The Omega's Reckoning

Beth found herself luxuriating in the cozy, humidified comfort of a limousine. The touch of ecstasy and luxury was everywhere. Was this real? she wondered. Of course, it was.

"Would you like something to drink?" asked a pretty woman kneeling before her, barely lifting her head to meet Beth's gaze.

"Just a glass of wine will suffice," Beth replied, leaning back against the limousine's cushion with her hands resting on her stomach. "Actually, it's getting a bit chilly. Do we have anything hot?"

"Yes," the woman replied, still not looking up. "We have different brands of liquor. Which would you prefer?"

"Don't ask silly questions," Beth said, crossing her legs. "You know my taste. Be quick about it."

A smile spread across Beth's lips. This was really happening. But something felt off. The woman kneeling before her was Jael. There was no way Jael would kneel before her. The liquor was served, and as Beth was sipping from the bottle, she heard a loud noise outside. They had arrived. The door opened, and she stepped out to a glorious chant of "All hail the Luna!"

While absorbing the scene, a large man started approaching. Waves of fear swept through her as her breathing became intense. It was Raphael. Why was he approaching her? She retraced her steps with every stride he took. But instead of the confrontation she expected, Raphael knelt before her, bowing his head.

"How may I serve you?" he asked.

Beth's ears couldn't believe it. There was no way Raphael would kneel before her. This couldn't be real. Her life was miserable and frustrating.

"Dumbass!" a familiar voice called. "Beth, you dumbass!"

Beth looked around, searching for the voice. "Who called me a dumbass?" No response came. The once reverent faces around her now looked disgusted.

"Beth! Get up!" the voice continued. "Get up, you dumbhead. You don't want to wake up? You like games, huh? Wait for me."

Reality began to creep in. The limousine ride wasn't real. She was dreaming. She struggled to stay in the dream as indistinct voices from the background reached her ears.

"You don't want to wake up, huh?" A pack member lifted a bucket of water and poured it over Beth's rugged body.

A surge of energy coursed through her as she jolted awake.

"Woahh!!" Beth screamed, forcing herself up. Her surroundings came into focus slowly. Pain was everywhere.

"She's finally up," Jael said, laughing mockingly. "How do you manage to sleep in this junk of a place?"

Beth couldn't respond. Her head was still reeling. A dream?

"Was... was I dreaming?" she asked, looking around the attic she called home. As the outcast of her pack, no one had anything to do with her. While everyone else rested in comfort, she curled up in this awful space.

"You'd better get up," Jael said. "What am I saying? Drag this fool to Raphael."

The name echoed in her mind.

"Raphael?" Beth knelt, clutching Jael's legs.

"What is this supposed to mean?" Jael sneered.

"Please, don't take me to him. I'll do anything you ask," Beth pleaded.

"Wow." Jael clapped her hands. "You know what? I won't take you to him."

"Really? Thank you, Jael. Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, outcast. I won't take you to him. You'll have to take yourself to him."

Laughter filled the place.

"And one more thing, Beth," Jael said, bringing her lips close to Beth's ear. "You were talking in your sleep."

Beth recoiled. No way. She couldn't have said anything incriminating.

"Drag this bitch to Raphael!"

The mob wasted no time. In minutes, they arrived before Raphael. As the heir apparent to the alpha throne, every pack member wanted to stay on his good side, leading to Beth's constant torment.

"Please, spare me this time," she sobbed, rubbing her palms together as if praying.

Raphael rose and walked to her. With every step, Beth's heart melted.

"What is your offense?" Raphael asked, squatting before her.

"I... I..." she trembled. "I failed to wake up in time. And couldn't-" Before she could finish, Raphael grabbed her jaw tightly.

"What is your offense?" he repeated, his tone aggressive.

"Jael, repeat what you told me," Raphael ordered.

"The outcast said, 'You don't have to kneel before me, Raphael,'" Jael reported.

Beth quavered. She knew she was doomed.

"I knelt before you?" Raphael smirked. "The heir apparent knelt before a slut like you. Who else knelt before you?"

Beth remained silent.

"Answer me!"

"Jael served me wine," she admitted.

"Give this girl the worst punishment of her life. When she's done, send her to the main house to clean my father's room."

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Cleaning the alpha's room was a death sentence. The mob began lashing her, their joyous laughter drowning out her cries.

Many feet away, an aged wolf watched in disgust. Maybe it was time for Beth to learn who she really was.

A few moments had passed, and Beth felt her entire body burn. Seated in her new abode, she wondered if the attic might have been better than her grandparents' house. She was an outcast, shunned by everyone, including her own family. She never stopped wondering why she was treated so cruelly. Perhaps if her parents were alive, things would be different. She took off her worn-out vest and carefully wiped her body with a wet cloth.

"Mmm." She gnashed her teeth in pain. At eighteen, she had endured severe psychological traumas that were gradually eroding her healing ability. Bullied by every pack member and despised by the only family she had left, she struggled to keep breathing. Soon, she finished cleaning the stains. Time was not on her side. She slipped a t-shirt from her box and walked to the mirror to inspect her rugged body. But as she examined herself, she noticed something else in the mirror: a piece of cloth on the bed. Who had left that? Without much thought, she reluctantly reached for the cloth.

"This isn't mine," she muttered, unfolding it. For a moment, she was stunned by what she saw: a message written in blood. Who could it be from?

"... Take Beth with you. Go as far as you can. It is the least I can do as a mother. No matter what happens, make sure you keep her alive. In due time, help will come running to you."

Her hands began to shake. Did she read correctly? This had to be her birth mother. Whoever left this message wanted her to see it. Next to the cloth was a white piece of paper. Another message awaited her. She reached out for it.

"... If you want to know the truth about yourself, meet me at the oak tree tonight by midnight. In the alpha's chamber, locate a secret vault. It holds a secret... You have the key with you."

Her thoughts were racing when she heard her name.

"Beth!" an angry voice yelled. She quickly folded the notes.

"Beth!!" The voice came again. It was her grandmother, who barged into the room without warning.

"Grandma," Beth said, startled.

"Oh, you've been here. Why didn't you respond to my call?" the woman asked, fuming.

"I was... I... when..." she stammered. There was no way she could lie without being found out. She had definitely heard the old woman calling her.

"You've suddenly become a stammerer? Is that it?" The woman was ready to pounce.

"I was lost in my thoughts," Beth managed to say.

"Lost in thoughts." The woman chuckled before slapping Beth's already bruised cheek. Beth whimpered in pain.

"Grandma, I was-" Her words hung in the air as she received another blow.

"How dare you call me that? Grandma? Don't even try it. You are an outcast. A miserable one among your peers."

"What..." Beth sobbed. "What exactly did I do wrong?"

"Your only crime is being born. If you hadn't been born, you wouldn't have found your way into this family. And if that weren't the case, my son would still be alive!"

"But-" she tried to speak but was shut down again.

"Shut that hole of yours! I am not done talking!" the woman fired. "I don't know what you did to anger Raphael, but if this continues, I will kill you myself. Consider this your final warning." She turned to leave.

"Grandma," Beth called. The woman stopped halfway to the door, anger swelling up inside her. She raced toward Beth, claws extended, and pierced Beth's abdomen.

"This is your last warning." Her grandmother gnashed her teeth and withdrew her claws. Beth's mouth gaped open as blood flowed down her t-shirt. She was left alone again, feeling the pain increase. Her trauma was hampering her survival abilities. Now, she needed to move her bruised body to the alpha's palace. For the first time in her life, she was willing to take a risk. After all, she had always been in danger. A little more exposure wouldn't hurt.

A few hours later, Beth carried her injured body into the alpha's chambers. She had been cleaning every part of the pack's house, including those of her peers. Her wound had stopped bleeding, but the pain persisted. The alpha's chamber was beyond three frontiers of security. The story of the mystical vault was a common myth among the pack. It was said that the vault, built by an ancestral alpha, was only known to the heir apparent. Due to a mishap in the line of inheritance, the secret of the vault leaked. It was believed that the spirit of a forgotten princess would return through the vault. This always made Beth wonder if she was related to the story. Perhaps she could be the returning princess.

"I'm here to do the cleaning," she said to the commander at the last frontier to the chamber.

"If you're not out before the alpha retires for the night," the man smiled, "you should forget about this miserable life of yours."

She forced a smile as she walked past them, cursing them silently. She entered the room.

"Look who we have here," someone said, startling Beth.

"Camila," Beth said. "What... What are you guys doing here?" She eyed June and Belle, Omega sisters who delighted in making her life miserable.

"Are you surprised?" June asked. "Well, you shouldn't be. We just came to wish you the best of luck." She giggled.

"Does the alpha know you're here?" Beth asked.

"We work just like you, Beth," Belle replied. "Anyway, I came to see your face again in case you don't come out alive. We're off."

"One more thing," June said. "Do well not to take anything from here. If you do, you know what will happen."

With that, the sisters left. Beth stood, weighing their words. Would this really be her end?

"Come on, Beth," she muttered to herself. "There's nothing to think about. If you die, it won't be so bad. If you were dead, you wouldn't be risking your life now."

Feeling reassured, she glanced at the wall clock. It was ten minutes to eleven. The alpha would return to his chamber after midnight. She had just over an hour to clean, find the vault, and retrieve its secret. She began cleaning and searching. Minutes passed, and it was nearing midnight. Desperation and anxiety built up. She needed to find the vault, but everything seemed to be working against her. The pain from her grandmother's claws registered anew. Exhausted from the day's events, she began to feel dizzy. A good rest would help. Her legs felt weak.

"Hold on, Beth," she muttered. "Just a little while longer."

She tried to move, but her body felt reluctant. As weakness increased, she stumbled and fell. Her vision blurred. Maybe everyone was right. The alpha's chamber would be her end. If only she could get out, with or without the secret. As she sank into unconsciousness, her eyes caught a statue. Memories flashed.

"Beth, hurry up," a woman said to a young girl. "Come here." She lifted her and rushed into the alpha's chamber.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me?" little Beth asked.

"Mum will join us soon, okay?" the woman said. "Now, Beth," she dropped her in front of the statue, "do you remember what your mum taught you?"

"Is it about my claws?" Beth asked.

"Yes, Beth. I need you to get them out now."

"But I don't know how. Only my mother helps me. But she's not here."

"Exactly, Beth," the woman said, grabbing her shoulders. "Your mother isn't here. You have to remember what she taught you."

"But I don't know how-"

"Just get it out!" the woman shouted. "Sorry, Beth. Listen, we're in danger. No, we're playing a game. If they find us, we lose. Do you want to lose?"

The girl shook her head. "We have to win."

"Exactly. We have to win. See this statue? It's our way of winning. But I need you to get your claws out. If you can't, we lose."

"Hold on." The girl shut her eyes, tiny claws emerging from her nails.

"Yes!" the woman exclaimed. "Now, Beth, insert two claws into its nostrils."

"What?"

"Do it quickly, Beth. We have to win."

Beth did as she was told.

"Now, pull it up."

"The statue," Beth muttered from where she lay. She had never remembered certain days of her childhood. What just happened? A surge of energy revived her. Her pain was gone. Rising, she walked to the statue and did as she remembered. A crackling sound came from the wall. She rushed to lock the entrance. Her eyes widened in surprise as the wall split, revealing a small hallway. She moved closer in amazement. Just as she was about to enter, a knock sounded on the door.

"Open up!" a voice ordered.

Beth felt her world stop. That couldn't be the alpha. In a split second, she pulled her claws from the nostrils. The walls slid back into place with a noise.

"Open this door!"

She rushed to the entrance and opened it, only to be met with a blow.

"Argh," she groaned.

"Why the fuck did you lock this place?" the guard asked, looking around. "And why didn't you open immediately?"

"I was afraid," Beth lied. "I didn't want the mean sisters to return."

"That's it? I'm

sure I heard a loud noise from this room. What did you do?"

"That must be when I moved that vase," she pointed at a flower vase in the corner.

"You're lucky. Get out of here. The mate selection for Raphael has started. You know what happens if you skip it. Get out!"

Beth hastened out, glancing at the clock. It was midnight. She needed to be at the oak tree. But missing the event would warrant a heavy penalty. Thoughts raced through her mind.

The rite was nearing its end when Beth arrived and scanned the crowd. The moon goddess presided over the last pairing, but the alpha was conspicuously absent. On such a significant day, where could he be? Beth wondered. Raphael stood nearby, beaming with pride. His mate, he was certain, would be someone extraordinary. Jael, in the front row, reveled in the attention, with everyone around her eager to win her favor. It seemed inevitable that she would be the next to be called by the moon goddess.

Minutes passed, and Jael grew impatient. She tried to catch the moon goddess's attention, thinking perhaps she hadn't been seen. Just then, the moon goddess raised her finger and pointed in Jael's direction. A cheer erupted from the crowd, and Raphael's pride soared. Jael stepped onto the podium, but the moon goddess's next words stunned everyone.

"Not you!" she declared.

Jael turned in disbelief.

"Moon goddess," Raphael protested, "what do you mean Jael is not the one? Who else could be my match?"

"Not Jael, but her," the moon goddess said, pointing again. All eyes turned to see the perpetually mistreated Omega standing behind everyone.

"Me?" Beth whispered, looking around in confusion. There was no one behind her.

"Step up, Beth," the moon goddess commanded, confirming the shocking truth.

"No way!" Raphael shouted. "That worthless servant cannot be my mate."

"Moon goddess," Jael pleaded, "there must be some mistake. Please, check again."

"There is no mistake," the moon goddess replied. "Make way for her."

The crowd parted, creating a path for Beth. With each step, she felt the possibility of becoming Luna. Those who had tormented her might soon bow to her. Her dream seemed on the brink of reality.

"By the power vested in me as the moon goddess of this pack, I declare Beth the mate of Raphael, the heir apparent to the alpha throne," the moon goddess proclaimed. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Jael was frozen in shock. Shame washed over her as she struggled to understand why the outcast was chosen over her.

"Enough!" Raphael roared. "I refuse to accept this."

"For once," Beth pleaded, kneeling, "acknowledge me as a person."

"What? A girl without a surname? You don't even have a background," Raphael sneered, yanking her up by the hair.

"I am... I am your mate," Beth said through her pain.

"Fool," Raphael spat, knocking her to the ground. "By the power vested in me as the heir apparent, I reject you as a mate," he declared, spitting on her before storming off.

The crowd erupted in mockery. Beth lay on the ground, tears welling up. Another rejection. This was too much. Rising painfully, she made her way through the jeering crowd. Out of sight, her tears flowed freely. She ran, her heart aching, towards the oak tree, hoping her helper was still there.

Reaching the oak tree, Beth found it deserted. Panting, she squatted to catch her breath. The area was silent except for the whispers of the night. She searched the tree for any message left behind, but found nothing. In her frustration, she heard a sound.

"What was that?" she muttered. The sound came again, louder and clearer-a muffled cry, likely from someone gagged.

"Stay away from me!" a woman's voice shouted. "I don't know what you're talking about, but leave the little girl alone!"

Beth crept closer, seeing three men and a woman in the moonlight. Two men approached the woman, claws gleaming.

"Stay away from Beth!" the woman screamed before being struck down. Beth covered her mouth in horror. Was this about her? Who was this woman, and why were these men attacking her? The third man, the alpha, approached and slashed the woman's throat. Beth's eyes widened in shock. The alpha! That's why he wasn't at the rite.

"Who am I?" she whispered, watching the woman die. The woman pressed a paper into Beth's hand. "Run, Beth. Run."

Footsteps approached. "Hang in there. I'll get help," Beth promised, running. She heard the men realize someone had been there. Who would help? No one. Then she remembered the moon goddess. She had to find her.

Beth reached the event, but the moon goddess was gone. Everyone glared at her with their usual disdain, but she ignored them. Racing to the moon goddess's shrine, she found it quiet. The moon goddess should be out. Retiring at this hour was unusual.

"Is anyone here?" she called, entering the shrine. Indistinct voices and a muffled sound reached her ears. She bolted inside to a horrifying scene: the moon goddess being murdered by Raphael and his father. Beth froze.

"Damn it!" Raphael cursed. "What is this outcast doing here?"

"What are you waiting for, son? Get her," the alpha ordered.

Beth's mind raced. Run, Beth. Those dying words echoed. She had to survive. Snapping back to reality, she bolted. Raphael was closing in when she regained her composure. She sprinted out the door, running as fast as she could.

"Get her! Get the outcast!" Raphael shouted. Beth could hear footsteps pursuing her into the woods. She was driven farther from her territory. They were closing in. Reaching her maximum speed, she leaped, transforming into her wolf form upon landing. Her pursuers halted, watching as she broke through the pack's territory, heading into a dangerous area.

Beth slowed. She had outrun them but then heard a noise behind her. Turning, she saw another wolf snarling. She realized her pursuers had stopped because she had crossed into another pack's territory. The wolf howled-a hunting call.

Surrounded by a hunting party, Beth tried to escape, but it was too late. They attacked, tearing into her flesh. She needed to run, but her body felt heavy. Her vision blurred, and she blacked out.