The Runt

Chapter One: Donya

The day was calm as I sat at my bay window and waited for my alarm clock to go off so that I could officially start my day. It was spring and I allowed the wind to blow through the window to lightly cool my heated brown skin.

I looked down at the people as they passed by going about their day either doing pack business or their jobs of running every day things like shops, restaurants, and schools.

I watched as some commity people setup decorations around the town to get ready for the annual Hunting. It was a week long period every spring where the neighboring wolf packs got together hosting games and parties and each year it was hosted at a different pack. It was also a way for unmated wolves to potentially meet their mates if they have yet to find them in their own packs.

This year it was our year to host it in the Shadow Walkers land. I was elated since I never once participated in the Hunting. I was actually not allowed to since everyone in my pack treated me as a child.

At 25 years of age I was basically reduced to that of a youngling because of my size and the fact that I have yet to successfully phase into my wolf while everyone else has. Even though I have a wolf I was physically unable to phase for reasons unknown, but my mom and her fellow doctors believe it's due to me being a runt.

Which is another thing that I face being in a world where literally every single person towered over your frame. I was the size of an average elementary wolf child. At 5'1 I was the shortest female wolf with the next shortest being 6 inches taller than me at 5'7 which was considered short for changeling wolves.

I don't mind my size or that I can't phase, but what I do mind is the babying and the horrible nickname of Runt. Just because I wasn't the biggest doesn't mean I wasn't the baddest even though I have yet to prove the latter to my parents, brothers, and pack that I was more than just a fragile child that needs cuddling all the time. Though that was about to change.

I had decided a year ago that I was going to train on my own in privacy and since then I have become faster, stronger, and more grounded with my wolf. Just because I couldn't shift did not mean that I lost connection to my inner beast. Yes, at times it's hard to connect fully with my other half, but the connection has grown strong over the past year.

As I continued to look out the window at my fellow packmates I felt a gentle nudge on my brain. I realized just as my alarm was going off my mom was contacting me through our biofeedback that connected us all. I turned of the ringing of the alarm on my cell and opened my mental link to my mom.

"Baby girl breakfast is ready," she told me before gently closing the link.

I let out a soft sign as pulled myself away from the window and made my way down stairs to our dining room and sat down at the table. My father who is a Gamma within the pack had just entered right on time from his patrol duties with his unit. My daddy was a strong and confident warrior who was in charge of a group of 100 warriors. Beside him there were 11 other Gammas.

There were also squad leaders known as Deltas. My twin brothers were squad leaders under the Gammas who helped maintain a unit. Deltas, if shown to be worthy, when it's time for a Gamma to steep down and become an Elder can move up to a spot of Gamma. Above the Gammas were Betas there were 7 of them. They were the strongest and most trusted of the pack. Those men and women were under the Alpha who is the leader along with his mate the Sigma. The rest of us were Omegas. Omegas were everyday teachers, doctors, cooks, Elders, children, teens, just basically everyone who wasn't a dominant. All important, but we had our roles.

As my dad sat down my mother came over with our plates of food and when she placed my father's food in front of him she leaned to give him a kiss before coming around to me and kissing the top of my head as she always did. After giving us our food she went back to get hers before sitting at the rectangle shaped wooden table with us.

My father said thanks by praying to the moon goddess Luna for the moon and then to Leto and Aries who were the goddess and god of wolves, our originators. After praying my parents held hands as they began to eat. I smiled at them and started to eat as well as I watched how in love my parents were. They were a great example of Black love.

My dad was the reflection of straight black coffee. While my mom was that coffee with just a splash of cream in it. Me and my brothers were the perfect blend of their skin tones combined. My mom would call the three of us her little coco beans growing up.

As we ate for a few minues I finally had the courage to ask my daddy the burning questions I have been holding in for awhile. "Daddy, are we going to the start of the festival and are the twins participating," I asked trying not to seem to eager.

I watched as he untangled his hand from my momma's and wiped his face with a napkin. He held his breath for awhile before looking at my mom. "I don't know sweetie. It will be crowded with different packs and sorta dangerous with heightened senses from the competitions."

I looked at both of my parents with disbelief. I knew that they worried about me, but I was 25 and ready to step from under them I still lived at home while my brothers lived in the barracks with other unmated wolves.

"I'm 25," I simply stated.

I heard my momma let out a deep sigh before grabbing my head, "We know, baby girl, but you could get hurt. You're too small and vulnerable". I snatched my hand from hers and she pursed her lips.

"That's the thing. I am not a baby. I'm an adult and should be treated like one. I understand that I may not be the same size or can even phase, but I shouldn't be treated as a baby or a child at my age," I let out as I pushed back my seat and left the table. Going back to my room I locked the door and put my earbuds in. At that moment I wanted to be left alone.