I walked through the forest, kicking pebbles along the way despite the aching in my feet from the Long Walk. I had been roaming about for a while trying to find a place with some peace and quiet. That are somehow become my life since I was the wolfless orphan.
I have never shifted, not even almost. I have never felt the thrill of running on four legs nor have I ever felt the rush of the hunt. Sometimes I wondered if I was really meant to be a werewolf.
I felt like I was an embarrassment to my family and to my pack. Both my parents, before they died, were powerful werewolves, which was the reason why I couldn't help but wonder why I was different.
I was adopted into the family of my late father's younger brother but they never missed a chance to remind me that I was a burden to them. They tolerated me only because I was family but I never got the slightest pinch of love from them.
Finally I got tired of walking and sat on a rock which I was lucky to find. Why couldn't I be like everyone else? Why couldn't I be normal?
As all these questions were reeling in my mind, I was suddenly distracted by the rustling of bushes behind me. I immediately got up, fear grilled my heart as I wondered what was behind those bushes?
Is it a wild animal? If it is, how was I going to protect myself from it, seeing as I had no werewolf abilities.
Despite this, I clenched my fists and took the stance of a fighter. Whatever it was behind those bushes, I wasn't going to go down without a fight.
Suddenly, something jumped out of the bushes letting out a loud laugh. I, on the other hand who had closed my eyes, quickly opened them to see what had been scaring me.
It was Gigi, my cousin. She was laughing controllably.
“Y…you should see your face,” she said before beuting into laughter again.
My once racing heart slowly began to claim down after realizing that it was just my cousin and not some wild animal, ready to drag my body to some unknown place…not like Anyone would know I'm missing or anything.
“Gigi, what do you want?” I asked.
“What I want? And why would I want anything from a wolfless orphan? What do you have to offer me? You have nothing; you are nothing. Without my family, you are literally nobody,” she said.
Normally, her words ought to sting but I have heard those words countless times that now it doesn't even have any effect on me.
“Fine, why are you here?” I asked, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.
“Well, my mother wanted someone to run some errands for her and you were nowhere to be found so I had to come look for you,” she said.
“Besides, you've left the house for hours. Where have your silly self been hiding?” She asked rudely.
“I'll be home shortly,” I simply said, ignoring her question.
“Whatever, just hurry up and come home before mum looses her mind and hit you again tonight,” she said and without another word said, walked away.
I waited a few more minutes after she left to get myself together because I knew going back there was going to be tough for me. After that, I made my way back home.
Just as I walked into town, I felt people's eyes on me but I've grown used to it. In the eyes of everyone, I was an outcast and if not for my uncle and his position in the pack, I'd have been cast out of the pack.
As I got to the house, the first thing I saw were my two cousins argument as usual.
“I’m going to be the prettiest for the Alpha’s birthday celebration. I heard the festivities would begin tomorrow and end on the actual day of his birth. I can't wait! Maybe he'll finally notice me and decide to make me his mate,” Gaga said.
Gigi snorted in disagreement and said,
“Oh poor sister, you're being delusional. You and I know that I'm the prettiest and will most definitely capture the attention of the Alpha. My beauty is so flawless he wouldn't be able to tear his eyes off me.”
As I walked past the duo, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. They were twins; identical in appearance but they loved to get competitive about who was prettier.
As I entered, I was greeted by my aunt's stern expression.
“Where have you been all day? I've been looking for you to send you on errands but you've been missing,” she said with a voice that matched her expression.
“I'm sorry, aunty. I went for a walk,” I said.
She scoffed.
“A walk? Leaving the house chores and errands for who? Why are you being so irresponsible, Lila? Your parents were the same which led to their death but do you have to follow in their paths?” She said.
“Leave the poor child, Nina. She does most of the chores around the house; I think she deserves a little break once in a while,” my uncle, who just walked in, said in my defense.
Although he wasn't as bad as his wife and children, he still treated me like a stranger some times.
“Fine, but you're grounded Missy. You'll remain in this house puntil further notice,” my aunty said.
I looked at my uncle, hoping he would intervene but he was quiet.
“But aunty, it's the Alpha's birthday celebration tomorrow,” I said.
She suddenly burst into laughter.
“And you want to attend? What's your kind going there to do anyways? I'm sure the Alpha wouldn't even want someone like you to attend his birthday celebration so just stay back home and do all the chores,” she said before walking off laughing.