More than an omega

Red Moon Pack The sharp crack of the whip tore through the dungeon. Hazel recoiled violently, pressing her trembling body against the cold stone wall as Luna Katherine advanced toward her. There was nowhere else to run. Her back was already against the wall, and the only exit was blocked by the woman standing before her with a whip tightly clenched in her hand. “Pl-please…” Hazel begged, her voice barely audible. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clasped her hands together. “Please, Luna. I didn’t—” “Why?” Luna Katherine suddenly laughed. It wasn’t a normal laugh. It was wild. Deranged. The sound echoed through the dungeon, sending chills down Hazel’s spine. The Luna’s eyes were bloodshot, her face twisted with rage. “Why?” she repeated, taking another step toward Hazel. Hazel pressed herself harder against the wall. “I didn’t kill him.” “You killed him!” The Luna screamed. Hazel flinched. “You killed him!” Katherine repeated, her voice breaking with grief and fury. “He picked you up from the bush when you had nothing! He gave you a home! He treated you like his own daughter!” Her grip tightened around the whip. “And how did you repay him?” Hazel shook her head frantically. “No… No, I didn’t—” CRACK! The whip struck her. Hazel screamed. Pain exploded across her back, stealing the breath from her lungs. “I didn’t kill him!” she cried. “You ungrateful wench!” CRACK! Another blow. Hazel collapsed onto the floor, curling into herself as she desperately tried to protect her body. But Luna Katherine wasn’t finished. “You killed him!” She struck her again. “And you expect me to forgive you?” Another blow. Hazel sobbed uncontrollably. “Please…” She couldn’t feel anything anymore except pain. Her entire body trembled. “Mom—” “DON’T!” The Luna’s scream brought everything to a sudden halt. She dropped the whip. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she glared at Hazel. “Don’t you dare call me that.” Hazel froze. For one brief moment, she stared at the woman she had once called mother. The woman she had once believed would protect her. Then Luna Katherine turned around and stormed out of the dungeon, leaving Hazel alone on the cold floor. The door slammed shut. And Hazel broke down. ⸻ Four Years Later “Haze!” Someone shook her shoulder. Hazel jolted awake with a strangled gasp. Her eyes flew open. She immediately sat up, clutching her chest as she struggled to breathe. Her heart was pounding violently against her ribs. She looked around the small, dimly lit room. No dungeon. No whip. No Luna Katherine. Just the familiar room she shared with her only friend. “Haze, breathe.” Angela sat beside her, rubbing her back. “It was just a dream.” Hazel slowly turned toward her. Angela’s eyes were filled with pity. And that was when Hazel’s heart sank. Because they both knew the truth. It wasn’t a dream. It was a memory. A memory that had haunted Hazel for four years. A memory that refused to die. She closed her eyes. She was thirteen when everything changed. The Alpha—the man who had taken her in when she had nowhere else to go—had died during a rogue attack. But before he died, he had saved Hazel. He had protected her with his own body. Yet somehow, his death had become her fault. At least, that was what everyone in the Red Moon Pack believed. And from that day forward, Hazel’s life had become a living hell. The girl who had once been treated like the Alpha’s daughter was suddenly nothing. Worse than nothing. She was an Omega. Someone at the very bottom of the pack hierarchy. Angela squeezed her shoulder. “We have to get ready. Madam Harper will be here soon.” Hazel swallowed. “Okay.” She slowly climbed out of bed and walked toward the bathroom. A few minutes later, she emerged shivering. The water had been painfully cold. But Omegas weren’t allowed the luxury of warm water. Angela was already dressed in her uniform. A crisp white shirt. A black pinafore. She handed Hazel hers. “Quickly. It’s almost six.” “Thank you.” Hazel hurriedly dressed. Just as she slipped on her shoes— Ding! The first bell rang. The warning bell. All Omegas had to leave their rooms before Madam Harper began her rounds. “Let’s go,” Angela whispered. They hurried into the hallway. ⸻ All the Omegas stood outside their rooms in straight lines. Two girls per room. Heads bowed. Hands behind their backs. Eyes lowered. It was the position expected of them. The position that reminded them every day of where they belonged. At the bottom. Madam Harper walked down the line with a clipboard in her hand. “Number 056.” “Here, ma’am.” “Number 057.” “Here, ma’am.” Angela nudged Hazel. Her turn was next. “Number 058.” Hazel swallowed. “Here, ma’am.” She raised her hand slightly but kept her eyes firmly on the floor. She had learned that lesson the hard way. Never look directly into the eyes of someone above your station. Madam Harper continued. “Number 059.” “Here, ma’am.” “Number 060.” After the final Omega answered, Madam Harper closed her clipboard. “Kitchen duty.” Hazel’s heart sank. She and Angela, along with five other Omegas, were assigned to the pack house kitchen. They were responsible for preparing breakfast for the Alpha’s family and the high-ranking members of the Red Moon Pack. They hurried toward the kitchen. ⸻ “Careful!” Angela grabbed Hazel’s arm just before the stack of ceramic plates slipped from her hands. Hazel steadied herself. “Th-thank you.” One of the other Omegas rolled her eyes. Hazel lowered her head. She was used to it. Everything she did was wrong in their eyes. Too slow. Too clumsy. Too weak. After all, she was only an Omega. Hours seemed to pass before breakfast was finally ready. The Omegas arranged the dishes on the enormous dining table, which could seat nearly fifty people. Just as Hazel placed the final plate down, Madam Harper entered. “Are you finished?” “Yes, ma’am!” They answered simultaneously and immediately formed a straight line. Madam Harper inspected them. “Good.” Then she walked away. The moment she disappeared, the atmosphere in the kitchen changed. Whispers began. Gossip followed. But Hazel remained in her corner. She simply wanted the morning to end without trouble. Angela approached her. “Haze…” Hazel didn’t respond. “Are you okay?” “Yes,” Hazel whispered. Angela frowned. “You’re lying.” Hazel forced a smile. “I’m fine.” Angela reached out and wiped a tear from the corner of Hazel’s eye. “You’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?” Hazel’s lips trembled. She didn’t answer. Angela sighed. “Haze, I told you. They don’t deserve your tears.” Her voice softened. “None of them do.” Hazel looked at her. For four years, Angela had been the only person who stayed. Everyone else had abandoned Hazel the moment Luna Katherine stripped her of her former status. Everyone except Angela. Then— Ding! Ding! Ding! The second bell rang. Breakfast time. The Omegas immediately filed out. They stood in formation outside the dining hall, hands behind their backs and heads lowered. Then a deep voice echoed through the room. “All rise. The Luna is here.” Mason, Luna Katherine’s personal knight, stood at the entrance. Everyone immediately rose. They bowed. “Greet!” “Good morning, Luna. Our loyalty is with you!” The words thundered through the dining hall. Luna Katherine walked in. She looked nothing like the woman Hazel remembered from the dungeon. She wore an elegant white gown with a golden belt wrapped around her waist. Her black hair cascaded down her back like dark waves. She carried herself with the pride of a queen. She sat. Everyone else followed. Madam Harper gave the Omegas a signal. Serve. Hazel’s stomach twisted. She prayed she wouldn’t be noticed. Especially not by Luna Katherine. But fate wasn’t on her side. “Good morning, everyone!” A cheerful voice suddenly echoed through the dining hall. Rose. The Luna’s spoiled daughter entered with a lazy smile, clearly having just woken up. “Rosie,” Luna Katherine scolded lovingly. “What were you doing last night?” Rose dropped into the chair beside her mother. “Momma, don’t be boring.” Luna Katherine frowned. “You!” “Mommaaa.” Rose laughed. “I was partying at the club.” The Luna sighed. “Just be careful.” “I will.” Then Rose’s eyes suddenly landed on Hazel. Her smile changed. A cruel smirk appeared. “You.” Hazel’s blood ran cold. Rose pointed at her. “Come here.” Hazel swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.” She walked toward Rose with trembling hands. “Serve me.” “Yes, ma’am.” Hazel grabbed the plate. “Pancakes and apple sauce.” “Y-yes, ma’am.” Hazel began serving. Her hands shook uncontrollably. Rose noticed. She leaned closer. “Why are you shaking?” Hazel froze. “N-nothing.” Rose smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile. It was the smile of someone who had just found a new toy to break. She reached out and placed a hand on Hazel’s shoulder. Hazel flinched. “Are you excited about today’s session?” Hazel’s eyes widened. “No…” Rose suddenly moved closer, causing Hazel to jerk backward. The bowl in Hazel’s hands tipped. Apple sauce spilled across Rose’s clothes. Silence fell over the dining hall. Hazel’s face drained of color. Rose slowly looked down at her ruined dress. Then back at Hazel. “Tsk. Tsk.” She stood. “There is nothing you can do well.” Hazel immediately dropped to her knees. “I’m sorry.” Rose’s expression hardened. “And that’s exactly why my father died, isn’t it?” Hazel’s breath caught. The words hit harder than any slap. “I…” Rose raised her hand. SMACK! Hazel’s face snapped to the side. She squeezed her eyes shut. “Sorry,” she whispered. “If sorry could solve everything,” Rose said coldly, “why do you think we have law enforcement agencies?” Hazel trembled. Rose looked toward one of the guards. “Get me the silver whip.” Hazel’s eyes widened in terror. Her entire body went cold. “No…” The guard turned and walked away. Rose smiled. “Let’s see if you still remember today’s lesson.” Hazel looked desperately toward the dining hall. But nobody moved. Nobody spoke. Nobody dared to defend her. Not even Luna Katherine. And as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall, Hazel realized something terrifying. Today wasn’t going to be like the other days. Because this time, something was different. Something was coming. Something that would soon change the fate of the forgotten Omega forever.