ESCAPING MY EVIL FATED MATE

I hate daytime. The rise of the sun which usually brings some level of joy to others has only brought sadness to me. My suffering would usually begin with back-breaking chores as the sun rises and would go on and on while getting physically abused in the process, till late in the evening when most pack members finally retire to bed.

What makes it worse is that my body is not strong enough to withstand the magnitude of pain they inflict on me, and I don't heal as fast as a normal werewolf should. I feel the impact of every blow and kick they rained on me more than I would have felt if I had gotten my wolf.

I'm not a normal werewolf you see. I'm a very late bloomer. Normally, the shifting age for werewolves is fifteen years. Sixteen for late bloomers. When I didn't shift at even seventeen years, I became the omega freak who is the butt of every joke. The stress reliever for every frustrated and the punching bag for every aggressive pack member, most especially those that call themselves my family.

Now I'm almost eighteen and for as long as I can remember, I've been insulted and beaten so many times my body has kinda gotten used to it. It's as if they all want to know what it feels like to beat on the freak who smells like a shifter but just wouldn't shift. They wanted to find out how flat I could lie for them to trample on. How strong my body is compared to theirs and how much punishment my body can withstand before it finally begs for mercy

But I refuse to beg. No matter how hard I am kicked and how much pain my body is going through, I have never cowered in fear, nor have I begged for mercy. That is what infuriates them the most about me and what makes me happy the most about them. Oh, how I love to see that look of frustration on their faces when they couldn't break me.

So for me, pain is synonymous with daytime. But nighttime is different. Nighttime means peace and tranquility at last! It is the time I finally get to put my feet up, close my eyes, and forget for the moment all the physical, mental, and emotional abuse I suffered during the daytime.

It is the time I can relax enough so my body can be able to heal till I'm finally able to drift off to la-la land. Nighttime and sleep, my temporary escape from the cruelty that I face daily from my family and pack members.

My name is Ash...

No, not Asher. Not Ashley either. Just plain Ash. Like the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance...

Yeah, strange name for a girl, I know. I guess my parents hate me that much. I mean who named their only daughter Ash, made her drop out of school, and forced her to work as a maid!?

Ever since they made me drop out of school at sixteen, saying I needed to work and contribute to the housekeeping expenses. My mother forced me to work as a maid, the same work she does for a living. While she works at the Alpha's mansion. She made me work at the pack house, cooking for, and cleaning after so many people

Most pack members like my family have their own houses but only high-ranking officials stay in the pack house with their families if they so wish. And most of them do, who would pass on the opportunity of a free maid service?

Today's work is more hectic than usual. All pack officials and elders are gathered inside the pack's dining hall, waiting for the Alpha and his Luna before the day's meeting commences.