THE OMEGA WHO KNEW WHY THE ALPHA’S WIVES DIED

Camilla's pov My name was Camilla Taylor, and I lived in the Frostbridge Pack. For twenty-two years, I believed something was wrong with me. In our pack, every child was born with a wolf inside them, some kids turned into wolves early, some turned late. But the wolf always came but my wolf never came. My mother died when I was young. My father did not love me, and my brother and sister treated me like a servant. I was an Omega, the lowest person in the pack. My family was embarrassed of me because I could not shift. My father barely spoke to me, and my siblings made me do all the chores. I survived by being invisible. I learned to be quiet and watch everything. I knew the sound of every step in our house. Whenever I heard the heavy footsteps of my father approaching, it meant I had to hide in the kitchen. When. I heard my cousin, Isabella’s sharp step. It meant she wanted me to clean her room. "Camilla! Fetch my coat!" Isabella shouted from the stairs one morning while I was at another chore. "I got it for you, Isabella," I said, handing the heavy black coat to her. She took it and sneered at me. "You are completely useless. Tomorrow is your last chance. If you do not get a wolf on your twenty-second birthday, you are a disgrace to this family." "I know," I said softly, looking down at the wooden floor. "Get out of my way," she snapped, pushing past me. I walked out the back door and ran toward the woods. The howling wind was very cold, biting at my skin but I did not care. I needed to get away from the house. I walked deep into the forest until I reached an old stone wall. This was my secret place. Ethan Frost stepped out from behind a large pine tree. He smiled at me, and his eyes were kind. Ethan was the only person who cared about me. He was sweet, and he made me feel safe. "You made it," Ethan said gently. "I am sorry I am late," I said, stepping closer to him. "Isabella was shouting at me again." Ethan took my cold hands in his. "You do not need to say sorry, Camilla. I hate how they treat you." "Tomorrow is my twenty-second birthday, Ethan," I said, feeling afraid. "It is the final awakening ceremony. If the Moon Goddess does not give me a wolf tomorrow night, I will never get one and it will make my father hate me even more." Ethan squeezed my hands and looked straight into my eyes. "Listen to me, Camilla. Your lack of a wolf does not matter to me. It never mattered." "Are you sure?" I asked him in a shaky voice. "Everyone else thinks I am broken." "You are not broken," Ethan said softly. "I have loved you in secret for years, haven't I? I do not care about a wolf. I only care about you. You are smart, and you are gentle. A wolf changes nothing." "I am so scared about tomorrow," I whispered. "Do not be scared," Ethan said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver ring. He pressed it into my hand. "When you stand in front of the whole pack tomorrow, look at me. I will stand in the front row. I will be right there with you." "What if nothing happens?" I asked. "It does not change a thing," Ethan promised. "I will stand by you no matter what happens tomorrow. We will be together." I looked at the silver ring in my palm. For the first time in my life, I felt safe. I believed him. "I have to go back before my father looks for me," I said. "Go," Ethan said, kissing my cheek gently. "Rest well tonight. Tomorrow is a new day." I ran back to the house in the dark. I climbed up the stairs to my tiny room under the roof. I held the silver ring tight in my hand as I lay down on my small bed. Tomorrow was the last deadline for my wolf. I was still scared of the ceremony, but I was not scared of the future anymore. I believed Ethan loved me. That was my first great mistake.