Lycan Queen

Crystal POV

I kept my head down, fingers numb as they dug into the cold, damp earth surface of the soil.

The weeds had grown thick around the base of the packhouse, making my task harder than it needed to be at a usual time, but I didn't mind at all.

Better to focus on this than the biting cold, or worse, the biting words I knew were coming to me but I still had to do what I have to do to have a good day in this pack house.

They always did to me and I was used to it and at all times I try not to react to them just for my own safety.

The soft crunch of boots on gravel reached my ears at almost same time few step were made towards me.

My heart sank with fear at once with the fort coming footsteps.

I didn't need to look up to know who it was actually since the smell reached my nose hole and I immediately knew it was Hannah and her crew.

They always found me anywhere I go to within the pack.

No matter how hard I tried to stay out of their way, they made it their mission to remind me where I stood within the pack,they always find a way to remind me about my past.

They always keep me at the bottom. And always say I shall be Beneath them.

"You missed a spot, Crystal," Hannah's sharp voice cut through the morning air that was chill, dripping with that familiar hate that she had towards me for no reason.

I stiffened but kept pulling at the weeds trying not to let there words get into me.

" Don't react. Don't give them a reason to think you are a fool " my wolf said within myself while I gave a quick glance at her and her crew.

"I'm almost done with this," I muttered, with my words barely above a whisper.

Maybe if I stayed quiet, they'd get bored and leave me to continue with my job.

But they never did let me be to continue with what I was doing before they walked in.

"What's that? I didn't quite hear you," she sneered, her voice closer now while fear gripped me with me not trying to show weakness.

I felt the shadow of her presence haunting me already .

"Are you that pathetic you can't even speak up for yourself when you are in a trouble?"

I bit the inside of my cheek, hard enough to taste blood, but didn't respond to there words at all.

It was better this way to me .

If I stayed silent, maybe it wouldn't escalate into something else and cause me to be finally banished.

"Answer me when I'm talking to you!" Hannah's boot kicked the pile of weeds I had already gathered since early that morning, scattering them across the ground.

Behind her, I could hear the laughter from her friends that her just like her,Sarah and Liv, the ones who always followed her around like a sheep, bleating on her every command she laid.

The knot of frustration twisted tighter in my stomach with me not trying to reveal my anger to her.

" How many times had this happened?" I asked my inner self with a Stern look.

" How many times had I just sat there and taken it, never once fighting back?" Something within me asked .

Too many.

But what choice did I have to attack In this pack, I was a total nobody and less people want to have there life with me.

Worse than all of that. I was just an outcast. The pack reminded me about that every single day of my life and this made my heart broke down.

"You think you're something special, don't you, Crystal?" Hannah's voice turned low, mocking while I just inhale and exhale trying to control my anger which was ready to be out.

"Always pretending like you're better than us just because you're quiet and calm. But I see through it. You're Just nothing. A weak little mutt with no place here and no place anywhere, aren't you quite ashamed of yourself. Outcast!."

Her words stung, more than I cared to admit this time.

I wanted to stand up for myself this time, to shove her back and tell her she didn't know anything about me,so she can't tell me who I am not.

But what would that solve in this case I had no power here to defend myself. No allies. And she knew it all, everyone in this pack knew it all.

"I'm not pretending anything," I whispered, staring at the dirt on me after weeding.

My hands were trembling now, more from anger than cold and this expression was a strange one for me.

" Don't fight. Don't let them get to you" a voice said within myself with a I gave a sigh trying to follow the instructions.

"Oh, so now you've finally got something to say right?" She stepped closer to me, her shadow falling over me like a huge threat and I could feel the heat of her anger pressing down like a weight while mine was already dying deep within.

"I should put you in your place once and for all,so all this can end."

Before I could brace for her word, I saw her hand coming out of the corner of my eye.

She was going to shove me this time with her visible anger.

Then something strange happened to me.

A warmth breeze spread through my chest, sudden and sharp, like a flare of energy and strength which I couldn't explain how.

My senses sharpened at same time.

Every sound, every movement,it all became too clear for me .

I could hear Hannah's heartbeat pounding in her chest, faster than it should've been in any normal ground.

My vision seemed to focus in ways it hadn't before, catching every blade of grass beneath Hannah's feet.

I felt stronger than I have always been.

Dangerously strong and was already up to kill and destroy.

Without thinking, my head snapped up, my eyes locking onto hers at the same time.

For the first time in my life and also since have been in the pack, I looked directly at her,not with fear or resignation, but with something else that she was totally scared of.

Something that sent a spark of panic flashing in her own very eyes.

Hannah, always so sure of herself, actually took a step back this time with visible fear. Her smug expression faltered, replaced with uncertainty and surprise with what I displayed to everyone.

The others went silent at once, their laughter dying in their throats and surprise filling them up.

I didn't understand what was happening at first but the energy buzzing beneath my skin was unfamiliar to me,it was frightening, but also... exhilarating.

I felt like I could do anything I wanted by this time.

Like I was seconds away from unleashing something powerful that would make everyone in the entire pack be scared of me.

"What the hell...?" Hannah whispered, her voice barely audible now, since fear already gripped her soul.

She blinked at once, regaining her composure, and the moment passed as quickly as it had come.

"Whatever," she spat at me, turning on her heel still giving her surprise filled look.

"Come on, girls." she said as she turned around to walk away

Just like that, they left me standing. I was alone again, the silence pressing in on all sides with me also confused on what I just did.

I stayed there, kneeling in the dirt, trying to catch my breath and also trying to gain understanding on what I just did.

" What was that?" .

The next morning, the pack was buzzing with rumors that couldn't let me to have a good sleep.

I could hear the whole pack noises before I even reached the main grounds-soft whispers carried on the crisp morning breeze, hushed tones of excitement and confusion all over the pack house.

The usual monotony of my life felt so different on this day.

I wasn't really sure why, but I could sense the change in the air,that wasn't even a familiar one.

When I reached the clearing area, I saw why the noise didn't make me sleep.

A group of strangers stood at the entrance of the pack's main hall, their presence impossible to ignore and this cause the whole buzz within the pack.

I froze where I stood, my heart suddenly thudding in my chest with anxiety, that couldn't understand.

They were standing tall, with broad shoulders, which they carried themselves with an authority that made the air around them heavy with tension and questions.

Their clothes were finely made rich leathers and furs, far too luxurious for common travelers or a mere slave like me.

They looked so important and also Dangerous.

"Who are they?" I asked myself as I fought to get a better gaze at the men.

My stomach tightened as I watched from a distance, with still trying to get a better view.

I had learned long ago to avoid drawing attention to myself, but the pack didn't seem to share my caution at this moment, since everyone eye was fixed on the men .

Already, a small crowd had gathered in the scene, watching the strangers who stood at the entrance,with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

The pack alpha, Gregor, stood at the front, his thick arms crossed over his chest as he spoke to the leader of the group-a man with sharp features and piercing gray eyes,which are good qualities of an alpha from another pack.

I couldn't hear what they were saying though, but whatever it was, Gregor didn't look pleased with it at all.

Of course, Gregor rarely looked pleased at everything,this was a normal thing we all know in the pack.

I lingered at the edge of the clearing, unsure of what to do,as I hid my face not wanting anyone to figure out I was standing.

A part of me wanted to retreat, to slip away before anyone noticed I was there,but still I was eager to know more about the men.

But something about these men drew me in and I just couldn't explain.

It wasn't just their appearance to me, though they were undeniably striking with there handsomeness.

It was... something different. Something I couldn't quite place and understand.

I hadn't seen anyone like them before since my first day into this world.

Not in our pack, and not in the nearby territories of the pack.

They had an air of power that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and it was totally werid for that to happen to me.

They were high rank wolves-I could sense it-but not like any wolves I'd ever known or seen.

My eyes darted back to Gregor, who was clearly struggling to maintain his usual air of dominance of the three standing men.

It wasn't often that he was challenged, especially not by outsiders of this pack. To him it can be strange and also for the entire pack, but to me it like a wish come true.

But these men didn't seem intimidated by him in the slightest,but ,In fact, it was the opposite of what usually happened when anyone dare challenge him.

They were here for something big Or here for someone.

Just as I was about to turn away and go back since have seen enough to feed my eyes, Gregor's voice rose above the murmur of the crowd

"Crystal!".

I flinched, my body going rigid with fear and anxiety. Of course. Of course, he'd notice me now,now that I stood still on a particular spot.

Slowly, I stepped forward with my chest pounding, forcing my feet to move as every pair of eyes in the clearing turned toward me.

The feeling of me being watched, judged, never got easier on me this time around.

It was like a weight I carried everywhere I went to, it was like a constant reminder that I didn't belong anywhere,it already something that has been planted into me.

I didn't need to be told twice about myself and my fate.

With a quick nod, I turned and fled back toward the packhouse, my heart pounding in my chest with fear and also with thoughts of what have put myself into.

The three strangers' words echoed in my head, over and over.

"You're not what you seem."

I didn't know what they meant though, but for some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that they were right about there Word's,I couldn't shake off the feeling that they would help me .

*****

Later that same night, I lay in my small, drafty room, staring up at the ceiling as the events of the day replayed in my mind like a movie.

The strangers had already settled in for the evening in the pack with, their presence still looming over the pack like a shadow and also like a big threat to the alpha.

The pack members whispered about them nonstop with asking themselves question which they can't give answer's to who they were, why they had come.

No one seemed to know the truth about them, but everyone had theories and questions.

The most common one was that they were here to challenge Gregor,our pack Alpha.

To take over the pack as there's.

It wasn't uncommon for packs to challenge each other, and given how powerful these men seemed to look like, it wasn't a far-fetched idea, if am meant to say.

But then why had they looked at me like that when i was called out

I couldn't shake the memory of the look and the question rang in my head.

" Why did they look at me?" I asked myself still gazing at my celling.

Crystal POV

The men's presence was like a smoldering fire, slowly but surely consuming the pack, deep down.

Every day, I could feel the tension rising around me, suffocating the air with suspicion and unease within.

It wasn't just their presence, though that alone was unsettling-it was the way they interacted with me, the way they took me. The looks on there faces when we look at each other . The words from there tongue.

The strange sense that I was at the center of something far bigger than myself, was everything.

And the pack was noticing it as days passed.

Everywhere I went, whispers followed me like the air that I take in.

Whenever I passed a group of pack members, conversations would abruptly stop, only to resume in hushed tones once I was out of earshot.

They were talking about me in my presence. I could feel it deep within me and also see it clearly.

They were wondering what connection I had to these strangers who had disrupted our lives over the night.

It wasn't just talk anymore to me. People were suspicious, and were In need if answers.

"She's always been different."

"What if they're here because of her?"

" But they look to rich to be here for her."

"They've been watching her from the first day..."

I tried to ignore it, but it was getting harder every day and it became a theart to me.

I kept my head down, doing my usual chores, keeping to myself like I always had in the pack.

But no matter how much I tried to blend into the background of the pack and it dynamic, it wasn't working anymore for me. Their eyes were always on me, watching, waiting for something to happen, waiting for when I do something wrong and bad.

*******

By late afternoon, I was heading back to my room after finishing up some tasks in the kitchen, as directed by the leader of all omega's.

The hallways were empty, the packhouse unusually quiet as most of the pack was out training or handling their duties.

The silence was a welcome relief from the constant threat to me.

But then I heard footsteps behind me, coming closer and coming with force.

At first, I thought it was nothing to worry about, maybe a passing pack member going about their business and duties of today.

But the footsteps didn't fade up. They grew closer, heavier and also makinge scared. My heart started to race, and I picked up my pace, not wanting to find out who it was. I could feel it-the way the air changed, the way my instincts were screaming that something was wrong.

I was almost at the staircase when a rough hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back with enough force to nearly send me crashing into the wall and giving me scares

"Where do you think you're going to, crystal?" a harsh voice growled from behind.

I spun around, heart pounding, and found myself face-to-face with three pack members that were much harsh.

Cole, one of Gregor's most loyal enforcers, stood at the front, his eyes filled with anger and suspicion towards myself. Behind him were two others, equally as hostile like him. My stomach twisted in dread and my heart with anxiety.

"What... what do you want from?" I stammered, pulling my arm free from Cole's grip with multiple thoughts.

Cole sneered, his lip curling in disgust towards me.

"You think we haven't noticed your actions? You think we're all blind?"

I blinked, confused and terrified with his questions towards me.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"The three men," one of the others snarled, while my heart still race unstop.

"They're here because of you, aren't they?" his voice was thick and cunning.

I took a step back, my breath catching in my throat and my words hanging deep down .

"No, I don't... I don't know why they're here,i swear."

"Don't lie to us, we aren't fool," Cole spat, gis voice filled with venom.

"Ever since they showed up, they've been watching you. We all see it. You're not fooling anyone."

I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. "I'm not lying. I don't know them. I don't know why they're here."

But they didn't believe me. The look in their eyes was wild, fueled by anger and frustration. The noblemen's presence had unsettled the entire pack, and now it seemed like that frustration was boiling over-and I was the target.

"You've been hiding something from us this whole time," Cole growled, stepping closer. "Maybe you think you're better than the rest of us. Maybe you're planning something with them."

"That's not true," I said, my voice shaking. "I swear, I don't-"

Before I could finish, one of the other wolves lunged forward, grabbing my wrist and yanking me toward them. I yelped in pain, trying to pull away, but his grip was iron-tight.

"You're coming with us," Cole said, his tone dripping with menace. "We're going to find out exactly what you're hiding."

"No!" I struggled, but it was useless. I was no match for them, and they knew it. Panic surged through me as I realized what was about to happen. They were going to drag me away, and I had no idea what they planned to do after that.

But just as they started to pull me down the hall, a deep, commanding voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Let her go."

The room fell silent. The grip on my wrist immediately loosened, and I stumbled back, gasping for breath. I looked up, and my heart nearly stopped when I saw who had spoken.

It was him.

The gray-eyed leader of the noblemen stood at the end of the hallway, his presence as commanding as ever. His gaze was locked on Cole and the others, his expression cold and dangerous. Behind him, two more of the noblemen stood, their eyes glinting with barely restrained power.

Cole stiffened, his face going pale. "We were just-"

"I said, let her go," the leader repeated, his voice low and deadly.

Cole hesitated, but only for a moment. He quickly released me, stepping back with his hands raised. "We didn't mean anything by it," he muttered, casting a wary glance at the men. "Just a misunderstanding."

The leader's eyes narrowed, and for a second, I thought he might step forward and rip Cole apart right there. But then he shifted his gaze to me, his expression softening slightly.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice calmer now.

I nodded, though my heart was still racing in my chest. "Y-yes."

His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to Cole and his lackeys.

"Leave. Now."

Without another word, Cole and the others scrambled away, their earlier bravado completely gone. The moment they were out of sight, the hallway fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of my shallow breathing.

I didn't know what to say at this point. The men had just saved me-again.

"Thank you," I whispered, not sure what else to say to them.

The leader nodded, his gray eyes searching mine, as I tried to take them off.

"They won't bother you again, when we are still here."

I wanted to ask him why-why he and his men kept intervening into my issues, why they seemed to care about what happened to me-but the words wouldn't come up due to what I couldn't explain.

There were too many questions swirling in my head, and none of them had answers.

Before I could say anything, he spoke again.

"You should be careful next time. Things are changing, and not everyone will be as kind as those men were."

"Kind?" I repeated, incredulous. "They were going to...." he cut off

"They were afraid," he interrupted my words again.

"Afraid of what you might become."

His words sent a chill down my spine at once.

"What do you mean by that?"

He studied me for a long moment, as if deciding how much to tell me, but I just wasn't worried.

"Soon," he said quietly and husky.

"You'll understand sooner."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there in the empty hallway, more confused than I ever did.

"What I might become?"

I didn't know what that meant. But I had a sinking feeling that whatever it was, it was something I couldn't run from and keep myself safe.