Alpha Adonis

The hushed whispers and over a hundred pairs of eyes watching me made me tremble in fear. I avoided everyone's gaze and stepped forward to meet my wolf for the first time.

As the alpha's only child, my only purpose in the pack was to breed and produce an heir, and the pack's future rested in my hands. I didn't want to fail my dad and packmates, even though they'd failed me countless times.

But my stepmother was convinced I wasn't an alpha wolf. She was making mocking faces at me, while Dad wore a bored frown, and my step-sisters, who were always treated better than me, waited to laugh scornfully at me.

"Come closer, Iris. Don't be afraid."

The elders waited patiently for me to approach them, but my legs didn't feel like mine. They were so heavy. After meeting my wolf, I would marry Ethan, my boyfriend, have our first son, and hand him over to my dad. Then, Ethan and I could have other kids for ourselves. I wasn't bothered because we clicked instantly when our parents introduced us.

"Iris! Wait!"

I was momentarily distracted by Ethan waving and running towards me. He held a bunch of roses and my favorite brand of chocolates. His thoughtfulness made me break into a tearful smile.

Ethan, nineteen, had met his wolf the previous year. He took my sweaty palm in his.

"I believe in you, Iris."

I nodded weakly. An elder, so old that all his children and some of his grandchildren had passed away, stepped forward. His scaly hands rubbed an ointment on my forehead and chanted in a low, trembling voice.

"Shift into your wolf. Embrace it and feel its strength flow into you."

I lifted my chin and closed my eyes. As werewolves, our first shift was always a big deal, so important that most families threw parties to celebrate. Expecting a party from my dad was overly optimistic, but at least a pat on the back and a simple "congratulations" would make me smile.

I felt the transformation taking hold in my body. It was so painful that I screamed out. Strange things began to happen: my bones snapped, my nails turned into claws, and thick, brown fur sprouted all over me.

The crowd gasped in horror. My subconscious knew something was wrong. My dad's eyes glowed red like a demon. Alpha wolves were always large and majestic. Why was my wolf the size of a puppy?

"Shift back, you loser!" my dad bellowed with a voice full of shame. Ethan was nowhere to be found, and stepmother's mocking laughter filled the air.

I collapsed to the ground, and a woman hastily covered me with a white cloth. The crowd whispered the word " omega, " a label that stung like a thousand needles. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I locked gazes with my disappointed, disgusted dad.

"I have always suspected that your filthy mother cheated on me with an omega slave," he exclaimed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Now, this proves that you're a bastard. I hope she rots in hell!"

Right before me, my worst fears were manifesting: Ethan couldn't face my dad's wrath, and my stepmother beckoned the wardens from the prison where omega women spent the rest of their lives to whisk me away.

I tried to fight the wardens, but they grabbed my arms, dragged me along with them, and led me to a van.

As soon as they opened the door, I began screaming, with tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Where are you taking me? Dad! Ethan! Please, don't abandon me with them. Help me!"

My dad turned around, and the hatred in his eyes told me all I needed to know. I stopped struggling and got into the van.

_________________

Three years later

Returning home every year for my birthday was a painful reminder of my worthlessness. I wasn't looking forward to my dad constantly putting me down.

The Omega Sisters' Sanctuary was a terrible place, filled with depressed Omega girls who made no effort to socialize. Still, I'd rather remain in my little corner than face my family.

The matron tapped on my bunk. "It's time to head home. Happy twenty-first birthday. Enjoy the evening with your family."

Like a lamb, I was bundled home. I looked in the van's mirror and saw sad eyes looking back at me.

Sighing, I tied a scrunchie around my unusual chocolate and burgundy hair, a unique trait that unfortunately wouldn't be inherited by any children.

Ethan hadn't written or visited in weeks, but I held on tightly to his love and hoped to see him tonight. Minutes later, we arrived at my dad's four-story townhouse. The muffled sounds and cars parked outside signaled a celebration inside.

When I entered the foyer, I saw my step-sister Bianca cradling her young son. Our eyes met, and her head jerked up.

"Of all days, you had to show up today? That's just rotten luck. You should leave right now with your dignity intact."

I shot her a confused frown. "What are you talking about?"

"For your good, don't go into the house."

I pushed past her attempts to stop me and entered the large hall, where my dad held pack activities.

My feet wobbled when I saw Ethan, looking sharp in a tux and standing opposite a gorgeous bride.

Raw pain squeezed my heart. This explained his prolonged silence. My presence was immediately noticed, and my stepmother, whose eyes were bright with amusement, grabbed my hand and dragged me away. Ethan's face paled. He looked like a child caught stealing.

"Who brought you home?" I heard my dad's deep bass voice bellow behind me when we got to the foyer.

"It's my birthday," I choked out and turned to face Ethan, who also rushed out. "I didn't want to come, but-"

"How dare you think you can ruin Ethan's wedding? Go upstairs to your room this second!"

"I'd rather return to the sanctuary. I never wanted to come in the first place."

Without warning, Dad struck me across my face. My cheeks stung, and tears threatened to spill.

"You bastard spinster. You make my skin crawl. I wish you'd die!"

"Dad!" Bianca, my step-sister, cried out. "That's too much."

I hid my face and wiped my tears. Ethan's rejection crushed me to my core. I had hoped his silence resulted from his being busy, but coming home on his wedding day was the most betraying feeling I'd ever experienced.

He looked guilty and refused to meet my gaze. "I'm sorry you found out this way, Iris. But I can't marry an omega. You're weak and destined to spend your life in that sanctuary."

Those words hurt me more than a gunshot. He walked away without sparing me another glance, and Dad ordered a guard to seize me.

"Return her to the sanctuary."

The drive back was depressingly quiet. The sky darkened in minutes, and it began raining. When we got to the sanctuary, my dad's guard drove away, leaving me in the rain.

I rushed to the gate and knocked hard. The old man who manned the gate was deaf in one ear. While drenched in the rain and waiting, an idea struck me like lightning.

Freedom was right at my fingertips.

The older man must have heard the bell because he stepped out with an umbrella. While he was struggling with the padlock, I turned around and began running.

"Hey! Stop right there!" he cried from behind me. "Get down here."

"Sorry, but I want a better life," I dared and fled, ensuring he could never catch me.

I hadn't shifted in three years because I believed the moon goddess wronged me by making me omega. It was useless to bond with my wolf.

But I needed to escape past the forest in my wolf form. Shifting felt as painful as the first time. The forest was thick with dark greenery and thorny vines, hiding everything from sight.

There was no hint of life anywhere and the air was cold and bitter. My tiny, brown wolf shivered from the cold as we raced to my aunt's pack.

Aunt Helena was my mom's older sister, the only person on earth whom I could trust. It was almost impossible to connect to her pack, but luck shone on me when I arrived at the border a little after midnight.

Once past the Valley Pelt pack border, I didn't stop running until I arrived at my aunt's cozy one-story cottage.

I shifted back and raised my unsteady hand to knock on the door while scanning for any signs of trouble. But I remembered that my aunt's husband was a very devoted follower of my dad and announcing my presence here would be shooting myself in the foot.

Tears welled up behind my eyelids and I spent the night in her poultry house. The next morning, when Aunt Helena came to collect eggs, she let out a loud shriek of surprise and fear upon seeing me.

Wide-eyed, she rushed to my side. "Iris, honey. What's going on? What are you doing here?"

I sagged against the wall and brushed off the debris on my face. "Long story. I needed to escape from it all. I didn't knock because I figured your husband could report me to my dad."

She hesitated before speaking and gently cupped my chin. Then her face lit up with a slow smile, as if struck by inspiration.

"I think I've got a brilliant idea!" She exclaimed, got on her feet and rushed out. Startled, I waited for her. She returned and thrust a flier forward.

"There's an upcoming beauty contest in the Lycan pack. Their Alpha King seeks a mate. Poor thing lost his wife three years ago. You should join the contest and win a consolation prize. I heard the king is loaded."

The mere thought of joining a contest made me cackle. "You're joking, right? I'm not beautiful enough and the Lycan pack are my dad's greatest enemies. What if I get caught?"

"Take part in the contest without revealing your pack identity. It's your chance to break free, Iris."

She took off again and I waited endlessly. My eyes were drifting shut when she returned and held up a red dress from a paper bag.

"I got you a dress. It cost me all my necklaces and bracelets. Please don't ruin it."

I was short of words and my mind raced with possibilities. Although I was desperate for freedom, I didn't want to get into more trouble.

The dress was a striking red one-shoulder design and the hem fell just above the ankles. My aunt also handed me a pair of open-toe heels with ankle straps.

She noticed my hesitation and kissed my forehead."It doesn't hurt to try. Bend the truth slightly and keep your Omega identity a secret. Never shift into a wolf, and, in case anyone asks, you're eighteen, not twenty-one because age is a sensitive issue in our society."

She continued rambling, but I knew this could backfire horribly. I stared at the red dress and sighed.

After I took a quick bath in the garden and devoured a filling plate of Spaghetti Bolognese, Aunt Helena drove me to the train station. I began my journey and arrived at the Lycan pack at noon.

The venue was easy to locate. It had a massive gate flanked by bronze wolf heads. I was so focused on my imperfections that I lacked the confidence to pass through the gates.

Despite security guards stationed throughout the area, they let me in. A long driveway led to an estate with several mansions.

Beautiful girls chatted away with excitement. I felt out of place and proceeded to the registration desk. When the attendant asked for my full name, age, and pack, I broke into a cold sweat and lied. He gave me a tag and I joined the elegantly dressed contestants who were chatting away.

I felt so alone with no one to talk to. A voice blared from the speakers, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"All contestants and guests are reminded that this contest is not open to Syndicate members. you're advised to leave immediately if there are any among us."

My heart skipped at the mention of my pack. When one of the girls mentioned that the Syndicate alpha killed the Lycan Alpha's wife, my breath got trapped in my lungs.

What the hell did I get myself into?

I turned to leave but bumped into a girl in a white ball gown embellished with precious stones. Her long, wavy auburn bangs and nose sprinkled with freckles made her look adorable.

"You okay?"

"Y-yes," I stuttered and she gave me a killer smile.

"I'm Natalia. What's your name?"

I told her mine and she surprised me by linking her hand with mine. "So, do you know what the alpha looks like?" She asked, lowering her tone.

My confused look made her burst out laughing.

"Don't blame me. I'm from the Wild Fangs pack, and some members of the Lycan pack have no idea what their alpha looks like. Isn't that strange?"

Without waiting for my response, she pulled me ahead. We passed some girls who were practicing their walking routines on stage.

Did I even stand a chance in this sea of beautiful girls? The Alpha should be offended that a twenty-one-year-old was pretending to be eighteen.

Natalia's eyes were sparkling. "We're going to qualify for the next round. You'll see."

"Maybe you will."

She stopped smiling and cast me a sidelong glance. "Why are you selling yourself short? You're stunning. Honestly, if I were into girls, I'd ask you out in a heartbeat."

I broke into a grin, finding humor in her words. Even though Natalia and I bonded, a disturbing voice tugged at the back of my mind and warned me to leave. But it felt good to have a friend and be back to normalcy for a change.

Lunchtime arrived with plenty of options available. We then touched up our hair and makeup. Live bands provided entertainment while we waited for the main event.

Onstage, I noticed a massive projector and a devastatingly handsome male's picture appeared on it.

"That's alpha Adonis," a girl cried out. Natalia and I, as well as the majority of the other contestants, surrounded it. Several of the girls whispered to one another and squealed with delight.

The alpha was extremely good-looking, with jet black hair styled in a side part, warm light tan skin, and mesmerizing green eyes.

"Damn, he looks hot," Natalia half-moaned. She then turned to face me. "We have to do everything possible to win. Either I or you win. Deal?"

I responded with a small smile. When Natalia wasn't watching, I pictured what would happen if I was discovered. What if I got caught?

Alphas were known for their ruthlessness, especially when their pack was in danger. Perhaps there was a reason behind my dad's action. He hated the Lycans so much and didn't fail to show it.

Although I wasn't qualified, there was something strangely comforting about the idea of this contest. I was going to keep this a secret and make every effort to win something.

I absentmindedly stared at the projector. The green depths of the alpha's eyes told a story. Natalia distracted me and dragged me off and we joined the excited girls who were chatting away.

I decided to put my worries aside for the time being. After all, what's the worst that could happen?

After making some last-minute adjustments, the MC confidently walked onto the stage and smiled. "Good evening, beautiful ladies. I'm Charles, your host for the evening. Let's review the rules before we get started with today's event. Just ten of our gorgeous competitors will advance to the next round."

My happiness was complete when Charles revealed that the consolation prize was in gold.

This was a dream come true. I'd leave my family and the Syndicate pack forever to get a fresh start. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that Natalia had to grab my hand before I realized the girls were grouping.

"Let's head to the first line to make sure we get noticed," I suggested but she disagreed.

"The alpha may ignore the first lines and pay closer attention to the last lines. Trust me on this one."

She dragged me to the sixth line without giving me a chance to respond. Suddenly, the music stopped, and the MC announced.

"Please be quiet. Our special guests are here. Show the utmost respect, no fangirling, please."

There was a sudden dead silence in the room as a group entered through the doors at the far end. Paving the way were men in black suits and shades. Armed soldiers in uniform trailed behind them.

And there was Alpha Adonis, behind the soldiers. He was real, here in the flesh, and even more breathtaking than his photo.

My jaw dropped to the floor, and my heart skipped a thousand beats as I stared at the breathtaking Alpha. He seemed almost unreal and his masculine beauty left me utterly dumbfounded.

But I laughed at my foolishness. Hadn't Ethan's rejection taught me anything? No man would ever want a twenty-one year old rusty omega.

Beside him was a tall man and a very beautiful woman. They looked like his friends and trailed closely behind him. The man appeared laid-back, while the woman walked as if she owned the place and her hand was connected with the Alpha.

They seemed pretty cozy. I wondered why the alpha was searching for a wife?

Natalia was right. The alpha didn't make any selections during the first through fourth lines. Some of the desperate girls attempted to sneak into our line.

The air charged up when the Alpha and his group approached my line. He seemed uninterested, nearly tired of the hunt. I was right because he murmured to his friend about not being interested in us.

"Come on, Adonis. Don't be a diva. Look around and pick ten girls of your choice. There's no ugly girl in this room."

When his eyes met mine, goosebumps crept up my arms like spider webs. He stared at me like I was a piece of furniture. I finally felt like I could breathe when his gaze shifted to the next girl but wondered why he had such an effect on me.

And then, like magic, he chose ten girls from my line, including Natalia and me. My knees wobbled so strongly that I could barely stand.

Natalia was stunned beyond belief. "We're in!" she cried out.

The alpha turned away. Camera lenses captured every detail of our faces. I ducked my head and my chest pounded with fear. News reporters were live, and my dad watched the news every night. It would be a miracle not to be caught.

Natalia grabbed my arm, "Come. Let's join the winners."

While we walked onto the stage, the alpha and his entourage exited the hall. Several girls in the front screamed in frustration as soon as they were out of sight. Some of them couldn't stop crying. They looked like raccoons, with smudged mascara streaking down their cheekbones and I felt pity for them.

Angry voices rose from all over the room. One girl's voice rang above the others. She screamed like a wounded whale.

"This is disrespectful! How could they not recognize my potential? I'm wearing the most expensive dress," she lamented.

The other nine who'd been chosen gathered near the stage's edge. They were thrilled and leaned in closer.

"We should have a unique name.How about Famous Line Six?"

The others agreed and laughed. The MC returned to the stage and attempted to console the crying girls.

"Ladies, your emotions are running high right now, and for good reason. But don't forget that there are consolation prizes for you."

They booed him, and the longer he spoke, the angrier they got. I felt like a fraud and a ticking time bomb of exposure, secretly wishing I hadn't qualified for the next round.

The girls were free to leave with a tangible reward for their efforts. However, the next round could expose all of my lies. I considered swapping places with one of them, but everyone was watching us.

Natalia had a wild and carefree personality. She twirled a champagne flute, taking big gulps, and the shakiness in her feet told me she was already drunk.

"Come on, try some," she said, holding out the glass to me with a big smile. "You should unwind and have fun."

"Thanks but I'm not a fan of alcohol. I usually stick with water or fruit juice."

She dismissed my concerns with a laugh. "You're missing out on so much fun, girl. The alpha must be flattered that we're drinking his exquisite wine. Come dance with me."

"Nah," I grimaced. "I don't dance."

Her lips curved into a puzzled smile. "Don't be such a bore. You should be happy!"

Reluctantly, I let myself be drawn to the dance floor. Despite my inexperience, I swayed to the beat and enjoyed the rhythm of the music. My favorite dance moves were in my head.

I had a natural talent for singing, which allowed me to temporarily forget about my worries. I was confident that if all I had to do was sing a song to win the alpha's heart, I would win.

Natalia leaned in. "So, what is your pack? You haven't mentioned it."

Shit!

My gaze fell, and I felt guilty about lying to her. "Oh, I'm from the Valley Pelt."

My mom was from there, so it wasn't a complete lie.

"I've been there multiple times. It's a lovely pack," she said, without asking any further questions.

My thoughts drifted to the Sisters Sanctuary. I didn't miss that place at all. The oppressive sameness of every day, combined with a lack of freedom, drove me insane. The prospect of spending another year in that confinement was undoubtedly going to destroy me.

I felt bad for the old guard I outran, and I wondered if the news had reached my dad. Could I survive the war I was creating for myself? My dad and Adonis were arch-enemies, and I was a fraud and a liar, trying to become his queen.

How pathetic.