Skylar's POV

My father's fury was something to behold. It had taken every ounce of effort from both my mom and me to prevent him from tearing Grayson to pieces. A part of me, the darker part, wouldn’t have minded if he had. Grayson deserved everything that was coming to him.

Meanwhile, word had spread quickly, as it always does in the pack, that Grayson had been publicly chastised by his father, Alpha Amir, in front of the entire pack.

For an Alpha's heir, such a public rebuke was a humiliation of the highest order, one that could cripple a wolf's spirit. Wolves were prideful creatures, and to be shamed in such a way often caused their inner beasts to retreat, abandoning their human counterparts in silent protest. Grayson's wolf must be unresponsive now, leaving him vulnerable and furious.

'Serves the ignorant jerk right...'

'Keira! No profanity. What have I told you about this?' I reprimanded my wolf.

'Apologies, Skylar, but admit it. He is one, isn't he?' Keira shot back, her tone rebellious yet playful.

I couldn't help but laugh. Keira was my wolf spirit, the part of me that refused to be cowed by anyone or anything. She was fierce, unafraid to speak her mind, and never took anything too seriously—a trait I envied.

'No, Skylar. You don’t need to be more like me. You are already like me. We are one, remember? You possess that feisty spirit, just waiting for the right moment to unleash it. Trust me,' Keira's voice echoed in my mind.

Breakfast time.

My parents’ eyes were filled with remorse as they glanced at me over breakfast. The guilt in their expressions was heartbreaking. They blamed themselves for my situation, even though they had done everything they could to protect me. It wasn’t their fault—my fate had been sealed long before I was born, and nothing they did could change that.

"Are you alright, love?" My mother asked, her voice trembling slightly. I could see the worry etched into her features, the dark circles under her eyes from sleepless nights.

"I'm fine, Mom," I lied, forcing a smile. "Don't worry about me."

But they did worry. Every day, they watched as the pack's disdain grew, as the hatred directed toward me intensified. I was the girl who had caused Grayson, the future Alpha, disgrace, the girl who had brought shame to the entire pack by not being able to shift.

Their probing stares, filled with venomous disdain, were something I had grown accustomed to. It didn't matter who and what I was; to them, I was an outcast, a perfect target for their contempt.

I pulled the sleeves of my oversized sweater down further, making sure it covered my hands completely. The smell of cheap perfume clung to me, an overpowering scent meant to mask my true identity as a Nightshade Wolf. I had become adept at hiding who I was by faking Omega scent, and also by using loose clothing to conceal myself. Even at school, I kept my head down, hoping to avoid any more confrontations. I was grateful enough that even though life was hard there, Leon would always make it a little better.

But today, I wasn't so lucky.

Audrey, Grayson's girlfriend, sauntered over to where I was sitting, her entourage of mean girls in tow. She was the epitome of everything I despised—shallow, cruel, and utterly convinced of her own superiority. Another name to add to the ever-growing list of tormentors who seemed to derive endless pleasure from making my life miserable.

"How dare you show your face here?" Audrey's voice was shrill, cutting through the chatter of the other students. "Everyone hates you for what happened to Grayson. You absolute witch!"

I looked up, meeting her gaze with as much indifference as I could muster. Audrey’s words were meant to wound, but I was past the point of feeling hurt.

"Is there something you need, Audrey?" I asked, my voice calm despite the fury bubbling just beneath the surface.

"You need to disappear, Skylar. Grayson was humiliated because of you! How does it feel to be the most hated person in the pack?"

"I wouldn’t know," I replied, shrugging. "But you’re giving me a good idea of how it feels to be the most pathetic."

Audrey’s face flushed red with anger, but before she could respond, the bell rang, signaling the start of our next class. I didn’t wait for her to spit out whatever venomous retort she had prepared. Instead, I gathered my things and walked away, leaving her fuming.

Shift class was a dreaded part of my school day. The class was designed to help young wolves learn to control their shifts and harness the power within them. But for me, it was nothing more than a public spectacle, a chance for everyone to mock the fact that I still couldn’t shift.

I stood at the back of the room, hoping to blend into the background as the instructor called out names for the next demonstration. But of course, blending in wasn’t an option when Grayson was in the same class.

I saw him out of the corner of my eye, his face twisted in a hateful sneer as he stalked toward me.

"Aren’t you going to join?" Grayson’s voice was low, dripping with malice. "Oh wait, you can’t shift. How could a pathetic creature like you bring me such humiliation? My wolf abandoned me for the past week. I can’t shift. I can’t fight. All because of you!"

His words hit me like a physical blow, but I refused to flinch. My anger flared, causing my eyes to shift to a bright, shining bluish silver—the unmistakable sign of my rage. And yet, I immediately concealed it before he could notice.

"Perhaps if you were half the man your father is, we wouldn’t be having this conversation," I retorted, my voice icy. "So, I suggest you back off before you embarrass yourself any further."

"How dare you?" Grayson snarled, taking a threatening step toward me.

He was about to hurt me when suddenly, a figure shadowed mine. That was Leon!

He faced Grayson, his eyes seething with anger.

"L-Leon..." I said, surprised.

"I'm not just going to watch him hurt you," he whispered as he eyed Grayson once again.

When I peaked, the Alpha's son smirked upon looking at my friend with eyes almost unreadable.

"Oh? The outcasts are hanging out again? You think you can protect her with that frail body?" He mocked Leon and the next thing I knew, he was already punching my poor friend.

I gasped in shock and tried to come in between but Leon, who had lost his temper, punched Grayson back with the same intensity. I could not believe it, and seeing how angry he was, something in the air shifted. I didn't know if I was imagining it, but I must be seeing things out of shock.

But then again... I must be really imagining things indeed because he collapsed again, saying his stomach hurt.

But didn't Grayson punch his face?

"Grayson! What is this again? If you don’t step away from them this instant, I will postpone your ascension to Alpha for another year," Alpha Amir came and commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Grayson froze, his eyes wide with shock. "What!? You mean I won’t become Alpha even after I find my mate? You can’t do that!" His voice was desperate, pleading.

"I can, and I will, Grayson. Don’t test me," Alpha Amir replied sternly. "You’re dangerously close to forcing me to make that announcement."

Grayson’s face twisted with rage, but he knew better than to defy his father. With a final glare in my direction, he stormed off, leaving the room in a tense silence. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling within me. Slowly, my eyes returned to their normal grey.

In the next class, I felt a presence beside me. It was Leon, whose cheek was a little swollen. But then, as I looked at him, I noticed that the purplish part was a little bit powdery. I wonder what did he put on his wound?

He was dressed in his usual nerdy clothes, his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, making him look like the unassuming bookworm everyone thought he was.

"Are you okay?" Leon asked, his voice soft and concerned.

I nodded, managing a small smile. "I’m fine... You're hurt because of me. And you weren’t even there on my birthday." I couldn’t keep the hurt out of my voice.

Leon’s expression softened, and he reached into his bag, pulling out a familiar chocolate bar. "I’m sorry, Sky. I had somewhere important to go. Also, I could not just watch that jerk bully you. But I have your favorite chocolate bar right here. Belated happy birthday, silly girl," he said, handing it to me with a sheepish grin.

I took the chocolate, feeling a bit of the tension ease from my shoulders. "Thank you, Leon," I whispered, touched by the simple gesture.

Skylar's POV

Today should have been a day of joy—a day to celebrate the end of the term before Christmas and the upcoming Mating Ball. But as I leaned against the door, my shoulders trembling with the weight of it all, I realized just how far I was from joy.

The Mating Ball was only ten days away. I’d been holding onto that hope—the idea that someone, somewhere, would finally show up as my mate so I could unleash my power without getting scared that I would be targeted.

The bullying had only intensified since the incident with Grayson. My packmates saw me as the cause of his disgrace—a convenient scapegoat for their rage and discontent. It was as if they’d forgotten I was one of them. But then again, perhaps they never truly believed it.

Leon, my only friend, endured torment just as I did, though he never let it show. He stood by me, unwavering and loyal, even when the others turned their backs. Yet even his steadfast friendship couldn't shield me from the venomous words and cruel pranks that had become a regular part of my life.

How much longer could I endure this? I kept telling myself: Just until the Mating Ball. Just a little longer. But even that promise felt thin, like a thread ready to snap.

As I sank onto the edge of my bed, the weight of my secret pressed heavily on my chest. Ever since my first shift, Alpha Amir has been my mentor, training me in secret and helping me hone my abilities. He alone understood what I truly was—a Nightshade Lycan, one of the most powerful and revered among werewolves. My inner power was a force to be reckoned with; it would take more than ten wolves to even pose a challenge. Yet, to keep that secret, I had to wear the mask of an Omega.

To them, I was just the weak girl who couldn't shift, the Omega with no real power. They didn’t know how I masked my scent, how I wore baggy clothes to hide my true form. How I deliberately kept myself low, enduring the jeers and bullying without so much as a word. When they injured me, I had to pretend the wounds lasted longer, even using makeup to fake injuries after they’d healed, because an Omega’s wounds didn’t mend quickly.

All these measures, all this suffering, just to stay hidden. The thought of it made my heart ache. Even as I sat there, tears staining my cheeks, I couldn’t help but question the Moon Goddess. Why? Why did she give me this power if all it did was condemn me to a life of secrecy and loneliness?

I wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be a leader, like my parents. My father was a high-ranking member of the pack, and my mother’s wisdom was renowned. But for now, I was nothing more than an outcast with a secret so dangerous it could destroy us all if revealed.

How did it come to this? The memory surged up like a flood, washing over me until I couldn’t resist it anymore.

Flashback

It was my fourteenth birthday, a day that started like any other but ended in a way that changed my life forever. I had woken up with a sudden, splitting headache, a pain so intense that it brought me to my knees. I knew something was wrong—terribly wrong. My parents, sensing my distress, had immediately called Alpha Amir. They knew, even before I did, what was happening to me.

I could barely see through the haze of pain as they talked in the other room. My mother's voice was full of worry, my father's laced with tension. Then I heard Alpha Amir’s voice, calm but serious.

I could not understand anything, not even with the Alpha's power trying to control the surge in me. Until I groaned in so much agony, and the next thing I knew, my whole body was illuminated with light. The sensation was so foreign that I could feel bones cracking and muscles protruding.

I didn't know if I lost consciousness along the way or if I was merely delirious, but when I gained reasoning, my parents were talking with Alpha Amir.

"Yes, it is unmistakable," he said, his voice filled with a mix of pride and concern. "The signs are all there—the early shift, the greyish fur tinged with silver, the way her energy flares and pulses with power. She is a Nightshade Lycan, a being of extraordinary strength and speed with a long lifespan. Their power rivals, and in some cases, even surpasses that of the Royals. Her lifespan will be longer than most, and her blood…"

I could hear the hesitation in his voice as he continued, "Her blood can extend the lives of those who drink it. Nightshade Lycans are not just powerful; they are coveted and hunted. We must protect her. I will train her and help her harness her abilities. But until she finds her mate, we must keep this secret. Her identity must remain hidden, even from those in our pack."

My heart pounded in my chest as I listened, barely able to process what was being said. My parents were silent, but I could feel their fear. Alpha Amir went on, his tone growing even more grave.

"We will disguise her scent, mask her power. She must pretend to be an ordinary Omega who has not yet shifted. It will be hard—she will face ridicule, and her status will suffer. But it is necessary, for her safety and the safety of the pack. Once she finds her mate, her true power will be unlocked. Only then can she stand against those who would seek to harm her."

Those words had sealed my fate. I was only fourteen, barely more than a child, but that day I had to make a decision that would shape the rest of my life. I agreed to hide, to mask my true nature, because the alternative was too terrifying to consider.

End of Flashback

Now, four years later, I was still hiding, still pretending to be something I wasn’t. The weight of it all was crushing, and some days, I felt like I couldn’t go on. But then I thought of the Mating Ball, of the mate I might find there, someone who would see me, truly see me, and accept me for who I was.

Finally, there will be no more hiding. No more suffering.

I just need to find my mate in the mating ball.

Who will he be?