Chapter One

“Kneel.”

The command was abrupt, spoken on a faint condescending whisper. Liora instantly sank to the floor. Cursed with an Omega designation from birth, her wolf seemingly had no will to resist the tauntings of her trainer, Nerissa.

It was a daily routine: Nerissa would drag her before the other female omegas and use her as an example as to how they should behave- with complete and unquestioning obedience. Liora was the only one of her kind in Pack Arcadia. All the other omegas were assigned their designation at age 12. All except her. She was born an omega.

Born to submit.

To do everything her superiors wanted without question whenever they pulled rank. As a result, most of the other wolves in her pack took advantage of her every chance they could. Similar to what Nerissa, a second-rank gamma wolf- was doing to her that very moment.

“Good doggy,” Nerissa chuckled, looking down at the top of Liora’s dark brown head. Her blue eyes gleamed coldly while the rest of the omegas watched on in silence.

Nerissa continued with her lecture, “A good dog knows when to obey its master.”

Liora stared down at her upturned palms, her lavender eyes blinking back the evidence of her frustration. Scratch that, she was more than frustrated. Liora was absolutely sick and tired of Nerissa and everyone else who treated her like shit.

“I’m not a dog. I’m a wolf,” She whispered to herself.

Nerissa heard what she said and laughed. She dove a hand into Liora’s thick curls, yanking her head up, “What did you just say?”

“You heard me. I might be an omega, but I’m still a wolf.”

“You’re whatever I say you are!” Nerissa growled, her claws extending to scrape against Liora’s tender skull, “Today I say you’re a dog. Now be good and kiss my boot.”

The rest of the group shared uncertain glances. Nerissa was supposed to be teaching them how to be good omegas, but all she did was torture Liora. What’s worse is that none of them couldn’t really do much about it. They were the lowest in the pack. They had little say or power, living at the mercy of everyone else.

Liora’s eyes glowed and she fought with all her might but was unable to prevent herself from bending over. Just as her lips were about to touch Nerissa's boots, a sharp voice came from the back of the class.

“I think you’ve made your point, Nerissa.”

They made a path for him as Thaddeus Wilderwood came to the front. The forest clearing suddenly became quiet as the first-rank Gamma scrutinized Nerissa from head to toe. He wasn’t just any random wolf. He was a legacy wolf from one of the 12 most powerful bloodlines in the Order of Lycaon. His forefathers literally helped to build the most powerful werewolf society in the Northern Hemisphere.

For him to visit such a petty training class for omega females was no random occurrence.

Something major was happening in the pack.

Nerissa plastered a smile onto her face and bowed, “Gamma Wilderwood, it’s an honor to have you pop in to visit my class. Everyone, show your respects.”

All the omegas sank to their knees in perfect rows, bowing their heads. “Hello, Gamma Wilderwood.”

Liora flared her nostrils, her fingers digging into the grass as she kept her head down. The last thing she needed was to draw more attention to herself.

“Relax, puppies,” He smiled ruefully, “I promise this won’t take long.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Liora watched as everyone instantly became more lax, finding whatever position on the ground suited their comfort. Thaddeus stood beside Nerissa and made his announcement.

“Tomorrow night is the Alpha’s birthday. One of you will be chosen and given to him as a gift.”

Liora cringed as giggles and squeals lit up the clearing. Her best friend, Callie- shot her hand into the air, wiggling her fingers- just brimming with a million questions.

“Yes, go ahead, pup.”

“Are you going to choose now? What will happen to the omega that is chosen? Will they get to live with the Alpha? He’s sworn never to take a party pup- is this happening now, because he has no mate?”

“Callie!” Nerissa snapped, earning a frightened squeak from the curious redhead. “One question at a time. Don’t annoy Gamma Wilderwood.”

He waved his hand, “That’s quite alright. To answer your question, Callie, tonight you will all compete in a series of tests to determine if you’re an omega worthy to be given to our Alpha. You’ll get ample time to prepare yourselves. The one that is chosen, will be given to the Alpha and be a part of his household. A privilege I’m sure each and every one of you wanna get your pretty little hands on. ”

Callie nodded repeatedly before sinking to the ground with a long wistful sigh.

Not me, Liora thought to herself. It sounded too good to be true. They were being trained to become ‘Party Puppies’, omega wolves who were sent off to mateless pack leaders to fulfill their sexual desires and anything else they wanted.

She’d much rather become a mindless beast and wander the forest till thy kingdom comes. Liora was so deep in thought that she didn’t notice Thaddeus walk up to her until he propped a finger under her chin and tilted her head up.

“So, you’d rather become a mindless beast than be a puppy for our Alpha?” He questioned softly.

Liora gasped, mentally kicking herself for forgetting that Gamma Wilderwood could read minds. Immediately, she shifted her thoughts to that of a calm cool forest night. He smirked, observing her peculiar lavender eyes. He didn’t want to play favorites, but he was definitely looking forward to seeing the born omega compete. As he turned to leave, Thaddeus decided that he would keep a close eye on Liora.

“Don’t punish her, Nerissa. I was the one who went meddling in her thoughts. I expect all of you to be ready for tonight.”

As the class parroted their goodbyes, Liora watched him leave with a worried expression on her face. She was a born omega. Everyone already knew she was the best despite the taunts and teasing. Her gracefulness and ability to render complete submission went unmatched. Her classmates didn’t stand a chance.

She had to find a way to avoid the test.

She had to find a way to leave.

Tonight.

Long after the class dispersed, Liora sat near a small pond to be by herself. She wriggled her toes in the deep green water as she plotted how she would escape the camp. Her only shot was during the preparations for the test.

Everyone would be running around like headless chickens, she could use the chaos to sneak away. Yes, then after that, Liora just needed to slip past the perimeter guards and she would be home free.

“Whatever you're planning, it’s not going to work,” Callie pounced at Liora, giving her a soft hug before dropping her head into Liora’s lap.

Liora raised a brow, "How do you know I’m planning something?”

“Puh-lease,” Callie rolled her eyes, “I know you Li. You’re itching for a way out of the test tonight. Everyone knows you’re the perfect omega.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. I’d happily give up my designation to someone else just so I don’t have to see Nerissa’s obnoxious face every damn day.”

They both settled into a comfortable silence. Callie studied Liora’s lavender eyes, a stark contrast to her deep purple ones. She frowned, “You’re going to try and run away, aren’t you?”

It was more of a statement rather than a question. Liora’s expression said it all, “Yes. And you’re going to help me.”

⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜

Liora stared at herself in the bathroom mirror, tilting her head from left to right. They gave her a pretty white dress that brushed her knees with a bit of flare. It was cute, hugging her curves in all the right places. The V neckline made her throat look even more delicate.

Too bad it would be ruined. Liora could only be fast enough to slip the perimeter guards if she transformed into her wolf. Most bitten wolves had to wait on the full moon, or life and death circumstances, but because she was born and not bitten, it came easy to her.

“Fire!” Someone screamed, “There’s a fire in the store room!”

Liora grinned. That was no doubt Callie’s handiwork.

As the alarm rang out along with screams of melodramatic terror, Liora quietly slipped through the cabin window. The soft grass cushioned her landing as she got into position to transform.

Her lavender eyes glowed in the night as her bones shifted, short brown hair rippling along her arms and legs. Sharp teeth jutted out of the corners of her mouth, jaws breaking and mending.

Timed slowed, Liora blinked and she was suddenly running forward in her wolf form. She ran eastward through the forest, weaving between the tall trees. This was the only section of the pack land that was the least guarded.

Everyone would be distracted by the fire and come running. That would give her the opening she needed.

‘Almost there,’ Her wolf huffed in excitement, her freedom was literally 20 yards away. Once she made it across the lake, her scent would disappear and they wouldn’t be able to track her. Power surged into her legs and she leaped towards the dark waters.

BAM!

A crippling blow connected with her body and she crashed to the side, skidding until a tree broke her fall. Liora groaned, eyes blurring as she struggled to stand, to see what hit her.

Standing a few feet from her was a large brown wolf with glowing blue eyes.

It was Gamma Wilderwood. He’d caught her.

Shit.

Before she could do anything, he pulled rank, letting out a ferocious growl.

‘Yield!’ He commanded. Her wolf cowered, whimpering quietly. Liora pushed down the self-loathing she felt as her wolf receded and she returned to human form. She remained crouched, her long hair covering her nakedness. She peered at him through her hair as he assumed a similar position.

“I see you weren’t kidding about becoming mindless,” Thaddeus jutted his chin towards the lake, “Mindless beasts are our mortal enemies. Do you really mean to become an enemy of the pack- of the Alpha that has sustained you until now? Are you that ungrateful?”

“Sustained? Ungrateful?” Liora scoffed, “I am a born omega. Most of the pack has better regard for the dirt than they do for me. I’m a party pup. I’m not sustained. I’m a fucking slave. So yes, I’d rather be mindless.”

Thaddeus' gaze became dark, “The mindless beasts killed our Alpha’s entire family. They are the reason why he has darkness on his soul.”

Liora paled. She always heard that the Alpha was troubled, but she didn’t know the extent or what caused it. She trembled as her superior continued speaking.

“He is our great and powerful Alpha, but when the darkness overpowers him, he is a monster. He almost killed one of his maids last week.”

Liora’s eyes widened in realization, “That’s why you wanted to gift him a party pup? To appease his darkness?”

“We needed an omega to help quell his destructive episodes.” Her stomach dropped as his eyes narrowed. They were actually going to risk an omega’s life just to appease the Alpha. Omegas really meant nothing to the pack.

When push came to shove, they were disposable. Expendable.

Just when she thought that his lecture was over, he said the one thing that made her blood run cold.

“Since you’ve decided to spit on the efforts of our pack, there will be no competition. You will be given to our Alpha.”