"Murderer."
The word hit me like a slap. I froze, my hands still soaked in soapy water.
Then someone shoved me hard from behind. My face plunged into the icy basin.
Laughter erupted around me like a wildfire.
I tried to pull up, gasping, but a hand—huge and merciless—pressed down on the back of my neck. I kicked, flailed, clawed at their arms, but the pressure only grew stronger.
The laughter faded. My lungs burned. Was this it?
Maybe it’s better this way... maybe death will finally be peace.
I let my eyes close.
"Bitch."
My head was yanked back by the hair. My skull slammed onto the concrete floor with a sickening crack. I collapsed, coughing, water pouring from my nose, eyes, throat.
“Relax, it was just a joke,” the she-wolf who led the attack smirked. “We’re just playing around.”
I glared at her with what little strength I had left.
I have grown used to this treatment and from experience, it is always best to stay down and never react. For if I do, it will only get worse. And if I don't, they will simply grow bored and hopefully… leave me to finish my chores with the least amount of bruises.
My name is Alysia and I am the lowest-ranking Omega of the Blood Moon Pack. Though my father is a Beta, and I am born with Beta blood, my family has always hated me and were more than happy to keep me as a quiet and obedient Omega to push around.
It all started when I was eight years old and my sister accused me of poisoning our mother in front of the entire pack. It wasn't true. I loved our mother and I was so young. I was only eight. I couldn't have possibly done such a thing but no matter what I did, what I said or how much I pleaded, no one believed me. Everyone believed her.
No one would ever doubt the words of my beautiful and utterly brilliant sister Sarah. She was everyone's favorite.
The star.
The one that could do no wrong.
And I was the opposite.
With that, and without even holding a fair trial on a mere child of eight, I was stripped of my status and rank, and reduced to the lowest of the low: an Omega.
They say that was mercy.
They say I should have died instead.
But instead, they were supposedly kind by keeping me alive and becoming a slave for everyone.
When I am sure my tormentors are gone, leaving me alone in the laundry room, I finally pull myself from the cold water, dripping wet and shivering. My eyes on the ticking clock, I quickly finish my chores and rush home before I am late.
My family absolutely hates it when I am late— often punishing me for every second that I am not there. And when it comes to cooking their meals, especially dinner, my Beta father and perfect sister Sarah are incredibly strict and mean for they can never miss a meal. A strong and powerful family should never go hungry.
Along my way home, I pass by the training grounds and although I am rushing, I cannot help but pause for a moment. It is hard to continue as I watch the young wolves sparring, learning and laughing— living. Though I would not consider myself as a bitter individual, I cannot help but feel the jealousy and bitterness swell inside me at the sight of them.
I had wanted for so long to be part of them, to be like them. I wanted to learn, to laugh, to know more than just chores and get beaten when I don't do them right. But my father has made it clear a long time ago that someone like me doesn't deserve to have an education. I didn't even deserve to live.
With my head down, hoping to go unnoticed, I quicken my pace as I remember that I had to make dinner still. Unfortunately, I am always noticed and a group of young wolves run towards me, close enough that they can spit and push me down on the ground.
"Look, the monster is here!"
Pitiful, I take it all without a sound and wait for them to finish releasing their hatred.
"Be careful or she'll kill you like she did her own mother!"
Finally, when they're done, I run home, blinking away tears. Sadly, when I get there and hurry to prepare dinner, I am late by a minute and my father is already waiting with his feet impatiently kicking the floor.
I prepare for the worst, bracing myself for a punch or a kick, but he only glares at me with pure hatred.
This shocks me, my body frozen.