CH:1 Troublesome Omega

As Aria wakes up from her haunting dream, her heart pounds in her chest, echoing the terror of the nightmare. She finds herself in the dimly lit, desolate surroundings of the omega quarters, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the rest of the pack's territory. Aria, the omega, has always felt out of place, her dreams haunted by the screams of her family.

"For the love of the moon, not again," Aria mutters to herself, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. She glances around the cramped room, feeling suffocated by the weight of her status.

Forced to endure the harsh realities of her position, Aria trudges through the day's work, her hands calloused from labor, her spirit worn down by the constant torment from her peers.

Sylvia, the gamma's daughter, flits about the garden with an air of superiority, her laughter grating on Aria's nerves.

"Look at the little omega scurrying about," Sylvia sneers, tossing a disdainful glance in Aria's direction.

"You'll never amount to anything more than dirt beneath my feet." Aria clenches her fists, swallowing her pride as she continues her work. She's used to the taunts, the insults, but they still sting like fresh wounds.

As Aria returns home from a grueling day of work, her stomach growls with hunger, longing for a simple meal to soothe her weary body. But as she steps through the doorway, her hopes are dashed once again.

Her peers, led by Lycan, block her path, their sneers and jeers cutting through the air like knives. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence," Lycan sneers, his cronies snickering behind him.

Aria's heart sinks as she sees them eyeing her dinner with malicious intent. "Please, just let me eat in peace," she pleads, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Lycan only laughs, his laughter echoing off the walls of the cramped room. "Eat in peace?" he mocks. "You don't deserve to eat at all, you filthy omega."With a swift motion, Lycan knocks the plate from Aria's hands, sending her dinner crashing to the ground in a mess of food and dirt.

The others join in, kicking the scraps away with disdain as they taunt Aria with cruel words.

"You're nothing but a burden to the pack," one of them sneers.

"A worthless mongrel who doesn't deserve to live among us." Aria's eyes fill with tears as she watches her only meal of the day being destroyed before her eyes. But amidst the pain and humiliation, a spark of defiance ignites within her. Aria's hands tremble as she picks up the rice, dirt clinging to the grains like a cruel reminder of her station in the pack. Ignoring the mocking laughter of her peers, she retreats to her room, the weight of loneliness settling heavy in her chest.

As Aria sits alone in her room, her thoughts consumed by memories of her family, a soft knock at the door interrupts her solitude. Tentatively, she calls out, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Lycan," comes the muffled voice from the other side.Aria's heart sinks at the sound of his name. Lycan, the epitome of cruelty within the pack, his presence a constant reminder of her lowly status.

Reluctantly, Aria unlocks the door, allowing Lycan to enter. He steps inside, his expression filled with a twisted mix of amusement and disdain as he takes in the sight of Aria's tear-streaked face.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Lycan sneers, his voice dripping with malice. "The little omega, wallowing in self-pity as usual."

Aria's jaw clenches at Lycan's taunts, her fists trembling with suppressed anger. "What do you want, Lycan?" she grits out through clenched teeth. Lycan's lips curl into a cruel smile, relishing in Aria's discomfort.

"Just checking in on the pack's resident failure," he mocks, his words like venomous daggers aimed at Aria's heart.Aria's hands ball into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she fights to keep her emotions in check. She refuses to give Lycan the satisfaction of seeing her break. With a dismissive scoff, Lycan turns to leave, his laughter echoing in the silence of the room.

 "Pathetic," he mutters under his breath, leaving Aria alone once more with her pain and despair. As the door slams shut behind him, Aria's resolve hardens, a fire igniting within her soul. She may be an omega, but she refuses to let Lycan or anyone else define her worth. With newfound determination, she wipes away her tears, her gaze steely with defiance."I will prove them all wrong," Aria vows to herself, her voice filled with determination. "I will rise above their cruelty and reclaim my place in this pack."

(Throwback)

As the war rages on, the pack suffers devastating losses, the absence of the Beta keenly felt in every battle. With each fallen member, the blame falls heavily upon Aria's shoulders, the weight of guilt crushing her spirit.

"You're the reason we're losing this war," one pack member accuses, his voice filled with venom as he glares at Aria.

Tears prickle at the corners of Aria's eyes as she tries to defend herself. "I-I didn't mean for any of this to happen," she stammers, her voice trembling with emotion.

But her words fall on deaf ears, drowned out by the chorus of anger and resentment that surrounds her. The Alpha, Lycan's father, steps forward, his expression stern as he delivers the final blow.

"You are no longer worthy of bearing the title of Beta's daughter," he declares, his voice echoing through the crowd. "From this day forth, you shall be known as an omega, the lowest of the low."

Aria's heart shatters at the Alpha's words, the realization of her punishment sinking in like a heavy stone. She bows her head in shame, unable to meet the accusing gazes of her packmates.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the din of the crowd. "I'm so sorry."

But her apologies fall on deaf ears as the pack turns their backs on her, leaving Aria alone with her guilt and despair. With a heavy heart, she trudges away, her steps heavy with the weight of her newfound status as an outcast among her own kind.

(Throwback ends)

As Aria wanders through the woods, seeking solace from the chaos of her life, she stumbles upon a clearing bathed in the soft light of the moon. But her moment of peace is short-lived as she unwittingly interrupts a pair of mates enjoying a quiet moment together.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," Aria stammers, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she takes a step back.

The couple, a male and a female, exchange amused glances before the male speaks up, his tone gentle and reassuring. "No need to apologize, little one. We were just enjoying the night air."

Relief floods through Aria as she realizes she hasn't caused any harm. "Thank you," she murmurs, offering a small smile before turning to leave.

But as she walks away, her thoughts drift to her age, she has already turn eighteen, a glimmer of hope igniting within her heart. Perhaps, just perhaps, this milestone will bring the sense of belonging and protection she so desperately craves.

"I can't wait to finally sense my own wolf," Aria whispers to herself, her voice filled with anticipation. "And maybe, just maybe, I'll find a mate who can offer me the love and protection I've always dreamed of."