Chapter 1
1424 Words
Samantha's POV
My knee hit the cold earth.
A profound feeling of sadness and shame gripped my chest and sent tremors down my whole being.
Why?
Why was it always like this? Why was I always the unlucky one?
The young werewolf who had shoved me down sent a mocking glance my way. I didn't even know her, but she probably hated me.
Everyone did.
The stares of my pack members from all around burnt into me.
It was the annual pack gathering. When the whole pack assembles to pay tribute to the founders of the pack, and young werewolves shift for the first time.
Just like others, I came excited when I turned 18.
I watched in amazement as others shifted. Everyone jubilated.
I waited.
Slowly, time ticked on. Wolves were shifting, sprinting happily through the dense forest all around us.
I waited.
Gradually, the pack members retired to their homes, one after the other till it was just me.
And now here I was, 22 and hopeless.
The years had gone by and still nothing.
This was considered the latest for any werewolf to shift.
I hadn't.
I could hear the snickers from all around me.
Their mocking voices weren't even hushed.
“Gosh, I'd hang myself if I were her…”
I didn't bother turning to see who'd said it.
“She has to be the weakest creature I've ever seen…”
“...so pathetic”
“...Is she even a werewolf?”
“Perhaps she's cursed…”
Their harsh words felt like spears digging into my fragile body.
I wanted to run.
But in my kneeling position, my legs felt weak and heavy. My knees pressing into the damp earth beneath me.
I didn't even know when I had sunk down to the ground.
I was tired.
I had struggled to keep my hopes up, but this was the last hope for me.
How was I supposed to survive wolfless in a werewolf world?
Already the pack members showed no empathy towards me. Never failing to remind me of how weak I was whenever they had the chance.
A dark brown werewolf sped past, shooting dirt and dust all over me. My hands flew to my face, but some grits had already gotten into my eye, causing it to sting immediately.
Muffled laughter sounded around as I scrambled to my feet, my vision still blurry with tears.
“Hey…where are you going?”
I didn't need to turn to know it was my cousin, Emily, calling out.
I kept walking.
“Didn't you hear me?” she shoved me from behind, and I stumbled a bit before turning to face her.
“I'm going home,” my voice cracked.
“The gathering isn't over Samantha. Won't you stay a bit?” she smirked.
“No I–”
“Maybe your wolf will crawl out soon if you just wait a little longer. But then you've been waiting for what?... Five years?”
Her group of friends snickered and laughed behind her. She smirked at me and twirled her blonde hair between her fingers.
I blinked back my tears and turned again to leave, but she grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
“Listen Emily, I don't want any trouble, okay? I just want to go home,” I pulled my hand out of her grip.
“Who said I was looking for trouble? I just want you to stay and enjoy the night. Look…” she pointed at the young werewolves who had just shifted for the first time and were playing in the moonlight.
“Everyone's happy…you should try being happy too and stop being such a bum… except maybe you're jealous…”
I just sighed and spun around, determined to really leave this time.
“Well, walk away then. It's the only thing you're good at!”
Emily called out as I fled from the gathering.
“Dinner better be ready when I'm back!”
She and her friends burst out laughing.
I let my tears fall freely as I hurried away from the gathering.
I didn't head home.
I headed towards a small stream I'd stumbled upon a year ago.
Getting to its edge, I sunk down into the soft grass.
The night sky was cloudless and the full moon shone brightly.
When did it get to this?
Growing up I was normal, like the other kids.
Or at least I thought I was.
I lived with my aunt Margaret and her daughter Emily for as long as I remember.
I don't know my parents.
Only heard that they'd died in a tragic accident when I was just a year old.
Everything was fine till Emily decided my life was too peaceful.
She never missed an opportunity to push me around and call me names.
I'd fought back at first, but whenever I did it always ended with aunt Margaret scolding me or locking me out.
When I turned 18 and didn't shift, everything got worse. Everyone else joined Emily to mock me and push me around.
I was the laughingstock of the whole pack. My favorite place became aunt Margaret's flower shop.
Away from everyone else.
It was quiet there, the flowers didn't judge me.
People rarely came over, so I always had the peace and quiet I desperately needed.
The cool night breeze kissed my skin and I lay on my back to admire the stars.
They seemed lucky. All they had to do was shine, and everyone admired them.
I envy them.
I'd give anything to become a star…not that I had anything to give anyway.
________________
A sudden chill ran through me and my eyes cracked open.
My worn shirt and trousers did nothing to keep out the cold.
Wait…this wasn't my bed…
I was up in a flash.
“Oh s**t!” I hissed in the darkness.
Dark clouds covered the sky and the moon was nowhere to be seen.
How long had I been asleep?
I stumbled over twigs and shrubs as I dashed home, thanking my lucky stars that I'd been here enough times to know my way back even in darkness.
A distant howl sent a tremor of fright through my bones and I ran faster.
Aunt Margaret's house came into view and I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
I halted abruptly at the door and tried to catch my breath.
This was the first time I was staying out this late.
I didn't know how she'd react.
The house was dead silent.
Holding my breath, I crept up the creaky stairs and headed to my room which was at the end of the hallway.
“Welcome back”
Shit.
Emily stood leaning on her door frame. Her hawk eyes fixed on me and her ever-present smirk showing.
Two seconds and I would've been successfully hidden in my room.
“Goody Miss Samantha has finally been caught.”
She stalked towards me.
“I just fell asleep in the forest. I wasn't doing anything."
“Liar!”
“I'm not lying I swear-”
“Which tacky boy were you with? Huh? I always knew you were a slut–”
“Emily” Aunt Margaret stepped out of her room clutching her flowing blue night robe and flicked on the light.
Her wide frame occupied a good amount of space in the narrow hallway.
Now I was in real trouble.
Emily stepped out of the way.
“Samantha,” her eyes raked over me with disgust. “Where are you coming from by this time?”
She folded her arms across her chest.
“I—I just—” I stuttered uncontrollably as I took a step back.
“Do you know what time it is?”
“She was out fooling with some boy,” Emily chipped in.
Aunt Margaret's eyes flashed with fury.
“I wasn't! She's lying!”
“Don't you dare raise your voice at me!” Emily lunged at me and shoved me against my door. My back slammed hard on the wood, knocking my breath out.
“You're calling me a liar?!” She gripped my wrist and shook me, but I summoned courage and shoved her back. She tripped on her own foot and landed hard on her ass.
A loud gasp left aunt Margaret.
“You b***h!” Emily screamed.
My heart did a somersault in my chest and instant regret flooded my thoughts.
“I–I didn't mean to…I'm sorry. I–”
Slap!
- Writer
