The Alphas' Redemption

“For an orphan, you don’t know your place.” 

“Amara, please tell me something that I don’t already know.” Laleh spat right back at her, chin held high. 

Laleh smiled proudly as Amara’s jaw began moving, they danced to this tune before. “How dare you?” Amara stepped forward. 

Laleh always stood there like a moron and let Amara have a way, but not today, no time to waste. Laleh stepped aside making Amara fall, face first.

“This has been nice. Let's meet here the day after tomorrow. Yes?” Laleh said and walked away, feeling the intense daggers on her back.

The fake smile she wore dropped as she hurriedly headed to the transformation packhouse. She couldn’t believe how fast years had gone by as she worked tirelessly in this forsaken pack.

She always dreamed vividly of a white wolf and she felt close to it every morning she woke up.  

Laleh arranged the supplies inside the rooms easily. Not sweating even a little bit. And even when the others took their breaks, Laleh continued. Her stamina shocked the others and whenever they asked, she always stared blankly.

If they cared that much about her, they would have asked why she wasn’t amongst her agemates as they finalized their training on transformation.

She would have gained a lot from it and yet she missed all because she was simply an orphan, and an orphan meant working on the grounds instead of being at the training rooms, learning. 

The others returned and ordered her to deliver water to her agemates. Upon arriving, she felt the familiar stabbing sadness in her heart. Their parents were there, supporting them at this huge step of their lives. 

“For a cursed wolf, her punishment isn’t enough.” 

“Her wolf will be disgusted when she shows.” 

“She is a disgrace, no wonder her parents left her.” 

She handled matters of her heart pretty well since no one saw it, but when it came to what she heard, Laleh wanted nothing but to stand her ground and told them to shut up. 

But today was different, the elders were there, and in as much they had turned a blind eye and deaf ears towards the hatred she received, she couldn’t disrespect them. 

Silently, as their brick-like words hit her weak body, she handed them water and clean towels. By the time she left, her ears were bleeding. 

“Watch where you are going.” A grunted voice came. 

Laleh couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Amara’s voice always awakens something in her. She raised her head, but before she could come up with her snarky comment, she came face to face with the alpha, beside him, his son and the beta, Amara’s father. 

“Good day, Alpha River.” Laleh managed. 

“Lila.” Alpha River called. 

Laleh nodded. 

“Father, we are late for the practice.” The alpha’s son spoke. 

Amara hit Laleh on the shoulder as she walked past her. Laleh couldn’t help but look back. She found the alpha’s son looking at her. It must have been great being the beta and alpha’s kid. 

The latter and other chosen young werewolves received special training on transition already, Laleh couldn’t help but wonder why they were heading to where their age mates were. 

She knew she should leave but instead she heeded her legs and allowed them to lead her back. Like the perfect pariah she was, Laleh peeped through the window,  and listened with a pang in her heart as the alpha began, “I am proud of all of …”

Amara and Carter, the alpha’s son, stood next to their parents, heads held high. They looked great, and strong, oh, if only Amara’s attitude fit her aura.

“For a powerful girl like Amara, what kind of wolf would she get?” Laleh wondered. 

“I  bet it will be as snarky as her. But what about the alpha’s son?” 

“Lisa? Earth to Lisa?” The alpha called. 

Her eyes were stuck in the same position in the room, her mind miles away, “Lila?” The alpha screamed, followed by a loud clap. His cold voice brought her back, face white, she caught everyone’s eyes staring while murmuring.

Hands pushed her forcefully forward, and she found herself standing in front of hundred intensified stares. 

“My son?” The alpha asked. 

Luckily, before Laleh could speak, a voice came, “excuse me alpha, I need her to assist me in the library.”

Entering the library, Meine commented, “for someone who hasn’t transformed yet, you sure have a lot of power.” 

Laleh chuckled, “the best slave the pack has been blessed with.”

“I am sorry, Laleh.” 

“I was joking. Oh, there is your book.” Laleh said, watching as Meine picked the book that fell behind the shelf. She lifted the heavy shelf back to its position, bid Meine goodbye and returned to her room. 

**

The moon shone, standing strong in the sky, alongside the beautiful stars that graced the River Bloom Pack. Laleh exhaled and then sat on the floor. 

She felt so alone, in her tiny room while her age mates were at the transformation packhouse she had prepared for weeks. But then, it didn’t matter, they were going to get their wolves, as would she.

*

Laleh woke up to the mixed happy, old and new howls of werewolves.

She went to the window, still, the moon was brighter than ever, blinding. She looked down and saw her feet, had she already transformed and transitioned back? 

No.

She should have felt it. 

Panicking, she began pacing. 

Where was her wolf? 

Although she hadn’t attended the training, she knew it wasn’t that hard. Desperately, she called her wolf. She let go of the white wolf’s idea of black fur. But nothing happened. Exhausted, she fell asleep again. 

“We are not ready. It is not our time yet.” 

“It is my time. Let me out.” 

“No. Stand down.” 

“You aren’t in power here, I am.” 

“How dare you? I have been with her all her life. You dare show up today and claim you are in charge?” 

“Laleh, the breakfast won’t prepare itself. Let me not come in there!”

Laleh shot up, mind spiraling and looked around the room.

“Weak one, the alpha needs to speak to you.”

“You missed the first run through the woods, why?” The alpha asked angrily the moment she opened the door. “Follow me.” 

In the pack’s main field, the alpha ordered, “since you were rude to join us yesternight, transform now. Your royal blood needs an audience.” 

Laleh trembled. 

Ten minutes later, Amara yelled, “where is that naughty mouth of yours?” 

“I didn’t transform last night. I don’t have my wolf. Yet.” Laleh said.

“I was lied to. You are not the alpha’s daughter let alone a royal. You are a worthless, wolfless, weak girl.” Alpha River snapped.

Everyone’s mouth fell at the alpha’s words but their shock didn’t level Laleh’s disbelief. The alpha’s daughter?

The voices she heard earlier on came, “you were right, she isn’t ready for us.” 

Eyes wide, Laleh held her head, it was about to burst. The alpha wouldn’t just mention she wasn’t the alpha’s daughter because of saying, would he? 

Who was she? 

And the voices? 

“If you expect anything from anyone, and then they fail you, you will be disappointed. But with no expectations, come no regrets.” That was Laleh’s mantra and she was happy she held on to it because everything and everyone had taken a dangerous twist.   

“You are not the alpha’s daughter.” Those words rang in her mind every minute of the day yet she never asked more of it.

The alpha’s disgrace turned Laleh’s life into a worst nightmare unlike the one she was in before. Her agemates insulted her. The task master added her work, and she slaved away for hours. 

The work increased and she felt herself disappearing into a deep abyss with no one to pull her out. And when her agemates began to train their wolves, she wanted nothing but to disappear. And to make it worse, Laleh’s strength continued and so was her agemates’ hatred. How could she be strong with no wolf? 

Frequently, she visited Meine and even one day, Meine apologized, apologizing for not stopping the