Howl of the rejected

Zyra huddled in the corner of her small den, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to drown out the sounds of her pack mates running and playing outside. She knew that it was only a matter of time before they would find her, and she would once again become their target.

The young she-wolf had always been different from the others in her pack. Her parents' sacrifice left her alone and isolated. Despite her efforts to make friends, she was constantly ignored or even outright bullied by the others around her. With her mating ceremony only weeks away, Zyra had come of age to get a mate. There was always a special day in their pack when mateless wolves found their mates. Other wolves would get their mate next week, assuming they eventually got one. Zyra knew that things were only going to get worse.

She had caught the eye of the pack's alpha son, a handsome and popular wolf named Cade. But despite his interest in her, it was clear that he didn't truly care for her. It was all about power and status, and Zyra was nothing more than a pawn in their games.

As she huddled there, trying to calm her nerves and steady her breathing, she heard a sudden commotion outside her den. Her heart leaped into her throat as she recognized the voices of Cade and his friends.

"Come on, Zyra, don't be shy!" Cade called out, his tone mocking as he and his friends approached her den entrance. "We just want to have some fun!"

Zyra tensed, her muscles coiling as she prepared to defend herself. But she never got the chance. In one swift move, Cade and his friends broke through the entrance of her den, shoving her roughly to the ground.

"Look at her, all pathetic and alone," Cade sneered. His lip curled in disgust as he stood over her. "No wonder her parents died trying to save someone else."

The other wolves snickered and jeered, their eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. Zyra quivered with rage and humiliation, her eyes burning with unshed tears as she struggled to get back to her feet.

But it was no use. Cade was too strong, too powerful. He towered over her, his fists clenched as he prepared to strike.

Cade grabbed her by her collar, gritting his teeth and looking into her eyes with rage.

"Please," Zyra whimpered, tears streaming down her face as she gazed up at him. "Just leave me alone."

But Cade didn't listen. With one swift blow, he struck her in the face, sending her tumbling to the ground once again. Zyra cried out in pain, her vision blurring as she struggled to breathe.

"Pathetic," Cade spat, his features twisted in a sneer as he turned away. "Let's go, boys. We've had our fun for the night."

Zyra watched as they disappeared into the darkness, leaving her alone and battered. She curled up into a ball, her body shaking with sobs as she tried to slow her breathing.

Why did they hate her so much? What had she done to deserve this kind of treatment? The questions circled through her mind as she trembled in fear and pain.

She could feel the cut on her lips and gingerly rubbed her thumb over the wound. When she withdrew her thumb, she saw blood stains, causing her to recoil. She pressed her lips together, trying not to burst into tears again.

"How wicked of you to hit a lady," she thought, her words filled with bitterness as she sucked in her lower lip and spat out the blood.

Eventually, the physical pain began to fade, leaving Zyra with nothing but the ache of her broken heart. She wiped away her tears and forced herself to stand, taking deep breaths to steady herself.

As she emerged from her den, she saw the other wolves gathered around, watching her with cold eyes. None of them offered her a hand, and none of them spoke a word to her. She was an outcast, unwanted and unloved.

And it was something she must get used to.