The Omega's Reckoning

The ray of the moon cast a bright glow over the forest, illuminating the fleeing figure of a pregnant white wolf. Blood matted her fur, and her labored breaths and pain filled howls echoed through the trees as if she was calling for help. Despite all this, she didn’t stop running, her eyes darting behind her in fear. All of a sudden, a grey wolf appeared from the shadows, it’s eyes filled with feral rage as it arrived besides her, matching up to her speed. The white wolf’s ears perked up, but she couldn’t evade the attack that suddenly came. The black wolf struck, its jaws snapping shut just inches from her vulnerable bulging stomach. The white wolf whimpered, her legs buckling under the impact. She tried to defend herself, but the black wolf’s attacks was relentless, with more attacks from it, lump of white fur fell and blood coated her. The gray wolf sank it’s teeth into her, tearing into the white wolf’s flesh. Her cries of pain echoed through the forest, but her attacker showed no mercy. As the white wolf’s strength dropped, her body began to convulse. A final, agonized whimper escaped her lips as she collapsed onto the forest floor. In a last, desperate attempt, she gave birth to a tiny, trembling pup. The white wolf’s eyes glazed over her pup, within her eyes were pain and agony, her chest rising once, twice, before stilling forever. Two figures emerged from the darkness, their faces twisted into grotesque grins. “Success,” Dr. Ryker hissed, eyes gleaming with excitement. “The experiment paid off,” Dr. Morrow concurred, his gaze fixed on the gray wolf that was in a submissive pose then, the newborn pup. “Genetic modification, behavioral conditioning…the perfect specimen,” Ryker said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. Morrow knelt beside the pup, his hands reaching for it. “Just what we needed,” he whispered but before they could claim their prize, the forest erupted into a chilling chorus of howls. Wolves, hidden in the shadows, announced their presence at the death of one of their own and as their territory was invaded. The men froze, their smiles faltering. “Not good,” Ryker muttered. “We need to get out of here, now,” Morrow urged as their eyes were filled with fear of the unknown. *** Melissa laid on her bed, fast asleep, but even in her slumber, her discomfort was evident, her forehead was scrunched up with beads of sweat scattered across it. “Please don’t, stop…. Please” Her voice was hoarse as she cried out and pleaded to no one in particular with tears rolling down her face. On her arms and across her legs which were exposed, were red pelt marks that caused one to imagine what sort of punishment she had faced. All of a sudden , the loud sound of the alarm clock jerked her awake. “Oh no! I’m going to be late” Melissa exclaimed as she hurriedly sat up. In a lousy attempt to get out of bed, she tripped over her bed quilt and fell to the ground, hitting her forehead and causing her to let out a wince in pain. Rubbing her forehead, Melissa muttered curses under her breath until the reality of her situation dawned on her – she was running late for classes. Panic set in, propelling her toward the small bathroom. Her reflection on the mirror revealed a shadow of her former self. Bright blue eyes, that once sparkled with happiness, were now dulled by her suffering. Bruises of various colors scattered across her skin, a reminder of her reality and the cruelty she endured at the hands of her fellow pack members. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as memories flooded her mind. She fought to hold them back, but sorrow overwhelmed her causing her to break into tears. With shaky hands, Melissa turned on the faucet, gritting her teeth as the cold water hit her skin, washing away her tears. With her status as an omega in the pack, she was only allowed to have access to the most inferior things. After a quick bath, Melissa took a deep breath, steeling herself for the day ahead. Her routine was mechanical – bath, dress, and hide. A faded tee shirt, ripped jeans, and a black hoodie. As she snuck out of the house using a back door, making her way to the only high school in town, Melissa’s thoughts drifted to her pack. It was once a sanctuary for her, but had become a prison. Her beta parents, once loving and supportive while she was younger, had turned against her, their disdain fueled by the very thing that made her stand out. Her omega status. From the moment she had her first shift as an omega, they completely hated her. Her mother who had the status of a beta wolf had once treated her like a jewel but now hated the sight of her. Melissa often wondered why she was different from the rest of her family. The memories haunted her – the snide comments, the physical attacks, and the emotional manipulation. Her pack’s alpha, Darius, had made it clear to everyone: omegas were inferior wolves that were the weak link of the pack, and Melissa was no exception. Upon arriving at the high school, Melissa made her way through the crowds, invisible and forgotten. She found peace in her studies, losing herself in the world of textbooks and lessons from the teachers. Luckily for her, she wouldn’t be attacked in the classroom but the moment she stepped out or the teacher was out of sight, she became a prey for everyone. As the day went by peacefully aside from the snide comments and strange looks, Melissa’s anxiety only grew. The moment she stepped out of a class, she suddenly felt eyes upon her and sensed the presence of her pack members lurking around her. Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of her. Melissa’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized him as one of her bullies, Victor. “Melissa,” He growled, his voice low and menacing. “Alexander wants to see you.” Melissa’s world narrowed to a single point. She knew what this summon meant – more pain. Her legs trembled, but she stood firm, refusing to back down. “I don’t want to go,” she whispered, defiance burning within her. Victor immediately grabbed one of her wrists, ready to drag her along. “No one asked you so you don’t have a choice, bitch.” Melissa’s heart sank. “I won’t go,” she repeated, trying to keep her voice steady despite the tremors within. Victor sneered at her, his eyes flashing with contempt. “Who do you think you are to reject the summons of the future Alpha,” he growled, his hand tightening around her arm. As if on cue, a group of pack members appeared, forming a semi-circle around Melissa. One of them, a burly man named Jake, tugged at her hoodie cap. “Look at the omega,” Jake spat, his voice dripping with venom. “Thinks she’s so special just because she’s got a pretty face.” Melissa tried to shake off Jake’s grip, but he held on tight. Another pack member, Sarah, stepped forward, her eyes blazing with hatred. “You’re nothing but a weak, pathetic omega,” Sarah snarled, her hand flashing out, slapping Melissa across the face. “You should be glad that the future Alpha asked for you.” Melissa stumbled, her vision blurring as she fell to the ground. The pack members closed in, their voices rising as they drowned her in insults. “Omega!” “Useless breed!” Melissa’s eyes welled up with tears as she tried to defend herself. “It’s not my fault,” she pleaded. “I didn’t choose to be an omega.” Her words only fueled the rage of the others. Victor’s face twisted in disgust. “You’re an abomination,” he spat. “A flaw in the pack.” The pack members surrounded her and began to hit her, their kicks and punches rained down. Melissa could only curl up and try to avoid their fists as she begged. ”Please, stop- please” Her pleas were met with laughter from the others. The beating continued, each kick and punch a reminder of her pack’s contempt. Melissa’s vision blurred, her body trembling with pain and fear. Victor’s voice cut through the chaos. “Enough!” he yelled, his eyes flashing with glee. “I’m sure she has learned her lesson.” The pack members hesitated, before they backed away, leaving Melissa on the ground. The moment she was left alone, Melissa’s tears flowed freely. From the corner of her eye, Melissa spotted her brother, Ryan, standing at the edge of the crowd. His expression was indifferent. Ryan stood idly by as pack members taunted and hit her. His silence was a betrayal that cut deeper than any wound. “Ryan,” Melissa called out, her voice barely audible but she was sure he could hear her. Even if he heard her, Ryan simply stood there, like a spectator to her humiliation. The pack members eventually dispersed, leaving Melissa on the ground. Then, Ryan turned and followed the crowd, disappearing without as much as a backward glance. Melissa watched him go, her heart heavy with sorrow. She wanted to leave the pack but the moment she stepped an inch out of the pack territory and broke her link with the pack, she would be considered a rogue. ….And no matter where she went to, she would be hunted by others. “What if you get rid of them?” A cold voice said in her head.