Yasmin dragged her mop across the cold, stone floor, her arms weak and sore. Her back ached from bending over all day, and every muscle felt like it was on fire. The pack members had made sure to remind her of her place today, jeering and shoving as she passed by, calling her names like "wolfless wretch" and "omega scum." She kept her eyes down, scrubbing the floor with everything she had, hoping to make herself as small as possible. When she finished, Yasmin tried to push herself up, but a sudden wave of dizziness nearly toppled her. She pressed a hand to her mouth as nausea hit her, bile rising in her throat. Stumbling to her feet, she managed to make her way outside, rushing to the edge of a bushel where she sank to her knees and threw up. Her body shook with every heave, and she gripped the grass as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. "Get it together," she muttered to herself, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. The nausea had been coming and going for days
For a moment, Yasmin felt like the air had been sucked from her lungs. She just stared, the words sinking in slowly, like they’d been spoken in another language. Pregnant? It couldn’t be. Her mind raced back to that one, unforgettable night with the mysterious man, a stranger who had seemed to appear from nowhere. She’d felt a strange pull toward him, an electric connection that made her lose all sense of control. But after that night, he was gone, like he’d never existed. And now… now she was— She looked at Kamira, mouth open, but no words came out. Her heart pounded, each beat louder than the last, until it felt like the only sound in the room. “I… I’m… pregnant?” she finally managed to stammer, her voice barely a whisper, laced with disbelief. Kamira nodded, a softness in her eyes. “Yes, child. I understand this must come as a shock. But we should do an ultrasound, just to be sure. It’s best to confirm it for you.”Yasmin could only nod, feeling as if her body were moving on its
Yasmin spent the next few weeks moving carefully, quietly, like a shadow in her own life. She avoided crowded areas, steering clear of anyone who might take notice of her. Most of the pack hardly spared her a second glance—an omega without a wolf was invisible, after all—but Yasmin couldn’t risk even the slightest slip. With her secret swelling inside her, every moment felt fragile, like a thin layer of glass separating her and her baby from disaster. Each day, she took on more work, gathering every scrap of income she could find. Her meager omega earnings were barely enough to cover her basic needs, so she began accepting odd jobs in secret, things no one else wanted to bother with. By dawn, she was scrubbing floors in the packhouses, and by afternoon, she was washing laundry and hanging it to dry in the biting wind. Late at night, after everyone else had gone to bed, she’d steal away to clean and organize storage rooms, her hands raw and red from hours of labor. On weekends, she
Yasmin’s heart raced, her mind filling with the possibility of escape. “You mean… I could leave with them?” Kamira’s grip tightened, grounding Yasmin as she continued, “It’s risky, but yes. You’ll stow away with the supplies. No one will know you’re there. They’ll drop you off at a checkpoint outside the territory, and from there, you’ll be on your own. It won’t be easy, Yasmin, but it’s a chance to start fresh.” The words sank in, and Yasmin felt tears pricking her eyes. It was a dangerous plan, but it was a plan—a way out, a chance for freedom. She squeezed Kamira’s hand, gratitude spilling over. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “Thank you, Kamira. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Kamira smiled softly, brushing a tear from Yasmin’s cheek. “You’re stronger than you know, Yasmin. You may not feel it now, but I see it in you. And I’ll be here for you, every step of the way.” For the first time in a long while, Yasmin felt a glimmer of hope. She le
A little over a month had passed, days blurring together as Yasmin carefully stuck to the routine she'd created. With each sunrise, she counted herself one step closer to leaving the Moonbeam Pack behind. No one had noticed the secret she held close—her pregnancy was still hidden, thanks to her small frame. But every night, as she lay alone, she felt the faintest flutter, a reminder that it wasn’t just her anymore. Now, it was noon, and Yasmin sat cross-legged on the floor of her cramped little room in the omega quarters, her heart pounding as she counted out the crumpled bills she’d managed to save. The sunlight slanted through the dusty window, illuminating each worn note and coin she had scraped together from endless shifts and side jobs. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had, and tomorrow, she would need it to survive. She took a slow breath, biting her lip as she looked at the pile. Was this enough? Would it get her far enough away, to a place where the pack couldn’t reach her?
The days drifted by in a quiet, relentless rhythm as Raz drove from one territory to the next. For nearly two days at a time, they would travel through empty stretches of forest and winding roads, stopping only to refuel or for Raz to complete exchanges at allied packs. Yasmin stayed hidden during these stops, watching from the shadows as Raz oversaw the quiet transfers of crates and supplies. Each mile felt like another piece of her old life crumbling away, though a gnawing uncertainty still haunted her.At first, Raz had insisted she stay out of sight in the trunk, but as they ventured farther from Moonbeam Pack, he gestured for her to move to the back seat. She’d hesitated, almost surprised by the kindness of the offer, but the chance to sit upright in the warmth of the seat was too tempting to refuse. Now, Yasmin sat in the back while Raz drove, his silence a steady, familiar presence beside her.Throughout the days, he would share food without a word, passing her hunks of cheese
Yasmin’s back slammed into the cold stone wall, her vision swimming as she tried to catch her breath. She barely had a moment to recover before she heard the laughter—a cruel, mocking sound that echoed through the small dining hall. Her tormentors stood above her, their eyes alight with twisted delight. "Wolfless and weak!" sneered a tall boy, his lips curling in disgust. He leaned closer, his voice dripping with scorn. "What good are you to anyone, Yasmin? You’re a burden to the pack." The others laughed, the sound harsh and piercing. Yasmin kept her gaze lowered, trying to keep her expression blank. She knew better than to respond. Words would only make it worse. "Look at her," another girl jeered, flinging her plate at Yasmin. It struck her arm, the sharp edge cutting into her skin as the leftover food splattered across her clothes. "Pathetic." More plates followed, one after the other, shattering against her as she tried to shield herself. The smell of stale food clung to
As she walked through the pack house, her body heavy with exhaustion and hunger, she heard laughter ahead. It was light, carefree, filled with excitement. A group of girls stood near the staircase, their voices carrying through the hallway. Yasmin’s eyes caught sight of Tasin, her number one tormentors and pack mean girl, in the middle of them, her golden hair shining under the lights as she giggled with her friends. They were dressed in bright colors, their smiles wide, their eyes filled with anticipation. "The Red Moon is just a few days away," Tasin was saying, her voice filled with excitement. "I can’t wait to find out who my mate is. Can you imagine? Our destined mates, under the light of the moon... it’s going to be perfect." One of the other girls laughed, nudging Tasin playfully. "Who do you think it’ll be, Tasin? Maybe one of the alphas? Or that handsome warrior from the east?" Tasin blushed, her eyes sparkling. "I don’t know. But I hope he’s strong. Someone who can p