Hated but Fated: Nova's Destiny.

The moon hung low, casting an eerie glow over the dense forest surrounding the Peak Pack's territory. The air was thick with the scent of impending bloodshed, and a deadly silence gripped the night. Without warning, the stillness was shattered by the feral howls of Alpha VuK's warriors as they descended upon the Peak Pack like shadows in the dark.

The first wave of attackers, massive wolves with fur as dark as the night itself, tore through the defenses with ruthless precision. Teeth and claws flashed in the moonlight as they ripped through the Peak Pack's sentinels, who barely had time to react. Screams and growls filled the air, the scent of blood growing stronger with each passing second.

The Peak Pack warriors, though brave, were no match for Alpha VuK's army. They fell one by one, their cries for help drowned out by the thunderous growls of the invading wolves. Chaos erupted as the battle spread through the heart of the Peak Pack's village, wolves shifting and fighting for their lives.

Alpha VuK, watching from a distant hilltop, stood tall in his human form, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction. His presence was like a dark cloud looming over the battlefield, his aura of dominance reaching even those far below. He had waited for this moment, the night where his vision of domination would take root.

His warriors showed no mercy. They moved with lethal grace, dragging wolves from their dens, snapping necks, and tearing through flesh. The ground was slick with blood, the stench of death rising into the night. Shouts of anguish echoed in the wind as the Peak Pack fought a losing battle, overwhelmed by the sheer brutality of their enemy.

Then, over the cacophony of violence, a single voice cut through the madness. "Stop."

Alpha VuK's voice, filled with the authority only an Alpha could wield, boomed across the battlefield. The warriors, in mid-attack, froze, their jaws still dripping with blood. Silence fell, broken only by the faint whimpers of the wounded and the dying.

"Take some captive and kill the rest," Alpha VuK ordered, his tone icy and without compassion. His eyes scanned the scene with detached calculation as he began to shift. His bones cracked and reformed, his body twisting until a monstrous wolf stood where the man once had been. The enormous black wolf, its fur shimmering in the moonlight, turned and loped off toward the Night Shade Pack's territory without a backward glance, satisfied with the carnage left behind.

Among the captives, huddled and shaking in fear, was Nova, a weak omega who had been unable to defend herself. She had been dragged from the ruins of her den, her small frame bruised and bloodied. Along with several other survivors, she was thrown into a cold, damp cell beneath the Peak Pack's ruined stronghold. The air was thick with the scent of fear and despair, the once-proud wolves now reduced to broken prisoners.

Nova sat silently, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing as the weight of her new reality settled in. The Peak Pack had fallen, and she was now nothing more than a captive of Alpha Vuk's relentless war machine.

Two weeks After---

Nova stirred as someone called out to her, pulling her back to the harsh reality she had momentarily escaped. "They are coming," a voice warned. She blinked, trying to clear the haze of sleep from her eyes. She was still in the same position she had fallen asleep in-her back pressed against the cold concrete floor, knees tucked up toward her chest. It wasn't the most comfortable sleeping arrangement, but given the cramped space in the cell, there was little choice. She couldn't even stretch her legs with so many others packed in tightly around her.

Nova shot a small smile at Emma, who had woken her. "Thanks," she whispered. Emma nodded, offering her a faint smile in return as she shifted into the same uncomfortable position on the floor. Nova couldn't imagine surviving without her. It had been three weeks since they met, back when the Night shade Pack had taken over their territory. Emma had been kind and gentle, especially since Nova had just lost what she knew as home.

Nova smelled them before she heard them-wolves from various packs. The familiar scent of blood and overwhelming masculinity filled the air. Usually, the cell reeked of hay, but now it was tainted with something far more disgusting. As the guards approached, the tension in the room thickened. Wolves in the cell began forming their usual defense positions, bracing for their arrival.

The male werewolves liked to stir up trouble when the guards came by, crowding the front of the cell bars to shout insults. Meanwhile, Nova and others like her tried to blend into the background, staying out of sight. Emma, despite her Alpha blood, was no exception. They both made themselves as small as possible, though it was harder for Emma. She had been trained her entire life to lead, to be an Alpha. The filth, the humiliation of living under the watch of those who had killed her parents, gnawed at her. Nova knew that if Emma ever got the chance, she would tear one of those wolves apart with ease, her Alpha strength burning beneath the surface.

"Look at them, dirty little animals in a cage," one of the guards sneered as they walked past, their laughter echoing off the stone walls. They weren't wrong, Nova thought bitterly. They were all animals-werewolves. The only difference between them and their captors was who held the power.

"Why do we even keep them around?" the second guard asked, tossing a loaf of bread carelessly into the cell. Nova watched as the bread landed with a thud, far too small to be shared among so many. But then, something unusual happened-another loaf was thrown in, making two. Emma, quick as lightning, sprang from her spot and grabbed one of the loaves. Without hesitation, she handed one to Sandra, a quiet girl in the neighboring cell, to share with her brother Kane.

Emma split her own loaf in half and passed the other half to Nova. Nova squeezed Emma's hand in gratitude, her stomach growling from hunger. The guards, meanwhile, continued their taunts.

"Alpha VuK loves his trophies," the first guard replied to the second's question. "Keeping them locked up is a better punishment than killing them outright."

The mention of Alpha VuK sent a shiver down Nova's spine. His name alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of every werewolf. His cruelty was unmatched, and he thrived on the fear he instilled. Nova's mind drifted back to the night her parents were killed, how he had brutally ripped their heads from their bodies. Though she hadn't witnessed it with her own eyes, she had felt it-their deaths rippling through her as the last strands of their lives were severed. As a werewolf, she had been connected to her pack, just as the Alpha was connected to every member of the pack. That night, she had sworn vengeance. She would take from Alpha VuK what he had stolen from her.

"What was your pack like?" Emma asked softly, lying on her back beside Nova, both of them staring at the cracked concrete ceiling as if it were the night sky.

Nova smiled slightly, recalling happier times. "It was nice," she said, her voice filled with longing. "I always wanted to travel, to see the human world. I wanted to live among them, even though it's not allowed." She laughed softly at the memory of her childhood dreams.

"Why would you want to leave your peaceful pack?" Emma asked, curious. "The Peak Pack was one of the most peaceful. I've never heard anything bad about them."

"I just wanted to explore. I don't have a parent of my own so the pack was everything to me," Nova said, still smiling at the thought. Emma looked at her sideways, while Nova kept her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "What was your favorite thing to do in your pack?" Nova asked, changing the subject.

Emma's eyes lit up at the memory. "We had a tradition," she said, her voice soft with nostalgia. "We would all shift into our wolf forms and run together during the full moon. We called it the Eclipse. In our pack, we believed the moon goddess favored us more in our wolf forms. It was the most incredible feeling, running together under the moonlight." A tear slipped down Emma's cheek.

Nova wrapped her arm around Emma, squeezing her gently. She wasn't sure if the hug was more for Emma or for herself, but it didn't matter. "That bastard will pay for our pain," Nova thought, her resolve hardening once more.

They continued talking quietly, sharing memories of their childhoods and stories about their packs. It was one of the few things that kept them sane in the grim reality of the cell. Emma told Nova about her first time riding a bicycle with her father, the former Beta of the Victory, and Nova shared the story of her first taste of alcohol.

It was their ritual-talking late into the night, as if they were normal friends at a sleepover instead of prisoners in a cold, dark cell. It was the only way they could keep the nightmares at bay. In Nova's mind, the concrete floor melted away, and she imagined she and Emma were huddled together, reading stories and laughing. It was enough to help her forget, even if only for a little while.

They yawned, exhaustion creeping in, and said their goodnights. Nova closed her eyes, hoping that when she woke up, it would all have been a nightmare.

Nova's Point of View

The cell was a cacophony of noise as I struggled to wake up. The relentless banging of the iron gate blended with savage growls, a sound that took me back to the night our pack was raided. "What's going on?" Emma muttered groggily as she rubbed her eyes. "It's Ejection Day, Alpha," Sandra, the girl in the cell next to ours, responded. She belonged to Emma's pack but held the rank of omega.

"What's Ejection Day?" I asked, curiosity creeping in despite the fear gripping me. "It's what they do after raiding a pack. They kill off the older prisoners to make space for new ones," Sandra's sick brother explained. A wave of dread washed over me at the thought of being discarded like trash. Emma quickly advised me to move to the back of the cell, to stay out of sight and avoid attracting attention. I obeyed, sticking close to her, the pain in my body ignored as I did.

Emma and I clung to each other in the cell, fear etched into our faces. The air felt thick with tension, our panicked whispers bouncing off the cold walls. I could feel Emma trembling as she held onto me, and I squeezed her hand in return, both of us finding solace in our shared terror.

"How do they decide who to kill?" I managed to ask, though my throat was tight with anxiety. "It's random. They look for the injured, the sick, or anyone who's caused trouble," Sandra answered quietly. My heart thudded painfully as I glanced at her, watching her hold her brother close. Even in this hellish place, my heart ached for her.

"Nova," Emma's voice was soft but firm, "keep your head down, and we'll be fine." I nodded, my fists clenching and unclenching as I tried to shake the overwhelming fear. But the look in Emma's eyes told me she was just as scared as I was.

"They should be almost finished," Sandra whispered, glancing down the hall. The sound of heavy boots echoed ominously, accompanied by the clink of metal restraints. Guards were leading wolves out of the cells, their faces grim and defeated. Some had the look of defiance, others of resignation. The muffled protests and pleas for mercy lingered in the air like ghosts.

It seemed they had taken half of the prisoners already. Some fought back, some begged, while others accepted their fate in silence. I tried to calm my erratic breathing, imagining myself on a battlefield, wondering if I could face a ruthless Alpha and survive. "We'll all be fine," Emma repeated, but her words offered little comfort.

That same sense of doom that hit me when our pack was attacked settled deep in my gut. "How many more do we need?" I heard a soldier ask. "Just a few more," another voice responded. They were getting closer to our cell, their boots hitting the stone floor with a sharp echo. "Soso already rounded up the sick and injured ones, and the troublemakers are gone," the second soldier added.

I watched as Sandra clutched her brother tighter, her tear-streaked face reflecting the panic we all felt. "The troublemakers wouldn't have fought for us anyway," one of the soldiers said dismissively as they came to our cell and opened the door.

I kept my head down as instructed, hoping they wouldn't notice me. The guards yanked a woman, likely in her mid-fifties, from the cell. She fought them fiercely, but it didn't matter-they overpowered her with ease. Then, one of the soldiers moved to Sandra's cell and reached for her brother.

Sandra and her brother clung to each other desperately, but it was a losing battle. His sickness had weakened him too much to resist. As they dragged him away, Sandra's cries tore through the air, reverberating off the cold stone walls. Her hands reached out in vain, grasping at nothing but air as her brother was ripped from her arms.

I remembered Sandra's stories about their childhood, the love their parents shared, and the bond of their pack. She spoke of the lake they used to visit as children, where they'd spend hours chasing fireflies and building forts. That place had been her sanctuary, a world away from this nightmare.

Now, her screams of anguish echoed through the halls as they took her brother away. She collapsed, her voice breaking into sobs before fading into unconsciousness, overwhelmed by the pain of her loss. The silence that followed was deafening.

As the guards stopped in front of the cell, I noticed one of them eyeing a tall, imposing figure standing at the back. The man's presence alone was enough to silence the murmurs of the prisoners. He was a werewolf, tall and broad-shouldered, his eyes glowing with defiance even in the dim light of the cell. His name was David.

"You, come out of there," the guard barked, pointing at him.

David didn't move, his eyes narrowing at the guard. "What if I don't want to?" he said, his voice low and filled with challenge.

The guard smirked, clearly amused but not intimidated. "Oh, you don't want to know what will happen if you don't."

David stepped forward, muscles tense as if ready to explode. "Let's fight and see who wins," he said, his confidence unwavering.

The guards exchanged glances as the head guard strode over, his heavy boots echoing off the walls. "What's going on here?" he asked, his voice gruff.

The guards quickly explained the standoff, and after a brief pause, the head guard grinned darkly. "Release him," he commanded, a hint of mockery in his tone. "Let's see how good he really is."

The cell door swung open, and David stepped out, towering over the guards. I could see the tension in his body, the readiness to fight in every movement. The guard squared up to him, his stance aggressive, but David remained calm, his fists clenched at his sides.

Without warning, the fight began. David lunged forward, his fist colliding with the guard's jaw with a sickening crack. The guard stumbled back, surprise flashing across his face before he retaliated with a punch of his own. David dodged it easily, his movements quick and calculated. He struck again, this time landing a punch to the guard's ribs, and I could hear the impact from where I stood.

David was winning. Every punch he threw was precise, powerful. The guard was struggling to keep up, his attacks growing desperate. A surge of hope rose in my chest as I watched David fight with the strength of someone who had nothing left to lose.

But then, it all changed.

The guard, clearly realizing he was losing, reached into his belt and pulled out a silver blade. My heart froze as I saw the glint of the blade in the dim light. David didn't notice it in time. As he landed another punch, the guard plunged the silver blade into David's chest, right at his heart.

The world seemed to stop.

David's eyes widened in shock, his body freezing in mid-motion. The guard twisted the blade cruelly, and a pained howl erupted from David's throat, echoing off the walls. He collapsed to his knees, clutching at his chest, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

The cry of David's death rang in my ears, chilling me to my core. The sight before me was unbearable. His once-strong figure crumpled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him as his life slipped away. The silver blade had done its work, and there was no saving him.

I couldn't look away. The guards stood over him, their expressions indifferent, as if his death meant nothing. The brutality of it all twisted my stomach, and I could feel my own fear rising, knowing that there was no mercy here.

"Drag him out." The head guard said as his subordinate obeyed immediately. David's body was dragged out like an animal. As the guards was about to leave, "You at the back." Another guard said directing his call to our cell.

"The one in black hair." The guard said, pointing towards Emma. Emma was afraid as she squeezed my hands very tight.

Just then, I did something I never thought I would do, something I never imagined I could have courage to do.

I glanced up at the guards, my heart racing. The second soldier turned toward us, and suddenly, I couldn't stop myself.

Before the first guard realized what was happening, I lunged. My fist connected hard with his face, sending him staggering back. Fueled by desperation, I followed with more strikes, but my strength was no match for him. With one swift motion, he grabbed me and slammed me into the concrete. Pain shot through my body as darkness closed in.

The last thing I saw was the look of horror on Emma's face, her screams piercing the air as the soldiers dragged me out of the cell. As the darkness consumed me, I found myself wishing I would never wake up.

The heat of the sun was supposed to be comforting, a sign of life and energy. But for me, it was nothing more than another layer of torture. I could feel my hair, once a shining cascade of gold in the light, plastering itself against my face as sweat dripped down my brow. My skin, which had absorbed the sun's warmth in happier times, now burned under its harsh rays. The brightness made my eyes water, but I told myself it was just the sun-not the pain, not the humiliation. But I knew better.

I winced sharply, biting down hard on my lip to stop the scream that wanted to burst forth as the cane cracked against my back. The sting of it rippled across my skin, each strike worse than the last. My body throbbed with bruises, and each bead of sweat only seemed to make the pain more unbearable. The guards had taken joy in striking me, in humiliating me. One had even laughed as he landed a particularly vicious slap across my face, the force of it numbing my cheek and leaving claw marks that stung with every gust of the hot wind.

I shuffled forward, falling in line behind Sandra's brother Kane, who, like me, had just been dragged from the cells minutes before. The group of us prisoners stretched on in a seemingly endless line, the dirt underfoot kicking up dust as we marched through the forest. "Keep walking. Don't slow down," growled the guard at the head of the line. His voice bounced off the trees, sending chills down my spine despite the oppressive heat.

Death. That's where we were headed. The Night shade Pack's version of hospitality-a one-way trip to our graves. "How kind of them," I muttered under my breath, knowing full well no one would care to hear it. There were about fifty of us, all being herded like sheep to slaughter, and the guards had warned us to stay quiet and follow or else. But I didn't need to hear the "or else" to know what it meant.

Anxiety churned in my stomach as I tried to imagine how they'd do it. Would it be public? A display for the pack? There were too many of us for that, but nothing would surprise me at this point. Silver bullets? That would be too kind. The Red Moon Pack wasn't known for their mercy, and I doubted they'd start with us.

The march dragged on, the silence only broken by the occasional sob from one of the prisoners or the cruel taunts of the guards. My feet ached as they pressed into the hard ground, the forest floor offering no mercy for my bare soles. I clenched my teeth and forced myself to keep moving, not wanting to fall behind. Ahead, I saw Kane struggling too, but there was nothing I could do for him. I could barely hold myself together.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we arrived in a large clearing. I swallowed hard, my throat dry and tight. The sight of the clearing brought back memories of another clearing, back when I still had my pack, the Peak's Pack. I used to bring the pups here, letting them run and play, blowing off steam after a big breakfast. I could still see Tom, one of the younger pups, laughing as he darted through the trees, kicking up the fallen leaves in a whirlwind of color. His joy was infectious, a reminder of the innocence that was so easily lost in our world. I'd seen him die the day our pack was attacked, his small body crumpling in the dirt. A single tear slid down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away.

"Stay in line and turn around to face the forest!" The guard's bark snapped me back to the present. He strode into the middle of the clearing, his chest puffed out with the kind of arrogance only those in power could muster. I hesitated for a moment before slowly turning, standing shoulder to shoulder with the others. My back faced the guards now, my eyes on the thick trees that surrounded us. Part of me wished I could see what was coming, but another part of me was grateful I couldn't.

The guard started talking again, his voice dripping with condescension. "As we all know, today is Ejection Day. I hope you all enjoyed your stay here at the Red Moon Pack, but we need the room for our new friends." I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. Friends. He said it like they were doing us a favor, as if this was some grand gesture of kindness. But I knew better.

"Before we continue," the guard went on, "our Alpha and Beta will join us. There will be no disrespect, or else..." His voice trailed off, but the threat was clear. I almost laughed. Disrespect? What did it matter now? Weren't we all about to die?

The air in the clearing grew thick, the tension hanging over us like a storm waiting to break. More members of the Night Shade Pack were arriving. I could feel their presence even before I saw them. A few low growls came from the guards, warning us to stay in line, but no one dared to test their luck.

The scent hit me before anything else-a mix of fresh wood and leather. My stomach twisted, my breath catching in my throat. I knew that scent. I'd smelled it the day my pack was attacked, but I'd been too busy trying to save the pups and the injured to focus on it. Now, it was suffocating me. I could barely breathe, and I had to fight to keep myself from collapsing.

"Alpha Vuk, Beta Logan, it is a pleasure to meet you," the guard said, his tone respectful now. "We are ready to proceed with the Ejection whenever you are." Tears streamed down my face, and I bit my lip hard, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to choke me. That scent... it was everywhere, pressing down on me, smothering me.

"Pleasure to meet you as well, Joshua," Beta Logan replied. "How many are there?"

"Forty," Joshua answered, pride evident in his voice.

"Any issues we should be aware of?" Beta Logan asked.

"No, Beta Logan," Joshua replied.

There was a pause, and the silence was unbearable. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out everything-the forest, the clearing, the guards, the scent. But there was no escaping it. It was everywhere.

"Everything alright, Alpha Vuk?" Beta Logan's voice broke the silence.

"No," came the reply, Alpha Vuk's voice rolling across the clearing like thunder. It was a voice that demanded obedience, that left no room for argument. It wasn't what I'd expected. After all the stories I'd heard about him, I'd imagined someone different, someone cruel and ugly. But the power in his voice, the authority... it sent shivers down my spine.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the clearing, each step slow and deliberate. I could feel them getting closer, the weight of them pressing down on me. And then, they stopped-right behind me.

"Turn around, pup," Alpha Vuk commanded.

I couldn't stop the sob that escaped my lips. I wanted to run, to disappear into the trees, but my body wouldn't listen. When an Alpha speaks, you obey. Slowly, I turned, my eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Look up," he said, and reluctantly, I did.

He stood before me, bathed in sunlight, his figure framed against the bright sky. Sweat glistened on his skin, but it did nothing to diminish his presence. He was tall, powerful, and there was something in his gaze that made my breath catch.

"Mine," Alpha Vuk said.