STIGMA

Alethea

I take a deep breath, but it's useless as my head plunges beneath the river, and the icy water rips the air from my lungs. My body shakes hard as I breathe fast. My heart beats fast.

I'm sweating and feeling out of control. Everything around me is blurry and I thrash, trying to break free from the hand that shoves me down.

"You deserve to die, bitch," a furious voice growls above the surface.

My heart stutters. I know that voice-Maya.

She yanks my head up, and I choke on the cold air, coughing, and I try to wipe the water from my face. Before I can steady myself, her palm hits my cheek. A ringing sound echoes in my ear as I stumble.

My hand raises to my cheek as I can't understand why she is doing this to me, why she hates me so much.

"This is only the beginning, Alethea," Maya hisses, as her eyes blaze with fury. "If you refuse to be Xavier's breeder, I promise you'll regret it."

Xavier-Beta Xavier's son. The Alpha wants me to carry his child. But Maya, his furious girlfriend, won't let that happen without blood.

I remember the rumor. Maya's mother-replaced by another woman. A breeder her father loved instead. Maybe she harbors the fear that I'll take her place, just like that woman did.

Maya yanks me back to the present with her voice sharp and cruel. "I'll do more than drown you," she sneers. "I'll kill you, and no one will ever know, since you are not worth living."

She reaches into her coat and pulls out a silver knife. My breath catches. My heart pounds like it's going to burst from my chest. I search the riverbank, hoping someone-anyone-will come. But no one's here. No one ever is.

This is my life. I am a wolf-less omega in the Blood Moon Pack. The youngest daughter of a once-proud warrior. But I never shifted. And that makes me a disgrace. A curse. A burden too heavy for even my family to carry. Even my parents look at me like they're waiting for me to disappear.

I dream of my wolf. I dream of my mate. I pray they'll come to save me from this nightmare. In this life, I never asked for it.

But today, Maya crushes that dream with every word.

"I'll give you one last chance," she growls in a loud voice. "Leave this pack and never show your sorry face again, or I-"

"Or else wha-?" I barely get the words out before her hand slams into my face again. My head snaps to the side, and I taste blood. My lip splits open. My face burns, but it's nothing compared to the fire in her eyes.

I touch my lip, my hand trembling, as I stare at her.

"Or else you die," she whispers. Her voice is soft but deadly. A twisted smile curves her lips. Then she turns, and just like that, she's gone-leaving me broken and soaked, gasping beside the river.

I stand still, shivering in the cold. My hair clings to my face, and my skin burns from the slap. I ache to live like my sisters-carefree, loved. But this world gives me nothing but pain.

I step back into the river, kneel, and splash water on my face, trying to rinse away my tears.

What's worse-this moment or what waits at home? My mother's silence? Her punishments? Maybe another night without food, locked away for being weak.

I stare into the water. My reflection stares back-empty eyes, trembling lips, a girl fading more every day. I wish for escape. For a miracle.

Then, the bushes rustle.

My heart leaps into my throat. I freeze.

Two wolves burst from the brush. They race toward me, snarling, eyes locked on their prey-me.

I throw my arms up in fear, knowing it won't help. One wolf lunges at me. The other circles, cutting off my escape. My breath quickens. I can't move. I can't scream.