Chapter 1. BULLIED

(Scarlett's POV)

I have never felt stranger than tonight. By my side, Ryan, my twin brother, stood confidently, a proud Beta of our pack. He looked like a mountain, erect and solid, while I felt like his shadow-trapped in this incompleteness, a werewolf who hadn't even felt his full transformation.

Ryan had had a wolf for years, and his strength seemed to be fused with it. He was assertive and authoritative, all the things a Beta should be. As for me? I'm still stuck in the in-between phase ーnot fully human, but not fully wolf either. An Omega who hadn't even met her wolf yet.

Even more painful, my other twin sister, Sienna, already had her wolf. The only thing that set us apart, besides her striking strength, was the color of our eyes. My soft green eyes seemed to fade next to her piercing blue. She was everything I was not ーstrong, graceful, and admired. And she had her wolf.

My father, the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, insisted I should come to this party. "It will be good for you," he said. "Helps you fit in better." As if being at this party could magically solve my problem ーthe feeling that I was never good enough.

I pulled my hoodie tighter, trying to hide in the comfort of its layers. The party was hosted by Alexander Emerson, the Alpha of the Shadow Pack and captain of the hockey team. Everyone adored him-tall, handsome, and powerful, with an Alpha aura that made everyone respect him. He was also Ryan's best friend.

I could never be like that. I wasn't even sure I wanted to be here. But Ryan, with all his persuasion, dragged me along, insisting that this would be good for me.

"You need to go out more," he said

As soon as we walked in, the music hit me like a wall-the bricks shook in my chest, as my heartbeat began to race. The room was full of other wolves, all laughing, dancing, and enjoying their lives with confidence. I wished I could be like them ーfree and full of confidence. But all I felt was a burning anxiety as if everyone was looking at me with judgmental eyes.

"Stay here, Petal," Ryan said, patting my shoulder briefly. "I'll get the drinks."

With ease, she disappeared among the crowd, melting into the party as if she were born for it. Sienna, my sister, only glanced at me before smiling faintly.

"I want to see my friends first," she said, eyes instantly sweeping the room for familiar faces. Within seconds, she too was gone, striding lightly through the crowd.

And I had, as always, alone.

I stood there as if trapped in motionless time, wrapping my arms around myself as if that could protect me from the stares that I felt were increasingly judging every inch of me. The music was too loud, the lights too bright. I need to find Ryan and get out of here before I'm completely out of breath.

The real reason I wanted to come to this party was only one: Alexander. Known to be cold and unforgiving, he treats everyone with distance. However, whenever he was around me, something was different. He smiled at me, offered me chocolate, and made me feel special. Small, yes, but those moments always make my heart flutter.

Tonight, I was determined to tell him how I felt. I push through the crowd, looking for him amidst the sea of people, hoping I finally dare to reveal my heart. But before I could find him, a scornful, snide voice pierced my ears, cutting through the rhythm of the music.

"Hey, look who's here!" The voice of one of the herd cheerleaders, her words full of hatred.

My body instantly stiffened, fear creeping into my stomach as she approached with haughty steps, followed by her horde that was like a group of hyenas.

"Isn't this a little Omega who can't even transform yet?" she taunted.

My face felt hot with burning shame.

"I-I..." I tried to answer, but my words faltered, swallowed by the silence. I could only say something to make things right.

"What are you hiding under here, huh? Afraid we'll find out you don't have a wolf yet? How embarrassing!" Camilla, their group leader, pulled the hem of my hoodie roughly, her face mocking.

They surrounded me, tearing at my clothes and pulling my hair, each touch humiliating and weakening me. I tried to push them away, but there were too many of them. Their laughter grew louder as if tearing my pride to shreds.

"Stop!" Finally, I managed to make a sound, but they only laughed harder.

Suddenly, a glass of juice spilled over my body, leaving me stunned by the coldness of the liquid seeping into my clothes.

"Oops! My hand slipped!" She chuckled, her eyes flashing with malicious intent.

"Looks like we did her a favor," Camilla added with a sly smile. "Maybe she can finally wash off that Omega smell."

A hard push slammed into me, sending me crashing to the floor with a thud. It felt like I'd fallen on disgusting mud, and it would be like that forever. I was unable to get out, unable to clean myself of the dirt. I felt that I was made to be humiliated.

It's pitiful. Self-pity that needs to be pitied.

"You belong on the ground, little Omega. That's where you belong!"

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, a low, menacing growl broke the air, stopping everyone around me. Their laughter vanished in an instant, replaced by an eerie silence. I looked up, and there he was-Alexander Emerson, my savior, standing over us, his body radiating a gripping fury.

"Move aside," Alexander commanded, his voice husky with clear menace. His eyes flashed cold, anger as he stepped closer to the girls. "If you dare touch her again, you will regret it!"