Alpha or Lycan: Otsana's Dilemma

Otsana.

I stood at the edge of the forest, the soft earth muffling my footsteps. The shadows of the trees enveloped me, a dark cloak of solitude.

The clearing emerged from the undergrowth, and I could see the grave marker of my beloved mother. "Mother," I whispered. "It's me again."

My fingers trailed over the smooth stone, as if trying to recapture a memory long since faded. Grief welled within me, like a tide rising to consume my heart.

Tears flowed freely as I gazed at the headstone, longing to see her again, to share my struggles since her passing. My hand reached out, tracing the marble surface as I whispered:

"Mom, it's been three years since you left me. Your absence has been incredibly hard. My stepfather, Alpha Grayson, and stepsister, Sophia, have made my life very difficult. They treat me like a servant, and sometimes I feel like joining you would be a release from this pain."

My mother's grave has been my sole solace in times of distress. She was my confidante, my protector, and the father figure I never knew. My father abandoned us when my mother was pregnant with me, and she kept me away from him. She later married Alpha Grayson, who had a daughter, Sophia, from a previous relationship. Sophia has consistently displayed hatred towards me, yet I couldn't bring myself to hate her, given our familial bond.

I rose from my mother's grave, my legs stiff and aching from hours of kneeling. The moon shone overhead, its pale light casting a cold glow over the forest.

As I emerged from the trees, I could see the pack house looming in the distance, its stone walls and wooden beams seeming to loom over me like a giant predator.

My heart sank as I approached the house, knowing what awaited me. "Wolfless Omega," they called me. "Witch."

I forced myself to hold my head high as I passed through the gates, my footsteps echoing through the empty courtyard. In the shadows, I could see the hateful gazes of the other pack members, their lips twisted into sneers and snarls.

"There she is," one of them hissed. "The wolfless freak."

I ignored them, keeping my eyes fixed on the ground as I made my way towards my room. But I could feel their stares burning into my back, like a brand of shame.

I closed the door to my room with a soft click, grateful to be away from the prying eyes and mocking words of the other pack members.

A few minutes later, I got up from my bed to go have dinner downstairs. I haven't eaten since morning, as I was instructed by my stepfather that I'd only be eating just dinner every day.

I froze. The door wouldn't budge.

I pulled and pushed, panic rising in my chest. Locked. Someone had locked me in.

"Otsana!" A voice cackled from the other side of the door, high and cruel. "Looks like you're not going anywhere, Omega."

Sophia, my step-sister, was laughing with glee. I could hear the grin in her voice, the malice in her words. "You can have your room for dinner, sister dear," she called out. "It's more fitting for a witch like you anyway."

Behind her, I could hear Ephriam, her cruel-hearted boyfriend, chuckling along.

"She deserves it," he said. "Freaks like her don't belong in the pack house."

My hands trembled as I pounded on the door, my desperation mounting.

I slumped against the door, my tears falling freely as I cried out for help. But my cries fell on deaf ears, the walls of the pack house swallowing my pleas for mercy.

Hours passed, the night sky giving way to dawn's pale light. Still, no one came. No one would help me, the Omega without a wolf.

Exhausted and heartbroken, I curled up on the floor, my body trembling with sobs. And, eventually, I drifted into an uneasy sleep.

When I awoke, groggy and disoriented, the first thing I noticed was the slant of sunlight streaming through the window. I was late for chores.

Panic raced through my veins, and I scrambled to my feet, wincing at the tender spots where my body had pressed against the hardwood floor. As I reached for the doorknob, my heart caught in my throat.

It opened.

I rushed out, but before I could make it more than a few steps, a hand clamped around my hair, wrenching my head back with a vicious yank.

Alpha Grayson dragged me along, my scalp screaming in agony with every jerking step. "Move faster, you worthless Omega," he hissed, spittle flecking the air.

"You've already been punished for tardiness once, remember?"

My heart raced as we approached a dark, foreboding door at the end of the hallway. Grayson shoved me inside, and I stumbled, falling to my hands and knees.

Carl, the Beta, followed us in, closing the door with a deafening thud.

I winced as the Alpha loomed over me.

"Please, Alpha Grayson," I begged. "I apologize for oversleeping, but I--"

"Silence!" Grayson snapped, his face contorting with rage. "I have no patience for your excuses, Omega. You will learn your place, one way or another."

I swallowed hard, trying to suppress my fear. "Please," I whispered, "I was locked in my room. Someone--"

"No one cares for your lies," he growled. "You have a task to perform.

Alpha Grayson's words fell like hammers, each one striking my heart with the force of a dagger. "You will go to Alpha Ralph of the Greyhound pack," he said. "You will be his breeder. It was to be Sophia's role, but you will take her place."

Shock rippled through me, my mind racing to process this impossible twist of fate. Before I could utter a word, the Alpha's hand clamped around my throat, squeezing tight.

"If you dare breathe a word of this arrangement to anyone, I will end you," Grayson hissed, his eyes burning with malice. "You are to present yourself as my daughter, Sophia, in all respects. If anyone questions you, including Alpha Ralph, you will claim to be my one and only daughter."

I nodded weakly, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "Yes, Alpha Grayson," I whispered.

"Good," he growled, releasing his grip. "Now, get ready. You leave at sunrise."

Ralph.

The long-awaited day of the meeting had finally arrived. I was set to claim my new breeder from the Moonlight pack, the daughter of Alpha Grayson.

The Greyhound pack and the Moonlight pack had been at odds for five years after a tragic incident in which my brother was killed by a Moonlight pack guard. This event ignited a deep-seated animosity in me, fueling my desire for revenge. However, I eventually sought to establish peace through a strategic agreement with Alpha Grayson. In exchange for his daughter's hand as my breeder, I would forgive the past and end the longstanding feud.

Callan!, "I called for my Beta and commander. He quickly arrived, and I gave him my orders: 'Prepare a few guards and our cars. We're leaving for the Moonlight pack soon.

'Yes, your Majesty’, Callan replied, and bowed briefly before hurrying to carry out my instructions."

For years, I had been urgently searching for an heir. A witch, whose daughter I had taken as a breeder, had cursed me with a prophecy of a short life and warned that any Luna I chose would lead to my downfall. This dark prediction drove me to find a successor to ensure the Greyhound pack's throne would remain secure after I was gone.

We arrived at the Moonlight Pack several hours later. As we took in our surroundings, I noted the serene atmosphere and lush woods, reminiscent of a traditional pack, a stark contrast to my own, which has little to no wooded areas.

"Lovely," I muttered under my breath, nodding my head. "I love it here. What do you think, Callan?" I asked, noticing he was distracted by the beautiful young maidens hovering around the pack.

"Callan!" I yelled, my eyes wide. "Compose yourself. We're not here to find you a Luna."

"I'm sorry, sir," Callan replied, quickly regaining his composure, a look of fear on his face.

Upon exiting the vehicle, I was greeted by several maidens who welcomed me with respect. However, I also overheard whispers among them, speculating about my intentions regarding my soon-to-be breeder.

"Oh, poor Otsana, I really feel for her," I overheard someone whisper. "How will she cope in the hands of this cruel Alpha?" This statement prompted me to raise my brows and stare at them, compelling them to leave my sight. My guards also dispersed them as they secured the area.

Although I dismissed their gossip, the name Otsana resonated deeply. It was different from the name "Sophia" that my Beta, Callan, had given me as my breeder, after he visited the Moonlight pack a few days ago. Otsana was the name of the mysterious woman who appeared in my dreams every night—the one prophesied to be my savior, my weakness, and my downfall. According to my seer, she was the only one capable of bearing me an heir.

Despite years of searching for her, I had yet to find her. Thus, I chose to disregard the prophecy and pursue a breeder from another pack, hoping to secure an heir and ensure the future of the Greyhound Pack."

"Could she be the one I've been searching for all these years? I don't think so," I muttered to myself, dismissing the thought. I then proceeded to make my way into the Moonlight pack house.

"Hello, Alpha Ralph! What a pleasant surprise," Alpha Grayson said, walking towards me and jolting me out of my deep thoughts.

"Are you surprised to see me? I thought I announced my arrival earlier," I replied sarcastically, confused by Alpha Grayson's remark.

Alpha Grayson scoffed, "Oh, forgive my manners. A man has a lot on his mind, you wouldn't disagree," he said, a small smile creeping across his face.

"I see," I replied with a sigh, taking in the environment as I walked in with my hands behind my back.

"Hey, Callan," I called to my Beta, "tell the rest of the guards to wait behind. You're coming with me."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Callan replied and quickly moved to carry out my orders.

"Shall we?" Alpha Grayson urged.

"Of course," I replied as we walked toward the pack house. Hoping to catch a glimpse of my breeder, I asked, "Where is she?" I tried to remember the name I was told a couple of days ago but had difficulties recalling it. "Please remind me of her name," I asked Alpha Grayson.

"Otsana," Alpha Grayson immediately answered.

"Otsana?" I murmured, feeling a bit confused. I turned to my Beta. "I thought you mentioned her name was Sophia." Callan looked equally puzzled and was about to speak when Alpha Grayson interrupted.

"Here she is, my beautiful daughter, your breeder, Alpha Ralph," Alpha Grayson said, pointing at a young maiden who walked toward us with a smile on her face.

"You're welcome, Your Majesty," she said gently, as she bowed to me. I was dumbfounded. She was the one. That face, that smile—I had seen them in my dreams. How could that be? I was confused, my gaze locked on her for what felt like an eternity. She stared back into my eyes as though she knew what was happening, as though she felt the same way I did. She was as beautiful as the morning sunshine, her skin radiant. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

At that moment, I found myself daydreaming about her, picturing her being crowned my Luna. Suddenly, I heard someone call out to me. "Alpha Ralph, Alpha Ralph," Alpha Grayson called, snapping me out of my daydream.

"Oh, sorry, forgive me," I stammered, struggling to speak. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She had a sadness in her eyes, as though she was being forced to smile.

"Otsana, you can go inside now. Go with the maids and get your things ready. The Alpha will summon you when it's time to depart," Alpha Grayson instructed her.

As she was leaving, she turned back to stare at me again. "That's strange," I muttered under my breath, staring at her with a confused look.

"What is happening?" I said to myself. Suddenly, the name Sophia came to mind. I turned to Alpha Grayson to ask about the name change, but before I could speak, I felt myself dozing off. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground. Callan and the guards were calling me.

"Are you okay, Your Majesty? Get him some water; he must be worn out from the journey," I heard Alpha Grayson order. But all I could see was Otsana. She was said to be my doom. Could the prophecy be happening already?