Skylar's POV
I remember the first time I truly felt the weight of being different. I was about fourteen, maybe fifteen, when it hit me that I wasn't just the "lost pup" whispered about in passing I was the pack's disappointment, the one who didn't belong. Around me, the others shifted effortlessly, their bodies changing with the moon's pull, becoming fierce and wild like they were born for it. But I couldn't. Not yet. Not ever, it seemed.
It was like watching a private world unfold in front of me, a world I was locked out of. The other kids, the ones I'd grown up with transformed into powerful wolves under the moonlight, their bodies strong, their instincts sharp. They were everything I wasn't.
School turned into a battlefield. The same kids who once laughed and joked with me grew cold, their smiles replaced with sneers. "Freak," they'd whisper as I passed. "Useless." Sometimes, I heard those words loud and clear, their venom sinking deep into my bones. But no one dared say it to my face, as I was the Alpha's last born. The only ones who dared were successors to other packs Alphas.
I tried to ignore it, to bury the shame, but the pack's rules were clear: strength ruled everything. And I had none.
One night, after a pack meeting, I found myself cornered in the dimly lit hallway by Elena, my older sister. Her eyes were cold, her voice dripping with venom. "You're embarrassing us," she spat, stepping closer. "You're weak, Skylar. You make Mom and Dad look bad."
I wanted to fight back, to yell at her that I was trying, that I was more than this failure she painted me to be. But exhaustion weighed me down, and I swallowed the words, my throat tight. Instead, I said nothing, pretending the sting didn't reach my heart.
At school, the bullying only got worse. One afternoon, as I walked past the cafeteria, a group of kids from the Crescent pack blocked my path. Among them was Liam Brooke the golden boy everyone adored, son of the Crescent alpha, and, at the time, not yet my boyfriend.
"Hey, Skylar," Liam called out, flashing that effortless smile that could charm anyone. But today, there was something darker in his eyes a flicker of mockery I couldn't miss. "Still can't shift, huh?"
The words landed harder than any punch. I looked down, biting my lip to stop the sting from showing.
Suddenly, Mila appeared by my side, her voice steady and fierce. "Leave her alone, Liam."
He turned to her with that same sharp smile, but the edge in his voice was unmistakable. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Later, as we walked home from school, I tried to keep the memory of Mila's words close. She was the only person who stood up for me when no one else would. "Thanks for stepping in," I murmured.
Mila shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "You know I got you."
It may sound complicated but I finally fell in love with Liam and we started dating. Yurp! We did.
Dating Liam was complicated. On the surface, he was everything I wanted: charming, confident, and from a powerful family. But behind closed doors, things were different. I often felt like a project, like he was trying to shape me into the perfect girlfriend the perfect future mate to unite our packs.
One evening, after a tense family dinner, my father pulled me aside. His voice was calm but held steel beneath the surface. "Skylar, you need to understand your role. Liam isn't just your boyfriend; he's the alliance our pack needs."
I forced a nod, but my heart ached. "I know, Father."
He gave me a long look, almost pitying. "You'll see. This is for the good of all of us."
Later, I found myself in my room, wrestling with the weight of his words. Was I just a piece on some chessboard? A pawn in a game I didn't want to play?
Things came to a head one night when Liam and I argued over a minor pack event. The small disagreement quickly spiraled out of control.
"You don't trust me," he accused, his voice low and harsh as we stood in the dim light of my bedroom.
I shook my head. "I don't even know who you are anymore."
His eyes darkened, cold and unyielding. "You'll come around. You have to."
"I don't want to," I whispered, my voice trembling. "This isn't love. It's a cage."
He stepped closer, his hand brushing my cheek, but the touch felt like a chain rather than a comfort. "You're mine, Skylar. Whether you like it or not."
I pulled away, tears stinging my eyes. "I'm not yours."
The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating.
In that moment, I realized love wasn't supposed to feel like a trap. It wasn't supposed to hurt this much.
The world of packs was a brutal, unforgiving place full of sharp edges and darker shadows than I ever imagined. Every move I made felt like walking on thin ice, each step laced with hidden dangers and invisible traps. Power wasn't just something you earned; it was demanded, stolen, fought for in whispers and blood. And me? I was just a girl caught in the middle of a game I didn't understand, struggling to find footing in a world where loyalty was bought, and betrayal was around every corner.
But the deeper I dug, the more I realized something terrifying: the secre
ts I carried, the power I never knew I had, made me a target.