The Rise Of The Alpha Female

"Awoooooooo". That is all I got to hear everyday, infact....that is why I stay buried in my books at the packs public library in school. The wolves' howls. It has become a constant thing, like a torture specially designed for me from somewhere deep within the forest....where warrior wolves practice and show off, sometimes. But I held my head high, and continued into the palace yard. The moon was already looking sagged, and low in the sky. It usually looks this swollen and pale whenever I return home, like it had been as tired eyes like I am right now. Maybe the moon has also seen too much like I have, yet it couldn't quiet close its eyes. Instead, it's ghostly light spilled across the palace yard of Moon Crest Park. My pack. "Auuuuuuuuuuu". The howls rolled again through the night like a promise, low..slow...and unified. It sounded so ancient and powerful, and the chill of the howls slide under my skin like a thorn. It was supposed to mean home to me, but no. It made my chest ache instead...even though I hear it every night, feel it, and crave for it in a way that hurt too deeply for me to admit it. But the truth I know like I know my heartbeat is.... I would never be one of them. My name is Naomi. And, unlike everyone else in this palace, and in the entire pack, I cannot shift. The hurtful side talks about this fact about me; when people think I can't hear them is.....it is in my blood never to shift. My family omega lineage is the cause. It is like a stain passed down relentlessly, until it reached me and settled in my bones. And this fact is the rumor that has clung to me like my own shadow, and following me around in silence. Living in the palace with my mother should have felt like a blessing to me. But no, it didn't. Because Moon Crest has become like a glided cage dressed in silver and gold to me. My mother is the Luna of this pack, Luna Isabella. She got married to the Alpha King after my father's death, for the good of our own pack.....or so everyone said. Overnight, after a raid on my father's pack, a raid that took my father's life, my mother and I was pulled from the edge of pack life and dropped into the heart of it. And it was supposedly for our protection. But these walls here? It doesn't protect anyone. They only watched, and listened.... And hide more danger that the forest every could. And, the most dangerous secret of it all has a name. Lucas. Lucas is the Alpha King's younger brother, and the chief warrior of the pack. And with his royal blood, Lucas was a monster. He's the kind of man that didn't need to raise his voice to be feared. He is terror himself. And it is his reputation that does the terrific work for him. With an extraordinary strength, and an unmatched brutality, Lucas possess the kind of authority that meant consequences never applied. Especially, not to him. The entire maiden of this palace knew to lower their eyes whenever Lucas passed. The guards also pretended not to see whatever he does in the palace. And the palace itself? Is always silent, and complicit...and swallowed every scream that dared echo too loudly against Lucas. I hated him for this. Tonight, I left the pack library later than usual. Books were the only place I felt untouchable, and where I could be fierce without claws, so I find my solace with them. I had just turned into the Eastern corridor of the palace courtyard, when I heard raised voices cut through the night. I stiffened, and listened carefully. It was a sharp sound of panic. I slowed my pace. Curiosity was warring with instinct within me, but my instinct had never been strong enough to save anyone....Atleast it didn't save my father. So I filled the noise, keeping my presence very close to the shadows until the courtyard oprn d before me. I stayed hidden, and peeped. What I saw made my blood boil instantly. Lucas was standing there, and he had one of the palace maidens cornered near the water fountain at the middle of the courtyard. Her name is Alicia. She couldn't have been more than seventeen years. Her back was pressed against the wall, with her hands clenched into her skirts as she trembled. Her eyes also were wide with terror, and her lips quiver like she was dipped in a bowl of ice snow. "P..p..please sir", she begged with a shaky voice. "I didn't mean to spill the wine. I swear, it was not intentional. I will clean it up immediately..". Lucas laughed. He seemed to be enjoying the terror in the girl's eyes. "An apology?'. He said, tilting his head with a soft amused and cruel laughter playing in his face. "You think an apology can fix carelessness?". The girl quiver, and Lucas grabbed her arm. It was so hard that Alicia cried out in pain. She tried to pull herself free from Lucas grip but fail, and I saw pain flash across her face. Something inside of me snapped. And before I could stop myself, I stepped out of my hiding and walked into the moonlight, directly opposite them. "Let her go, Lucas.". I commanded. My voice wasn't loud, neither was it sharp. But it didn't shake. It remain stable and courageous. Lucas turned slowly, with his eyes narrowed as the landed on me. At first, his face was emotionless as he looked me up. Then he smiled. "Well, well....". He said, as his gaze dragged over me lazily. "If it isn't the little she-wolf who can't even shift." He mocked me, looking almost pleased. But I swallowed hard, and didn't say anything. "What are you going to do to me if I don't...let her go?" He continued, mockingly. "Will you bark at me? Claw at me? Or will you beg me?". I said nothing, but looked Lucas right in his face...hoping he could see all the hatred I have for him in my heart. Then he laughed again, smug and satisfied, like this was all the entertainment meant solely for him. My hands clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms out of frustration and hate. I wished instantly I could shift, I would have shown Lucas how much I hated him with my claws. But it was just unfortunate I couldn't. "What you are doing is wrong". I said. "And you know it. Being the Alpha King's brother shouldn't give you the right to treat people like trash.". For a moment, Lucas expression shifted. Like surprise flickered across his face. He slowly released Alicia, and she didn't hesitate to bolt out of the courtyard, disappearing into the palace halls without looking back. My eyes followed her till she turned into the hall, and then I shifted my gaze back at Lucas. His full attention now settled on me, and he stepped closer. I wanted to move backwards, but something held my feet fixed on the ground making me unable to move. Through the moonlight, I could see the hard lines of Lucas face, and his towering shadow instantly swallowed mine as he stepped closer even the more. I swallowed, and forced myself not to move, and waited for the inevitable. "So, you think you can tell me what to do in this palace?'. He sneered. I blinked, and said nothing. "You think you have a voice here?". He continued. I said nothing. "You are nothing here, Naomi.". He continued softly but cold. "You are nothing but a weak, pathetic, and useless omega..". Those words struck me deeper, than a sword could ever do. And I bit my lips, just enough to control my emotions. I lifted my head, and looked Lucas straight in the eyes. "Strength is not only about physical power..". I began, meeting his gaze unwavering. "Strength, is about how you treat those around you who can't fight back..". I said. For half a second, Lucas remained silent....looking me straight in the eyes. And for half a second, I thought I saw something strange in Lucas eyes. But it didn't last long, because Lucas is not the type that feels remorseful. He just laughed, a wicked and cold laughter that sounded in my ears like death. I swallowed, and waited till his laughter died down. Then he leaned in too close to my face, that his breath hit hot against my nose. His voice also dropped to a slow dangerous whisper that instantly froze the air between us. "You only exist here for one reason, little weak wolf.._. he said, sternly. "Remember that. Step out of line again, and I will make sure you regret it..". That was all he said. Then he straightened again, and turned..and walked away back into the palace as if nothing had happened. As soon as his stiffened back turned the corner of the courtyard, I exhaled the breath I didn't know I was holding. And a soft whistle left my mouth. Lucas had just reminded me exactly how dangerous this palace was for me. And that made me stand there long after Lucas had disappeared into the palace, with the sound of the wolves still howling in the distance.