Chapter 1 Hope

I am Chastity Reid. Chassy for short and an omega. My mother, Merlisa, is one, too, of the Red Moon Pack and found her mate in human territory who happens to be my father, whom I haven't remembered or seen since I was a child. I don't remember my mom treating me nicely either. She was always yelling and shouting at me, which made me realize at such a young age that she didn't care or love me.

We have our own house but we both work in the pack house. And there was no time that she would shout at me every time she saw me. As I entered the lion's lair within the pack house, the atmosphere was tense. A boiling pot was in my mother's hands as she stood at the stove, a once-vibrant lady now overcome by resentment. As I stepped inside the door, my heart was thumping.

"About time you showed up, you useless creature," she shouted with her eyes shrinking into slits of contempt. "Did you really think I'd continue to make your terrible meals?"

I attempted to remain calm as my throat constricted and a lump formed. "I'm sorry, Mom," I said.

"Sorry?" she replied with a sarcastic melody in her laugh. "Omega, you're simply a burden and a continuous reminder of your pitiful excuse for a father, so sorry doesn't cut it." she added. I made fists with my hands and dug my nails into my palms. Each of the remarks pierced my tender sense of self-worth like a blade. Determined not to give her satisfaction, I bit my lip to hold back a response.

Then a bunch of young omegas entered the room as if on cue, their eyes gleaming with vile delight. They functioned as a pack inside a pack, and their power came from their mutual contempt for me. Then Arlene, who had a twisted smile, took the lead and moved forward and made a sarcastic remark, "Well, well, see who chose to bless us with her appearance. Did you emerge from your burrow specifically to make us all ill?"

My heart was thumping like a caged bird as my eyes darted from one face to another. I want to get away from their never-ending assault, but I'm aware that doing so would only make things worse. So I said, "Leave me alone," barely audible.

Arlene's hands were visibly placed against her chest as she pretended to be surprised. "Oh, did the omega just speak? I had no idea you could put words together."

The bunch burst out laughing, sending vicious laughter reverberating off the walls. My fingers clenched at my sides as my cheeks burned with embarrassment and I still had to put up with this in order to demonstrate that their words couldn't harm me.

Then another omega scoffed, a sly grin spreading over her lips, "You know, I heard omegas like you are good for one thing."

As I prepared for the shock of their words, my face turned pale as my heart sunk. Every taunt and jeer served as a reminder of my position within the pack's hierarchy, which I had not chosen but was compelled to follow. "Pathetic," Arlene spouted, her disgusted mouth twisting.

I struggled to stop the tears from flowing as they welled up in my eyes as my eyesight became foggy. I refused to give them the gratification of seeing me cry and wouldn't allow them to. But what they said weighed heavily on me and I felt as though I was suffocating as a result.

"What are you still standing at? Start doing your chores!" Mom shouted. So I started to do as she said and passed through all the others who were there to mock me. I don't know why they were acting like that when, just like me, they were also omegas and didn't have their wolf.

Everyday, I would pray to the moon goddess to give me a mate who would accept me and take me away from this shit hole that I am in. I should have felt safe and secure because I had a pack that I should call home. And that scene is a constant occurrence in my life that I wanted to change.

The Red Moon Pack is the strongest and most powerful pack in the region. Our Alpha, who didn't have his mate yet, was passing his time by banging different women, was the strongest alpha as well. No packs would dare to get in his way if they wanted to keep their packs safe. He was assisted and supported by his strong Beta named Limuel and Gamma, Jack.

While everyone was happy being in the pack that was led by strong leaders, my existence was a tapestry of suffering and gloom. I had been aware of the weight of cruelty and rejection since my earliest memories. Yes, I was an omega by birth and bore the stigma associated with my mother's position, which appeared to define who I was.

A feeling of melancholy that matched my feelings was carried by the wind as it rustled through the thick woodland that encircled the pack's area. The pack members started to move in the early morning light, their movements serving as a reminder of the world I belonged to, yet I was still an outcast.

I sat on the sidelines as the pack's kids laughed and played because I knew that if I got involved, people would laugh at me. After my father left us, my mother was my nightmare even if I was awake, while my alpha did nothing. It was impossible that everything that was happening to me had not come to his attention. I hate him, for making me feel unsafe with my mother and my own pack. I hate him, that he doesn't use his power to protect someone like me who only wants to be accepted.

Three days. All I need is to wait for three days and I will be able to smell my mate. If he's not in this pack, I am going to leave here and look for him. It's better than finding him here only to reject me. I don't think that I will be able to handle it if that happens. Anyone is OK with me, just don't make him one of the pack members, please, moon goddess.