The Truth Under Her Skin

Katherine Lark's POV: The full moon was too bright tonight. It was always like this on gathering nights. The huge moon left nowhere to hide so I stayed at the edge. I leaned against the old oak and feeling the rough bark through my cloak. My face looked calm and almost bored. But deep inside, I was watching everything. The politics of our pack were always easy to read if you knew how to look at it in a different perspective. The center of the clearing only belonged to the powerful. Alpha Matteo, our pack's leader, stood tall with his mate beside him while the betas hovered nearby and the strong warriors formed loose circles around them. And there was me. Katherine Lark, an omega and a wolf-less at that. All of a sudden, a low snort broke the silence. "Heh. You're still standing there?" a young warrior said and did not bother lowering his voice. "I didn't know a wolf-less omega like you were still allowed to attend the gathering!" I slowly turned my head and met his eyes. I didn't speak. I just gave him a quiet but firm stare. With that, his smirk faltered. He took a step toward me and tightened his jaw as if daring me to glare at him again. But before he could move closer, one of his friends grabbed his arm. "Stop!" he hissed. "Don't make a scene here. The elders will tear us apart if they catch us!" The warrior clicked his tongue and stepped back. But as they walked away, he glanced over his shoulder and sneered at me. "Tch. Enjoy pretending you belong here, omega!" I watched them leave and rolled my eyes. This was not something new to me. With a sigh, I fixed my gaze on our Alpha next. There were rumors that Alpha Matteo wasn't the pack's first choice. But I couldn't verify them and no one dared to talk about it. Maybe they were just whispers from those unhappy with his leadership. When a huge cloud hid the bright moon, the Alpha raised his hand. The clearing slowly quieted and the conversations died down. Even the restless children stayed still. When Alpha Matteo finally spoke, the pack quickly listened to his words. "Everyone..." Alpha Matteo said in a strong and practiced voice. "We are gathering tonight not only to honor the full moon but to also speak of our future." The pack became tense while my shoulders slightly tightened. Important announcements always came from Alpha Matteo using his Alpha voice making us more focused on his words. "Our borders have been under pressure for a few months now." the Alpha continued. "The Darkblood Pack is growing restless. And now, they are demanding a stronger ties with us." In an instant, several murmurs rippled through the wolves. The Darkblood Pack was always known for their strength and cruelty. They were a pack that no one want to mess with and something you didn't wanted as an enemy. "That's why the Old Council and I had made a decision." Alpha Matteo said. "To preserve our peace, we have agreed to offer a political bond with them." Then his gaze slowly moved until it landed on me. "Katherine Lark will be sent to Darkblood Pack at dawn." For a moment, the world seemed to pause. "Oh? The wolf-less omega? They are sending her?" "Heh. Smart move." "She's useless here anyway." I lowered my gaze and feel my heart beat slowed down. Everything made sense to me now. I was already an orphan at a very young age. When I was younger, they told me that my parents had been killed in a rogue attack. I was still alive because they prioritized my safety. Since my parents were still part of this pack, they naturally took me in. But when they discovered I was a wolf-less omega years later, some of them expected the pack to chase me away. And yet surprisingly, they had not done that. But these past few months, I noticed the elders always stopped talking whenever I entered the room. Just before they fell silent, I heard broken words like 'seal' and 'power' with grim expressions on their faces. It made me felt uneasy but I never asked them. Every time I did before, they were quick to dismiss me as if I had no right to know. They also watched me too closely whenever I passed by. Now I understood why no one ever pushed me to find my place, to train harder or try to awaken a wolf. They had already chosen me as sacrifice. I was not meant to grow old in this pack. I was only meant to be used when the time came. And who was easier to give away than the wolf-less omega? For them, Katherine Lark is the most obvious answer. I was the safest loss for this pack. If they send me, no warrior would fall, no bloodline would weaken and no Alpha pride would be bruised. The little kindness I had received over the years suddenly made sense now. It was simply a distance wrapped in politeness. Their tolerance was a mercy in disguise. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The calmness in my chest was not relief or shock. It was clarity. When I opened my eyes and looked around, no one spoke for my sake. No one looked surprised when they said I would become the sacrifice. Even the Alpha said my name without any emotions. I was not stupid. I knew this was not a decision made tonight under the full moon. They had been tacitly decided this matter years ago. But I didn't beg or cry for mercy. Instead, I stepped out of the shadows and took every step in a steady manner. I could feel everyone's judgment pressing me down but I kept my chin high. "I understand." I calmly said. Alpha Matteo studied me for a moment. Maybe he was expecting to see anger, fear or gratitude in my eyes. But I stared at him straight to the eye and said nothing. I made it sure he would got none of it. "I will leave at dawn." I slowly continued. There was a beat of silence after that. Then the Alpha nodded his head once. He looked satisfied. "That is all." Alpha Matteo said while lifting his hand again. "Continue the gathering!" The gathering resumed as if nothing happened. It was louder than before and their bright smiles had returned on their faces. I could feel their relief spreading through the pack. They had made their offering and it was not someone they would miss.