Cinnamon Girl

o n e

"Nothing hurts more than a heart left
wondering why."
-
Girl

Colette was in a not good mood when we woke up. I wonder if she got to eat earlier. I am not sure. She told me my daily chores in a mean voice. Usually Colette is more kind on the rain days. I would be too, the rain is calming. It is a god given treat for us. We never get those.
-
She handed me a sponge and a rag just like the day before this. I am confused as to why I have to scrub the floors in the big room now.
I lifted myself off the floor and limped to the water station. It takes a while to get the water to come out, but when it does it burns your hands. I am used to my burned hands, but sometimes they will peal. Colette puts cream on them after that.
-
Alpha has been harder on us lately. I heard Mia telling Lily that we are preparing for something that is coming soon. I told myself it was a ball, or a party. I have never went to one. Maybe I will be invited. It is surely strange referring to the other girls as their names. I do not go by a name. I am Girl.
-
As I finished scrubbing the already clean floors, I knew it was time for wax. It is silly to wax again, I know I do not have to. I did it already the other day. Layering wax is not good. I'm putting my bucket away when my cheek stings. I look up at the Luna. She struck me. I stay emotionless.

"Girl, the Alpha has requested all of you down to the ballroom. Put clothes on, the cleanest ones you have. If you're late, you'll be punished." She gives me a look and then struts away gracefully - she does not look very graceful.
-
We are to wear clothes on this occasion. That is rare. I never wear clothes. Strangely enough, we've been given two treats today.
-
This new excites me. What is there to come from this? I pad over to my tiny dresser and open the drawers. Dust coats my fingers, I haven't touched the dresser in a while. It feels good.

My eyes scan all of items of clothing I owned but still didn't own. There aren't many color options, just grays and blacks. That's okay.
-
I decide on a gray dress that flows down to my ankles. It's not vibrant, and it hangs very loosely around my scrawny body. The sleeves are long so they cover my arms. I walk over to the side of the blanket I sleep on and grab my piece of glass.

The reflection shows a ghost with dull eyes, matted hair, and thin lips. This ghost in my makeshift mirror is the only one I've ever known- but I do not love her. Nobody could ever love her.
-
I have never been anywhere other than the attic where we all sleep, so I don't know where to go from my tiny living space, but
within a few seconds, I've caught the sent of the other omega females. The same moldy, mildewy, dusty, we-are-doing-the-best-we-can- smell. I have not found Colette yet, it scares me.

Omega's serve our masters. Everybody with a title above us is our master. I don't have the place to question my rank, or how I got ranked. It is said that the branding omega's bare are from our parents.
-
It is a Lycan law, that when an omega female gives birth, she must brand her baby. There is no known knowledge about how our ancestors got ranked before us, but I wear the sign of Omega as proudly as I can. That is where I come from. That is who I am.
-
I follow the females down to a dark hallway. My fingers run along the wall, my sense of touch finally experiencing something new. I get the smallest whiff of pleasance. It's sweet and earthy. Like drinking tea after it has just rained.

Stop overthinking one part of me said, but the other encouraged I follow it. My bare feet tip-toe down the hallway and onto a grande staircase. "You will take the back entrance! The last thing we need is attention drawn to you runts." A raspy voice spits at me. I flinch and internally say my apologies. You almost blew any cover we had.
-
I finally join the others, as we are leaded to the main ballroom. It's white, and there's probably a billion people in it. Tall women dancing with short men, short woman dancing with tall women, any combination you can think of. They are having a party.
-
I have never seen anyone from this pack so energetic. There is definitely alcohol being served. Even the Luna has a smile on her face, dancing with Alpha. From afar I can see that my people are smiling too. I walk over to the Colette, she's dancing too. Colette is a beautiful dancer.
-
It is still strange for us to be invited to an event, but we do not complain. My stomach grumbles. I haven't eaten anything in 4 days. A sweet smell leads me to the fruit stand. There are colors galore. I see apples, strawberries, cherries, and a rainbow fruit I do not know.

It is green, red, and another color. I have never seen these shades blend before. I reach out, my fingertips lightly grazing the outside. It feels smooth but this doesn't last.
-
The man who was in charge of this stand swats my hand away. "Get away from the food. It is not for you-"

Gunshots. Then a howl. Then a roar. The gunshots are just to draw attention - no ruthless monster would need a gun.

Lycans. War. I run.

I run as fast as my weak legs can carry me, not thinking about anything. I will not be killed at the mercy of a beast.

I'm almost out of the ballroom as a bloodcurdling scream echos through the walls. I stop in my tracks- the Luna. My Luna.

Now, nobody in their right mind would be running towards the danger but here I am.
The largest wolf I've ever seen has her in his grip. It is abnormal, it is the King. He stands on his hind legs, his mouth contorted into a human-like scowl. Impulsively, everyone bows. Alpha crawls to his feet.

"Please my lord. Release her." The King lets out a low chuckle. It could have been mistaken for a grumble.

"Release her?" He laughs. "I owe you nothing! You owe me everything. I have no good reason to release her."

"You can have anything you want! Anyone you want! Please! In replacement of my sin, and my Luna, take what you must."

HE looks around. My toes curl in anticipation.

I guess the rain days aren't always good - because the last thing I expected was to be met with dark eyes ripping into my soul.