ADONIS SECRET

The hushed whispers and over a hundred pairs of eyes watching me made me tremble in fear. I avoided everyone's gaze and stepped forward to meet my wolf for the first time.

As the alpha's only child, my only purpose in the pack was to breed and produce an heir, and the pack's future rested in my hands. I didn't want to fail my dad and packmates, even though they'd failed me countless times.

But my stepmother was convinced I wasn't an alpha wolf. She was making mocking faces at me, while Dad wore a bored frown, and my step-sisters, who were always treated better than me, waited to laugh scornfully at me.

"Come closer, Iris. Don't be afraid."

The elders waited patiently for me to approach them, but my legs didn't feel like mine. They were so heavy. After meeting my wolf, I would marry Ethan, my boyfriend, have our first son, and hand him over to my dad. Then, Ethan and I could have other kids for ourselves. I wasn't bothered because we clicked instantly when our parents introduced us.

"Iris! Wait!"

I was momentarily distracted by Ethan waving and running towards me. He held a bunch of roses and my favorite brand of chocolates. His thoughtfulness made me break into a tearful smile.

Ethan, nineteen, had met his wolf the previous year. He took my sweaty palm in his.

"I believe in you, Iris."

I nodded weakly. An elder, so old that all his children and some of his grandchildren had passed away, stepped forward. His scaly hands rubbed an ointment on my forehead and chanted in a low, trembling voice.

"Shift into your wolf. Embrace it and feel its strength flow into you."

I lifted my chin and closed my eyes. As werewolves, our first shift was always a big deal, so important that most families threw parties to celebrate. Expecting a party from my dad was overly optimistic, but at least a pat on the back and a simple "congratulations" would make me smile.

I felt the transformation taking hold in my body. It was so painful that I screamed out. Strange things began to happen: my bones snapped, my nails turned into claws, and thick, brown fur sprouted all over me.

The crowd gasped in horror. My subconscious knew something was wrong. My dad's eyes glowed red like a demon. Alpha wolves were always large and majestic. Why was my wolf the size of a puppy?

"Shift back, you loser!" my dad bellowed with a voice full of shame. Ethan was nowhere to be found, and stepmother's mocking laughter filled the air.

I collapsed to the ground, and a woman hastily covered me with a white cloth. The crowd whispered the word " omega, " a label that stung like a thousand needles. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I locked gazes with my disappointed, disgusted dad.

"I have always suspected that your filthy mother cheated on me with an omega slave," he exclaimed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Now, this proves that you're a bastard. I hope she rots in hell!"

Right before me, my worst fears were manifesting: Ethan couldn't face my dad's wrath, and my stepmother beckoned the wardens from the prison where omega women spent the rest of their lives to whisk me away.

I tried to fight the wardens, but they grabbed my arms, dragged me along with them, and led me to a van.

As soon as they opened the door, I began screaming, with tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Where are you taking me? Dad! Ethan! Please, don't abandon me with them. Help me!"

My dad turned around, and the hatred in his eyes told me all I needed to know. I stopped struggling and got into the van.

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Three years later

Returning home every year for my birthday was a painful reminder of my worthlessness. I wasn't looking forward to my dad constantly putting me down.

The Omega Sisters' Sanctuary was a terrible place, filled with depressed Omega girls who made no effort to socialize. Still, I'd rather remain in my little corner than face my family.

The matron tapped on my bunk. "It's time to head home. Happy twenty-first birthday. Enjoy the evening with your family."