Share

Chapter 2

Aвтор: NG Writes
last update Последнее обновление: 2024-12-04 23:31:04

You will definitely shift," Bella assured me enthusiastically.

I wanted to hope, but each failed year flashed in my memory like a bad dream. What if it didn’t happen? My stomach flipped at the thought of being sold to those creepy middle-aged men my father called friends.

It was the day, and we were heading out to the woods. The Shifting Grounds were the highest land in the pack. It was where the Solstice full moon was the biggest and brightest, and where the Alpha would guide new shifters through their first shift. I just hoped I would be one of them this year.

I got dressed as Bella went on. “You have the best odds this year.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“You’re twenty-two this year. The Moon Goddess’s daughter was twenty-two when she shifted. They say she was a late shifter, but her wolf was the most powerful. Almost as powerful as the Moon Goddess herself.”

Bella adjusted her glasses as she continued to fill me in on the werewolf mythology she loved to read. Bella, my geeky friend, was the best thing that ever happened to me in this pack. My only friend.

“I’m not the Moon Goddess’s daughter,” I said lightly.

She wiggled her brows. “You never know.”

I chuckled despite my anxiety as we made our way toward the Shifting Grounds.

We walked side by side, her voice filling the silence as she talked about the Moon Goddess’s daughter. I tried to focus on her words, but my heart pounded louder with every step toward the Shifting Grounds. The weight of everyone’s eyes, waiting for me to fail again, made my skin crawl.

“You know,” Bella said suddenly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “we could take another way. It’s longer, but we can avoid all those stuck-up jerks staring you down.”

I hesitated, glancing ahead to where the rest of the pack was gathering. Bella was right—most of them would be watching, waiting for me to fail. Again.

“Let’s do it,” I agreed, relief washing over me.

Bella grinned, tugging me toward a bushier, overgrown path. The branches scratched at my skin as we moved deeper into the woods, but I didn’t care. Anything was better than the crushing judgment of the other prospective shifters.

“So, as I was saying,” Bella continued, “the Moon Goddess’s daughter had this incredible connection to…” She went on and on.

We walked a distance and could already hear the sounds of the ritual starting from afar. The Alpha, other high-ranking wolves, and their grown children would be present to coordinate the event. The thought of seeing them again filled me with dread.

I listened to Bella’s rambling in the background of my mind, but then her voice cut off suddenly, and I stopped in my tracks. “Bella?”

I turned to look at her, but she was gone. Panic surged through me. “Bella?” I called out, my voice trembling. I spun around, searching, but the only sound was the rustling of leaves.

Suddenly, a hand clamped down on my arm, yanking me backward. I gasped, struggling, but more hands grabbed me, pinning me to the ground. My heart raced as I looked up and saw them—Aaron, Jacob, Marcus, and the others from the night before.

“Well, well,” Aaron sneered, crouching down beside me. “What are the odds? The Beta’s little disgrace, all alone.”

“Where’s Bella?” I spat, fear and rage swirling inside me.

Jacob grinned, his hand pressing harder on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about her. She’s not the one we’re interested in.”

I kicked out, but Marcus grabbed my legs, holding me down. “Stay still,” he growled. “You wouldn’t want to make this worse for yourself, would you?”

“What do you want?” I demanded, my voice shaking with fear. I didn’t need to ask what they intended to do.

Aaron leaned in closer, his breath hot on my face. “We gotta have a taste before an old man gets to have it all. You’re going to fail anyway. So why don’t you just have some fun?”

Fear crashed over me in waves, my heart thundering in my chest as Aaron’s words sank in. They pushed me roughly into the dirt, my pulse hammering in my ears.

I screamed. “Help, he—” A hand slammed painfully over my mouth.

“Shut the fuck up!” I didn’t even know who spoke.

I could hear distant growling, a sign that the Winter Solstice ritual was beginning, but it felt miles away. I was stuck here, helpless, with no one coming to save me. Was Bella okay? What did they do to her?

“You really think you can run?” Jacob snarled, his fingers digging into my arm as I thrashed. “Just stop fighting. It’ll be easier.”

I kicked harder, my mind screaming for Bella. Where was she? Had they done something to her? Hot tears pricked my eyes, but I fought to keep them from falling. If I didn’t shift tonight, I’d lose everything—my chance, my freedom, my life. And these men would still destroy me.

“Let’s get this over with,” Aaron growled impatiently, his hand sliding down to my waist. “No one’s coming to save you.”

I clenched my fists, panic choking me as I heard the faint sound of skin tearing in the distance. The pack was shifting. It was happening now, and I was missing it. My chance was slipping away while I lay here, pinned down like prey.

Tears blurred my vision, my body trembling under their weight. ‘No. No, no, no!’ I couldn’t let this happen. Not like this. I heard the unbuckling of belts, and my heart sank.

Suddenly, I heard it—deep, guttural, primal. A voice inside me, growling with a rage I didn’t know I had.

“Fight back!” it growled. Then it dawned on me. It wasn’t me at all. It was my wolf.

A surge of power erupted within me, burning through my veins. The pain hit me all at once—tearing, ripping me apart from the inside. I screamed as my bones cracked, my muscles contorted, shifting, breaking free.

“What the hell?” Marcus shouted, scrambling back in the darkness. Off me.

“Get off her!” Aaron barked, but it was too late.

My wolf was awake. She had finally answered my call after five years.

I lunged, my teeth sinking into Aaron’s shoulder with a sickening crunch. He screamed, trying to shove me off, but I didn’t let go. My claws tore through Jacob’s leg as I spun, the force sending him crashing into the trees.

“Shift! Shift!” Marcus shouted at the others, but it was useless. My wolf was in control now—fast, deadly, and merciless.

I tore into them with a fury I didn’t know I had, their screams filling the night as my body fully shifted. The pain was agonizing, but I embraced it. My wolf craved and enjoyed their fear, their weakness, as they tried to fight back and failed.

They screamed in agony from my attacks, and the metallic scent of blood filled the air. Suddenly, it dawned on me—I would kill them if I didn’t stop.

I tried to rein in my wolf’s power and bloodlust, trying to channel some control. But nothing was working.

I needed to stop—but I couldn’t. My wolf craved more.

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in my side. Teeth sank into my shoulder, and I was ripped off Jacob. A fierce growl echoed in my ear, and the force of the bite brought me to my knees.

I shifted back, gasping, my skin trembling as my wolf retreated. I blinked, the world coming back into focus. Blood covered my hands. My heart raced as I looked up.

Silas Morrigan stood there in his wolf form, towering over me, his golden eyes burning with anger. He shifted back, looming above me in human form. His voice was cold, biting.

“Get up,” he commanded.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Related chapter

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 3

    As werewolves, Jacob, Aaron, and Marcus were able to heal to an extent, despite their extensive injuries. I was basically dragged back to the shifting grounds.With the amount of blood on me and the boys, the moment we walked into the clearing, people began to gasp."What is the meaning of this?" Alpha Lucas demanded.I struggled against Silas' hold. It was humiliating. I could feel my father's eyes on me, the ghost of their obscene touches still on my skin."Alpha, she just went berserk and—"My ears were ringing, and I blurted out the truth like it was poison. "They tried to rape me!" I yelled.There was heavy silence."You are a fucking liar!" Gamma Ryan, Aaron's father, spat. "My son would never—""I am not lying, I swear. They... they held me down... in the dirt." It hurt to speak, but I knew that I had to. "They took Bella.""I'm here," Bella's voice came from behind me, and I snapped my head to where she now stood, unharmed. I took a breath of relief."Don't lie, Stella," my fa

    Последнее обновление : 2024-12-04
  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 4

    I collapsed onto the cold stone floor of the cell, the weight of the chains cutting into my wrists, and the chill of the damp air biting at my skin. My whole body trembled, not just from the cold, but from the crushing reality that I had been both betrayed and rejected.The door to my cell creaked open, and there he stood—my father. His eyes, as cold as ever, met mine. "Why should I even be surprised?" he said, his words like shards of ice. "I am not here to listen to more of your lies, so don't bother spinning them. I am here to tell you the Alpha has declared your fate. At dawn, you will be executed for conspiracy against the pack’s high ranks and for the injuries you inflicted."My heart pounded in my chest. "Executed?" I whispered, my voice weak. "But I didn’t... I didn’t do anything wrong—" I broke out into a cold sweat. I was going to die for a crime that I did not commit."You’re nothing but trouble, Stella." His lip curled in disgust. "Everyone wants your blood. Even your so-c

    Последнее обновление : 2024-12-04
  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 5

    Five Years Later..."Chin up, Ella. Tilt your head slightly—yes, perfect! Hold that!" The photographer’s voice cut through the air, sharp and fast, as the camera clicked rapidly. The blinding flashes filled the studio, but I was used to it now. My body moved effortlessly, flowing between poses as if on autopilot."Eyes to the left, focus on the light," another command came. I complied, adjusting my posture, my lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile."Beautiful! You’re killing it!" the stylist chimed in, rushing forward to adjust a stray lock of hair. I barely noticed the brush of her fingers as she fixed my curls, my mind laser-focused on the shoot."Ella, darling, give us fierce now," the photographer urged, his tone picking up speed. "Think power, think dominance."I narrowed my eyes, lifting my chin just a bit higher, a fierce, unbreakable expression crossing my face. I heard the camera shutter go off in rapid succession. It was a dance, a rhythm I had perfected over the l

    Последнее обновление : 2024-12-04
  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 6

    I did not wait; I was making a run for it. They had found me. They would finish what they started all those years ago. I couldn’t go back after how far I had come. I turned the knob of the door, but it wouldn’t budge. The realization sunk in just as I felt Silas’ large frame looming over me. He caged me with his body. "You can't leave just yet, Stella." His hot breath fanned across my neck. I froze, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest. For what felt like a lifetime, we stood like that. I tore myself away from him, my body slamming into the wall as I scrambled to put distance between us. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst. "What the hell are you doing here, Silas?" My voice was sharp, trembling with barely controlled panic. How did he find me? How long had he been watching? He didn’t answer right away. His eyes, dark and unreadable, tracked my every movement, calculating. "You already know, Stella." His voice was infuriatingly calm, as if he had all the tim

    Последнее обновление : 2024-12-12
  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 7

    Blood. So much blood.I jolted awake, gasping for air, my sheets drenched in sweat. The same nightmare, again. Bodies littered across familiar grounds, the pack house engulfed in flames, and screams—endless screams that followed me into consciousness.My hands trembled as I reached for the glass of water by my bedside. Three nights. Three nights of the same visceral dreams since Silas's visit. Each time, they felt more real, more urgent.'They're not just dreams,' Rona's voice echoed in my mind, stronger than she'd been in years. 'You know what they are.'"Shut up," I muttered, pressing my palms against my eyes. The digital clock on my nightstand read 3:33 AM. The witching hour. How fitting.'You can't ignore this forever,' Rona persisted. 'The blood of the pack—'"They're not my pack!" I snarled, throwing off my covers and stalking to the bathroom. The marble counter was cool under my palms as I leaned over the sink, trying to steady my breathing. But when I looked up, I froze.In th

    Последнее обновление : 2025-02-02
  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 8

    The wolfsbane burned like acid in my hands as I crushed the dried petals. Five years since I'd touched the stuff, since that night—"Here, drink this," Angela said, pushing a cup into my hands. "To calm your nerves before the ceremony."I blinked the memory away, focusing on the task at hand. Silas lay on my couch, his skin burning with fever. The poison was spreading—I could smell it in his blood.My fingers trembled as I flipped through my mother's journal, searching for anything about antidotes. The pages were worn, corners soft from years of handling. Her handwriting flowed across the pages, elegant but hurried, like she knew she was running out of time."Stella?" Silas's voice was rough, delirious. "Where—""Don't move." I pressed him back down when he tried to sit up. "The poison's still spreading."His skin was too hot under my palm. I'd stripped off his shirt to examine the injection site—an angry red welt on his neck, with black lines spreading outward like cracks in glass. T

    Последнее обновление : 2025-02-03
  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 9

    Three hours into the council meeting, and I still tasted Stella's blood on my tongue. The antidote she'd forced down my throat had worked—I was alive, the poison purged. But the memory lingered: her blood, glowing silver in the moonlight, mixed with herbs that smelled of Andrea."Alpha Silas." Elder Margaret's sharp voice cut through my thoughts. "Are you listening?"I looked up at the faces around the long oak table. Once, this room had housed the most powerful wolves in Blood Moon territory. Now they were just old men and women clinging to positions they couldn't defend without their wolves."I heard you," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "You want me to hand Stella over to Silver Claw.""To buy time," Elder Thomas amended quickly. "Just until we find another solution."I remembered Andrea's voice, soft but firm, as she bandaged my scraped knee when I was ten: "Being Alpha isn't about making easy choices, Silas. It's about making the right ones, even when they hurt.""No." The word

    Последнее обновление : 2025-02-03
  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 10

    The chains around my wrists were tight enough to break human skin. Silver-lined—they weren't taking chances. I kept my head down, letting my hair fall forward like a curtain as Kane led me through Silver Claw's gates.'Easy,' Rona murmured as another guard yanked my chain. 'Let them think we're weak.'I stumbled, playing my part. Five years of modeling had taught me how to wear masks, how to become whatever others wanted to see. Right now, I was the broken wolf, the curse-bearer, brought low by betrayal. Just as Viktor expected."Careful with the merchandise," Kane growled at the guard, perfectly playing his role as the mercenary selling me out. Behind his scarred exterior, I sensed his tension. One wrong move and we'd all die.The Silver Claw compound sprawled across what had once been a military base. Guards patrolled the walls, armed with both traditional weapons and modern guns. They'd adapted to their weakening wolves better than Blood Moon had.Silas walked several paces behind,

    Последнее обновление : 2025-02-04

Latest chapter

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 93

    We resumed walking, both lost in thought. The implications were staggering—Logan using the Solstice for his hybrid transformation, while we potentially used it to restore our pack's abilities. Two opposing forces, drawing on the same celestial power.We reached pack territory as dawn broke, wolves emerging from their homes to witness our return. A ragged cheer went up at the sight of Silas, relief spreading visibly through the gathered crowd.Zeta Ruth rushed forward to assess his injuries, but he waved her off. "Check the others first," he insisted. "I'm healing."In the commotion of our return, I noticed Liam pushing through the crowd, his expression urgent."Stella," he called. "Come quickly. It's Bella."My stomach dropped. "What's happened?""She went into labor an hour ago. Something's wrong—Zeta Clara says the baby is coming too fast."I glanced at Silas, who nodded. "Go. I'll join you when I can."I followed Liam to the infirmary, fear quickening my steps. If Bella's labor was

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 92

    "Blood calls to blood," he continued smoothly. "Bond calls to bond. Did you really think I wouldn't anticipate your approach? The tunnels were the obvious choice once we secured the perimeter."There was no point in continuing the charade. I pushed aside the ceiling panel and dropped into the room, landing in a crouch. My father followed a moment later."Right on schedule," Logan said, unfazed. "Allow me to introduce our investors. They've been most eager to meet you."The three visitors turned, and I realized with shock that they weren't human or wolf—their eyes had the same silver sheen as the hybrids, but their faces were fully human, their movements natural."Successful integrations," Logan explained, noting my surprise. "First-generation hybrids, now fully stabilized. They've been funding our research for years.""You're playing with forces you don't understand," I said, eyes fixed on Silas. His face was bruised, one eye swollen shut, but he was fully conscious, watching me inten

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 91

    Mason and Liam returned with good news—the old sewage tunnels were intact, partially collapsed in places but navigable. Better yet, they showed no signs of surveillance or recent human activity."There's a junction box here," Mason explained, marking a spot on the blueprint. "From there, maintenance tunnels lead to the main building, the east wing, and the old spa complex. We found signs of recent activity in the east wing tunnel.""That's where they're keeping Silas," I said with certainty. Through our bond, I'd felt him being moved earlier, the disorientation and pain as guards dragged him somewhere.The rescue team assembled at nightfall—myself, my father, Mason, and six other wolves chosen for strength and stealth. Liam had wanted to come, but I'd refused. He was too young, too inexperienced, and had already risked enough."The objective is extraction only," my father reminded everyone as we gathered at the territory's edge. "We locate Silas, neutralize immediate threats, and with

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 90

    "We can't just storm the place," my father said, pointing to the satellite images spread across the council table. "The Blackwater Resort has one road in, three miles of shoreline, and Logan's people watching every approach."Four hours of sleep hadn't been enough. My body ached, my head throbbed, and the bond with Silas pulsed like an infected wound. I could feel him—alive, in pain, conscious now—but couldn't reach him."Then we don't use the obvious approaches," I countered, leaning over the map. "What about underwater? The east side of the peninsula?"Mason shook his head. "Too many cameras. They've set up a surveillance perimeter extending two hundred yards into the lake."The council room held every high-ranking pack member who could be spared from border patrol. Twelve hours since we'd lost Silas, and tension hung thick in the air. An Alpha in enemy hands was more than a tactical problem—it was a psychological wound."What about the old sewage tunnels?" Bella suggested, pointing

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 89

    We made it to the stairwell without incident, but as we descended toward the ground floor, a voice called out from above."Hey! Where are you taking them?"I turned to see a guard leaning over the railing, suspicious."Safe zone C," I replied, hoping it meant something.His eyes narrowed. "There is no safe zone C."So much for bluffing. "Run!" I shouted, shoving Liam and Eliza ahead of me down the stairs. Silas took up the rear as guards shouted and gave chase.We burst through the ground floor door into chaos—alarms blaring, security personnel rushing about, voices shouting contradictory orders. Perfect cover for our escape, if we could navigate through it."This way," Silas urged, guiding us toward a side exit. We were almost there when a figure stepped into our path.Logan.He looked different from the delivery room—back in his customary suit, composed and coldly amused. Behind him stood two hybrids, their unnatural forms partially concealed by loose clothing."Stella," he greeted

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 89

    I finished preparing, strapping silver knives to my thighs and slipping a third into my boot. The pendant warmed against my chest, somehow comforting despite my lingering suspicion of my father's motives.We gathered at the eastern edge of pack territory as twilight deepened into night. Silas, Liam, Eliza, and me—a small team, unencumbered by weapons except for the silver blades we each carried. Speed and stealth were our priorities."Lake Carson is fifteen miles east," Silas briefed us. "The resort sits on a peninsula jutting into the water. We'll approach from the forest side, using the trees for cover. Once there, we observe only. We're looking for security patterns, entrance points, and Angela's location within the complex.""What about hybrids?" Liam asked, nervously fingering the silver knife at his belt."Avoid them," Silas said firmly. "We're not there to engage. If spotted, retreat immediately to the rendezvous point." He pointed to a location on the map he'd brought. "Questi

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 87

    I stood, needing to move, to process what we'd seen. "The Blackwater Resort. You're sure?"Silas nodded. "Positive. My father considered buying it a few years ago. I visited the property with him.""Then we know where they are," I said. "We need to move fast, before they relocate.""We need a plan first," Silas countered. "That place is massive—multiple buildings, underground levels, surrounded by water on three sides and forest on the fourth. And now they know we've found them."He was right, damn him. Rushing in would be suicide, especially against Logan's hybrids and whatever other security they had in place."Reconnaissance," I said reluctantly. "Small team, minimal footprint. Get the lay of the land, assess their numbers and defenses.""I'll lead it," Silas volunteered."No," I said firmly. "You're still recovering from the silver poisoning. I'll go.""Absolutely not," he objected, standing to face me. "You're their primary target. If Logan gets his hands on you again—""I'm not

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 86

    Sleep didn't come easy. I tossed in my bed, thoughts jumping between Marie's silver-eyed baby and whatever the hell we were planning to do tomorrow. Using our bond to find Angela sounded good when I suggested it—now, in the darkness of my room, it seemed like inviting trouble.I woke before dawn, abandoning the pretense of rest. The quiet hours belonged to me anyway, had ever since New York. I pulled on jeans and a sweater, slipped out of my room, and headed for the training grounds. Physical exertion might clear my head.Frost covered the grass, crunching under my boots. My breath formed clouds in the pre-dawn air. Winter was settling in hard, earlier than usual. The cold felt good against my skin, still too warm from the renewed bond. Like I was running a perpetual low-grade fever.I started with basics—stretches, then push-ups, sit-ups, mountain climbers. The routine felt familiar, grounding. In the human world, I'd discovered discipline through training, building strength when I'd

  • Return of The Rejected Omega    Chapter 85

    I woke to the taste of bile in my mouth and the worst headache of my life. My body felt wrong, like my skin had been removed, flipped inside out, and put back on. Every nerve ending screamed. Every muscle ached. And my mind—my mind was the worst. Thoughts that weren't mine flickered at the edges of my consciousness, emotions I didn't recognize washed over me in waves.I barely made it to the edge of the bed before vomiting violently onto the floor. Someone rushed forward with a basin, but it was too late."Easy," a voice said. Zeta Ruth. "The bond shock is normal. It will pass."I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to focus through the pain in my head. "Silas?" My voice was raw, barely a whisper."Next door. Recovering, like you."Relief flooded me, immediately followed by a burst of foreign emotion—confusion, disorientation, concern. His emotions, bleeding through the renewed bond."Make it stop," I gasped, clutching my head. "It's too much."Zeta Ruth handed me a cup of

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status