001

Alethea

I suck in a breath, but it’s useless, the river swallows me whole. The icy water claws into my chest, ripping the air from my lungs. My body jerks and trembles, my heartbeat wild and fast.

I thrash, blind and desperate, but the hand on my head shoves me deeper.

“You deserve to die, bitch!” the voice roars above the water.

My heart stutters. I know that voice. It's Maya.

She yanks me up, and I choke, coughing hard as freezing air cuts into my throat. Before I can even blink, her palm cracks across my cheek. My ears ring from the impact. 

I move my hand to my face as tears blur my sight. I don’t understand. Why does she hate me so much?

“This is only the beginning, Alethea,” Maya hisses, her eyes glowing with rage. “If you don’t refuse to be a Xavier breeder, I swear you’ll regret it.”

Xavier is the Beta’s son. The Alpha of Blood moon has issued a command for me to carry his child. But Maya, his furious girlfriend, will never let that happen.

I remember how her mother was replaced by a breeder her father loved so much. Maybe that’s why she looks at me like I’m already the enemy.

“I’ll do more than drown you,” Maya sneers, pulling a silver knife from her coat. The blade flashes cold under the moonlight. “I’ll kill you. And no one will ever care, because you are nothing.”

My heart hammers in my chest so hard it hurts. I glance at the riverbank, praying for help, but I'm sure if anyone is around no one will help me. 

This is my life. I am a wolf-less omega in the Blood Moon Pack. I'm a disgrace, even my family will celebrate if I disappear. 

“I’ll give you one last chance,” Maya growls. “Leave this pack, or…”

“Or else wha… ” Before I can get the word out her hand slams into me again. Pain explodes across my face. Blood spills from my lip.

“Or else you die,” she whispers, with her lips curling into a cruel smile.

Then she turns and walks away, leaving me on the riverbank, I'm soaked and shaking.

I kneel by the river, splashing cold water over my face, trying to wash away the tears.

I know when I get home my mother will punish me or even lock me in the basement without food.

I stare into the water. My reflection stares back at me, it's empty, and my eyes trembling, it feels like I'm fading away.

“Save me. Please.” I whisper to the water, to the moon, to anything that will listen. 

Then suddenly I hear the bushes rustle.

I freeze. My heart leaps to my throat.

Two wolves burst into the clearing, snarling with their teeth bared. My body locks and my breath stutters.

One of the wolves lunges at me, the other blocks my escape.

And then I hear the bones crack and there is a shift. 

Maya steps forward from the shadows, her eyes glowing like fire. She grabs my arms with a force that already makes my bones weak.

“Stop testing me, you worthless wolf-less omega,” she hisses, with her breath hot against my neck.

The other wolf growls, ready to strike. But Maya lifts a hand, and it stops instantly, trembling under her command.

“Leave or I’ll shred you apart,” she warns, with a deadly calm voice. 

I nod, with my body shaking profusely. 

“Now!” she barks.

I can't help it as I stumble into a run. I can feel branches cut through my skin but I don't mind, my lungs burning from the impact of the run but the wolf gets closer.

Then suddenly a shadow blurs past me faster than lightning.

The wolf leaps, its hot breath against my back, the teeth almost close to my flesh.

But the shadow collides with it. Then I hear the sound of flesh tearing. The wolf collapses, lifeless on the ground.

I stop, frozen. The shadow rises, tall and powerful, glowing eyes piercing through the dark. A fierce green, burning into me.

Something deep stirs inside me, something I can’t name.

“Are you alright?” the figure asks, the voice deep and commanding.

“No,” I whisper, my voice breaking. The world suddenly tilts around me and my knees give out and then darkness.

***

I feel my eyes open slowly, the room is dim, I can see shadows moving on the walls. My heart leaps in my chest oh goddess. 

“Where am I?” I whisper into the empty room as I sit up quickly. Nothing here looks familiar.

Then my memory starts piecing together, I remember the wolves chasing after me, the shadow in the dark.

I press a hand to my chest, but it doesn’t calm my pounding heart.

My fingers run over my arms, searching for wounds. My eyes widened. I’m not hurt. Not even a scratch.

Then I hear footsteps outside the door.

My head snaps toward the sound of the door, with my chest tightens with fear.

 Maya?

I move to the edge of the bed, gripping the blanket tight as if it can shield me from whatever danger lurking.

The door creaks open and I see a woman steps inside. Her black hair streaked with silver is tied back neatly. Her brown eyes are warm, and sharp like she can see right through me.

I clutch the blanket harder as she comes closer.

She smiles softly. “Oh, child, it’s good to see you awake. You gave us quite a scare.” Her voice is calm, but her gaze makes my skin prickle.

I try to swallow, but my throat is dry. 

“Who are you? Where am I?” I force the words out.

“My name is Selena,” she says. “You’re safe now.”

Safe. The word feels heavy. Strange.

My mind spins with questions. But I lose my grip on the blanket.

“How did I get here? I was running… the wolves, then… the shadow..”

The memory hits hard. The glowing eyes. The crack of bones. The wolf falling dead.

“Who brought me here? Was it you?”

Selena shakes her head. “I found you outside. You were lying unconscious at the edge of the forest, in front of my house.”

I frown. “In front of your house? But… I don’t remember walking here.”

Her eyes don’t waver. “You’re safe here, my child. Welcome to the Redwood Pack.”

The name slams into me.

Redwood Pack.

My pulse races. Of course I know them. Everyone does. They are ruthless, feared and dangerous.

My lips tremble as I whisper,

 “Oh, Goddess… how did I end up here?”