The creature inside me

I threw the fabric I was holding to the wall, sweat creasing my brow as I sighed heavily. How much longer did I have to clean up? I asked myself as I stared at the empty hallway.

There was no one available and this was because it was a hot Saturday afternoon and there was really nothing important to do on a Saturday afternoon.

I was sure the alpha and his household were resting in their cabin. Same with the rest of the pack members. I could easily sneak away without anyone finding out.

"No." I shook my head. Sneaking away had never done me any good instead it had given me more beatings and insults. I hated being insulted even when I had been insulted all my life.

It was just so difficult to get used to it even when the wolves picked on me at any slightest chance they had for being a disgrace to the pack, a disappointment to my mother and an embarrassment to myself.

My misfortune began at the shape-shifting ceremony, a ceremony looked forward to by everyone especially young wolves who couldn't wait to meet their wolves. 

It was held every year for the eighteen years old who would be shifting for the first time in their lives. It was a joyous ceremony and everyone in the pack anticipated it.

It was on this joyous day I found my misery. I had dressed in my best suit like every other wolf my age and had looked my best for the ceremony. I could still remember being so nervous on that day, asking my mother a series of questions about how it had been for her.

My mother was an omega and as much as I loved my mother, I didn't want to be an omega. I wanted to be a gamma so I could help fight against rogues and enemy packs. It was a dream I and my three best friends: Jamal, Calix, and Andrew, shared and we talked about how we would fight together to protect our pack.

I finally went for the ceremony with my three friends and when it was midnight — the time for us to shift — I watched as the young wolves screamed and cried as their bones snapped and they shifted into their wolves.

I could still remember waiting earnestly with my eyes shut to feel the pain or anything at all but I never did. While my mates were howling including my best friends, I didn't feel anything. I couldn't shift. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shift.

That day was the worst day of my life and Alpha Lundamos had looked at me like I was a curse. While everyone had been celebrating, I sneaked out of the hall and into my mother's room where I hid myself under the bed, crying my eyes out.

My mother had come after me and no matter how much she said for me to feel better, I never did. I was a curse to the pack. I didn't have a wolf. What type of werewolf couldn't shift? What exactly was I?

This had never happened before in the Dark Moon Pack so I didn't know what to expect from my pack after that night. But I didn't have to think so much because the next day, everyone began to taunt and tease me. 

They would throw things at me and call me a curse. Before this time, I used to be friends with Jared, the Alpha's son but after that night, I was never allowed into his room anymore.

I was treated lesser than an omega and I had to do more work than any other person. But my best friends still stood by me despite all these even when I thought they would leave me as everyone else did.

But they stood by me instead, fighting off anyone who taunted me. However, it was of no use because they couldn't be around me all the time. They were gammas now and they were always busy, unlike me who was a slave.

Apart from my best friends, there was one other who didn't treat me like I was worthless. It was. . .

"Adelia!" I held my chest, panting heavily as I tried to stable my breathing but the young beautiful lady who had scared me was now laughing heartily, her hazel eyes twinkling as she jumped up and down in excitement with her ponytails bouncing up and down in the air. She looked very excited.

"You're such a frightened cat." She teased and I frowned.

"I'm not a cat. Stop calling me that."

"I won't." She stuck her tongue out and I smiled despite myself.

She was the one: Adelia. The one who didn't treat me like I was different. It was Adelia, the Alpha's only daughter.

It was still a surprise how she spoke to me despite my pathetic self. She would yell and curse out at people who tried to taunt or oppress me and I know I ought to be grateful for her help but her behaviour only brought more attention and problem to me. It made the pack members even more envious of me and they increased my work when Adelia was not around to fight.

It was not like I couldn't fight for myself. I had a very big build and I stood at a towering height of 6'3. My shoulders were wide and my chest was broad. I was also very handsome, with my thick brow, slim nose and full lips. I had high cheekbone, square jaws and a pair of golden-brown eyes with a slight feline curve.

But what use was all these physical features if I couldn't shift to my wolf? What use was all these if I had to remain in the pack when my mates were off to fight? I was useless, completely useless, to myself and my pack. I wish I wasn't even handsome, that way I can just fade into thin air and exist without anyone noticing me.

"What are you thinking about?" Adelia stood on her toes to pat my dark brown curls.

"Nothing," I told her, stooping to pick the soft fabric I had been given to wipe the window.

"You're sad." She observed and I turned to look at her.

"What are you doing here?" You know you shouldn't be here. What if someone sees you?" I asked, my golden-brown eyes looking around furtively.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" Adelia frowned.

"You know I am but if any of the pack members see you here, then you'll be in trouble. Didn't you say Alpha Lundamos warned you not to be friends with me?"

Those words were bitter and they hurt my chest anytime I remember it. Even my alpha had given up on me. At first, he had waited to see if I would shift but it was seven years now and I still haven't.

"You worry too much, Aiden. I won't get caught. Don't you trust me?"

"I do." I sighed. "but I get scared, you know. You're the Alpha's daughter. You shouldn't be seen around this weak man who doesn't have anything to offer you. I can't protect you. You don't need me, Adelia." I lowered my eye. 

I have tried to let Adelia see reasons why she shouldn't be around me but this lady was dogged and strong-willed. I loved her but I also wanted the best for her. I wouldn't want me for me if I were to be in her shoes.

"And when is that? When I'm a hundred years old? I'm twenty-five years for crying out loud. Everyone already met their wolf except for me. I don't have a wolf. I'm a disgrace."

"Shh!" Adelia placed a finger on my lips, her hazel eyes welling up with tears. "You do. Your wolf is in here." She placed her hand on my chest.

"I know you always try to be optimistic, Adelia but it's not for me. I don't have a wolf. If I do, why hasn't he shown up since? He must be a useless wolf just like his owner to remain inside."

"Don't say that Aiden," Adelia said softly and I sighed.

"Besides, who said I needed protection?" She lifted her chin. "I'm Adelia! The only daughter of Alpha Lundamos. I do not need protection."

I knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to make me feel better. As much as I didn't want to feel better, I couldn't stop my lips from stretching into a small smile as I watched her antics.

"You proud girl."

Adelia's smile broadened when she saw me smile and she nudged me by the shoulder. She had to jump to do that because she was quite short — well, not that short but I liked to tease her by calling her short. She was 5'8.

"Let's meet at the pine tree. The last to get there will be a slave to the Blood moon pack." She giggled as she turned to walk away but I held her back.

"I can't. I can't leave here without Delta Ray's permission."

"Delta Ray is not around. My father sent him out. You don't have to stay here."

"Really?" My eyes lighted up. 

"Yes. So the last to be at the pine tree is a slave." Adelia chuckled as she ran out.

Adelia and her childish behaviour!

It was a common thing among kids in the Dark wood pack to tease one another by calling one another the slave of the blood moon pack. The Blood moon pack was one of the most hated packs and they were an enemy to our pack. Their alpha hated ours but none of the packs had launched an attack yet. 

I walked out of the packhouse after waiting for about two minutes because I wanted to ensure that Adelia had walked a distance. I didn't want to put her into trouble for my sake. There were lots of snitches in this pack and they would not hesitate to tell the alpha if his daughter disobeyed him.

When I was sure the coast was clear, I began to run to the pine tree which was quite a distance from the packhouse. 

Surprisingly, Adelia was still on her way there and I raced past her, giggling as she struggled to meet up with me. This was my only strength: fast in my human form. But what use was that anyway? It was nothing to glory in.

"You are the slave."I grinned, staring at Adelia as she got to the huge pine tree which had been our hideout for quite a while. It was located at the heart of the pack and the wolves rarely went there. 

For this reason, it was the quietest place in the whole pack and it served as the perfect place for me and Adelia to be alone without getting caught. Here, we had the freedom and privacy we desired. We could do anything we liked here.

"You cheated." Adelia placed both of her palms on her knees as she panted.

"How did I?" I asked, my breath shallow like I hadn't just run about 10km.

"Your wolf will be very fast. I can sense that." Adelia said and I frowned. Here she was again, bringing up this wolf issue.

"Adelia, I don't have one," I stressed, hoping it would sink into her head but she only shrugged.

"I believe you do." She walked to me and pulled me into a hug. I hugged her tightly, inhaling her scent because I had missed holding her in my arms like this.

"Finally." She rested her head on my chest and I rested my chin on her head, stroking her crimson hair, a colour I had now come to love. It was also the colour of her wolf, her wolf was just as beautiful as she was and it was strong and very fast.

We stayed in each other's arms for a while before Adelia released herself. Staring into my eyes with her hazel eyes dilated, she said,

"But we saw yesterday." 

"That isn't enough." She replied, staring into my eyes deeply. It made me slightly uncomfortable.

"Can you feel it?" Adelia smiled at me.

"What?"

 "The connection. My wolf is jumping inside of me now. You're my mate, Aiden. I didn't wanna tell you until I was sure. You're my mate and that's why I'm madly attracted to you."

I blinked at that in shock. Being called her mate was huge and for a while, I couldn't speak. We had always been together for years and I knew she liked me but she had never called me her mate.

 I was attracted to her too but I didn't have a wolf to know if she was my mate or not. Could the moon goddess be faithful enough to grant me a mate even when she had been wicked to me by leaving me wolfless? 

When I couldn't shift into my wolf seven years back, I gave up on the idea of having a mate. But Adelia was saying she felt the connection.

 I did feel something for her, I nurture a very big crush on her but I kept it to myself because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. But she just called me her mate.

"When did you know I was your mate?"

"Some years back."

"And why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I didn't wanna scare you away. You were this shy boy that wanted to be on his own. I couldn't scare you away with something as huge as this."

She was right. If she had told me this earlier, I would have stayed away from her. 

"Your father will never accept this."

"Good thing you aren't his mate. You're mine and I will accept you. I love you, Aiden. I've always loved you."

"I love you too but what would the rest of the pack say? No one will accept this."

"That is why I want us to promise each other one thing. That we will never leave each other no matter what."

I knew I didn't have a right to do this. She was the Alpha's daughter and we were breaking a rule but what was I to do when I had feelings for her? My love for her was what kept me going. 

"I promise," I told her and she smiled broadly, getting on her toes to kiss me.