The Last Wolf Princess

***

The rain poured steadily against the orphanage roof, its rhythmic sound a constant companion to Lila's quiet thoughts. She sat by the window, her fingers pressed against the cold glass, watching the droplets race each other down winding paths. She'd spent so many years on the inside looking out, always watching the world from behind glass, always just out of reach. It felt like her life, contained within the walls of this orphanage, was a story she couldn't quite finish, a story that had started long before she could remember.

In her hand, she clutched a small, crumpled piece of paper. The edges were worn. She'd memorized the words so well that she could recite them without even looking. Ethan and Maria Carter. Her new family.

The whispers among the other orphans told her all she needed to know about the Carters. They were from the outskirts, and the rumors of their lineage were always the same. Omegas. Lila understood what that meant all too well. In this world, where power was divided into strict ranks, omegas were the lowest. They were the laborers, the ones who worked the land and held the most humble roles. It was a world ruled by alphas, those with the most power, and the omegas at the bottom, struggling to survive in a hierarchy that offered little room for change.

But why had an omega chosen to adopt her? The question gnawed at her, eating away at her sense of reality. She was an orphan, another face in a sea of discarded children. In a world where omegas had enough of their own struggles, where did they fit? Why would they take her in when they had so little themselves? The thought didn't make sense, but Lila had long learned not to question small blessings. Hope was a fragile thing, and if you clung to it too tightly, it would shatter. So she kept her questions buried deep, where they couldn't hurt her.

A soft knock on the door startled her from her thoughts, and she turned to see Mrs. Harding, the orphanage director, standing in the doorway. Her usual stern expression was softened by something else-sympathy? Reluctance? For a moment, she simply observed Lila, as if unsure how to break the silence.

"They're here," Mrs. Harding said gently, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "Your new family. They're waiting downstairs."

Lila's heart skipped a beat, her stomach twisting with a mix of excitement and unease. She was supposed to feel grateful, to feel excited, but instead, she was gripped by an overwhelming sense of fear. The last sixteen years had taught her to keep her emotions at bay, to keep her hopes in check. After all, most of the older kids never got a second chance, let alone a family. But for Lila, this felt different. Her whole world was about to change in a way she couldn't fully understand.

With shaking hands, she stood and smoothed down her sweater, the fabric feeling too tight, like it was holding her in. She didn't know why, but every step toward the door felt heavier. She had spent so long learning to survive this place, to make the best of things. But now, she was about to leave it all behind.

Mrs. Harding led her down the stairs, each creak of the wood beneath their feet echoing through the hall. Every turn, every corner was so familiar, a place Lila had known for most of her life. She had never really thought about leaving, but now, with every step, the truth settled deeper inside her. She was leaving this place, leaving the life she knew.

At the bottom of the stairs, two figures stood waiting in the lobby. The man and woman before her exuded a quiet, solid strength. Their hands were clasped together, their bodies standing close as if they had already formed a bond stronger than the distance between them. They were, as Mrs. Harding had said, omegas. Lila had heard about them, the Carters. They were from the outskirts, but they didn't look like others she'd heard about. There was a warmth in their eyes, a gentleness that unsettled her.

The man, Ethan, had the rugged face of someone who spent long hours in the sun. His hair was streaked with gray, his body broad and solid like the earth itself. His expression softened when he saw her, and he gave her a small, warm smile, as though he was doing his best to offer comfort, even though he didn't know how.

The woman, Maria, had a face framed by loose, dark curls. There was an undeniable kindness in her gaze, a softness that caught Lila off guard. It was the kind of look that said she cared, even before they'd met. Even now, as Lila stood frozen, unsure what to do, Maria's eyes remained full of warmth.

"Lila these are the Carters," Mrs. Harding said, her voice bright and trying to break the tension. "They'll be taking you home."

Home. The word felt foreign on her tongue, strange and heavy, like a word she'd never spoken before. Lila's throat tightened, but she forced herself to take a step forward. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to fill the space between them. Thank you. I'm happy. Neither of those words felt right, so she did the only thing she could: nodded, clutching her bag to her chest like it was the only thing holding her together.

Maria stepped forward first, her eyes filled with warmth. "It's wonderful to finally meet you," she said, her voice steady but kind. "We've been waiting for this day for a long time." She glanced at Ethan, who nodded silently in agreement.

Lila's heart skipped again, a strange mix of excitement and fear rising in her chest. She didn't know how to respond to them, to this kindness, but her body moved forward on its own. Ethan extended a hand, rough and calloused, but his touch was gentle as Lila took it.

"We know this must be overwhelming," Ethan murmured, his voice low and calming. "Take your time, okay? We'll figure this out together."

The sincerity in his voice made something in Lila's chest flutter, a small, fragile flicker of hope that she hadn't let herself feel in years. She blinked, quickly looking away, trying to keep the tears at bay. She didn't want to cry in front of them. Not now. Not when everything was changing.

But as they led her toward the car, and she stepped out into the world beyond the orphanage, that small glimmer of hope began to grow, just a little. It was fragile, like a flickering candle flame, but it was there. For the first time, Lila allowed herself to believe a little that maybe, just maybe, this was her chance to find a home.

And what lay ahead, she had no idea, but the storm outside seemed to match the turmoil within her. At that moment, Lila's journey was just beginning-and with, a future she could never have imagined