Laura.
“What are you talking about? Hey, baby. Come on. Show it. It’s your only salvation. So, please do it already,” Dad was starting to panic.
He was such a brave and strong Beta. He was always good at fighting. But when it came to me, a great Beta showed his weakness. And I felt bad about that. I made a strong and brave father like him, become weak. I was dragging him down—and definitely our family.
“I am sorry. But the ability didn’t occur again when I woke up this morning. I tried to work it up the whole day but it’s not coming in.”
“Are you doing this because you’re thinking I am showing you off? I was trying to save you! Can’t you see? It’s not for me but for you, sweetheart.”
Dad’s gray eyes showed me his great worry. I didn’t know what that worry was for. What was going on?
The Alpha sighed. He turned to Dad. “Let’s not force the kid, David. Let’s accept it.”
“What is really going on?” I asked. I was curious as hell and nervous as well.
“The whole pack had decided on your rank, Laura…” the Alpha started. And even though he hadn’t finished his words yet, I could see it clearly from his sparkling crimson red eyes. “You’ll be lowered down into being an Omega.”
It felt like my world had shattered.
Omega…
I was now an Omega.
I turned to my father with misty eyes. I could see how deeply sorry he was. He looked away from me with clenching teeth and hardened his jaw.
Was that what he was talking about saving me? Did he know it already? Why hadn’t I been informed that there was a petition for me to lower my rank?
“From now on, you’re going to take care of the pups whenever there’s a group hunting. And also, you have to help with the pack house chores.”
Alpha Evo was telling me a lot of things about the change in my life. But none of them were going inside my head. The only thing that stirred my mind was the fact that I was now an Omega.
“Does that mean I am not allowed to come to school as well?” I asked, once I gathered my courage again.
“No. I am not going to rip that right off you. You can still go to school. And the last thing I can do to lessen your humiliation is, I am not going to announce it in front of the whole pack. Let the bulletin do its job.”
I was somehow relieved to hear that. At least I didn’t need to face the humiliation of being an Omega. I was put on the lowest rank and I was sure the news would spread quickly. There was no need for a formal announcement since a lot of the pack members were gossipers.
I smiled bitterly to myself. Surely Ivy and Alaric would be the happiest now.
On the way back to our house, Dad and I were silently walking. I couldn’t contain the deafening silence. I stopped walking.
“Dad…” I whispered. And I knew even how soft and low my voice was, Dad would still be able to hear me. He had heightened senses.
Dad stopped too. He heaved a deep sigh. “I’m sorry…”
“No!” I shook my head and threw myself towards him. I hugged him from the back. “I should be the one to be sorry. I embarrassed you!”
I may be her precious child but it was not right that I embarrassed my own father in front of our mighty Alpha. I wanted to scold him and asked him why he had to tell him about that ability. But I couldn’t blame him as well. He was just trying to save me and my rank. And I know, a father will do everything to save his precious child.
And I felt deeply sorry about that.
I started to hate myself as well. Why couldn’t I shift? Where was my wolf? Where was she hiding? Why did she have to make it hard for me and my family?
Dad let go of my embrace. He turned and faced me. He wiped my tears away.
“No matter what happens, you’ll always be my precious child, Laura. It’s not your fault that you don’t have a wolf in you. And it doesn’t matter. You’ll always be my precious daughter. Always remember that.”
I nodded continuously and fought back my tears. I knew it was hard for Dad. I didn’t know Mom’s reaction yet but I knew she would be disappointed.
But what could I do? The majority had voted.
The first group hunting happened. I mean, the first group hunting since I became an Omega.
And it’s not that hard to look after the pups. They may be a group of brats and terrible pups but I enjoyed playing with them while waiting for the group to come back. I helped prepare their food and believe me, it’s the hardest. Especially if there was this group of horrible pack members who made my job harder. Some would intentionally spill their water on the floor, making me slip from it and all the food splashed on me. Of course the group who was my age would laugh at me.
I could bear it all. But when I saw Mom and Dad were deeply hurt and embarrassed, I couldn’t take it anymore. I quickly went to the working kitchen and asked others to put me in another house chores. I can’t come out to serve those terrible groups out there.
“Sure. Can you fetch water from the sacred lagoon?” said Myra, one of the attendees in the kitchen.
“You mean the lagoon outside the territory?”
Myra nodded. “If it’s fine to you. Lots of the hunters needed the sparkling water from the sacred lagoon.”
And I knew why. Some might have faced battles. Some might be poisoned. Werewolves can heal themselves but if it was about blood poisoning, they really needed the water from the sacred lagoon to clean their blood.
I nodded and smiled. “What are you talking about? I really loved to go out. I greatly wished to get refreshed.”
And when I say refreshed, it was to breathe the air that didn’t come from the Remus pack’s territory. It had been a month since I was lowered down into being an Omega. And I swear, it was the most horrible part of my life.
And I also knew I couldn’t change my destiny until my wolf showed up.
But was there any possibility that my wolf would show up? I doubted it. The phase for shifting was over. And I still hadn’t shifted. The abilities that once showed up in me didn’t show up again. There was no hope for me to change my fate.
“I know. That’s why I am exchanging my tasks with yours. Just be careful when going out,” Myra reminded me.
Well, Myra was really kind and understanding. Maybe because we were both of the same rank, being at the lowest. Who else would have each other’s back?
“You know that I am friends with the witch, guarding the lagoon, right? No one can ever harm me there.”
Myra chuckled. “Yeah, you already mentioned that to me. But still, be careful. Who knows what will happen next?”
I nodded and quickly left. It didn’t take long for me to come to the lagoon.
I looked around. It seems Saskia wasn’t here today. Maybe she’s busy with her potions.
What if I went to her cabin before coming back?
“Dare not… I was just here.”
I gasped when I heard the familiar voice.
“Saskia!”
Saskia was sitting above the big branch of the tree. Her familiar owl was in her arms. I could tell, they were having a conversation. Saskia smiled and looked down in my direction.
“Owie told me you want to change your fate. Is that right?”
It was not a surprise to me that the owl knew it. Owie was magical.
“Well, do you know a way?”
Saskia smiled wickedly. And I knew what that smile was for.
“Not just one, but two.”