Chapter 1

One

My sisters squirm and writhe, as always fighting their heats until it is necessary for them to try to get a knot. They truly hate this part of their lives, in fact, all the women in my family are Omegas, for as long as anyone knows. We only birth girls, and every single one of us is meant to be denied. You see, alphas don’t want daughters, so why breed with any of the Valentina werewolves? Our family, at this point, is infamous.

“Hey brat, get me a heating pack!” My sister Trinity snarls, her face twisting in agony, her hands uselessly grasping at her midsection.

With an eye roll, I get up from my seat on the floor near the door and move to an old chicken incubation box, gingerly taking out the pack. The heat doesn't bother me, but I know my sister will be an epic bitch if she thinks I took any heat out of it by handling it too much. Just knowing this sends me scurrying across the room. If I pissed off one of my triplet sisters, then the others would follow, no questions asked.

“Now go away so I don’t have to see your stupid face, you lucky bitch. Just wait. This will be you soon,” Trinity snarls as a thanks, causing Serenity to burst out in laughter, then growls curling into a ball in the recliner.

“She’s right, you’ll be 20 on Saturday, and you'll be just as miserable as us,” my other sister Affinity groans, taking a giant bite out of a bar of chocolate.

I leave the room before they can have me fetch something else. My mother is out doing her screwing rounds, trying to work out the discomfort of a heat never truly fulfilled. For years, my sisters have been going through this, my aunts and mother all miserable. I have considered leaving a million times, but tonight, with mom gone and the others distracted, might just be my out. I have to decide what I want: a life full of unfulfilled needs or end it.

A small growl deep in my mind cuts that last thought out of my options. My hands shake, fear replacing my quizzical state. The closer I get to my birthday, the more I can feel the stirring of my wolf. This was something no one had ever warned me of, but obviously, killing myself is off the table. For a moment, I hesitate with my leg out the window. One of the triplets shrieks from across the house, and I pull myself out and drop behind an overgrown bush.

I would rather be miserable alone, change my name, and just have a chance away from my family to find my way. From what I have heard from she-wolves on the message boards is that sex can be amazing. Even other omegas thought so sometimes. Maybe it was part of the family curse. I had abstained from trying it in fear that my family was correct and that I would truly be in agony for the rest of my life.

The wind rips my hair back as I run into the woods, my eyes adjusting to the pitch-black night, and head for the nearest human town. If I can get away from the family, my life will at least be a little less miserable. New energy pulses through me, and I run faster than I ever have; this must be my wolf motivating me for this great choice.

When I reach the bus depot, a locked door greets me. I had left my phone at home, so no luck. No need for my mother to track me anyway. Instead, I turn North, knowing that there is a much bigger town about 100 miles in that direction. It is a little too close to the Steel Pack, but with all the slick seeping out here and in other packs at the waxing gibbous moon, they should all be too distracted.

It is about midnight when I slow, entering the next town. I move to a bar that's still going full tilt, music blaring. A big man blocks the door, his nose flaring as I approach.

“No Omegas!” he grunts, flicking his cigarette to the ground.

I glare, anger filling me. I hadn’t been officially set in the Omega position, and this asshole's assumption pisses me off. Fire fills my cheeks, and I snarl at him. I needed to pee and grab some water, and then I would be out of this place. Obviously, my intel about this being a human-run town had been wrong, but I hadn’t smelled a Pack barrier. “Move!”

To my utter astonishment, the man scuttles to the side of the door. A chill caresses my back, and I walk into the bar, assuming that other wolves must have been approaching and he didn't think I was worth it. Straightening my tired body, I strut into the overcrowded room, smoke swirling overhead, and bodies collide in tune to the music.

Females turn my way as I catch attention from a few wolves. Anger fills their eyes, glowing orbs greet me as I go, until finally, I am safe in the restroom, darting into a stall to relieve myself.

“Omega…” a male voice calls, causing me to let out a small gasp, halting my stream of urine like it will make him think I have gone. “Come out, come out, little Omega.”

Breathing in my nose, I try to hear my wolf as I let my body relax and continue to release my pee. All too soon, I am finished. I know I can’t just try to hide in the stall. I wipe myself and pull up my pants, wondering how I can get myself out of this. “Leave, perv.” I call out, grimacing at how pathetic and scared my voice sounds.

The door to the stall rattles, and I steel myself. Silently, I slide the lock free before kicking the door with all my wolf strength. The door flies open, smashing a dark-haired man in the face. I bolt for the door as a loud thud shudders through it.

“Open the door!” a voice demands. It's filled with power, and the man behind me, a heavy nose bleed and roars of pain, stumbles quickly to the door. I dart away, bringing up my fists to defend myself. The man unlocks the door, then turns to me, his nose healing and his body jerking.

“Shit!” I scream, reaching into my pocket and pulling out my switchblade. It's all I have. I watch his body contort as hair springs onto his arms. The rank of alcohol rolling off of him disappears. The bathroom door slams open, and mid-shift, a well-dressed figure that moves faster than I can track tackles the man. My attention shifts to the open door, where two others stand, tall and ominous, but beautiful.

Cracking my neck, I crouch, my fingers uncurling, the tips burning as sharp wolf nails pierce from them for the first time ever.

“Please, sirs, just a taste of the omega.” The bloodied bastard begs as he is dragged to his feet by a lumbering man that is just a wall of muscles. “I can share!” The man pleads, and my initial shock of the sexy men dissipates, replaced by horror. Snarling, my body prepares to spring to slash down any of these fuckers that dare try to take me.

“Stop breathing.”

The words are low and gritty, the shortest of the three men stepping towards the sniveling moron.

“How dare you disrespect her, she is ten times the wolf you are!”

The man's lips change colors, and I realize that he had indeed stopped breathing.