Lyra's POV
The dog darted off with my meat between its teeth, and I ran after it with my feet sliding on the damp ground.
"Come back here, you thief!" I shouted, but my voice came out weak. My breath burned my chest as I chased it through the narrow path behind the cooking shed. I hated how light my steps felt, not from strength but because there was nothing in me. I felt tired even before I started running.
The dog was fast, a shaggy brown thing with a tail that wagged like it was proud of itself, and I pushed harder, clutching at my skirts so I would not trip.
"Please stop," I wheezed and hated how small I sounded.
It darted toward the open training fields, and I followed, cursing under my breath. I wanted to cry, but I kept running with my legs trembling.
When I finally caught up, the dog had stopped near the edge of the field, chewing happily. I bent low, gasping, and grabbed the meat from its mouth.
"You're wicked," I muttered, and my hands shook as I wiped the dirt off the steak. Then I heard the giggles behind me.
I froze and slowly looked up. I had run straight into the female training grounds where a group of girls stood a few feet away with wooden staffs in their hands, and in the middle of them stood Luna Selene Moon from the Crestwood Pack, looking at me with an amused smile.
"Well, well," she said. "Look who the dog dragged in."
Another girl snorted.
"Or what the dog stole from." They laughed harder.
I unconsciously gripped my meat even tighter.
"I don't want trouble," I said quickly. "I only wanted to take back what was mine."
Selene stepped closer.
"Such bravery," she mocked. "Running after scraps like a true Omega."
"I wasn't…" I tried, but my voice faded.
"She's shaking," one of the younger girls said. "Is she afraid of us or of the dog?"
"She's just weak," Selene said with her head tilted and eyes full of pity that wasn't real. "An Omega who can't even hold on to her dinner. How will you ever belong here, little mouse?"
The girls laughed again.
I wanted to tell them to leave me alone. I wanted to say I didn't care, but my tongue betrayed me.
"Please," I whispered. "I don't want any trouble."
Selene looked me over slowly.
"You're trembling all over. Maybe you should go home before you faint."
Their laughter followed me as I turned away with my head down so they wouldn't see the tears in my eyes.
I walked quickly, clinging to the dirty meat close even though I no longer wanted it. I just wanted to get away.
I was still walking down the street when the horns suddenly sounded through the streets, and people stopped talking as everyone moved to the side of the road as guards shouted for us to clear the way.
"The Alpha's procession," someone said.
I stepped back, almost bumping into a barrel. Dust rose as a line of riders came through the main street, and at the front was Alpha Kael Stormrunner, tall and proud on a black horse. He rode with calm strength and eyes sweeping over the people gracefully.
For a moment, his gaze landed on me, and it stayed there longer than it should have. I felt my heart jump, but then he looked ahead and passed by with his escort close behind.
When the street grew quiet again, I hurried home, clutching the meat like it might keep me safe, but my mind was all about Alpha Kael...
The moment I pushed open the door, my foster mother stood waiting with her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed into a frown.
"Where have you been?" she snapped. "And what is that?"
"The steak," I said softly.
Her face twisted with anger.
"You let a dog take it?"
"I tried to stop it," I said. "I ran after..."
"You ran?" she cut me off. "Look at you. Dirt all over, hair a mess. And you still messed it up." She shook her head. "You're worthless, Lyra. Dumber than the dog you chased."
I bit my lip and looked at the floor.
"If I had known you would turn out like this, I'd have left you where your last family threw you," she went on. "At least then I wouldn't have to feed a useless mouth."
Her words opened up a whole world of hurt inside me, and for a moment I couldn't speak
. "Go wash," she ordered. "And don't expect supper!"
I slipped past her to the small room I shared with Mira, the youngest daughter of the house. I set the steak on the table and went to the basin. My hands were still shaking as I splashed water on my face and watched as mud streaked down my cheeks, mixing with tears I hadn't even felt
. I looked at my reflection in the cracked mirror, and a thin girl stared back with her brown hair tangled with her eyes red, and he looked like she didn't belong anywhere.
My chest tightened, and I pressed my palm to the mirror and closed my eyes.
The door opened softly behind me.
"Lyra?" Mira's voice came behind.
I turned to see Mira standing there holding a towel. She was the only one who ever smiled at me like that.
"Don't listen to her," she said. "You're not worthless."
I wiped at my face.
"She's right. I can't do anything right."
"That's not true." Mira came closer and wrapped the towel around my shoulders. "You had a bad day, that's all."
"I always have bad days."
She squeezed my arm.
"Someone's here to see you."
I blinked.
"What?"
"You've got a visitor."
I laughed a little, even though it sounded sad.
"You're teasing me."
"I'm not." Mira seemed serious. "Come to the living room. You'll see."
I hesitated. No one ever came for me.
"Come on," she said.
I followed her through the hall, still drying my face with the towel.
When we entered the living room, I looked up and gasped…