Wolves and Daggers

Lia's POV

He towers over me, his eyes black with anger, his claws extended and I watch them come down on me.

"No!" the sound jars me from sleep and I jolt up. I wince and grab my head, a sharp pain rings through my head.

"What the hell?" I curse, massaging my temple. I stay in that position for a while till the pain recedes.

I am in the woods, naked. With a heavy sigh, I stand up and start looking through the holes in the trees for spare clothes. Clothes are always stashed in trees for unplanned cases like this, though it is never advisable to morph on your own and so close to human territory.

I found a pair of shorts and a tank top in the groove of a tree. They are a few sizes too big for me but they would have to do. The sharp pain still lingers and I squeeze my eyes short, in a hopeless attempt to chase it away. I cannot remember everything that happened last night, I remember Alpha Verrick and I getting into a fight over another of my defiant stunts, as he likes to call them.

He had said something that set me off, but the nagging pain in my head hinders my remembrance. The last thing I remember is running off in anger, that must have been when my wolf took over.

I suddenly pause, I cannot feel her. My wolf, I cannot feel her, it is almost like she is asleep or hiding from me.

"What did you do?" I growl but still nothing. I huff and start making my way back to the pack. Great, my wolf has gone and done something stupid in anger and Alpha Verrick is going to make me pay for it.

Another huff leaves my lips as I look around me, I must be very far into the woods which means a long walk back to the pack. "Perfect time for you to come out now," I tell my wolf, still nothing.

"Fine, be that way. Your running privileges have been cut off."

My life is the exact opposite of roses and sunshine, so thorns and thistles are a more accurate description. I have no family ties, no mother or father, from what I was told I was found by warriors at the edge of the pack. Cast away and unwanted. So, Alpha Verrick in his ironic benevolence took me in and made me an omega, because it makes perfect sense to

"make the orphan helpless girl a permanent slave to you".

Omegas are born as slaves to the Alpha, they are taught from birth about the life of servitude and expected to lay down their life for their Alpha whenever the time calls for it. Now, every other kid around me then wore it as a badge of honor but I hated it and I opposed everything. I did not like the idea of living for someone other than myself, I was an anomaly then and I am an anomaly now. Safe to say this did not go down well with the pack members, the omegas hate me for staining their perfect servant reputation and the other pack members hate me for thinking I could be one of them. It is a surprise Alpha Verrick has not banished me yet.

Banished, an image of Alpha Verrick yelling those words flashes through my mind and I wince at it is followed by the same sharp pain. What the hell happened last night?

This should not be too hard to piece together, Alpha Verrick and I get into it once in a while. He seems to be the only one in the pack who does not see me as an abomination. He would yell at me for stepping out of line and I would defend myself, that kind of thing, it happens about twice a week or so. So why is this different? What did he say to set me off enough to bring out my wolf.

The familiar scent of my pack floods my nostrils as I get close to it, my ears pick up the footsteps of the pack members. But these footsteps sound hurried, and even more odd they are hurrying towards me.

I have barely stepped into pack territory when men surround me, pack warriors.

"Shit, did I do something really bad?" I ask. Once in a while Alpha Verrick and I get really pissed at each other and he sends the pack warriors to come get me and throw me into a small room as punishment.

But these men are different from the ones I am used to, their faces are hard as stone and none would look me in the eye, "Omega Lia," I look up to see Daren, he is our pack's military head. I frown, why would he be here?

Daren's expression is even worse than the men, when he looks at me, I see scorn and anger welling in his eyes, "You are under arrest," two men immediately seize me by the arm. I struggle and curse but their grip is vice-like.

"You are under arrest for the murder of Alpha Verick."

I immediately went still.

"What?" my stomach drops and I look at Daren, I turn to the other men around me but no one is cracking a smile, "You are serious," I breath, dread and grief suddenly feel me.

I am not sure how or when, but my eyes suddenly mist over, "What happened?"

Daren walks up to me till he is in face, he wipes at my eyes before staring at the teardrops on his thumb, "Save the fake tears for trail," he spits.

"What the hell are you talking about," I snap at him, I try to struggle out of my bind but the men would not budge and I still can't filll my damn wolf, "Why would I kill the Alpha?"

"I'd like to know that too, we all would," I smell him before I see him, Beta Lucas' strong stench of pinewood coupled with his intimidating aura. He has always disliked me, if he had his way, I would have been banished a long time ago.

"What happened to the Alpha?" I choke out.

He walks up to me and seizes my hand, he seems to examine them before turning to Daren, "There is blood under her nails," Daren immediately joins him and takes my other hand. They both exchange glances.

"What happened?!" I yell at the men.

Beta Lucas cocks his head, "You tell me, the Alpha was found mauled to death in his bedroom and I would bet anything that is his blood under your nails."

Lia's POV

They threw me into a cell, I had struggled and yelled out my innocence but they would not listen.

After that two men had come in and taken samples from the blood under my nails before I was left alone. I am not sure how long I have been here, but I have been curled up in a corner of the cell while my mind raced.

Every time I try to recall the events of last night, I draw a blank followed by the sharp pain in my head.

Trepidation makes my heart race, I would not actually kill the Alpha in a fit of anger, right? My wolf is not as powerful as he is, right? Multiple thoughts flood my head and soon I have a banging headache coupled with my growling stomach.

The cell door suddenly opens and I lift my head slowly, scared that any sudden movement would make my aching head worse, "Lia," relief floods me and I look up to see Tyrel. He stands at the door but makes no move to step into the cell.

"Tyrel, you have to help me," I cannot move because my hands have been bound to the floor, "They are saying I killed Alpha Verrick, I could never..."

"Then who did," his words are harsh but his voice sounds hoarse and tired, "Who would want to kill my father, Lia?" he spits.

"I didn't do it," I try to sound convincing but voice wavers at the end, "I didn't kill him. How can a lowly Omega kill an Alpha?"

He suddenly walks up to me and I get a proper view of his face, he bears a striking resemblance to his father but today his face is red and I am not sure if it is from anger or pain or both, "You were the last person to see him, your scent is everywhere in his room.

It all points to you, Lia!"

I flinch and draw back into myself, I want to argue, I normally would but when I open my mouth only a sob comes out. Tears flood my eyes as pain settles in my throat, "I didn't do it, I didn't do it."

Tyrel is my only friend in the pack, he just like his father took me in like his family and has always stood by me even in my most stupid decisions. He was the perfect older brother, but seeing him look at me with the same disgust as Beta Lucas rips through my heart painfully.

"Then prove it to me, where were you last night?" he leans forward and I shrink even further into myself, "I cannot believe you without proof, Lia, my father is fucking dead!" he explodes.

"You would have believed me with or without proof," I say softly and the room falls silent. Tyrel stands over me while I am balled up on the floor, my arms wrapped tightly around my leg. I squeeze my arm even tighter as if looking for something to anchor me to a reality that would make more sense, nothing is adding up right now.

"The test results came back, it is my father's blood under your nails," Tyrel says softly, for the first time since he walked in there is no anger in his voice. When I look up at him, I watch the tears drop from his eyes.

"They would hold your trial tomorrow to decide what to do with you."

He walks out, slamming the cell door behind him, loud enough for it to shake me to my core. I stare into the empty darkness for a long time, no matter how hard I try I cannot seem to remember what happened last night so I wait for the ball to drop.

There is no window in the cell so I am not able to tell time, I just know I am too scared to sleep for fear something worse might happen while I sleep. I keep trying to reach my wolf but she still would not come out, she would not actually kill an Alpha, would she?

At the sound of the cell door scraping open, I sit up straight and look towards the door despite the sharp pain ringing in my head. I can only make out the silhouette of the person standing at the door but his smell already gave him away.

"Rise and shine murderer," he spits.

Beta Lucas' scorn is palpable and I find myself wanting to shrink away from him. He walks up to me and bends down, silver grey eyes stare down at me in disgust, "You still have that defiance in your eyes, I hope they kill you."

He grabs me by the collar and lifts me up, my wrists sting from my binds and I bite back my hiss. Maybe this is not the right time but I do not want to show weakness in front of him. It would sicken me to have to grovel at his feet.

"Any last words?" he asks me.

"I didn't do it," I say, trying to keep my voice as level as possible. My lips are dry and my throat parched from lack of water so my voice comes out hoarse.

He scoffs and unlocks my bind before leading me out of the cell. I am immediately disoriented when I step into the hall way, after being in the dark for so long the light from the bulb above makes me wince.

"The whole pack is calling for your head on a platter," he tells me as he pushes me forward, forcing me to start walking down the hallway, "They staged a gathering outside the pack house and everything, you should have seen it.

You are public enemy number one now."

Fear runs down my spine in a damning line, "The Omegas have all been put under arrest because of you, an omega who killed the only father figure in her life. You've really done it this time."

Father. A single memory flashes through my mind.

"You can't be my father! You aren't my father!" someone was yelling those words but before I can figure it out the familiar pain comes and I wince in pain.

"Move it," Beta Lucas shoves my shoulder and I realize I had stopped walking.

We step out to the main entrance of the pack prison, there is a truck waiting outside for us. "I wanted to personally drive you to your trial myself," he tells me leading me to the truck. He opens the back seat and I step in before he shuts it.

"Beta Lucas," we both turn to see Tyrel hurrying towards us, he looks like he ran all the way here. He glances at me before turning to the Beta, "I wanted to see my father's murderer before she goes to trial."

"I would not advice that, Tyrel, its..."

"Please," his voice chokes up and the Beta hesitates before stepping aside.

"You've got five minutes."

Tyrel opens the truck door and glances at Beta Lucas who has walked some distance away to give us space.

He suddenly places something cold in my hand and I look down to see it is a silver knife, "Tyrel," fear fills me and I shrink away from him, "Don't kill..."

"Stab me," he whispers.

I frown, "What?"

"Hurry up, take the main road down then cut into the woods and head to our favorite spot. Stay there only for two days before moving on."

"Tyrel..."

"This is your only chance, Lia," he encloses my fingers around the knife hilt and pushes it towards his stomach.

""Aaahhh!""

Verrick's POV

"We found her Alpha," the warrior in front of me bows before gesturing behind him, Lia is

immediately shoved forward. I glance at the clock in my office, it is past eight.

Oh lord, what would I do with this girl?

She and the warriors smell of dirt, she must have been apprehended in the woods most likely

on her way to hide away in her favorite hiding spot. It is some place she and Tyrel found

together and they both would not tell me where it is.

She bows, "Alpha Verrick," the mirth in her voice does not go unnoticed.

I lean into my chair, staring at the she-wolf in front of me.

She has all the making of someone destined for greatness, if she would only learn to keep her

head down. She is drawing too much attention to herself, and I fear for how much longer I can

keep her out of trouble.

"You spat in Beta Lucas' daughter's face at the mall?"

She cocks her head, "She called a slave girl, I couldn't sit back and take it."

I grunt, "Of course, you couldn't. You are going to apologize to her..."

"No..."

"Publicly," I add, my tone stronger this time.

"You embarrassed her publicly so it is only fitting you make up for it in the same manner too."

Unsurprisingly anger rages in her eyes.

"She also humiliated me, I am an Omega not the pack scum!"

"You would do as you are told!" I stand up, my voice raising higher. She immediately shrinks

back, her wolf forced to obey my authority as Alpha.

The defiance is still clear on her face even as she forcefully spits, "Yes Alpha."

I sigh, I have had a long day. Beta Lucas has called a meeting with the pack elders to discuss

Lia's banishment.

He was too enraged to see reason and most of the pack elders were on his side.

I barely got them to calm down with the promise of a fitting punishment.

There have also been recent Lycan sightings and the entire pack is agitated. Lycans are another

breed of werewolf, they are said to be cursed by the moon goddess and are the scorn of the

werewolf community.

Werewolves over the centuries have fought long and hard to keep them at bay, only after the

great war hundred years ago were we able to annihilate them, now the strays roam around as

rogues wreaking havoc wherever they find themselves.

"Why won't you just do as you are told?" I snap at her, "For goodness's sake, Lia, you just have

to play your part and stay out of trouble."

"But I am not an Omega," she fires back and I frown.

"I was pushed into this because I have no family."

Her words sting me more than they should, "Would you rather be a rogue, roaming around with

a target on your back?"

When she looks up at me, there is anger mixed in her tears,

"It sounds better than living as a bottom feeder."

I snarl loudly, "Ungrateful, impertinent! How dare you?!"

She takes a step forward and stabs her finger at her chest,

"No how dare they! They walk around like they are better than us when we are just the same as

them, we are werewolves who eat, sleep, and breath just like every fucking one of them. But

then they segregate me with a stupid title."

"Careful, Lia," I warn her but even then, I know the warning is futile.

When Lia starts, it is hard for her to stop.

"Or what? They would put me to death for insubordination or would they banish me. I was on my

own when she walked up to me and asked that I clean her shoe in front of everyone and I am at

fault. I was publicly humiliated and I am at fault!"

"Then I would banish you!" I yell.

"Go ahead, nothing could be worse than this life," she fires back.

The pain in my chest gets worse.

"I would not banish my blood!"

Lia scoffs, "With all due respect Alpha, that bull got old long time ago. You call me your blood

like I am your daughter, I am not a child anymore."

The pain in my chest turns searing, she would always brighten up when I used those words.

My Lia is leaving me, I can see it in her eyes, desperately I say, "But you are my mine," my

words are barely a whisper.

I am scared of being overheard.

"Lia you are my real daughter."

All these years I have protected her, shielded her from those that would have her banished for

her insubordination. I would rather be considered weak than throw my child out to the wolves.

Lia looks at me with a blank expression, then confusion colors it.

"What do you mean?"

"You must have wondered why you got away with more than any other Omega in the pack, why

you have never been as docile as them," she still stares at me in confusion,

"You have Alpha blood running in you."

She shakes her head, "What type of father would subject his daughter to this type of life? It

doesn't make sense."

"The type of father that is trying to protect you, there is more to what meets the eye, Lia."

"Bullshit," she spits, "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull?"

Despite her words, I know Lia well enough to see the effects of my words in her eyes.

I go around the table and put my hands on her shoulder, this is my final attempt at protecting

Lia. If this does not work Beta Luca and the pack elders would definitely have their way.

"Lia, your mother and I were never supposed to meet but we did and we fell in love. You are a

product of our union but no one can know, it would spell doom for you, me, and even Tyrel."

She looks into my eyes, her gaze searching, "I don't understand," she finally says.

"You would understand someday, please Lia, I am trying to protect and I just need you to keep

your head down."

She still looks confused.

"Beta Lucas almost got the pack elders to approve your banishment today, but I got them to

settle for whipping instead."

She wrenches herself from me, a mix of fear and anger swirling in her eyes, "How is that better?"

"Lia, I can't have you leaving me."

"So, you would rather they publicly whip me like an animal?!" she explodes, suddenly clutching

her head,

"Ahh!"

"Lia," I try to reach for her but she pulls away.

"Stay the fuck away from me, you can't be my father. Hell, no father would sit back and let any

of these happen."

"Lia!"

"If you really are my father, then you are worse than having none."