Alpha Underdog

Chapter Three

"Silent Struggles"

"Ready, Luna, blow out the candles," my mother's voice echoed with laughter as I gazed down at my birthday cake.

Everyone assumed I was a boy for choosing that cake when I turned seven, but the truth was red was simply my favorite color. Besides, I had a fondness for cars back then.

As I extinguished the candles, a gust of air blew in my face, accompanied by the snap of a camera.

"Make a wish, Luna. Wish with all your heart, and the birthday gods will grant it," my dad remarked, standing to my right while my mother stood on my left.

A tear slid down my cheek as I looked at the photo of myself seated in front of my birthday cake, flanked by my parents. I was much happier then, and my parents, Lillth and Gabriel, loved me unconditionally. What had I done to drive them away? Today marked my twentieth birthday, yet all I could think about was my parents.

Not even the prospect of potentially finding my mate today could distract me. Although I understood that the moon goddess ordained mates for every wolf, I couldn't shake the nagging thought: do runts even have mates?

On everyone's twentieth birthday, they have the opportunity to encounter their mate. Some take years to find theirs, while others are more fortunate. I hoped I wasn't among the lucky few; having a mate seemed daunting. I could already envision the beatings, all for being perceived as weak, even though a mate is supposed to cherish you.

Moreover, with my wolf, Shadow, gone, could I still have a mate?

I sighed, tucking the photo away in my dresser drawer before exiting my room to prepare breakfast. Along the way, I paused in the restroom to inspect the bruise on my neck. Despite my efforts to conceal it with makeup, it stubbornly remained visible. However, the risk of returning to fix it now was too great; Silas would surely reprimand me if his breakfast wasn't ready on time. Summoning all my remaining energy, I hurried back to my room to apply another layer of makeup over the bruise.

Once I had fixed it up, I hastened to the kitchen as fast as I could, though evidently not fast enough. Upon my arrival, I found myself knocked onto all fours, clutching my cheek from the force of Asher's slap.

"She can't even make it here on time, what a useless b***h," Silas's enraged voice filled the room, signaling trouble ahead.

If I were to rank them, Silas would undoubtedly be my second most tormenting presence. Suddenly, I found myself gasping for air as Silas swiftly kicked me in the stomach, sending me crashing onto my back.

It was a cheap shot.

I attempted to rise, only to be knocked back down by Silas once more. "I think she needs another beating," he declared, his eyes locking with mine as a sinister smirk played across his lips. "To remind her of her place."

"Silas, no, that's enough. We almost killed her last time," Thorn interjected, attempting to reason with him.

Trying to stand up again earned me another blow to the stomach, this time from Asher. I gasped in pain, doubling over.

"I don't care. She's an underdog, no one will care," Silas growled, his eyes meeting mine once more as he took a step forward, only to be halted by Thorn.

I observed his eyes shifting colors, a clear indication that his wolf was eager to emerge. If that happened, I knew it would spell disaster for me.

"That's enough, dude. Back up before Alpha Fenrir arrives," Thorn warned, his tone carrying a note of authority, a reminder of who held the alpha status.

Silas gaze seemed to return to its natural brown hue before he approached me. I yelped in agony as he seized my hair, forcefully pulling me upright. With a surge of strength, he slammed me against the wall.

"You're nothing but an underdog. That's all you'll ever be. Do you understand?" he growled, his words laden with malice, as I felt excruciating pain radiating from my stomach.

Nodding quickly, I waited for him to release me. "Good. Now, make my breakfast," he commanded.

Despite enduring a morning of abuse, I proceeded to prepare their breakfast. How ironic that I ended up cooking for them after enduring their beatings. As I worked, I couldn't ignore the searing pain in my abdomen; they must have broken a rib. Of course, it was only fitting that they gifted me a broken rib for my birthday. Not that I deserved anything better. My anticipation to escape the pack was overshadowed by the uncertainty of whether Alpha Fenrir would permit me to depart and join the humans. Surely, there was no reason to retain an underdog in the pack, so why wouldn't he let me leave? For now, though, I desperately needed to rest; my ribs were throbbing with pain.

However, fate had different plans as I was suddenly seized and dragged into a dimly lit room. The overpowering scent of Kai's cologne assaulted my senses. I hadn't seen him throughout breakfast, but I knew it was too good to be true.

"Hey, underdog, thought you wouldn't see me this morning, huh?" he sneered, his grip tightening around my neck, denying me even a breath. "I wouldn't want to miss giving you your birthday beating, now would I?"

I never understood how he knew when my birthday was, but he did, and I despised it. On my birthday, he would assault me, labeling it as my "birthday beating," as though it were a gift. So, I braced myself for it as he prepared to unleash his wrath. I attempted to divert my thoughts from the current ordeal, but it proved futile when I couldn't even draw a breath.

Then it struck me with a jolt. The scent in the room wasn't Kai's cologne; it was a blend of wood and spice, utterly intoxicating. Could this be my mate? It seemed implausible. Perhaps the lack of oxygen was clouding my judgment. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, my hands instinctively rising to pry Kai's grip from my throat. This time, however, it felt different. I genuinely feared for my life.

In an instant, there was a deafening crash, and I found myself sprawled on the floor, gasping for air. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to catch my breath. Yet, in that moment, as I teetered on the brink of consciousness, I contemplated the notion that maybe death wasn't such a dreadful fate after all. No more beatings, no more suffering—just peace and, perhaps, happiness.

Opening my eyes one last time, I met the gaze of Alpha Fenrir Stormborn as he uttered the words I never deemed possible: "Mate." Then, everything faded to black once more.