into my leg. I heard the rustling of trees from behind. I got really scared. Then I saw it, a big black wolf with gold specs. I cleared my vision trying to remember where I had seen it before. It was in my dream. Yes, that's where I saw it.

"Aria," I heard someone call me.

"Who's there?" I asked.

"He will come for you soon," I heard a different voice say.

"Moon Goddess... Is that you?" I asked my heart beating hard in my chest.

I woke up in a treehouse. There was no one around. Just a plate of food and a blanket covered around me. I ate a small bite of the food before rushing back to the Alpha's ward. Surprisingly, my wound of the previous night had healed. I didn't know whether to be terrified or not. I didn't also tell anyone about what had happened the previous night. My dad had tried talking to me through Lara but I wouldn't budge. I wasn't ready to have a conversation filled with lies from him. Each day, I tried to survive. I didn't know what I was surviving for. I just knew that I had to survive. My mind went back to the wolf. Whose wolf had I seen two times?