1
EVAN
“Goddess, I pray you guide me in the right direction,” I murmur as I press my cold palms together.
My eyes are bolted shut, and I try to keep my face as neutral as possible while shifting above the grains of rice that pierce the skin on my knees.
“I know I have done bad things,” I whisper with trembling lips. “But I don’t want to be like my brother. I never wanted to do the things he asked of me.”
The underdeveloped muscles in my legs begin to shake from the uncomfortable sensation of the rice. But this is a punishment to myself—proof that I will do anything for forgiveness.
“I’m sorry for what I have done. I’m sorry I am a disgrace to this world. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me,” I rasp with a tremor in my voice. “Even if I can’t forgive myself.”
When I peel my eyes open, I glance up at the clock on the wall. It’s approaching midday, and training starts soon. If I’m late, it’s only going to add to the stereotype I’ve adopted.
Well…I guess it’s not exactly a stereotype.
I am an Omega, which means I’m at the bottom of the pack. I’m the outcast who had nowhere else to go. If it weren’t forAlpha Jaxon saving me, I’d be dead. Sometimes, I think it would have been better off that way.
I sigh as I fall onto my ass, pick the grains of rice out of my knees, and scoop the rest up from the floor. I slide them into a metal container and hide it in my bedside drawer.
After getting dressed in suitable clothing, I head towards the clearing outside the house. The large patch of grass is littered with people from the pack, ready to give their all for our Alpha, who is training us to be nothing but the best.
A lot has changed since I first arrived when I was seventeen. It’s been three years, and I haven’t improved much. Given Kayden, the Beta, has taken time out of his day to help train the most inadequate among us, I’m still struggling to pack on muscle like most wolf shifters.
There is a light elbow in my ribs, and I glance at Ava, our Luna, standing beside me with a bright smile, rosy cheeks painting her ivory skin, and her dark hair swept back into a neat ponytail. “Hey,” she says softly. “Are you ready for Jaxon’s new training regime?”
I internally grimace. “No. Not really.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that.” She straightens her spine and shakes her head. “Besides, he ran it through with me. It’s good—the best we’ve ever had.”
“That’s if I can keep up,” I grumble under my breath.
Ava nudges me again. “You’ve got this.”
“Right, everyone, listen up,” Jaxon shouts across the clearing. All attention is immediately drawn to him with his voice of authority. “I’m sure most of you are aware I’ve been recruiting for multiple trainers within the pack to make us the strongest we can possibly be. The training schedule will be changing, and we’ll be adding extra hours to the current week. We’re incorporating our human strength, archery, and many other elements to raise our skill set to the highest.”
Goddess. I can barely run in wolf form and keep up, let alone learn how to use a bow and arrow. I’ll be like Bambi on ice—except with a dangerous weapon.
“We will be training together as a pack, but also in smaller groups, to ensure each and every one of you is receiving close inspection for any issues,” Jaxon says as he stands tall, arms tucked behind his back.
I gulp. Any close inspection of me and they’ll know I’ve outstayed my welcome.
My eyes flick across the clearing until they land on Kayden, his face void of any emotion. He can be lethal when he wants to be, alongside our Alpha. You wouldn’t want to see them coming. I’ve heard the horror stories of what they did to my brother, and as much as I hate violence, it’s a relief to know he’s not here anymore. He deserved death more than anyone I know.
Kayden’s eyes lock on mine as we listen to Jaxon’s declaration. He nods once in my direction, and I inhale a sharp breath. We might be working close together on building confidence, but when I’m with everyone like this…it’s intensely overwhelming.
“I don’t want to see a single person slacking off. I need you to be fearless and brave. I want you all to be as physically fit as possible.” Jaxon’s gaze flicks over us. “And I know it’s doable because you all have incredible potential. So, we’re going to work hard. Does everyone understand?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
He nods curtly. “Let’s not waste any more time,” he murmurs before splitting us up with our new training mentors.
When he calls my name, I immediately go to my designated trainer, Cyrus. He’s been working with Jaxon over the past few months, and he’s brutal when it comes down to training, which could either be good or incredibly bad.
I loiter at the back when people gather around him, and I find myself out of my depth. They all have muscles bulging from their arms and loom over me. I’m barely five foot eight and struggle to put on weight.
I’m a sad excuse for a wolf.
