Chapter 1 The pain

Ava's POV

"I didn't push her, I was only trying to defend myself" I tried to explain as Orion lunged at me.

Tracy had already run to him, tears streaming down her face, accusing me of shoving her.

"Shut up, you dimwit," Orion snarled, laughing darkly as he shoved me to the floor. My back hit the ground hard, before I could move, his foot slammed into my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs. Again and again.

He stomped on me like I was nothing but dirt beneath his boots.

I didn't cry, didn't scream, not even a whimper escaped my lips.

I just lay there, swallowing the pain like poison, refusing to give him the satisfaction of watching me break.

"You worthless human," he sneered, his voice dripping with hatred. "Just die already, you piece of trash."

His kicks came faster now, each one bruising bone, crushing my pride. Tracy stood beside him, smiling.

Smiling.

She was supposed to be my best friend. My sister by bond but now she found joy in my suffering.

This has been my life for the past five years now, I have been constantly bullied, cursed, beaten by my pack members, by my own supposed family. It all started with Tracy's lie.

She told them I attacked her.

But the truth? The truth was far different.

When we were fourteen. Tracy begged me to sneak past the border with her. I said no, over and over but she wore me down, like she always did and I followed.

We didn't even make it far before a rogue came at us from the trees, teeth bared, eyes wild. I tried to protect her, I really tried my best to but I was weak. We were both hurt before we escaped and ran back to the pack, bloodied and shaken.

When they asked what happened, Tracy stepped forward... and lied.

"She attacked me," she said. "I told her I didn't want to go, but she dragged me across the border and snapped."

No one questioned her not even once, no one cares to listen to my own side of the story.

And since that day, my life has been a living hell.

Things only got worse after my sixteenth birthday.

---

Flashback - My Sixteenth Birthday

I stood barefoot in the clearing, dressed in a thin white shift. My heart thundered so loud I could barely hear the howls echoing through the forest.

This was the night I had waited for my entire life.

The night my wolf was supposed to come.

All around me, the others were shifting, their bones cracking, fur exploding from skin, eyes glowing with power and pride. Laughter rang out as they ran into the trees, wild and free.

And me?

I stood there, still human feeling cold and empty.

I waited.

I waited for the burn, the breaking, the transformation. Waited to hear the voice inside me...my wolf.

But nothing happened.

Not a twinge, not even a whisper. Just silence.

Then came the whispers from the others.

"She's not shifting?" "Maybe she doesn't have a wolf." "That's not possible... right?" "It's her of course it's possible."

I turned, just a little and saw Orion, my step brother watching me. He was already back in his human form, completely naked, completely smug.

He didn't need to say a word but he did.

"A disgrace," he said, loud enough for all to hear. "The Alpha's daughter is wolfless."

Laughter exploded around me, cruel and cold.

Luna Carla, my stepmother crossed her arms. Her voice was sharp as a blade. "This is shameful, you've embarrassed our entire family."

"Please," I whispered, trembling. "Maybe... maybe it's just late. Sometimes it happens-"

"Wolves don't come late," Orion snapped. "You're broken."

Tears gathered behind my eyes, I tried to blinked them back but tears came streaming down my face.

Carla's face twisted with disgust. "From this moment on," she said, "Ava Wynter is no longer considered a ranked member of the Bloodfang Pack. She will be treated as what she is..a servant."

No one protested.

No one stepped forward.

If only my father was here, he would have protected me.

But he was gone...dead since I was eight. The pack had been passed into Carla's hands and with it, any power I might've had, any protection or even any hope I had was gone.

I wasn't one of them anymore.

And now that I hadn't shifted, they finally had the excuse they needed to throw me away.

–

Back to the present

Pain throbbed in every inch of my body, but the ache in my chest was worse than my bruised rib. It wasn't just Orion's kicks, it was the weight of years, crushing me over and over like waves in a storm that never ended.

As they finally turned and walked away, laughing like they hadn't just tried to break me, I lay still, the cold seeping into my bones. The courtyard was empty again, no one had come to help actually no one ever did.

I dragged myself up slowly, biting back a groan. My fingers trembled as I reached for the wall, using it to brace myself. Blood stained my shirt but I didn't look down. I knew if I saw it, if I really looked, I'llcrumble.

I couldn't afford to crumble.

Because if I did... it means they won.

I limped back toward the servant quarters, each step a fresh reminder of everything I had lost. No rank, no family, no wolf. I had nothing.

When I reached my tiny room, I shut the door behind me and slid down to the floor, pressing my back against it. For a moment, I just sat there, hugging my knees to my chest, listening to the silence.

That silence had become my only friend.

But even in silence, memories crept in.

The way my father used to smile at me, the warmth of his arms when he held me. The way he told me stories about how powerful I'll become once my wolf came. How I'll carry his legacy. Lead the pack one day.

I let out a hollow laugh.

What a joke.

That legacy was ashes now.

And I was just the girl they all loved to hate.

A soft knock pulled me from the spiral.

I stiffened. No one ever came here, not unless they had orders.

Another knock, softer this time.

I forced myself up, wincing and cracked the door open.

It was Mia.

The only person in this gods-forsaken place who didn't look at me like I was dirt.

Her eyes widened when she saw the bruises. "Ava," she whispered, "What did they do to you?"

I tried to smile but it came out more like a grimace. "The usual."

She pushed the door open gently and stepped inside, closing it behind her. Her fingers trembled as she reached for my arm. "You need to lie down. You're bleeding-"

"I'll be fine," I said, more out of habit than belief.

"No, you won't." Her voice cracked. "You shouldn't have to live like this. You didn't do anything wrong."

That almost broke me.

I turned away quickly, blinking hard. "Mia, please. Don't say things like that."

"It's true," she insisted. "Everyone knows Tracy lied. They just pretend not to and it's not your fault your wolf haven't come out yet".

I clenched my fists. "Knowing and doing something about it are two different things."

She hesitated, then reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a small glass vial. "I brought this. It's from the healer, It should help with the pain. I told her it was for my uncle."

I took the vial with shaking hands, too stunned to speak. "Thank you," I whispered.

"I wish I could do more," she said softly.

I looked at her. Her kind eyes, the way she hovered like she wanted to help but was afraid of the consequences. She was risking so much just being here.

"You've already done more than anyone else," I said.

We sat in silence for a while. I sipped the potion slowly, feeling the dull burn of herbs slide down my throat. The pain didn't vanish, but it dulled enough for me to breathe again.

Mia stood after a while. "I have to go before someone notices I'm missing."

I nodded.

She paused at the door. "Ava... things won't always be like this. You're stronger than you think."

I didn't reply. I couldn't.

After she left, I curled up on my bed, the vial still clutched in my hand.