CHAPTER ONE
1239 Words
The room was little more than a crumbling box of wood and rusted metal.
Moonlight seeped through dozens of holes in the sagging roof, painting pale streaks across the dirt-stained floor. Every gust of wind slipped through the cracks in the walls, carrying the bitter chill of the night. The cold seemed to linger in every corner, clinging to the room like a living thing.
On a worn-out bed pushed against the far wall lay a girl.
The mattress beneath her had long since lost its shape, its stuffing poking through torn fabric. A thin blanket, hardly enough to keep a child warm, was draped over her frail body.
She looked as though a strong breeze could carry her away.
Her skin was unnaturally pale, stretched tightly over delicate bones. Dark circles rested beneath tired eyes, and her arms were so thin that they seemed fragile enough to snap. Hunger had become a permanent companion, carving itself into her appearance day after day.
The girl lay motionless, staring at the ceiling.
Then—
BANG!
The wooden door shuddered violently.
BANG!
A second strike rattled the room.
The girl flinched.
"Get up!" a harsh voice barked from outside. "Stop lying around and come out here!"
She squeezed the blanket tighter around herself.
Another bang shook the door.
"Did you hear me, girl? The Alpha's family will be awake soon. Get to the kitchen and wash those dishes!"
The voice grew sharper.
"And after that, go collect the food for the Alpha and his family. Move before I come in there myself!"
Silence followed.
The girl slowly pushed herself upright, suppressing a cough as another icy gust swept through the holes in the roof.
Her body ached.
Her stomach growled.
But she knew better than to keep them waiting.
Carefully, she swung her legs off the bed and stood.
Another day of servitude had begun.
Eva pushed herself off the bed, her weak legs trembling beneath her weight.
The moment she opened the door, a blast of icy wind struck her body. She shivered violently. The thin, faded dress hanging from her frail frame offered little protection against the cold morning air. Goosebumps covered her pale skin as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying unsuccessfully to preserve what little warmth remained.
Standing outside were three girls.
At their center was Melissa, the Beta's daughter.
Her golden hair was neatly braided, and she wore expensive clothes lined with fur to keep away the cold. Behind her stood her constant companions, Vivian and Juliet, both wearing smug expressions as they stared at Eva.
Melissa's lips curled into a sneer.
"Finally decided to get up?" she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "For a moment, I thought the useless omega had frozen to death."
Vivian and Juliet giggled.
Eva lowered her head immediately, refusing to meet their eyes.
Melissa stepped forward, her gaze hard and unforgiving.
"You should know what punishment awaits you if you fail to complete your duties as an omega." Her voice turned cold. "So you'd better move right now before I decide you need another lesson."
Fear gripped Eva's heart.
The memory of past punishments flashed through her mind—the bruises, the hunger, the endless pain.
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Melissa scoffed.
"Sorry doesn't wash dishes."
The three girls laughed.
Eva clenched her trembling hands and quickly stepped aside. Keeping her head lowered, she hurried past them and made her way toward the pack house kitchens.
The smell of food drifted through the air, causing her empty stomach to ache painfully. She had not eaten properly in days, yet the meals she prepared would never be hers to enjoy.
That was the life of an omega.
To serve.
To obey.
To suffer.
As the sun slowly rose over the territory, Eva entered the kitchen and began preparing for another long day.
********
The day passed quickly, though not peacefully.
After finishing the mountain of dishes left from breakfast, Eva carried a tray of food toward the Alpha's residence. The grand house stood at the center of the pack territory, larger and more beautiful than any other building in sight.
As she climbed the steps, the front door opened.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Julian.
The Alpha's son stood before her.
He was tall, handsome, and carried himself with the confidence expected of the future Alpha. His dark hair shifted slightly in the breeze, and his golden eyes briefly settled on her.
Eva immediately lowered her gaze.
A small, foolish part of her had always admired him from afar.
It was a secret she would never dare share.
A future Alpha and a omega.
The difference between them was greater than the distance between the earth and the sky.
"Leave it there," Julian said calmly.
"Y-yes."
Eva quickly placed the tray down and retreated before she could embarrass herself further.
Once outside, she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and hurried back toward the kitchens.
There were still dishes to wash.
There were always dishes to wash.
She had barely returned to work when a sharp voice interrupted her.
"Eva."
She turned around.
Juliet stood in the doorway, her arms crossed.
"The Beta's daughter is looking for you."
Eva's stomach immediately tightened.
Melissa.
Juliet smirked.
"Don't keep her waiting. You know how much she hates that."
Fear crept into Eva's chest.
Without wasting another second, she dried her hands and followed Juliet through the territory.
Soon they arrived at the training grounds.
Pack warriors sparred in the distance while young wolves practiced shifting under the supervision of their elders.
Beneath the shade of a large olive tree stood Melissa.
Vivian stood beside her like a loyal guard.
Eva immediately lowered her head.
"You called for me?"
She had barely finished speaking when a sharp kick struck the back of her leg.
Pain exploded through her knee.
Eva cried out and fell onto the dirt.
Vivian glared down at her.
"The Beta's daughter is speaking to you, and you think you can stand?"
Eva quickly lowered herself completely.
"I-I'm sorry."
Melissa looked down at her as if she were examining something unpleasant stuck to her shoe.
For several moments, she simply stared.
Then she slowly crouched down.
Her eyes were filled with disgust.
"You know," Melissa said softly, "I really don't understand how something as hopeless as you is still alive."
Eva remained silent.
Melissa reached out and lifted a strand of Eva's dull hair before letting it fall.
"The only reason anyone allows you to remain in this pack is because of your father."
At the mention of him, Eva's fingers tightened.
"Former Warrior Alexander. The great hero who sacrificed his life protecting this pack."
Melissa shook her head mockingly.
"What a shame."
A cruel smile appeared on her face.
"For a man like that to leave behind a daughter like you."
Vivian and Juliet laughed.
Melissa leaned closer.
"A wolfless girl."
Her words struck harder than any punch.
"A werewolf without a wolf."
She laughed quietly.
"Do you know how pathetic that sounds?"
Eva lowered her head even further, her nails digging into her palms.
The pack mocked her every day.
But hearing her father mentioned always hurt the most.
Melissa's smile widened.
"Tell me, Eva."
Her voice dripped with malice.
"When your father died for this pack, do you think he imagined his daughter would grow up to be nothing?"
- Writer
