The Wolf’s Forgotten Daughter

CHAPTER 004

CHAPTER 004

Sigrid's Point of View

After that point, every single day, Kari, Johanne, and Marta discover methods to cause misery in my life. Some days, it’s the little things. They snatch my book out of my hands and destroy it before everyone in the hallway. They stand there amused and watch the pages scatter across the floor. My ten-page English essay disappeared from the submission pile because they tore it up right before my eyes and gave me the shredded pieces with a feigned “Whoops.”

I reprinted my work from the saved copy I kept on my computer. Although the teacher witnessed the entire incident, she still recorded the submission as late and awarded me only half credit. My dad punished me because he thought I was lazy when he learned about my essay incident. He refused to hear my explanation of what happened. I spent the weekend confined to my room without any food.

During times like these, I find myself deeply missing Maren’s presence. Maren would have brought me a small snack like a granola bar to help me survive the day. Without her presence, my dad shows no interest in my well-being. He shows no concern for my well-being these days.

Other times, it’s worse. They get physical. Physical abuse like hair-pulling and body slamming against surfaces now feels routine. The students carry overflowing backpacks to class, which results in them hitting me on the head during every session. To avoid them, I make it a point to be first inside and last outside the school. Kari ensures that nobody ever strikes me in visible spots where marks would show. The repeated breaking of some of my ribs has been so extensive that any forceful sneeze would probably cause them to fracture again. I reserve my wolf's healing abilities for bigger injuries since small injuries do not justify the energy expenditure. She never allows my pain to last for an extended period. She’s amazing like that.

I gain strength from her thoughts about Kari, Johanne, and Marta after enduring brutal attacks. Kari takes advantage of my promise to protect the younger kids by picking on me instead. She directs her attacks toward me because she believes it will improve her mood.

The wolf inside me and I now accept this situation. The strongest kids might beat me, but my beta blood allows me to endure and recover quicker than Kari expects. The constant harassment from her keeps Kari and her friends occupied and diverted from other things. She remains content because she believes I stand alone without protection. Her little crew shares her happiness as well. Peace, if you can call it that.

The presence of my wolf companion prevents me from feeling isolated. We secretly left my room without alerting my dad and went hunting for food whenever he refused to feed me. It’s not so bad. Occasionally I fantasize about wandering through the wild away from every bit of drama.

A new girl arrives in mid-November.

She enters as though she owns the property. We must all attend the pack’s compulsory 5 a.m. training session. Every morning before school, all high school pack members must complete their training. Our training teaches us protection techniques despite not being warriors. As pack members grow older their training is organized into basic training for everyone and intermediate training for patrol members while advanced training is reserved for elite warriors including the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and their respective mates. Higher-ranked members receive the most training since they face the greatest risk during attacks.

I’ve always loved training. Every session permitted for me includes my presence. My brother Sindre dislikes my attendance at training sessions. Only two women participate in the additional training sessions alongside me. Senior Karine attends the training sessions against her will because her father, who is among our elite warriors, makes her come. She attends her training session and then performs her exercises without speaking to anyone before leaving.

All remaining females serve as partners to our leaders or function as warriors. The Luna has a pleasant personality and excels in combat skills. She always keeps me on my toes. The female trainees exchange stories and insights among themselves while we engage in sparring sessions. During elite training sessions, I'm not allowed to spar with the male participants. My father and the other fathers devote excessive attention to their chosen trainees. My father doesn’t even acknowledge I’m there. The Luna, together with the female warriors, showed me important skills, such as turning my smaller size into a strategic benefit.

In fights, many men underestimate a woman, yet I've turned that misconception into an asset.

I find it striking how shortsighted these men manage to be. Despite their behaviors, which show they treasure their partners and respect female warriors, they fiercely protect us. Their actions demonstrate they believe their ideas surpass women’s thoughts. Despite overwhelming evidence that proves otherwise, they maintain their belief they are the pack's main protectors.

Training sessions are the rare moments when I can relax without worrying about Kari, Johanne, Marta, and their tiny followers causing trouble. The future pack leaders and my brother keep watch so no one dares to cause trouble during training. When I’m here, I can completely show who I am. I remain hidden in the rear where nobody can see me.

Attending warrior training after school has often been something I considered. I took to running patrol routes around the territory in the morning before training or after school whenever I needed to escape people or my home. While rogue attacks occur occasionally, our pack experiences them infrequently. The border patrol team maintains regular contact with adjacent packs throughout times of conflict. Meeting the patrol warriors and understanding their crucial defensive roles has been an enjoyable experience for me.

I excel academically because my father has taught me how crucial my Beta status is. School doesn't matter to me. I perform my tasks to make sure he leaves me alone. I stay busy in my free time because I don’t socialize with anyone. Kari destroyed my social reputation so that people fear they will lose their social standing if they associate with me.

The lead trainer interrupted my thoughts by calling everyone for the morning briefing. After he detailed today’s schedule, he casually announced, “We have a new member joining us. She has arrived with her uncle and aunt because her parents are employed by the Alpha King.

That got everyone’s attention, including Kari. She positioned herself on the sidelines wearing her short dress and heels as she typically does each day. Her methods for avoiding mandatory training remain a mystery to me even though she managed to show up today.

A tall girl entered the room, and her presence grabbed my attention right away. She carried herself with such authority that it was evident she felt she belonged there. Waves framed her dark brown hair while her eyes sparkled with golden honey brightness that radiated unstoppable energy. She looked barely older than me, but the way she moved attracted every guy in the group, which made me smile. It was clear to me that Kari and her friends would face competition from this girl for the guys' attention.

The new girl turned around to look at me after I unintentionally made some noise. Delta Kyle informed her that she was welcome to join our group and offered to help her learn about our work.

Extending her hand, she approached me with a smile.

“Sierra, nice to meet you.”

I blinked because her bold approach took me by surprise. For a brief moment, I didn't understand what she was doing. I paused briefly, and she responded by raising her eyebrow toward me. I quickly recovered.

“Oh, sorry,” I muttered, “Sigrid. Talking to me is not something I am accustomed to.

I grasped her hand for just an instant before releasing it and turning my attention forward. Delta Kyle and our trainer continued their instructions. I chastised myself mentally for my idiotic response.

The trainer divided us into pairs for warm-ups and sparring before Sierra had a chance to ask me anything. He probably thought I was the right person for her to join forces with. I attend every training session without fail, which has led to me developing a certain reputation.

Delta Kyle knows about my training plan to escape from here, and he is among the few people who are aware of it. He allowed me to attend training sessions at my convenience and provided me with a gate key after I began arriving early.

The presence of this newcomer means our situation will soon transform.

Will this new girl manage to assist me in escaping, or will the pack's politics keep me confined here indefinitely?