Chapter 1 UNLUCKY DAY

~Aurora~

I always imagined that turning eighteen would be a watershed moment in my life. I expected to wake up and finally be free from this hellhole. But when I awoke this morning, everything felt the same: I moaned as I scrubbed the floor, and beads of sweat dripped from my face. I can hear laughing coming from the dining area where my pack ate together, with the exception of me, who is an Omega, the most unfortunate and weakest member of the pack. They felt I was an Omega since I lacked werewolf characteristics.

I've been able to shift since I was a child, but I'm different from everyone else because werewolves can only change after they reach the age of eighteen, so I kept my wolf hidden. Before my parents died, they taught me how to disguise my wolf form and powerful aura. I was ten years old when my parents died. When my Alpha father died, someone assumed leadership of the pack. The now-Alpha tossed me into the barn, where I lived as an Omega. It has always been my desire to avenge my parents' deaths, because their deaths were caused by an adversary that I must discover no matter what it takes.

However, being an Omega is difficult because my job is to follow everyone's orders. Since then, I've trained myself every night on the far side of the woods, where no one would notice me. Also my wolf color is actually very different from normal wolves and also stronger so I felt that's the reason why my parents had wanted me hid it from anyone because no one is to be trusted. But now that I'm eighteen, I can't wait for my partner to come get me out of this horrible hole. Aside from housework, I work as a bartender at a club, and I am well aware that any werewolf who visits sees every girl there as having gone astray because it is a werewolf bar, and the werewolves are largely entertained by strippers. After I finished scrubbing the floor, I looked at the clock and realized I was really late; so I rushed over to the club, which is situated at the other side of town. A place I actually call my comfort zone.

It screams money and elegance, and most of the top wolves who are tired of the day's jobs come here to relax just by seeing a woman dance all over them. I was lucky to obtain a job here; they wouldn't hire Omegas like me, but at least I was favored, and since all I have to do is serve drinks, it's really not a big deal.

"Where the fuck are Lisa and Kenzy?," Damian, the owner of the club, asked.

"I don't know exactly where they are, I haven't seen them today since I came." He immediately rushed by me, enraged.

"What's going on, and why haven't they come?" I wondered. It seems they are playing with their job here.

I went ahead and kept doing what I was doing while humming to the music playing in the club.

"We are short on entertainers right now, as you can see Lisa and Kenzy are nowhere to be seen," Damian grumbled, searching the audience. "You need to fill in." My heart raced,

"Did he just say I should fill in?" I wondered to myself.

I've never danced on stage, let alone performed in such an exposed manner.

"Do I know them?" I requested because I didn't have a choice; in this situation, my salary is at stake, and I don't want anyone I know to see me in such a disgusting manner.

"It's not important," he reassured me, placing his hand on my shoulder. "If you follow through on this, you will have four hundred dollars from that dance alone tonight."

I considered that, biting my lip. I can't find a better offer than this one at the moment. I could sustain myself on that amount for a while, using it for bugs.

"I'll do it," then his smile widened.

"Aurora, they are strong individuals, you will go to any lengths to ensure their happiness," he said, snagging my arm as I attempted to stand up.

"They are in room five." With a nod, he released his hold on me.

I took steady breaths to calm myself down, and the concept of how I was going to do this came back to me. I tried to remember how Lisa swings her waist and performs in front of the pole, and while thinking about that, I entered the room. I thought nothing could make me reconsider my decision until I opened the door and saw who was inside: Adrianna and Jackson, the two bullies in school and pack who have determined to make my life a living hell, they were also friends to Tyler Stone, the future Alpha. Tyler rarely comes to school, and when he does, I don't go, so we haven't met in person.

"So this is exactly what you do?"

Adrianna inquired, her face sporting a sly smile.

"Of course why not it's in her," Jackson remarked, glancing at me with a look of hatred on his face.

"I think Tyler would really like what he actually ordered," Jackson said while glancing over at Adrianna to see her reaction.

Despite my inner turmoil, I forced myself to remember that this was a great opportunity and that I couldn't sabotage it or Damian would dismiss me. I dragged my legs mechanistically to the pole; by now, I was relieved that I was at least required to dress sensibly rather than stripping down here unless they specifically requested it.

At once Jackson approached me and attempted to grab me, but I managed to avoid his grip.

"Jackson, you're not allowed to fuck them," Adrianna rolled her eyes.

"I don't give a damn, she's ours because she is paid to do so." He murmured, giving me a passionate look.

I was impatient and wanted to leave here at once, then I walked quickly towards the door when all of a sudden my nostrils were assaulted with a stench I had never experienced before. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was a hint of familiarity. I heard someone utter "mate," and that's when it hit me like a freight train.

"Tyler, I know this day will come, finally we are mates," Adrianna cried out behind me.

"Not you," he murmured, moving toward me and drawing nearer to me this time. I wasn't ready for the hatred and loathing I saw circling in my mate's pupils when I forced my eyes to meet his. I refused to even dare breathe, so I stayed still. It felt like a ticking bomb that might explode at the least provocation, and the tension was so intense that you could cut it with a knife.

Adrianna said, "You have got to be kidding me," almost yelling, "this stripper is your mate and I'm not?" after a beat of silence.

"So what happens now, Tyler?" "Are you going to accept her?" Jackson asked, breaking into a fit of laughter.

"Fuck no," Tyler shouted, "why would I want a useless runt as a mate?"

I was fighting so hard to stop the tears that were on the verge of spilling out of my eyes when I wondered if I had just been indirectly rejected. Jackson gawked at me with a giggle that suggested I was some sort of rejected stone, while Tyler turned to Adrianna and smashed his lips on her without even looking at me.

All I could hear was one word, "run."