Chapter 1:The wish
Sofia's POV
Pain has a way of becoming ordinary.
At first, it burns.
Then it lingers.
Eventually, it becomes a part of you.
The bruises decorating my arms no longer surprised me. Neither did the cuts on my hands or the hateful stares that followed me wherever I went. I had long stopped wondering what it felt like to belong.
I never did.
The Silver Crest Pack had made sure of that.
"Omega!"
The sharp voice echoed across the training grounds.
I froze.
Not because I was afraid of the command.
Because I knew what came next.
"You call that cleaning?" Beta Darren sneered, kicking over the bucket I'd spent the last hour filling. Murky water splashed across my worn dress, soaking me from head to toe.
Laughter erupted around me.
Warriors.
Pack members.
Even children.
They laughed as though my humiliation was tonight's entertainment.
"I-I'm sorry," I whispered.
My apology only made them laugh harder.
"You should be," Darren spat. "You're nineteen and still haven't awakened your wolf. You're nothing but a burden."
Nothing.
That word followed me everywhere.
Nothing.
No wolf.
No family.
No future.
Just... nothing.
I bent down and reached for the bucket.
A boot slammed onto my hand.
A cry escaped my lips before I could stop it.
"Did I tell you to move?" Darren asked coldly.
"N-No..."
"Then stay there."
My fingers trembled beneath the weight of his boot, but I didn't fight back.
I never did.
Because fighting only made it worse.
After a few agonizing seconds, he stepped away.
"Clean it again."
I nodded silently.
By the time the sun dipped below the mountains, my body ached with exhaustion.
I carried empty buckets back toward the storage shed, careful to keep my head down.
No one stopped me.
No one greeted me.
It was as if I didn't exist.
Sometimes I wished I truly didn't.
...
The pack house buzzed with laughter as dinner was served.
The smell of roasted meat drifted through the open windows.
My stomach growled.
I hadn't eaten since yesterday.
"Here."
An older kitchen worker shoved a wooden bowl into my hands.
Inside was cold broth with two stale pieces of bread floating on top.
"The leftovers."
I forced a smile.
"Thank you."
She didn't answer.
I carried the bowl outside and sat beneath the old oak tree overlooking the valley.
This had always been my place.
The only place where no one shouted at me.
The only place where I could pretend the wind was speaking instead.
Above me, the full moon glowed brighter than I'd ever seen it.
Beautiful.
Untouchable.
I stared at it until my eyes blurred.
"Moon Goddess..."
My voice cracked.
"I don't have anything left."
A tear slid down my cheek.
"I've tried to be good."
Another tear followed.
"I've obeyed everyone."
Then another.
"I've waited for my wolf."
Silence.
"If I've done something to deserve this..."
I swallowed hard.
"...I'm sorry."
The wind whispered through the trees.
No answer came.
I closed my eyes.
"I don't wish for a mate."
My voice barely rose above a whisper.
"I don't wish to become strong."
I pressed a trembling hand against my heart.
"I just want the pain to stop."
A sob escaped me.
"So... if you're listening..."
I looked up at the glowing moon one last time.
"...either give me a reason to live..."
My tears fell freely now.
"...or let tomorrow be my last sunrise."
The forest fell unnaturally silent.
No wind.
No crickets.
Nothing.
Then...
A single howl echoed through the mountains.
Deep.
Powerful.
Unlike any wolf I had ever heard.
It carried across the valley like a warning.
Or a promise.
For the first time in my life...
Something beneath my skin answered.
A faint warmth spread through my chest before vanishing just as quickly.
My breath caught.
"What... was that?"
Far beyond the borders of Silver Crest, eyes opened in the darkness.
And somewhere beneath the same moon...
A feared Alpha lifted his head.
He had caught a scent that shouldn't exist.
