Chapter 5
858 Words
When Nate might show up wasn’t something I could will into being with a thought. For now, I had to keep the surface of my life calm, even as a storm churned beneath.
By ten in the morning, I was in the forest I’d been assigned to tend, searching for injured animals to care for. As wolves of this land, we didn’t just claim it—we were bound to protect its balance. And as someone poised to become Luna, that duty weighed heavier on me. Yesterday was my engagement to Jack, and I hadn’t forgotten the barrels of wine drained at the feast. Drunk wolves teetered on the edge of control—some lost to lust, others to bloodlust, stalking the woods to s*******r whatever crossed their path. I needed to check for signs of that c*****e.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves in fractured beams, the air thick with mist drifting from a nearby waterfall. I combed the forest carefully and found no chaos—no blood, no broken bodies. Relief loosened my chest, and on impulse, I shifted into my wolf form. My paws hit the earth, and I ran, the wind tearing past me, carrying away the tangle of worries that plagued me.
But my freedom didn’t last. A wolf slammed into me from the side, knocking me off balance. Another trailed behind, letting out a gleeful whoop as I sprawled on the ground.
Liv and Nora—Seraphina’s loyal shadows.
Liv, the one who’d crashed into me, rose alongside me, shifting back to human form. She brushed dirt off herself, flashing a half-hearted smirk. “Didn’t see you there, Layla. But it’s no big deal, right? You’re tough—nothing like Seraphina, all fragile and precious.”
Nora chimed in, her tone syrupy with mockery. “Oh, Layla won’t mind. She’s about to be Luna—an Omega who’s bad at everything can’t afford a bad temper either, can she?”
I kicked a stone at my feet and laughed.
“No audience today, and your master, Seraphina’s not around. Still playing these games?” I tilted my head. “Then again, if you two weren’t such loyal lapdogs to her, you’d probably still be stuck flunking out of pack school.”
My words hit like a spark to dry grass. Liv and Nora’s eyes widened, fury flaring. Liv’s hand shot up, poised to slap me.
They’d both lagged behind in school for years, failing test after test until Seraphina swept in. Clinging to her coattails, they’d teamed up with her and Jack for the final hunting trial, scraping by as Betas. Nora could at least snag small prey, but Liv? She’d just clapped and cheered from the sidelines. If not for Jack and Seraphina’s clout, the Betas would’ve kicked her out long ago.
My jab struck Liv’s sorest spot, and she was livid.
But I wasn’t afraid of her retaliation. Last night, in my rage, I’d pinned Seraphina down and even held my own against Jack for a moment. It planted a seed of doubt—about my strength, about my Omega label. Liv’s attack was the perfect chance to test it.
I grabbed her wrist mid-swing, recalling the combat moves I’d seen instructors drill into warriors at school. With a twist, I wrenched her arm back, barely tapping half my strength. Liv howled, collapsing and writhing on the ground when I let go.
Nora’s jaw dropped. She hauled Liv up, jabbing a finger at me. “Layla, do you even realize what you’ve done? Wait till we tell Jack—he’ll deal with you!”
“Does Liv have a scratch on her?” I smiled faintly. “Or do you think anyone in the pack would believe a bullied Omega could overpower a Beta?”
Nora faltered.
They’d tormented me plenty with tricks like this—especially after my Omega body matured, curves drawing boys’ eyes. On Seraphina’s orders, they’d humiliated me in front of the school countless times. They’d built an image of me as weak, pitiful. Who’d believe I could hurt them now? Their complaints would only make them look pathetic.
Nora shot me a glare, supporting a limping Liv as they hobbled off. But I caught the flicker of resentment and malice on Liv’s face before they vanished.
That wasn’t my priority, though. What mattered was the confirmation I’d felt in that clash—my strength had easily subdued Liv.
The other identity classifications of the wolf pack will be determined after learning in school, except for Omega. All Omegas were labeled before entering pack school, and excused from combat or strength training thereafter. Could the pack’s classifications be wrong?
I pulled out my phone and texted Nate. I’d found a note with his number on my bedside table this morning.
His reply came fast.
*“Miss me already?”*
Me: *“... What about that thing we discussed?”*
Nate: *“Which thing? The one where we got naked?”*
Nate: *“Not sure what you mean—guess I’ll need to see you to jog my memory.”*
- Writer
