A premonition

The stranger politely opened the door and invited me to sit down. I obeyed, crossing my arms to cover the stains on my clothes. I looked so ragged in this luxury that I was ashamed. My life was crazy, and I had no idea what I had even done before waking up on this street. Just this vision, this memory that was there and then disappeared again.

“Can you tell me your name now?” he asked, concentrating on driving.

“I don't know, it's the truth.” I answered, very shyly. I didn't want to be thought crazy, but I didn't know how to lie.

He looked at me confused, trying to guess what I was referring to. It was useless, my past was so uncertain. I wanted a name, I'd make it up myself if I had to.

“My name is Alyssa.” I said that was the name that appealed to me the most. “I like the sound of the name.”

“Me too, my name is Seth.” Said he in an imposing voice. “We're going to eat at a restaurant I know, I owe you one.”

I smiled, that's how warm he was to me. His manner was extremely seductive, he could captivate me with his deep eyes. Seth, that name wasn't familiar to me at all.

After walking about six streets, we arrived at a quaint bodega. The smell of pizza was everywhere, which whetted my appetite even more. I mustered up the courage to get out of the car next to him, even though I was a complete stranger.

I didn't know how to tell him that I didn't have a penny to pay for the meal. We found a table in the middle of the restaurant and were quickly served champagne. I found the taste to be sweet and pleasant.

People looked at me like I was the plague, probably because of my ragged clothes. I didn't care, I focused on the bread basket in front of me and quickly devoured it.

Seth watched me with a smile.

“I'll pass your compliment on to the cook.” He said jokingly, looking at me as if he could take off the clothes I was wearing. You look like a she-wolf, so insatiable is your appetite.

This gave me a strange feeling, and I startled, dropping my fork on the floor and then banging my arm against the glass so that it shattered into many pieces. I took a deep breath to calm down, because I didn't understand why this word had such an effect on me.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it.” he whispered, his eyes heavy with grief.

“You didn't, I just don't know what's wrong with me. I'm really crazy.” I said, trying to break the tension between us.

“Alyssa, you're not crazy. I understand you, sometimes I don't know what's wrong with me. It's a phase, a stage.” He said in a calm voice.

When they finally brought the pizza, the melted mozzarella made my smile last forever. The food tasted amazing, and because I was so hungry, everything tasted even better.

I didn't realize that I had eaten the whole pizza by myself, and by the time I went to apologize, it was too late.

“Oh, how rude of me not to leave a single slice.” I said anxiously, my cheeks flushed again.

A dizziness came over me and I got a severe headache. I rubbed my forehead to clear my head, but to no avail. I felt weaker and weaker, as if the energy in my body was being sucked out by something.

Seth smiled, his eyes fixed on me.

“I'm sorry, Omega.” He said with his perfect smile. Even at that moment, he didn't stop looking so good.

Fear made me scream to alert the people in the restaurant. But no matter how much they heard my screams, no one did anything to help me. Slowly I fell asleep and went into a trance.

Omega, that word echoed in my heart. The memory wouldn't come back, it was buried too deep in my subconscious. I managed to watch as Seth loaded me back into his car, as he greeted the patrons of the restaurant as if they were his old friends. I tried to fight tooth and nail to free myself, but my strength wasn't enough. I was kidnapped, it was obvious, there was nothing I could do to escape.

There was a very great helplessness, weariness fell upon my eyes.

“We were waiting for you, Lysa.” Seth began to say, while gently stroking my hair. -We knew that you would be the last Omega to be expelled from the wolf packs.

I did not answer, my lips seemed sealed and I had no strength left. I just listened to his words, his voice was so sweet, so pleasant. Even though he was raping me, I felt safe. That made me convince myself that I was completely naive and that now I could kill myself at my leisure without anyone looking for me.

“Your memory was wiped so you would not give away the wolves' secrets, I'll take you to others like you. The wolves have behaved terribly, have not they? They have robbed you of your wealth, of your ability to transform. Oh princess, I will let you see a new world.”

I smiled, because her angelic face hypnotized me. I felt that I was in love for the first time in my whole life. My heart galloped with a strong intensity, the butterflies in my stomach went crazy. He was going to take care of me, this strong and imposing man would protect me.

I quickly fell asleep in the soft, comfortable seat of his luxurious car. My dreams were completely dark, without images, as if my brain was completely blank. Seth said that my memory had been erased, so I could not even remember my name.

When I woke up, I found myself in a garden full of crystal clear ponds. The damp grass gave me a pleasant, cool feeling. He was there, beside me. When he saw that I had woken up, he took my hand in his and shook it.

“Is that you?” I asked, and my eyes lit up.

“Yes, I told you that you will never be alone again. I will take care of you.” he said and hugged me.

It was really the most beautiful hug I had ever experienced in my life. I felt free and at the same time cared for and safe. His physical contact was warm and mysterious. The feeling of his skin brushing against mine was extremely addictive.

Other people joined in and sat on the floor, as we did.

“We have been waiting for this moment, Seth.” said one of them, a young man with blond hair. “Lysa arrived. Don't you recognize me?” he asked me directly.

I had no idea who he was.

“You will regain your memory soon, Lysa.” Seth promised me and put his hand around my waist. He made me shiver at the slightest touch.

He stood up and spoke to everyone who had gathered, there were about thirty people. Many of them were in their twenties and forties. I did not know anyone, at least not that I could remember.

“The time has come to destroy the Alphas, my friends. -Seth began to say in a commanding voice. He was a born leader, I could see that from his imposing appearance. Anyone could even fall in love with him just by seeing him.” Come forward, the Omegas who have been expelled.

Ten of them came forward, they were recognizable to the naked eye as human beings. What happened next brought back part of my memory. They all began their deadly transformation. Dull, dry, lifeless fur on their backs. They were thin and no longer had sharp claws. The others, who must have been humans rather than wolves, looked strong, agile and skilled, just like Seth.

I had also been the weakest Omega. I did not forget the contemptuous looks of those I knew from my former life, the pity they all felt for the ugly she-wolf who could not even extend her claws.

“Oh, I remember.” I said with tears in my eyes. “I am a monster, a weak and clumsy monster.” I lamented, as I began to realize what had happened.

My family had to exclude me because the rules said so.

“You were all expelled from your lives because you were considered inferior. It is a great injustice to be left with no name, no assets, no identity. Thinking that they can do anything they want, they devour everyone who crosses their path, shedding innocent blood.”

Seth looked intently at everyone, his eyes piercing and sharp to the extreme. Despite my sorrow, I could not stop looking at him, he was so attractive, as if he was casting a spell on me to make me love him forever.

I did not want to turn, I did not want to be seen as this skinny creature with no strength, that would be a total humiliation. I watched in silence, with that cowardice and insecurity that characterized me. I was not ready to fight for anything, that had never worked for me.

“Seth, the hunt for the Alphas will begin in two days. They will know you kidnapped their Omega, and Goth will know this is a coup d'état” said another she-wolf, who was as pale as I was. “We have to stay in our lair until that happens.”

“They will pay for everything they have done to us in the past.” This was another wolf who was just as pale. He seemed to be blind in one eye.

The others present toasted me; their glasses full. Seth took me by the hand and led me to one of the ponds where we looked out at the clear water. I felt unsafe.

“I don't quite understand what's going on here.” I've been mumbling quietly so as not to ruin the festivities. “I'm so confused.”

“This is quite normal, my beautiful Lysa. I've been waiting for you for a long time, but I won't scare you. I want you to know the truth little by little so you won't get scared.” He smiled and put a hand on my shoulder.

I leaned my head against his chest, not knowing why I was so trusting of a complete stranger.

“Are you a wolf, Seth?” I asked, because I had this question in my head.

As I began to remember things from the past, my life among the wolves, I thought that he had chosen me as a mate. Something I thought would never happen because I was a weak and sickly wolf that everyone despised and thought was worse than scum.

“No” he replied with a smile, his perfect mouth twisted into a grimace that startled me for a few seconds. He kissed me on the forehead. “I'm a wolf hunter.”