Chosen

Chapter One

I stretched, My joints popping loudly. The sound echoed through the room I was in. Groaning, I stood up and finished stretching. I shuddered as the cold air nipped at my body. I was in the basement. Where I belonged according to Alpha Mark. I grabbed my brush and quickly ran it through my hair, pulling it from my face. Alpha liked me looking a certain way and if I didn't look neat, he would take me to the dungeons and beat me.

I took a look in the mirror and bit my lip. The girl staring back at me looked lifeless, sad. Pale skin littered with bruises, eyes wide and guarded. No one would want me. I was useless, weak, a disgrace to the werewolf race. My breathing became harsh as the words I heard constantly ran through my mind. Tears stung my eyes when I caught sight of the scar on my collar bone. That one had hurt, Alpha Mark had used silver and wolfsbane. He had wanted to leave a mark, branding me in a sense.
My eyes flickered to the small clock and I darted from the room. I needed to prep breakfast for the pack. If it wasn't finished on time, I would be punished. I couldn't handle another punishment right now, not after the other day. I ran to the kitchen and started prepping. I was one of three Omegas in the pack. I looked over the menu Alpha had written out and scrambled to get everything prepped.

I was setting the table as everyone came in, chatting with each other excitedly. Gabrielle smiled at me as she came out with Water and orange juice for the cups. She started filling them up as everyone took their seats. Lilly came out with food and we began serving everyone. Once their plates were filled with food, we stood in the back of the room, silently. It was after all a pack meeting. Lilly and Gabby stood across the room and kept their eyes down. We weren't allowed to look at the pack members.

Alpha walked in last and looked around the room, making sure every pack member was in the room. I kept my eyes on my feet, my heart in my throat. I held my breath as he walked by, hoping he wouldn't touch me, would ignore me. I wasn't so lucky. As he walked by, Alpha Mark drug a claw down my arm, drawing blood. I bit my lip to keep from crying out in pain. I knew that everyone could smell my blood by their snickers as I gasped. Lilly glanced at me, her eyes held worry.

"ALRIGHT. EVERYONE QUIET!" Alpha shouted.

The chatting stopped and everyone turned to Alpha. He stood at the head of the table and wiped his hand. The towel was red. It was my blood. He was doing it as a show of authority to the pack. He tossed the towel at Gabbys feet and chuckled when she jumped, startled.

"As you know, the Mating Ceremony is coming up. This year is different though. The king is looking to choose a mate. It has been ordered every unmated female of age attend. This year we have three unmated females eligible to attend. Elena, Helena and our omega Adalynn. You three will attend with me as your escort. I must chose a mate as well."

My heart leapt into my throat and I felt the panic rush through me. I had no choice about attending now. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself as I remembered Alphas words last year. If I attended a ceremony and wasn't chosen he would kill me. I was a burden on his pack. I made him a weak Alpha. I was bad. My eyes stung and my lungs burned, screaming for air as I panted. Suddenly someone grabbed my hand and I peeked at Lilly. She smiled at me, trying to help me calm down.
Eventually breakfast ended and everyone left. Once the room was empty of the pack, I began cleaning. The wound on my arm having stopped bleeding and hurting. Once Gabby and Lilly were sure we were alone they relaxed.

"Oh God. Addy... a mating ceremony? What.." Gabby mumbled, her eyes wide and fear filled.

"I... have to go. I have to try. If I don't go, I die. If I go and am chosen, I live. Its... a chance I need to take." I murmured with a sigh.

"She's right Gabby. She has to. I'm sure she'll find a mate." Lilly tried to reassure Gabby. My only hope was finding a mate.

"I hope so. If I don't get chosen, Alpha will kill me." Sad but true. Alpha planned to kill me. I was useless to the pack.

Lilly frowned and returned her focus to her work. We all walked to the kitchen and divided up the chores for the day between us. It was a lot of work but we got everything done along with having meals cooked on time. My body screamed at me by the end of the day. I was in pain and tired. As I made my way to the small cold room I was given, Alpha stopped me.

"Remember what I promised, Omega. You will die by my hand if you do not get chosen."

I whimpered as he punched my ribs. I heard a crack and screamed with the pain. I knew he broke some of them. He laughed and threw me to the floor, sobbing. He walked away and I stood up, clutching my ribs. I was too weak to heal broken bones. I walked to my room and grabbed my first aid kit, wrapping my arm and then Lilly walked in and looked at my ribs. She knew. She was good at figuring out when I needed help. She wrapped me up nice and tight and stayed with me for the night. Lilly was kind and nurturing. Her mate had died in a war that Alpha had started. Alpha made her an omega after because according to him she needed to earn her place in the pack. I fell asleep curled in a ball, listening to Lilly hum a lullaby.