Claimed by the Alpha

The Stray Werewolf

6 hours earlier...

They say that being born as a stray in the pack has its advantages despite living alone. You won't answer on any Alpha. You can roam around wherever you want without needing to be with a pack. Yourself is your own leader and you are free.

For others, it was better to live that way. But for me, it's dreadful.

I have no friends. I am poor. As a stray werewolf, I lived alone and was underappreciated. I have nothing to turn to whenever I am down. And I am always hungry... and helpless.

Every time I remember how my stomach hurt due to eating almost nothing, I will swallow the lump in my throat and I will groan in silence. The world is so cruel. My stomach has never been full since I was abandoned and nobody has come to support me because I am a stray. And there's a huge possibility that I cannot be a member of the pack until I die.

If dying was easy just like I thought it would be, I would rather choose my life to end, honestly.

Every day, I get to question myself if my mother can dump me like garbage on the street, she might as well just end my life. That way, I will no longer bear this suffering I faced every day.

I don't have money to buy food or a decent shelter for me to sleep in. At night, I will turn myself into a malnourished wolf and I will sleep in the woods by myself.

At first, it was bearable and I was thankful for locating a forest where I can harbor to spend a night. Until I was attacked by rogues and it almost killed me.

I can recall how much I cried every night after that. It caused me trauma. I always weep not just because of the rouges who almost killed me but because of living a dreadful life. Like now, as I stare at the restaurant with Beta's having a feast and having fun with their life and all I could do was stare at their food and drool.

I touched my stomach when I felt my tummy rumbled. I was really hungry that my temple was twitching... aching. Even water in the city is expensive that left my throat arid for hours. I had a drink from the river but it was not enough to suffice my hunger for a day.

I could have asked for free water but by the look on the owner's face, I know I couldn't get anything from him but scrutiny.

“Leave, stray! You are scaring my customer!” the restaurant owner scowled and pushed me harshly and I almost fell. Looking at him, I already figured that he's an Omega.

A crushing feeling skittered through me and I find myself leaving the restaurant without defending myself. It wasn't the first time that it happens to me. I get a lot of disparagement ever since I am young until now that I turned twenty-three. I should have gotten used to it as a stray werewolf, I know. But as a soft-hearted person, as I am, harsh words always affect me so easily.

I will personally choose my heart to bleed, taking harsh words than voice out my opinion. Besides, a stray like me cannot be entitled to this expensive world.

In the end, I will feel sorry for myself for being this way. I feel sorry for myself for having such an irresponsible mother who chose to abandon me. Acceptable reason or not, I will never forgive my mother for doing this to me.

Everybody said that as long as there is life, there is hope. I almost believe that. I guess that saying is not meant for everybody because all I know is I am tired of living this poor life of mine and I wanted to just perish. The amount of depression and envy is choking me.

Beta's just like inside the restaurant are the ones who are able to work a stable job and get paid a minimum salary. While Omega was the one who has businesses like the restaurateur who snub me away.

While the Alphas are the millionaires. They owned houses, lands, hotels, resorts, and even malls. They are untouchable and were born rich by birth. If Betas can afford to buy things, Alphas can afford to buy people, even souls.

I walked away with my stomach empty and looked up to the gloomy sky when it starts to drizzle. Hastily, I ran to the nearest shop that I can shelter. Wearing my only clothes with a lot of stains and which probably already smell, everyone glared at me when they took my scent. I can see the animosity by the look that they are giving me.

I didn't know that I ran inside an extravagant dress shop and girls who are at my age loathed the moment their eyes landed on me as they know me my whole life.

I couldn't help but feel small all of a sudden. Every one of them is wearing proper clothes and all of them smell nice. Lilac, Vanilla, Cherry Blossom Mist. They all smell luscious and sweet just like how a woman should smell. Their hair was in a perfect bun and they were wearing makeup that suited their faces. All of them are beautiful and they are obviously members of a rich pack. They are glowing and they are treated well.

Betas, I said to myself and smile a little. How I wish I can taste to be just a beta for a day. I couldn't help but feel jealous. Why are they made to be beta and I am not? Why am I in this hardship and they are not? Why did I do so badly to deserve this?

Why do they have mothers that care for them and I don't?

For a moment, I felt emotional watching these girls. If I were in their position, I wouldn't have been in a dress shop buying clothes as well. If I could get lucky, I would not just buy clothes but buy a dress shop for myself. Or sew me a dress just like I have always wanted.

But I knew better than to daydream. Doing it will not make any of my dreams come true. I don't think a stray who dreams of being wealthy is even valid in this community.

“Go away!” one of the girls shouted just like I thought she would. She sounded so impatient and rude which isn't appalling.

I chose to not mind it since it was pouring outside. I could use some shelter for a while. I just got better from being sick for two weeks. Walking on the street while pouring will surely raise my temperature again. If I get even unlucky, my body could have convulsions.

“Can you not hear us, stray?” one of the girls taunted which made me refuse everybody's gaze to stay out of trouble. “I said, leave. We wanted you to leave.”

I pretended that I didn't hear the woman by looking outside, hoping that the rain will stop so that I can run from these girls who are surely raging mad. Sure, I got used to this a lot of times, that's why I am the one who always assimilates. However, I cannot bring myself to get sick again. Aside from I don't have the money to buy medicine, I also couldn't bear to lose weight. Apparently, my body is the only one I have.

One of them let out a sharp breath in exasperation before she pushed me a little. “How could you disrespect me, huh?”

I almost winced at that. I was taken aback. Talking about respect, it was them who were really rude towards me in the first place. All I wanted was to save myself from getting sick again. No matter how much I wanted to react, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I know I deserve more than this but I still know where I stand.

These girls could literally kill me if they want since they are six of them and I was the only one. Not that I mind though since I was really anticipating dying, it's just that my life was spared a lot of time to only end at the hands of these mean girls.

“Why are you doing this to us?!” one of the girls said, the one who smell lilac pushed me so powerful that I tumble on one of the long dresses.

I accidentally grab the sleeve and because of the harsh fall that I took, it tore before everybody's eyes. The girls gasped with widened eyes and then pointed to me at the same time when the manager came to check.

“It's her fault,” the mean girls said in unison.

The manager didn't even bother to ask me what happened when her eyes glowered at me like she was ready to devour me whole. She grabbed me by the wrist and made me stand up. She shouted at me and said that I should pay for the damage otherwise the shop will sue me.

“No, please. I have no money. I couldn't afford it. I am a stray,” I plead and knelt in front of the manager unashamedly.

The mean girls smirked at me and they went out of the shop one by one. I was left inside kneeling and being scrutinized for the thing I didn't do. It almost made me weep. I don't like the idea of being in jail, especially when I am the one who's innocent.

I keep pleading with the manager with clasped hands and she was obviously annoyed after I didn't stop just like she told me to. Vexed, she raised her hand and was about to slap me when a strong grip of a hand stopped her.

“Stop. I will pay for it, so keep your hand to yourself,” the man insisted and lend his card to the manager that was left speechless.