1 : The gathering

ATHENA

Fifteen years ago, a child was born during a storm. Her birth was looked forward to by everyone. The pack were all awake, awaiting her birth as her mother labored hard in the delivery room. Her father couldn’t wait to hold her. They have prayed and had been waiting for her for ages. She was their prayer answered until she was pulled out from her mother. She wasn’t what they expected–Ugly.

Her father refused to hold her which left her mother heartbroken. Although she wasn’t what her mother was expecting but a mother couldn’t hate her child. No matter what they look like.

She became popular instantly. The red scar on her face was her trademark. They knew her. The pack wouldn’t stop talking about her. Often locked inside at home during social gatherings. Her life was hell. Getting to celebrate the full moon gatherings with others was a privilege she never got to experience. They call her the cursed omega.

They called her useless and in order to prove them wrong, she started working and they turned her into something less than a slave. Despite her parents holding powerful position in the pack, it didn’t change anything. She was a shame to them. A disgrace and that girl is me. I am Athena, the popular cursed omega.

I glare at the dress in my hand. It is pretty. My mother specifically bought it for me. It is my first attendance of the full moon gatherings. An annual traditional celebration of our pack. I am excited but it’s a shame that this dress won’t be noticed tonight except for my foul smell and ugly face.

My third attempt on covering my scar with make-up failed woefully. Guess they are right. There is nothing I can do perfectly.

I trashed the box and quickly got dressed. I let my hair down to cover my face as usual. I would have love a different style but I do not have the confidence to show my face to the world. I have to conceal my scar as much as I can so that I wouldn’t make others feel uncomfortable.

I slowly held my hair up, imagining it in a ponytail but I quickly drop the thought and my hair. I am forbidden to wear my hair up. I turned to the door and saw my mom watching me.

" You are beautiful,” she commented, a smile on her lips and I just nod at her. My mom loves me but I doubt if she truly does. I have heard countless times from others how she reacted when she saw me for the first time..

" This isn’t my child. Take it away!” She’d screeched.

The thought of it made me force a bile down my throat.

" Thanks mom,” I forced a smile at her and followed her out of the room.

I haven’t seen my father since dawn. Somehow, he has been avoiding home like a rooster who has found a hen in the other neighborhood.

" Do not wander around. Enjoy the night as much as you can. Tonight, you are not the cursed omega, you are Athena Singingbird,” Mom said, cupping my face in her hands and I blinked at her, gulping slowly.

I am Athena Singingbird. I said to myself mentally, repeating her words in my head. I stepped out of the car and waved her goodbye as she drove off to attend to whatever business she has.

Holding the hem of my dress nervously, I sneaked behind the cars, trying to blend in the darkness and when I almost made it through to the dark rock where I’d planned to watch the ceremony from, I heard an angry voice. For weeks, I’ve practiced how I would watch the ceremony meters away from the rest of the pack but just like that, my plan failed woefully.

I halt in my steps, holding my breath and praying I heard wrong.

" Sneaking around and avoiding your duties. Aren’t you?” I know that voice. It belongs to Elena. The beta’s daughter.

Elena is an epitome of beauty, confidence and class. Her green eyes and cherry lips compliments her blonde hair. I won’t lie, I had wished countless times I was as half beautiful as she was except for her nasty attitude. She is mean and disrespectful but regardless of her dirty personality, they all loved her and adore her and it makes me question if they are stupid or just sucking up to her beauty.

My hands clenched the hem of my dress tightly. Can’t she just shut up?

" What are you standing there waiting for? We need drinks Singingbird!” She screeched, addressing me by my last name and I felt the scrutiny of the other pack members on me. Their gaze piercing through my dress into my bone.

" Or do you want to be punished?” She threatened and my legs wobbled. No, no punishment. Not tonight. I still haven’t healed from the slap she gave me at the training ground for spilling water on her shoes.

With head bowed, not wanting to look at the face of the wolves who are watching me with disgust In their eyes, I scurried to where Elena sat with her clique. I hear some of them murmur about my appearance while other sneered but I stood, waiting for Elena’s instructions.

" Serve the drinks,” She commanded in disgust, eyeing me up and down as of I have stolen something from her in her previous life. I don’t know why she hates me so much or why the entire pack disrespect me. It isn’t my fault that I am born ugly. I wasn’t asked to be conceived and birthed.

' Mom, can you come get me?’ I mind-linked my mom as I fill Elena’s glass with wine.

I raised the bottle to fill the next glass when it suddenly fell from my hand. The bottle hits the rock, breaking and splashing pieces everywhere but I wasn’t bothered as I was more concerned by the smell that has consumed my senses. It smelled divine that I wanted to bask in it.

The yelling of displeasure didn’t reach my ears as my feet wobbled me forward in the direction my nose was pointed. Excitement filled me and a ray of hope shone in my heart, making me nervous and giddy at the same time.

The scent became stronger and I found myself entering the forbidden part of this gathering. It is where the young alpha is resting. No one is allowed here except wolves of higher statuses but I was ready to break the rules and find the source of this smell that was driving me insane.

" What the f*ck!” The angry words fell on deaf ears as I brushed past them before stopping by the lake, my heart pounding in my chest as I took in the athletic back view of the man in black tee shirt and pants.

" MATE!” My wolf screamed in my head, purring in excitement. All my life, I never believed I would ever have a mate.

My body heats up, blood gushing through my veins at fast speed and our scents filled the air. It is a smell werewolf emits when they meet their mates, informing others and setting boundaries.

I remained still, waiting to see the face of the man I’ve been mated to but the longer I waited, the more people starts to gather. If it were up to me, I would have wanted to find my mate in a place far away from people eyes but the moon goddess have her own mind. Of all places, she decided to introduce my mate in a place where the whole pack is gathered.