Harsh reality?
1047 Words
The next day feels like walking into a nightmare I can’t wake up from.
Our house is heavy with unspoken worry, the air thick with it. My family keeps reassuring me, their words soft and soothing, but I see the small glances they exchange when they think I’m not looking. I can feel it—they’re worried too.
They don’t want to show it, and I appreciate it, but I wish they’d be honest with me. We should be trying to figure this out together.
Instead, I fell asleep last night curled in my parents’ arms, tears staining my pillow, wishing that when I woke up, this would all be a bad dream.
It wasn’t.
I take a deep breath, stepping through the school doors, hoping today will be different. Maybe people will be too busy to notice, maybe it’ll be peaceful, maybe—
But I can already feel the curious eyes on me. The weight of their stares presses against my skin like a heavy blanket, suffocating.
They couldn’t possibly know… could they?
And then I hear the whisper.
“She didn’t shift.”
I freeze. My heart stops.
Turning the corner, I spot Victoria Vale, the Gamma’s daughter, lounging against the lockers with that signature smug smile curling on her lips. Her brother, Max, stands beside her, arms crossed, his icy blue eyes gleaming with amusement.
The air between us crackles with tension.
“What did you say?” I ask, my voice low and measured, even though I already know.
Victoria’s eyes widen in faux innocence. “Oh, I just heard from somewhere that you didn’t meet your wolf last night. Is that true, Zara?”
A murmur spreads through the crowded hallway like wildfire. Each whisper feels like a dagger in my back, and heat floods my face as humiliation sinks its claws into me.
My hands curl into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms, but I force my voice to stay steady. “That’s none of your business, Victoria.”
She gasps, placing a hand over her chest in mock sympathy. “Oh, sorry, I just thought it was important. I mean, being the Beta’s daughter and all… no wolf? That’s kind of… concerning, don’t you think?”
Laughter ripples around us, sharp and cutting.
Before I can respond, a familiar figure steps forward.
Lyra Monroe.
She plants herself between me and Victoria, her hazel eyes flashing with fury. “Mind your own business, Tori,” she snaps, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
Victoria smirks but doesn’t back down. “Just trying to help, Lyra. Some of us actually care about our pack’s strength.”
I swallow hard, blinking rapidly to push back the tears threatening to spill over. “Let’s go,” I murmur to Lyra, tugging at her arm.
She hesitates for a moment before nodding, shooting one last glare at Victoria. As we walk away, I can still hear them laughing behind me.
“Poor little Zara. No wolf, no future.”
I grit my teeth, my heart pounding with a mix of rage and despair.
I want to turn around and scream at them, tell them they don’t know anything about me, that I will shift… I have to.
But deep down, a fear I can’t push away takes root.
What if they’re right?
—-
The weight of the whispers follows me like a shadow for the rest of the day, making it impossible to focus in class. And by the time combat training rolls around, I’m dreading it more than ever.
The training field is already packed with students stretching, preparing, and—of course—whispering behind my back. Their eyes flicker toward me, full of curiosity, doubt, and pity. No wolf, no future, their expressions seem to say.
At the front of the field, Kian and my brother Lucian stand side by side, overseeing the session like they always do. They both graduated two years ago, but since combat training is part of our gym curriculum, they train us here at school. I used to admire it, the way they commanded respect and authority.
Now, I just wish they weren’t here to witness my embarrassment.
Lucian catches my eye and offers me an encouraging nod, his quiet way of reminding me that I’m not alone. I try to hold onto that reassurance, but my gaze drifts to Kian, and my stomach tightens.
His stormy gray eyes linger on me a little too long, and for a fleeting moment, I think I see something there—pity, maybe? Or something else? Whatever it is, I don’t want it. Not from him.
He looks too good today, which is frustrating. His rich brown skin seems to glow under the late afternoon sun, and his black hair falls just slightly in front of his face, covering those gorgeous gray eyes that I quickly—too quickly—look away from.
Did he notice me staring? I hope not.
I swallow hard and force myself to focus.
“Alright, listen up,” Lucian’s voice booms across the field. “Pair up and start sparring. And remember, strength isn’t everything—technique matters.”
As the students begin pairing off, I turn to Lyra with a hopeful smile. “Want to go easy on me today?”
She smirks. “Not a chance. If your wolf’s taking her time, we’ll just have to work twice as hard without her. Besides, I haven’t shifted yet either.”
“Yeah, but your birthday’s soon,” I point out.
Lyra’s eyes flick away for a moment, and for the first time today, she looks… uncertain. “Speaking of birthdays,” she mumbles, “as my best friend, you have to come to my shift. I know you’ve been dealing with a lot, so if it bothers you too much, just let me know, okay?”
Her words tumble out nervously, and for a second, I realize that I’m not the only one feeling the pressure.
I break into a smile and slap her arm lightly. “I’d be honored, girl.”
Lyra grins, her worry melting away into laughter, and I feel a flicker of relief knowing I can still make her smile despite everything.
- Writer
