The Nine-tailed Wolf

Chapter 1 :Phoebe’s Plight

Phoebe’s POV

Never in my wildest dreams did I think my 18th birthday was going to end like this. Not with the scene of Jason, my boyfriend, fucking Stella, my step-sister, like he wanted to devour her. The moans and gasps echoed in his room, an unsettling irony of our shared hopes and laughter. My feet were rooted to the ground and my eyes widened, almost falling out of their sockets with disbelief as he kept thrusting deep into her.

His eyes met mine, and I could swear I saw a flicker of something other than desire, but he quickly narrowed his eyes. He paused, his brows forming into a knot, before finally muttering “Why the hell did you come into my room without knocking?” His sharp voice, like a stranger’s, cut deeply into me. I tried speaking, but not a sound came out of my mouth.

“Bitch, we don’t have all day,” Stella snapped, clearly annoyed that I had interrupted their heated moment. “Did you really think a pathetic omega like you will get to be his mate? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, it was all a bet,” she sneered, her voice thick with venom. Her words hit me, each one like a physical blow, a testament of my own foolishness. My chest tightened and my eyes blurred with tears. And I did what I was always good at: running. I stormed out of the room, running as fast as I could. I didn’t know where I was going, I just wanted to get away from him, from the lies and the taste of betrayal on my tongue.

I sprinted into the woods as if being chased down by a beast, thinking it was going to ease my pain. But I was so wrong. Memories flooded my mind like a tune I couldn’t forget. Our first kiss, the way he had looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered, and the promises of protection. Now, it all seems like a cruel joke. “How could he do this to me? I murmured to myself, my voice cracking. “What was I even thinking? Believing an alpha and a son of one of the strongest will love a weak and lowly omega like me.” The questions rang in my head as I curled into a ball.

“Not worthy” echoed in my mind like an endless repeating tape, which I’ve been told my whole life. I had learned not to ask for much. Endured all the humiliation and hatred from everyone, including my family. Then Jason came along, I had thought maybe, just maybe someone could finally love me. But I should have known better.

“Phoebe?” A voice I knew too well called out. Turning around, I saw my only best friend, Willow, staring at me with her big teary doe-eyes. “What happened to you? She whispered softly while placing her hand on my shoulder. I immediately drew her into a tight hug, finally letting out all the tears I was holding in. My body shook as I struggled to breathe through each tear that dropped. I tried my best to stop the cries, but I was unable to stop the force of my grief. Willow didn’t say a word nor asked questions, she only wrapped her hands around me tightly.

After what seemed like forever, I finally spoke “Ja…Jason, he hurt me.” I said through clenched teeth. Maybe I was hallucinating, but for a brief moment, I saw a cold glint flicker through Willow’s eyes. “Shhh, he’s not worth it,” she replied, handing me a handkerchief for my runny nose. “Tonight is our night. We’ll finally shift and find our mates.” Hearing that, I felt relieved and was looking forward to finding my soulmate, but for some unknown reason, I had a bad feeling about the whole thing.

We heard loud howls and jubilations which signified the beginning of the shift. We ran, but Willow slowed to meet my pace as an omega. We finally got close to the pack house and almost immediately, Willow’s golden eyes glowed in the dark and I could hear the intense snapping of her bones, before she finally transformed into a beautiful wolf with brown furs.

“Willow! Your wolf is breathtaking!” I exclaimed while beaming with a smile. She replied by rubbing her soft furs against me before she ran towards everyone who had transformed. I closed my eyes while my heart raced faster, expecting my own transformation, but nothing happened. I could see my Father’s big black wolf locking its gaze at me. Then the stare got heavy as the pack’s eyes were transfixed in my direction. It was then I realized, I was the only one who was of age, who hadn’t shifted. My knees went weak and a beam of sweat formed on my forehead as my gaze darted away and was focused on the ground.

“No no, it can’t be. Please goddess, don’t do this to me. Being an omega is already enough trouble,” I prayed in my head, hoping it will somehow change my fate. Unfortunately it didn’t. The vacant stare from my father made my chest tighten. He’s probably wondering how a beta like him ended up having a failure as a daughter.

“Phoebe, you can’t shift,” Willow gasped while covering her mouth with her hand as she went back to her human form. Then the whispers began.“She’s cursed.” “She’s too powerless and doesn’t deserve to be in our pack.” “How could two strong wolves give birth to something so worthless”. Their words were like arrows shot straight into my heart.

I couldn’t even raise my head because they were all right. I don’t deserve to be here.Then I saw Jason, his face a mask of conflicting emotions. And then, the worst happened. Willow walked up to Jason and said something that shattered my life forever “ Mate,” she said clearly without remorse. The world tilted and i trembled, feeling like my soul had left my body.