Have you ever been in love?

"Go away, freak, you are blocking the way." A shoulder hit me against the lockers, accidentally dropping the books I was clutching to my chest, under the amused gaze of other guys my age: well, at least they hadn't thrown anything at me. I sighed, lowering my incredibly blue eyes and bending over to retrieve my books, trying not to respond even if I really wanted to. I just couldn't understand why they hated me so much. I had always been kind, I never talked too much, I never raised my voice, I never looked at anyone badly, yet inevitably everyone treated me like I was walking garbage. I wasn't even that ugly: my hair was reddish and wavy, almost always tied by a rubber band since long down to the shoulders, my eyes seemed the color of the sky. I was 6'0" tall, and due to the fact that I was only an omega, my body was thinner than the others, which is why I was a perfect target. And that was precisely their problem: as the only male of my family, I should have been an Alpha worthy of my father, which, alas, I wasn't. And if wolves hated me, the Lycans they simply ignored my - and their - existence. They didn't even bother looking at us and we avoided bothering them. They were stronger, faster, more resilient. No wolf had survived a fight, not even in numerical advantage. And the why they didn't waste time on us was because they were completely different from us. If we wolves had only one mate even after refusing the bond - pain that only few could survive -, the Lycans could find another. I was envious because of their seeing the omega as their equals and not slaves to be exploited. I sighed again when the bell rang, forcing me to hurry to get to my class, sitting in the back, as far away from anyone else as possible: being invisible was better than being targeted as a punching bag. Although it rarely happened, I still tried not to be seen too much, so as not to run into someone a little too nervous who would end up using me as an escape valve and would leave me agonizing on the shiny, clean floor. I loved studying, but I didn't like going to that damn school full of assholes. Fortunately the day passed quickly and smoothly, grateful that I survived without any scratches, keeping a low profile even on the way home. Arriving at my personal corner of hell, I wasn't so lucky, blocked at the entrance by the eldest of my sisters, five years older than me, with an amused smile on that face so similar to mine that it made me sick. "Annie, please... Let me pass..." She clicked her tongue on the palate, eyeing my figure as if she were looking at the most disgusting of creatures with an air of superiority. "You're late, monster. Dad isn't happy. You should have been here fifteen minutes ago." Uh-oh. It took me longer than expected and I forgot I had to see my dad that afternoon. "I'm sorry, I took the wrong road because I was lost in thought. Let me pass so I can-" I couldn't finish the sentence as she pushed me hard on the porch floor, with an amused laugh. "That's disgusting. Go away." I remained silent, trembling with rage and wanting to bite her throat out in my wolf form: few were able to change shape, least of all omega, but since I didn't want them to use me because of this, I had told anyone what I could do. Not that I actually had anyone to talk to about it, other than one person. I waited for her to leave before standing up and running into the house, straight up the stairs to lock myself in my room, barely big enough to fit a cot too short for my height and a locker containing my few possessions. I sighed, leaving my backpack on the floor to get ready to see the man I most despised in the world: even his smell made me sick. But I would have to endure very little. Two days and I could have run away. With the courage of both hands and - metaphorically - my tail between my legs, I headed out of my room, along the corridor of that first floor to reach the last door on the left, to knock gently, waiting for my father's go-ahead, before opening it to go inside: it was a huge, bright office, full of shelves full of books and a nice mahogany desk in the middle with a laptop and documents relating to the pack and its affairs on it. I didn't dare look at him, keeping my eyes down, trying not to be overwhelmed by the smell of him and remaining unmoved by the way he wielded his Alpha power over me. "You are late." The cold tone hit me hard, making me drop my shoulders as if seized by a sudden weight that made me move nervous in place, murmuring an apology. "As you well know, in two days your sister will be eighteen.You will help with the preparations, omega. Am I clear?" I wanted to scream. Of course I was aware of that, since Leslie was my twin. Born twelve minutes after me, she was the only Alpha, the only one worthy of my father's consideration. And the next leader of the pack in my place. But as much as she had everything I wanted, I didn't hate her, as she was the only living being who didn't despise me. My only friend. I pursed my lips, nodding slightly, before leaving the room with a sigh of relief: it seemed like a lucky day. I wanted so much to rest, close my eyes and let even what was left through, but I had to prepare dinner. Two days. I could do it.