Beth’s point of view

I stood by my window in the blue-roofed pack house named after my deceased mother. I watched as decorations were being hung in the pack house. Omegas like me and other pack members rushed about, following the directions of Laura, the head Omega.

The air was filled with urgency as they prepared for an event that was still a mystery to me because no one bothered to clue me in on what was happening. The sight of unmated girls laughing and whispering amongst themselves as they worked only made me feel even more alone.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of loneliness creeping over me, which made me wish I was there amidst them, working alongside them.

No matter how hard I tried to convince myself that I was fine without others, I still wanted to be a part of them.

From where I stood, I observed Laura, the head Omega, who summoned me with an exaggerated wave. My motion of ‘no’ failed to reach her as her gaze remained fixed on me. Laura frowned at my reluctance to approach her, and she waved more insistently this time.

I ignored her signals and turned towards my bed instead. Shaking my head at the continued stares from those around me, I chose to retreat into solitude once more.

I sighed and dragged myself away from the window to sit on my bed. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the sounds of laughter and playful chatter coming from outside my room.

Why couldn’t I belong among them?

I’m beaten and abused by the Alpha of the Red Moon pack, my biological father who should be my solace and shield in the absence of my Mother, but is the architect of my misfortune.

My father uses every opportunity he gets to remind me that I am a huge disappointment to the Red Moon Pack.

The pack members weren’t left out of my misery as they turned against me, cursing my very existence.

The sneers and whispers of the pack calling me an evil child who killed their beloved Luna.

 Embracing their rejection marked a turning point in my life, one that forced recognition of my outcast existence within the Red Moon Pack. Despite my attempts to seek solace among others throughout childhood, cruel words branded me as evil at every turn.

They deemed me responsible for our dearly beloved Luna, my Mother.

 Even other omegas expressed contempt for my appearance, a reminder that pain never truly subsides with time but becomes something easier to bear instead as our scars grow numb through acceptance of what could not be changed despite intense yearning for a better fate.

I could only endure and hope to find my fated mate, who would rescue me from the nightmare I had found myself in. I am very sure he would take me away from these monsters, give me a better life, and help me heal.

While brooding in the silence of my room, my door creaked open, and my father stood by the door and shouted in his authoritative voice, which echoed throughout the room. Yanking me back to the present, I immediately stood up to receive his orders. ‘Get dressed,’ he ordered.

“Yes, Alpha,” I answered with my head bowed, staring intensely at the floor. I dared not call him ‘father’ ever since the incident with the Gemma’s son when we fought. I heard him talking to his friends in the pack nursery, “My father said Beth is a bastard, she’s not an alpha,” we got dragged to my father. He didn’t care to hear my side of the story and sent a resounding slap flying my way, telling me never to disrespect him by calling him “Father,” which still stung today.

“I want you downstairs in two hours to welcome our guests,” he sneered as he shut the door. I almost jumped out of my skin with the force he used to slam the door.

I thought of what to wear as I started flipping through my stack of worn-out clothes. I picked out the manageable one and laid it out on my bed. I quickly rushed to take my bath and came out of the bathroom only to find Laura seated on my bed, straightening the gown I had picked out earlier, then I wondered how late I was in picking out my dress.

“Child, why aren’t you dressed yet? You know your father is pissed, right?” She said, winking her eyes at me mischievously.

“When isn’t he ever angry when it comes to me, Laura?” Saying those words left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I shrugged as if I didn’t care, walking towards the dresser and starting to comb my hair.

“Why didn’t you come down to help with the preparations?” She questioned as she collected the comb, brushing out the knots in my hair.

I faced her, my gaze met her inquisitive face. “No one told me what’s happening, what’s all the fuss about,” I said, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

She sighed wearily because we’ve had this conversation one too many times before. “It’s an important meeting. You should be a part of it.”

“We’re both aware, no one wants me there,” I muttered, my eyes dropping to the floor as I tried to blink away the tears that filled my eyes, threatening to fall.

“There, all done.” Her eyes softened in pity as she pressed a kiss to my head and moved to the bed, bringing my dress over to me. “Get dressed, dear,” she said as she turned to leave my room.

I knew not to test the Alpha’s patience. I started wearing the gown and smiled as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. As I went down the stairs, Clara, the Beta’s Omega mate and a pack warrior, met me on the stairs. “Permit me to escort you out,” he said, while Clara scoffed and stomped down the stairs. I’m well aware all omegas despise me, especially Clara.

I rolled my eyes at her and sarcastically muttered to myself, “God, I hate my life. Even the Omegas, who are at the bottom of the food chain, hate me. We are supposed to stick together. Why me?”

As soon as I reached downstairs, Laura, the head Omega, spun me around in delight and exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, you do look gorgeous!” She complimented me.

“In this?” I raised my eyebrows as she nodded. “Yes,” she confirmed, looking at me strangely as if she had grown two heads overnight. “Shut up and take the compliment, will you?”

While Laura fussed around me like a concerned family member might do so amidst preparations for introducing a cherished guest, they wished to impress greatly.

 I found myself dwelling upon memories from those early days when joy defined our lives before darkness arrived with its bitter pill hardened by years of abuse and resentful whispers echoing beyond his walls

As we reached the entrance, I hurried over to where my father stood next to Alpha Malcolm from the Dark Moon pack and other Alphas I didn’t recognize.

My father, the Alpha, shot me a glare with piercing eyes, his jaw clenched in anger, but I ignored him and focused my gaze straight ahead at the gate, my mind racing with questions. “Who are we waiting for? Who is he?” I wondered how powerful he must be to have Alphas awaiting his arrival.