Chapter 1

Serena’s POV.

The Present.

I only wanted change in Northridge High.

As the first female Omega ever elected as student council president, I thought I could finally make things easy for people like me.

I expected the stares, the whispers, and doubts. I expected the council to fight me at every turn. I even expected trouble from the powerful Storm brothers.

What I never expected was how one of them would change everything.

I came here to change the system.


Instead, a single bite mark changed my life forever.

___

The Past.

I woke up before my alarm even went off. The soft morning light spilled through the curtains of my small bedroom, painting thin stripes across my faded blue comforter.

For a few seconds, I lay there quietly, listening to the familiar creak of the old house and the honks of a car rumbling from my neighbor’s driveway. It felt almost soft, cozy feeling, like a promise that today would be a promising day.

And I hoped it would be.

Today was my first day as student council president. I intended to make the most of each day, not wasting a single second of my term in office. I had to get to work instantly. There was too many decades of damage I had to undo.

I pushed the covers back and sat up, toes curling on my woolen rug as I stretch my entire body. My room was looked the same as it had yesterday, my desk cluttered with my campaign flyers I hadn’t had the heart to throw away yet, the corkboard covered in sticky notes of tasks and protest slogans, and the mirror of my dresser that had been my closest companion, listening attentively while I practiced my speeches for weeks.

I walked over to it now and stared at my reflection. My long Auburn hair was a little tangled from sleep and my hazel eyes had dark circles around it, from lack of sleep these past weeks.

My eyes trail lower to the faint scar on my shoulder, just a few inches away from my scent gland. It was a spot I usually kept hidden, one that brought back memories i’d rather forget.

I jutted my chin out stubbornly, refusing to let anything… or anyone dampen my mood. “You’ve got this..” I whispered to the girl in the glass.

I've got this, my inner goddess responds back.

Her words brightened my day, filling me with renewed energy. I took one long last look and headed straight to the bathroom.

I began my morning routine with deliberate care. I brushed my teeth thoroughly and took a long, hot shower, hot enough to loosen whatever rigidness was left from my earlier worries.

I had worked too hard for this, I repeated to myself. I had spend late nights drafting proposals, standing in front of crowds that didn’t want to listen, and turned the worst thing that ever happened to me into something that might actually help other Omegas.

I wasn’t going to let the school’s privileged, ignorant alphas erase that. Or me,

After the shower, I put on my neatly pressed uniform, the white blouse loose enough not to shape the curves of my breast, the waistband of my knee length, navy pleated skirt cinched tight enough so no predatory fingers could slip through. Then I threw on the blazer with the school crest. I buttoned everything carefully and smoothed out imaginary wrinkles.

Afterward, I grabbed my scent blockers and applied it thoroughly, the way I always did, covering the places that mattered the most. The chemical smell was strong enough to cover my natural scent and even keep most of the alphas away. For someone like me, it was absolutely necessary. It was my shield.

Especially on a day like today.

My phone buzzed then on the nightstand as I finished dressing up. It was from my best friend Katie.

Katie: Good morning, Northridge student council PRESIDENT. Hope you're already awake, Sunshine. I will blow your phone up in five minutes if there's no response. We’re making HERSTORY here? I’m so EXCITED!! Be early, i’ll meet you by the main hall

I smiled, a flutter of happiness filling my stomach and typed back.

Me: Up and alert. Let’s do the herstory part asap. See you soon xx

Katie had been my rock through the whole campaign, always sending me words of love and encouragement, always fiercely loyal even when people laughed at me and told me it was impossible for a girl to be president, let alone an Omega.

I was glad she was she was my friend. No matter what I went through, I never felt alone because she was always by my side.

I grabbed my bag then and double-checked to make sure that my notebook of proposals was inside, before heading downstairs. The kitchen smelled of the toast my mom had left for me before she left for her early shift so I ate quickly, more out of habit than hunger, before stepping out into the crisp morning air.

The walk to Northridge High wasn’t long, but it felt different today. The streets in my neighborhood were still quiet with the early morning, lined with the same old trees and modest houses I had grown up around. A couple of younger kids waited at the corner for the bus, waving when they saw me. I waved back, smiling warmly as I always did.

That was a part of my everyday life, but today, I felt anything but mundane.

The school eventually came into view. It was big brick building, with a massive gates and equally massive fences, and a tall flagpole that had flown the same red and black banner for as long as I could remember.

I could see the students already gathered on the lawn and along the sidewalks, through the gates, taking in the familiar buzz of chatter.

I noticed the burning stares as some students passed me, but I chose to ignore it.

Positive thoughts only, my inner goddess reminded. I took a deep breath and walked past the gates and into the school. But the moment I crossed into campus, it was as if the atmosphere changed.

Voices dropped and suddenly all eyes were on me, following my every movement. It was slightly unsettling but I forced my shoulders to remain straight and kept my pace even as I walked into the school.

Behind my back, I started to hear the whispers.

“That’s her.”

“An Omega? Seriously?”

“I never thought I’d see the day.”

A group of Alphas near the bicycle racks didn’t even try to hide their voices. One of them laughed and said something about “how long do you think she’ll last before she dips?” He said in that ugly tone of his.

I didn’t even bother sparing them a glance. Looking at them gave the impression that I heard, or that I cared.

I kept walking, chin held high, despite the whispers. But not everyone was cold to me though. In the much quieter corners, people looked at me with light in their eyes, offering smiles and words of encouragement.

A quiet Omega girl from my history class caught my eye and gave a small smile, whispering: “With you, always.” I gave her a grateful look and mouthed a silent thank you to her. Two other Omegas at the entrance offered me shy smiles, staring at me like I was a beacon of hope. That was enough to make my day.

I eventually went into thr building and was met with the familiar chaos of the hallway with lockers slamming loudly, the loud hum of gossip and the sneakers squeaking on the polished tiled floors.

But today, the noise seemed louder than usual, more aimed at me. More stares followed me as I moved, more low conversation. A beta I barely knew actually stepped aside to give me a wider path, like I might somehow infect him if we accidentally brushed. My hands tightened on the strap of my bag with restraint and I kept my expression blank and composed.

It was at the far end of the main hall that I finally spotted Katie. She stood out in the crowd, super tall in comparison to my 5”6 self, short blonde hair neatly styled, backpack slung over one shoulder, two paper cups of coffee in her hands.

The second she saw me she grinned, doing a little shimmy as she started walking my way. “And there she is…” She exclaimed, loud enough for nearby students to hear. “Herstory-making, Student Council PRESIDENTTTT…”

I laughed softly, waving if away. “Oh that? Just another day for me."

“Energyyyyyy. I love it!” Then she held out one of the cups. “Black, one sugar. Figured you’d need it.”

“You are my lifesaver. I would cease to exist with out you.” I said, taking it with gratitude, the warmth seeping into my fingers.

“Facts.” Katie then looped her free arm through mine without asking, and we started towards the turn that led toward the student council wing. “You look ready. Your uniform’s perfect. And your face is giving a ‘don’t mess with me’ vibe. I love it.” She said gleefully. But then her voice dropped into something softer, something worried. “But how are you really? How do you feel?”

I smiled softly at her, then took a slow sip of the coffee. “I’m okay. A little nervous. You know the whole school is already waiting for me to fail.”

“They are…” She answered bluntly, her face a mask of concern. But then she squeezed my arm. “But don't worry. You aren't going to. You got the votes fair and square. And you have me. Together we’re actually going to make real change here. That’s more than what most of those legacy seats can say or ever do without mommy and daddy’s influence.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head.

This was Katie, always reassuring me in the best way possible, We kept walking together, arms still linked, and the further we went, the fewer students there were, but the ones we passed still watched us.

A couple of junior Omegas standing by a water fountain actually straightened up when they saw us, pride lighting up their faces. I made myself smile at them.

Katie noticed. “They’re counting on you, you know. Not just the title. The change.”

“I know.” I said quietly. “I’m just like them. I know what it’s like to see Omega issues brushed aside or made a joke. I've seen people people get punished for things they couldn’t control. I can’t go back to pretending that’s fine, Katie. They're not the only ones counting on me. I’m counting on me too.”

“Good. Hold onto that. Because the second you walk into that council room, they're going to try to eat you alive. But you're not prey, Rena. You can bite back too. You need to okay.”

I nodded nervously and she patted my arm softly.

The council wing soon came into view, with its strong oak door in the front and the polished wooden plaque that had the names of all the past presidents— all males, all Alphas.

My stomach turned then as we stopped in front of it.

“Your name will be added here soon.” Katie said with a proud smile. For some reason, the words made my stomach knot tighter.

I only gave her a weak smile, that didn't reach my eyes.

“Ready?” She asked.

I took one more breath, feeling the weight of expectations sit on my shoulder. But at the same time, I thought of all the Omegas who had voted at me, who had nodded at me on the way in. The memory of everything that had pushed me here, the fear, the exhaustion, the anger, the decision to turn my wrath into something better, something productive settled into place like armor.

“Yeah…” I said. “I’m ready.”

“Go get em, tiger.”

I smiled, my eyes crinkling this time. Then I nodded pushed the doors open together.