Filed to story: The Stained Omega Novel (Anna & Fraction) Free Online
My nose looks crooked and is most likely broken, my lips are so big and red they don’t even look like lips anymore, my eyes are red and bloodshot, I can already see the black eye forming around my left eye. I put the toaster back where it belongs and wrap my left arm around to cradle my side. I think he broke some ribs this time. It wouldn’t be the first time, no matter how many times it happens it always surprises me how much it hurts.
I slowly make my way to the basement and carefully lower myself onto my slab of foam. With no blankets to wrap myself in, I once again curl into a ball.
As I do this I cry, I cry for the life I will never have, I cry for the mother I will never know, I cry knowing when I go to school on Monday no one will question how I got injured. I cry knowing this is just another day and more will come. I cry until I have nothing left, I’m not sure if I cry myself to sleep or if I pass out from the pain.
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Present.
As I recall my 14th birthday, I am set in my resolve to spend the day and night in the field. It’s the middle of July so it’s not cold, there is a slight breeze which is nice as it takes the sting out of the heat in the air. As I lie here in the grass, I again think of anyone, someone who can help me.
I can’t go to the Alpha, last time I did that I got a night in the cell and 10 lashes to my back in the town square. I can’t go to my teachers, they all pretend I don’t exist, I am like a black void sat in the back of their classes.
I don’t have any friends to go to, who would want to be friends with the weird girl who has no wolf and is always covered in bruises.
John and my father are my only family. I can’t go to the human cities; I tried that once and that earned me locked in the basement for 4 days with nothing but dry bread and one glass of water a day. The humans are of no help anyway, they know nothing of us so they wouldn’t know how to protect me from my father let alone the pack.
I find myself wondering if there is more out there. In school we learn about the different packs and the borders to their areas. We also learn about how the Alphas, Betas and Warriors protect those borders.
If I think I have it bad in The Mountain Pack that would be nothing compared to what would happen if I crossed another packs‘ borders without permission. I let out a sigh, no one will help me, it’s just me. The only hope I have left is that at 18 my mate will find me. Just 3 more years and I pray with all I have that the Moon Goddess has not forgotten me. Please don’t let her forget me.
As I lie here with my eyes squeezed shut sending my prayers to a Goddess who has never answered me, I hear a loud explosion somewhere off in the distance. It is followed by screaming and shouting, without a wolf I can’t hear what’s being said. I sit bolt upright, and I listen with everything I have.
The sounds of screams seem to get louder and louder. Suddenly people start running from between the trees into the clearing I am currently sitting in, so many people, I know them all, maybe not by name but by face, this is my pack, my whole pack. Behind them I can see wolves, a lot of wolves…only these wolves aren’t Mountain Pack.
(Anna)
I am kneeling in the clearing, my head low in submission. My little safe haven has been invaded. What I thought was the full Mountain Pack racing into my clearing is actually just the females and the pups. I haven’t seen one male since the unknown people made us kneel in a group. The pups are crying, the women are whispering or comforting their pups.
I look towards the floor and wait.
It feels like I have been kneeling here for hours, although I don’t think it has been that long. Finally, five men stand in front of us, there must be maybe 500 wolves and men standing around us. Even I can tell you these men are Alphas; they have an aura about them that even I can feel.
One–man steps slightly forward, he looks old, not super old but older than the men around him. His hair is mostly grey, and he has age lines around his eyes which are a blazing green. I don’t know why but he seems kind, it’s his eyes, they have something in them that says, ‘trust me‘. Of course, I know better, no man is worth trusting. When he speaks, he reminds me of some rock singer I heard on the radio once. His voice is all gravel and so deep it sends shivers down my spine.
“My name is Alpha Rickson of The South Claw pack, today along with the aid of Alpha Steven of the The Everfur pack, Alpha Darryl of The Grey pack, Alpha Callum of The Whiteridge Pack and Alpha Fraction of The Swiftmane Pack we have raided and disbanded The Mountain Pack.” Alpha Ricksons‘ voice carries across the clearing even though he isn‘ t shouting. Some of the females start to cry, some start to shout and some just sit and stare at the five Alphas before us.
I can’t believe it. The Mountain Pack is gone? Am I saved?
“You all are here as you are under the age of 18 or are female, none of your men will survive the day. We have taken swift action against The Mountain Pack after we heard of the crimes committed against the Omegas within this pack.
As you all know Omegas are to be treasured and cared for. That has not been the case here. Everyone within this clearing will be divided up into one of the five packs standing before you.” Alpha Rickson continues despite a multitude of questions being yelled at him. “No families will be split up and where possible we will keep you together as much as we can. Please stay where you are, when your name is called, please move to the mentioned Alpha.”
Alpha Rickson then has a man in a tidy suit step forward, if it wasn’t such a serious situation I might have laughed. From his tie to his lint free black suit all the way to his shiny shoes he did not look like he belonged in a clearing sorting werewolf shifter into groups.
By the time the sun has started to set I am one of a handful of women still on the ground. Slowly the group shrinks until I am the only one left. I hold my gaze at the ground, I don’t want to see anyone’s disapproving look when they figure out I shouldn’t be here.
Alpha Rickson comes and crouches down in front of me, “What’s your name darling? We have read all the names on the list and yours was not on there.” His voice is like smooth gravel, honestly, I could fall asleep listening to it.
I hold my gaze at the floor and refuse to answer. Speaking to a male, especially an Alpha has never ended well for me. When he realises I am not going to speak he goes back to the man wearing the suit. He speaks to him in a low voice, so I am unable to hear him. Again, I wish for a wolf to aid my hearing, I hate the unknown.
“Does anyone here know this pup’s name?” An Alpha whose name I don’t know shouts out. I flinch when being called a pup, I guess considering I am under eighteen I am in fact, a pup. One of the girls I go to school with steps forward, “Oh she’s just the town stain, she’s no one.” Needless to say, she wasn’t a fan of mine.
“The town stain?!” The Alpha growls.
“Sorry Alpha, I meant no disrespect, it is just how we all address her. I think her name is Abby. Maybe Alice? I’m sorry Alpha I’m not sure.” The she–wolf steps back into her group while the Alpha stares daggers at her.