Chapter 2 The Beta’s Lesson
1272 Words
Get up, Omega.”
Beta Marcus’s cold voice cut through the murmurs on the training field.
Aria slowly pushed herself up from the dirt, her palms stinging from the rough ground. Dust clung to her clothes, and the wooden training staff still trembled slightly in her grip.
Around her, the warriors of the Shadow Moon Pack watched with amusement.
Some crossed their arms.
Others whispered.
Aria could feel their eyes on her.
Judging.
Mocking.
Waiting.
Marcus stepped forward, his sharp gray eyes fixed on her.
“You fall too easily,” he said. “Again.”
Daniel smirked and spun his staff lazily.
Aria swallowed.
Her arms already ached from the previous blows.
But she raised the staff anyway.
Marcus lifted his hand.
“Begin.”
Daniel lunged again.
Aria barely had time to react.
The staff slammed against hers with a loud crack.
The force traveled straight through her arms and into her shoulders.
She stumbled back.
“Too slow,” Daniel said with a laugh.
Another strike came from the side.
Aria tried to block it.
Her hands shook.
The staff slipped slightly in her grip.
Daniel’s weapon knocked hers away, sending it spinning into the dirt.
A burst of laughter erupted around the circle.
Aria bent quickly to retrieve it.
Before she could stand fully—
Daniel swept his leg under her.
She crashed into the ground again.
The laughter grew louder.
Marcus sighed dramatically.
“This is embarrassing.”
Aria slowly pushed herself up once more.
Dust clung to her hair and clothes.
Marcus walked around her slowly, like a predator studying weak prey.
“You’ve trained here for years,” he said.
She kept her eyes lowered.
“And yet,” Marcus continued, “you still move like a frightened rabbit.”
A few warriors snorted.
Aria tightened her grip on the staff.
“I’m trying,” she said quietly.
Marcus stopped in front of her.
“Trying?” he repeated.
Then he suddenly grabbed the staff from her hands and tossed it aside.
“You know what the real problem is?” he asked loudly, turning to the watching warriors.
“She doesn’t have a wolf.”
The statement sent another ripple of laughter through the group.
Marcus looked back at Aria.
“Tell me something,” he said. “How old are you now?”
“Nineteen.”
“And still no wolf.”
His voice grew louder.
“Most wolves shift by eighteen. Some even earlier.”
He gestured toward the warriors around them.
“Every single wolf here has already awakened their wolf.”
Aria felt the familiar knot of shame tightening in her chest.
Marcus leaned slightly closer.
“But you?”
His eyes hardened.
“Nothing.”
The warriors around them whispered.
“Maybe she’s human.”
“No wolf at all.”
“Embarrassing.”
Aria stared at the ground.
Marcus turned to the crowd again.
“This,” he announced, pointing at her, “is what weakness looks like.”
Her fingers curled into fists.
“Watch carefully,” Marcus continued. “Because this is exactly what happens when a wolf fails the Moon Goddess.”
Aria forced herself to stay still.
Anger burned in her chest.
But she couldn’t fight him.
Marcus was the Beta.
The second most powerful wolf in the pack.
He stepped back and crossed his arms.
“Shift,” he ordered.
Aria froze.
The word felt like a blade pressing against her throat.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Well?”
“I… can’t,” she whispered.
He leaned forward slightly.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“I can’t shift.”
Marcus’s lips curved into a cold smile.
“Exactly.”
He turned to Daniel.
“Attack her.”
Daniel blinked.
“What?”
“You heard me,” Marcus said. “Attack.”
Daniel hesitated.
“But she doesn’t have her wolf.”
Marcus shrugged.
“That sounds like her problem.”
A few warriors laughed nervously.
Daniel slowly raised his staff.
Aria’s heart pounded.
“Wait,” she said.
Marcus ignored her.
“Begin.”
Daniel swung.
Aria barely managed to block the first strike.
The impact sent pain shooting through her arms.
Daniel attacked again.
And again.
Each strike forced her backward.
The circle of wolves tightened around them.
“Come on, Omega!” someone shouted.
“Fight back!”
Another blow landed.
Aria stumbled.
Daniel knocked the staff from her hands again.
It fell several feet away.
She dropped to her knees.
Daniel stopped moving.
The field fell silent.
Marcus walked forward slowly.
“Well?” he asked Daniel.
Daniel shrugged.
“She’s done.”
Marcus looked down at Aria.
Then, without warning—
He kicked the back of her leg.
Aria collapsed fully onto the ground.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips.
Marcus stood over her.
“Pathetic,” he said quietly.
The warriors shifted uncomfortably.
Even some of them looked uneasy now.
But no one spoke.
Aria pushed herself up slightly.
Her chest rose and fell quickly.
Marcus crouched beside her.
“You know why you’re weak?” he asked.
She said nothing.
“Because wolves are meant to fight together with their wolf spirit.”
His voice lowered.
“But you…”
He tapped a finger against her shoulder.
“Are empty.”
Something inside Aria twisted painfully.
Marcus stood again.
“Training is over,” he announced.
The warriors began dispersing.
Some laughed as they walked away.
Others avoided looking at her.
Daniel picked up his staff and followed the others without another word.
Soon only a few wolves remained.
Aria slowly pushed herself to her feet.
Her body ached.
Her pride hurt even more.
She walked toward the edge of the field.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
Then suddenly—
A deep voice spoke behind her.
“That was unnecessary.”
The entire training field went silent again.
Aria froze.
She knew that voice.
Slowly, she turned around.
Alpha Damon Blackthorn stood near the edge of the field.
His dark eyes were fixed on Beta Marcus.
Marcus straightened immediately.
“My Alpha,” he said.
Damon’s gaze flicked briefly toward Aria.
Something unreadable crossed his expression.
Then he looked back at Marcus.
“Explain,” Damon said calmly.
Marcus cleared his throat.
“I was simply teaching discipline.”
Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“To an Omega?”
Marcus hesitated.
“She must still learn her place in the pack.”
Silence fell.
Then Damon slowly stepped forward.
Each step carried quiet authority.
He stopped a few feet away from Aria.
She felt his presence like a storm pressing against her skin.
His scent filled the air—strong, powerful, overwhelming.
Her heart suddenly began racing.
And that strange warmth from earlier returned.
Stronger this time.
Damon’s gaze moved over her carefully.
From her dusty clothes…
To the bruises forming on her arms…
Then to her eyes.
For a brief moment, something flickered in his expression again.
Confusion.
Curiosity.
Then it disappeared.
He looked back at Marcus.
“Next time,” Damon said coldly, “choose a warrior for your demonstrations.”
Marcus lowered his head.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Damon turned away.
But as he walked past Aria—
His shoulder paused beside hers.
Only for a second.
His voice dropped to a low murmur.
Quiet enough that only she could hear it.
“Why didn’t you shift?”
Aria’s breath caught.
“I… can’t.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Damon continued walking.
But the moment he stepped away—
The strange voice in Aria’s mind returned.
Stronger.
Clearer.
Mate.
- Writer
