The Forgotten Omega

Chapter One: The Girl They Forgot Ava Pov… Cold water splashed across my face. I jolted awake, gasping as it soaked into my hair and eyes. My hands flew up on instinct, but it was too late. The chill had already settled into my skin. Standing above me, grinning like she’d won something, was Clara. “You’re not supposed to be asleep,” she said sweetly, like this was some kind of favor. “You’re not a guest, Ava. You’re nothing but the maid, remember?” I didn’t say anything. I’d learned a long time ago that words only gave her more to work with. “You think because today’s your birthday, you get special treatment?” Clara scoffed. “Please. You’re wolfless. You’ll always be nothing just like your mother.” My chest tightened, but I kept my face blank. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. I stood up slowly, brushing my soaked hair from my face. Today was my eighteenth birthday. The day I should have felt my wolf awaken. The day the moon goddess was supposed to bless me with power. But I felt nothing. Just like always. Before I could say a word, the door slammed open. Melra—my stepmother—stormed in. She didn’t hesitate. Her hand flew across my face, hard and fast. “You’re still sleeping?” she snapped, like I’d just insulted the entire pack. “You should be up before everyone else. People like you don’t get to rest.” My cheek burned, but I kept my mouth shut. I’d learned the hard way that speaking only made things worse. “As long as you’re wolfless, you’ll never be anything but a burden,” Melra spat. “You're lucky I haven’t thrown you out. Girls like you are only good for scrubbing floors and doing what you're told.” Clara stood behind her, arms crossed, grinning like she’d just won a prize. Melra picked up a heavy basket filled with dirty clothes and shoved it into my hands. “Take these to the river. And don’t come back until they’re spotless. If I see a single stain, you’re skipping dinner.” She turned and walked out like she hadn’t just slapped the life out of me. I didn’t argue. I just gripped the basket tighter and walked out the door. … Outside, the pack was filled with activity. Warriors trained in the field, children ran laughing through the paths, and the market buzzed with chatter and movement. No one looked my way. Correction—some did. But only to scowl, to whisper behind my back, to spit the word they always used: “Wolfless.” I wasn’t just the girl without a wolf. I was the girl who shouldn’t have existed. A mistake. A curse. They didn’t know about the other thing—the healing. I’d kept that part secret. The way bruises faded under my touch, how fevers dropped when I whispered over someone’s skin. I didn’t understand it myself, but I knew if anyone found out, they’d twist it into something ugly. Just like they twisted everything else about me. … By the time I reached the river, the other girls were already there. Laughing. Splashing each other. Not even pretending to work. I set down the basket and got to it. Soap, water, cloth, repeat. My fingers stung from the cold, but I didn’t stop. Then Someone bumped into me. I looked up. No apology. Just a smirk. “She’s still doing laundry like a human,” one of them said loudly. “She is human,” another giggled. “Freak.” More laughter. I kept my head down, hands scrubbing until they ached. I didn’t want to cry. Not in front of them. Not on today of all days. Just when I thought I’d get through it, someone shoved me hard from behind. I stumbled and fell face-first into the mud. Laughter exploded around me. I lay there for a second, breathing through the burn in my chest. My clothes were soaked, the laundry was ruined, and they were still laughing like it was the best thing they’d seen all day. When I finally sat up, they were already walking away. I stared after them, heart heavy, and felt something crack inside me. … I took the long way back, through the trees instead of the village. The woods were quieter. No people. No whispers. That’s when I saw it—a small deer lying in the grass, its leg twisted, body shaking. My chest tightened. I knelt beside it carefully. “It’s okay,” I whispered, placing my hands gently on its side. Warmth flooded through my fingertips. That strange heat I’d never been able to explain. I focused, felt the break in the bone, the sharp pain, the way its heart struggled to stay steady. And then… it was gone. The deer blinked at me, then stood up and limped away. After a few steps, it was running again, like it had never been hurt. I looked down at my hands. Why would the moon goddess give me this power, but no wolf? Why give me healing if I was meant to be nothing? If I was only seen as a curse in the eyes of my pack? … The sun was dipping low as I neared the village again. I was about to cut through a clearing when I heard footsteps—heavy, deliberate. I froze and ducked behind a bush. Peering through the leaves, I saw him. Alpha Kyran. Tall. Broad shoulders. That cold, calculating expression he always wore. But even from a distance, his presence made the air shift. Made my heart pound. And then it hit me. Like lightning. A pull. Not physical, but… soul-deep. My chest tightened. My breath caught. Every part of me screamed one word: Mate. He was my mate. Alpha Kyran. The most powerful man in the Nightshade Pack. I stared at him, stunned, as he turned his head slightly—like he sensed something. He sniffed the air, frowning. I held my breath tight. What If he saw me? Or maybe… he did. Just not enough. I turned and without wasting time I ran. I didn’t look back.