CHAPTER 1:The Cursed Omega

Nerissa POV

My knees slammed painfully against the wet ground as another bucket of freezing water hit my back.

The women around the wash area burst into laughter.

“Look at her.”

“She can’t even carry water properly.”

I tightened my fingers around the metal bucket while cold mud soaked through my thin dress.

“You’re deaf now too, cursed girl?” one of the older women snapped.

I forced myself to stand quickly. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” the woman scoffed loudly. “Your sorry killed your family.”

The laughter became louder. I lowered my head immediately.

That was how you survived in the Red Claw Pack.

The cold morning wind blew against my face as I picked up the bucket again with shaking hands. My wrists hurt badly from yesterday’s punishment, but stopping meant trouble and trouble in this pack always ended with pain.

“Move faster!” another woman barked.

I hurried toward the water barrels beside the pack house, ignoring the ache in my legs.

Around me, pack members moved freely through the training grounds. Wolves sparred under the supervision of Enforcers while younger pups chased one another happily across the open field.

I looked away quickly. That kind of happiness had never belonged to me.

“Pathetic.” The familiar voice made my body tense. Livia,my cousin, stepped directly into my path with her arms folded across her chest. Her expensive fur cloak rested neatly around her shoulders while her dark hair shined under the morning light.

Everything about her screamed superiority,everything about me screamed weakness.

“You’re making the pack house look filthy again,” she said coldly.

“I cleaned it this morning,” I whispered.

Her eyes narrowed “You’re talking back now?”

“No.”

“Then lower your eyes when speaking to me.”

I obeyed and Livia smirked.

“That’s better.”

Behind her, two young wolves snickered openly while staring at me.

One of them suddenly wrinkled his nose dramatically.

“Can cursed wolves even have mates?”

The other laughed. “Maybe the Moon Goddess forgot she exists.”

My grip tightened around the bucket.

Livia stepped closer suddenly and grabbed my chin harshly.

“You should be grateful that the Red Claw Pack still allows you to breathe after everything your existence has caused.”

“My mother died because of you,” she hissed. “Your father died because of you. Your brother died because of you. Everywhere you go, people die.”

The words stabbed directly into my chest because part of me still believed them.

Livia finally shoved me backward.

“Now get back to work before Aunt Mara sees you standing around uselessly again.”

I stumbled but caught myself before falling.

The moment she walked away, I released a shaky breath.

“Nerissa.” I turned quickly.

Harper hurried toward me carrying folded blankets in her arms. Unlike the others, her soft brown eyes held concern instead of cruelty.

“You’re bleeding again,” she whispered.

I looked down.

A thin line of blood ran across my palm from gripping the bucket too tightly.

“It’s nothing,” I said quickly.

Harper frowned deeply. “They keep treating you worse every day.”

I forced a weak smile. “I’m used to it.”

“That’s the problem.” Harper said.

Before I could answer, the loud howl of a horn echoed in the entire pack grounds.

Everyone stopped moving,even the warriors paused training.

My heartbeat quickened immediately,the mating ceremony is tomorrow night.

Whispers immediately spread through the area.

“Alpha Rowan will finally choose his Luna.”

“I heard daughters from three packs are coming.”

“Imagine becoming the future Luna of Red Claw.”

Excitement filled the air and I remained frozen.

Harper looked at me. “You’re thinking about it again.”

I swallowed hard. Every unmated wolf dreamed about finding their mate. Even me.

Because maybe…Maybe the Moon Goddess had not completely abandoned me.

Maybe somewhere out there existed one person who would look at me and not see a curse.

Harper gently touched my arm.

“Nerissa…”

Before she could continue, a furious voice exploded across the yard.

“Nerissa!”

Fear shot through me.

Aunt Mara stormed out of the pack house with fury burning in her sharp features.

“There you are, useless girl!”

I immediately lowered my head. “sorry”

“Sorry?” she snapped. “The Alpha’s guests arrive tonight and the western rooms remain dirty!”

The slap came so fast my head snapped sideways.

Pain ran across my cheek.

She grabbed my arm painfully and dragged me toward the pack house.

“You eat our food. Sleep under our roof. Yet you contribute nothing except bad luck!”

I struggled to keep up as she pulled me through the crowd.

My bare feet scraped against rough ground.

“Nerissa!”

Harper’s worried voice followed behind me, but Aunt Mara ignored her completely.

She shoved me hard into the storage room beside the kitchen.

“You’ll finish cleaning every room before sunset,” she snarled. “And if Alpha Rowan’s guests complain about anything…”

Her eyes darkened dangerously.

“You’ll spend the night outside with the rogues.”

Fear crawled down my spine. “Yes, Aunt Mara.”

The door slammed shut behind her.

I slowly leaned against the wall and pressed fingers against my burning cheek.

My wolf whimpered softly inside me.

A sudden knock startled me.

The door creaked open slightly before Harper slipped inside quietly.

“You okay?”

I nodded even though my eyes burned badly.

Harper sighed. “You need to stop letting them hurt you.”

“How?”

“You could leave.”

I stared at her like she had gone mad.

“No pack accepts lone omegas.” I said.

“There are other territories.” she said

“And rogues?”

Harper became quiet.

Because we both knew rogues killed weak wolves first.

I sat on the floor beside the cleaning supplies.

“My mate's ceremony is tomorrow,” I whispered finally.

Harper softened, “You still believe you’ll find him?”

I looked down at my hands. “I have to believe something.”

Harper suddenly smiled softly. “What if your mate is powerful?”

I laughed weakly. “That would be the Moon Goddess making a mistake.”

“No,” Harper said firmly. “Maybe it would finally be your turn to be loved.”

Heavy footsteps thundered across the pack grounds.

Harper frowned immediately.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

Another howl echoed loudly by Warriors.

I quickly stood and moved toward the tiny window.

My breath caught.

Three massive black vehicles rolled through the gates of Red Claw Pack while armed wolves surrounded them.

The entire pack yard had gone silent.

Even Enforcers stood straighter.

Then the back door of the first vehicle opened slowly.

A tall man stepped out with black boots and a dark coat.

An overwhelming aura slammed into the air and my wolf immediately retreated in fear.

The warriors around him lowered their heads instantly.

His cold gray eyes swept across the yard.

Every wolf became silent.

Then his gaze stopped directly on me through the tiny storage room window.

My heartbeat stopped.

For one terrifying moment, those cold eyes held mine completely like he could see straight through me.

Harper grabbed my arm nervously.

“Nerissa…”

But I couldn’t look away from the stranger standing outside the pack gates.

When his sharp gaze slowly darkened while staring at me,my wolf suddenly whispered inside my head.