Chapter 1: I Feel Miserable.

Gulping hard, I looked up to find the snooty grimace of Mara. Her red hair was slicked back against her head into a straightened ponytail, dark eyes sneered down at me as she chewed on the gum in her mouth. Her curvaceous hips poised, arms folded with her phone loosely in her grip. It would be a lie to say that she didn't look ravishing. But she hated me, with every single passion. The two girls and three random guys had the same feeling towards me too.

Her voice sultry, as her lipstick-encased lips parted in a quiet laugh. "Well? Think you can sneak around huh?"

Looking away from her eyes, I stared at the floor, "I j-j just wanted t-to go to my room."

Ah! There, my stuttering was back. I hated this so much. I used to stutter when I got anxious about something, probably the reason why I never talked back to people who stared at me.

"I j-j-j-just wanted t-to what? Sorry if I couldn't hear you through that rubbish!" Mara's current best friend Lucy chortled, as she mocked me in the worst way possible.

Mara pouted at her, an action that may seem innocent to others but I knew the difference. "Aww Lucy, don't be like that. It's not her fault that she looks like a witch and no one taught her proper English."

They all laughed in unison before Mara grabbed me by my silver hair. I winced as a few hairs snagged in her grip but pursued my lips, knowing if I made a sound I would experience hell on this earth, all thanks to Mara's group. Her gum smacked against her tongue as she tilted her head at me.

"Now, I just got my makeup and nails done all pretty so why don't you go away and hide somewhere in your room for the rest of the day."

I nodded, my blue eyes locking with her dark ones, for a nano second as I uttered, "Oh-Okay."

Her hands tightened on my roots before she dropped me on the floor. They all burst out laughing and I glanced behind me to see Mara just smirking at me as she admired her nails, walking away.

"Girl, did you see the way she stuttered?" A girl from her group uttered.

Tears brimmed as I hurried my way into my room. Slamming the door shut behind me, I collapsed into my bed, crying once more for those who constantly made my life miserable. Today, I got off well but who knows what's coming later? And this is why I just hope my mate is from another pack so that I can have a reason to leave this hell that I live in everyday.

I woke up to my alarm blaring, as I rubbed my eyes and glanced to see that emotional me had set an alarm for 5 am before I passed out so that I could go for a morning walk. Fuck you, emotional me! I want to sleep.

Knowing I had a day off today thankfully, as even though I wasn't treated fairly by most pack members, Alpha Phoenix made sure we were all treated fairly in case of work. Little did he know I was constantly the favorite target of everyone's insecurities.

I closed my eyelids, ready to return to my sweet slumber but was disturbed by someone's pounding at my door. I was unaware of who it was since I did not have the heightened wolf's senses or mind link yet. Merely a human, with just the hint of wolf DNA waiting to come to life, probably when I turn- Oh! Wait!

What's the date today? I searched for my phone under my pillow as I sat up on my bed. September 1st, 2022. I am turning 18 tonight! "Oh My Goodness! It's my birthday." I muttered to myself before snapping back to reality when I heard the knock on my door again. I know who that is but let me confirm. Because I am too happy to take any risk today.

"Who is it?" I asked politely.

"It's meow~" The deep voice chuckled, followed by a high pitch one.

I smiled and stood up from my bed. "Come in Papa and Momma."

Papa entered first with a cheerful smile as his warm chocolate eyes glanced at me before engulfing me in the world's warmest hug.

"Happy birthday, sweetie!" He exclaimed before leaving a light peck on my forehead.

Before I could have thanked this wonderful man for making my life always better, another voice chirped.

"Happy birthday my Lala!" Mom stepped in, shutting the door behind her as she made her way to us engulfing me into the world's second warmest hug. Sorry Mom, but Papa always comes first!

I grumbled at the nickname she calls me. Though I hate someone ruining my beautiful name, until it's Mom who came up with it, ruining it.

"Thank you, Papa Momma." I squealed. The day I had anticipated the most, was finally here.

"Seems like you were in a deep sleep, sweetie." Papa said as he sat on the pillow, fluffing my pillow.

"Yes, we came to wish you at 12 am but you didn't answer the door. Did you have a good sleep?" Mom fixed a strand of my silver hair at the back of my ear trailing her fingers at the end of my chin to lift it up. Let me clear this, I'm about an inch shorter than my mom and about six inches shorter than my father. It's not my fault that they are so tall, okay!

I nodded, expanding a weak smile on my face, before changing the topic to prevent their worry.

My father knew of the torments to a certain extent; though it was just name-calling. And my mother, a little more than him; though it was just mocking and staring.

They left my room after a good minute of us laughing at Papa's random jokes, and mom and me rolling our eyes at him, unnecessarily. Papa was so cocky, even as an Omega; he was proud. With wavy chin-length brown hair, he was proud of his appearance and still caught the eye of many women, even though he was married or in wolf language; mated.

He met my mother on a hunt when they were both only 18 years old. She was from a neighboring pack when he caught her scent across the border. Many moons later, they were mated and had me. Ayla, their one and only daughter. I get that I must have got my blue eye genes from my Mom but silver hair? Mom and Papa both have brown hair, with the latter's darker in shade. Never mind! It's just some blessing in disguise.

My parents were Omegas but they enjoyed the graft. My mother was mostly in the kitchen as one of the head chefs and my father was often out on patrols. Omega wolves were not looked down on in our pack but we're not as blessed as the in-between and the high-ranking wolves. And it won't be too shocking if I say higher-ranking wolves were luckier in finding their mates too.

It was easier for those in higher ranks to find mates, as our Moon Goddess made sure packs were running strong. Wolves like me take longer to find them, often having to marry on. And females couldn't travel as it meant they could leave the pack. Since females were dwindling in numbers of 1 in 5, most packs didn't want to lose us. We were a lower species. Absolute crap, if you ask me!

This population is obviously the consequence of thousands of years of our history, which has also led a lot of wolves to find their mates in other species or genders or some not at all like I said.

And believe me, the pack life could be sexist. Just like some crappy society, it is expected for women to go around cooking, cleaning and so on and wait for the day a mate shows up and sweeps us off our feet. The thought made me sick. I couldn't trust how a mate could be so welcoming, particularly when my pack family were so hate-fueled. What I believe is that women were treated as a mere possession to boost the power and status of a male wolf. As males with mates always earned a higher status and were respected more so than the ones without.

Hence why Alpha Gray had gone on his search. I have heard that our Alpha Gray is all hale and hearty, he was just 19 when he was sent off to another pack to 'help' but I think he was actually in search of his mate. I wish I could go in search of my mate too but for that rebel, I would have to shift first.

Without realizing, I was done with my morning routines. I usually wear hoodies and T-shirts, since oversized clothes reduce the body shaming comments I get from, you know. Anyways, today I gathered some of my courage and wore a lavender hued corset top with a pair of blue jeans because it's my birthday. Okay, I'm lying. It's because at this hour Mara and her group stay in their air conditioned rooms and barely come downstairs.

Glancing at the clock I sighed as I realized breakfast was just finishing. Most wolves ate and finished by eight in the morning and it was eleven past and lunch began at two. It's easiest to avoid people when there are no people. If that makes sense.

As I approached the dining room, I heard voices but as soon as I recognized who it belonged to, I halted my steps. They sounded agitated. Stepping closer I slowed my breathing so as to not be heard. Fuck! Why did I have to be brave and wear this? I hope they were too agitated to smell me.

"But why Dad?" Mara's voice met my ears.

"Because it's for your own good Mara!" Beta Daniel growled. "Just try to delay your wedding for now, I need some time to figure everything out."

"Dad, you can figure out whatever you want after my wedding too. Here have some water and tell me the reason why you're delaying it!" Mara spoke.

Beta Daniel must have compiled as the sound of glass hitting the tables empty crackled through the air. "We are doubtful that the Blood Moon pack might not stay in peace with us anymore and attack us in the next few weeks."

My feet froze on the ground; I have heard of that pack name before. But I don't remember clearly in what context. Why did it seem so familiar? With my curiosity peaking, I stepped closer and perked up my ear.

"What?!" She squealed. "But why so sudden? Aren't they one of our allies?"

"He works with the King. I have been told they were doing this random traveling to make sure the packs were running as they should. They saw some of our higher ups bullying random omegas and lacking equality." Her father exhaled deeply.

"King might order him anytime to take over the pack if things like this happen again. So it would be better if you delay this wedding until everything's settled." He said in a serious tone now.

Now I understood why beta Daniel was asking her to delay the wedding. Being a Luna during such times is truly dangerous as you become the first target for the enemy pack to destroy. And every father only wishes to keep their children safe.

Her father's footsteps sounded through the air and I chewed my lips, keeping my back against the wall as he walked straight past me. I watched him turn left, his face hard in concentration as he walked away.

Exhaling loudly, I ran my hand across my arm in comfort and pulled away from the wall. Just as I did, I felt someone pushing me hard as I fell on the ground.

"Were you just listening to my conversation there, sweetie?" She pouted. "That's kinda rude."

"N-n-no, I w-was.. "

"Oh hush, no need to lie sweetie, I could smell your cheap perfume a mile away." She laughed.

Her hands went into her pocket pulling out some gum and smacking it in her mouth. I quivered slightly when I noticed her gang approach from one corner of the hallway.

Mara sighed in content before pulling my hair from under her nail, "Now eavesdropping is definitely a bad thing, okay sweetie? I will make sure you remember this."

She yanked away my head as I whimpered and got up quickly. When I tried to reach the part she had pulled. Fear crawled through my skin when I realized something sticky wrapped around some strands of my hair.

"No, No, No, NO! NO WAY!" I screamed this time, grabbing her and her group's attention as there were just them and no one else at this time.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but a strange confidence in the form of pure anger beamed through my eyes. I wasn't letting them easily slide with this. How could she! I might not like my silver hair but they were still one of my significant features that I learned to adore.

Did she not know gums could damage your hair and the worst, I might have to chop my hair because of this?

Mara and all of her girlfriends turned their heads only to see me harshly pushed on the ground again as one guy from their group walked past me. I felt too weak to stand up again.

"Don't go poking around in everybody's business, Omega. Learn your place." The guy spat.

I curled in on myself. My rare appetite now vanished as I cried in pain. I didn't heal like the wolves; so the bruises will show for weeks to come. Neither I blocked out the pain like them, I felt it all.

I sat there for another ten minutes before frantic footsteps running down the Hall startled me. Quickly pulling myself up, I ran into my bedroom. I hope this all ends tonight. I need to shift and get away from this before it gets worse. I thought, slumping into my sheets, letting tears flow at my misery.