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.