The door broke apart under Sophia's kick, revealing a sight that made her freeze in place.
"What in Moon Goddess's name is this?" Sophia mumbled.
There, in the middle of the small bedroom, stood a wolf with silver-streaked fur. And in its muzzle was a large rabbit which was hanging limp and bloody.
"Ava?" Sophia whispered in disbelief and the wolf's eyes met hers.
Sophia sucked in a breath.
"Sweetheart, please. You have to shift back, we need to talk." She said to the wolf softly, taking a careful step forward.
After a moment of hesitation, the wolf dropped the rabbit, and afterwards, Ava shifted back to her human form.
"What do you want?" Ava asked, her voice cold.
Sophia exhaled deeply before she could start talking.
"What is going on with you? Firstly, it is the kitchen staff... they are all talking..."
"Talking about what?" Ava butt in.
"You know exactly what. Your blood, Ava. They say it is silver not red like everybody's else." Sophia blurted. Ava scoffed at that like she hadn't been bewildered too when she firstly found out.
"So what if it is?" Ava snapped.
"And now I find you shifted? Hunting? You are seventeen! An Omega! This isn't normal!" Sophia's voice rose with each word.
"Nothing about me has ever been normal, has it, Mother?" Ava deadpanned, giving the older woman a knowing look.
"That is not what I meant-" Sophia began but got interrupted again.
"Then what did you mean?" Ava challenged.
"Omegas can't shift this young. We are not strong enough, you know that!" Sophia pointed out loudly.
"Well, clearly I can." Ava said then huffed in exasperation.
"Sit down, we need to talk about this properly." Sophia demanded.
"There is nothing to talk about." Ava replied defiantly.
Sophia wanted to snap at her daughter's stubbornness but stopped herself.
"Getting angry won't sort this out." She thought then heaved a deep sigh. For a moment, she just held her daughter's gaze, none of them saying a word.
~~~~~~~~~
"So, tell me how long? How long have you been able to shift like this?" Sophia began calmly after Ava had seemed to calm down and they were both seated in the room.
"I don't know!" Ava denied.
"Don't lie to me, child. Not about this." Sophia pressed on.
"What difference does it make? Will knowing make you feel better about having a freak for a daughter?" Ava snapped, her voice getting harsh again.
"You are not a freak!" Sophia protested.
"Really? Then why are you looking at me like that? Like you are afraid of me?" Ava blurted out what she had been observing, her voice breaking slightly.
Sophia shook her head and quickly grabbed her daughter's hands softly.
"I'm not afraid of you. I'm afraid FOR you! The blood, Ava. Tell me about the blood. When did it start?" She inquired.
"I have no idea what is wrong with my blood, okay? Please, just... just leave me alone." Ava gritted out, pulling away.
"But-" Sophia tried to say more but Ava had had enough.
"Get out!" Ava screamed, her eyes glowing silver.
Sophia stumbled back, shocked by the outburst. She walked away slowly with a troubled mind.
Getting into her room, she leaned against the wall, whispering to herself.
"Maybe... maybe it is because of her father's blood. She is of Alpha blood, after all."
The thought brought little comfort. Alpha blood might explain the shifting, but silver blood? That was something else entirely.
~~~~~~~~~
Two days later, in the Alpha's manor, Ethan paced the corridor of his wing, lost in thoughts.
"She doesn't take this long before coming to see me... What is going on?" Ethan wondered aloud.
At that moment, a kitchen Omega walked by.
"Good afternoon, sir." The Omega stopped to greet him briefly and wanted to continue to her destination with the tray of food.
"Wait, have you seen Ava?" Ethan asked before the girl could leave.
"Oh... I heard she is sick, sir." The girl replied, bowing her head respectfully.
Worry and concern crept up Ethan's face at the information.
"Sick? For how long?" He inquired.
"Two days now, I think. Lady Hazel is quite upset about it." The girl said and as if she just caught herself, she bowed deeper.
"Forgive me for over sharing..."
"No, no. Tell me everything you know about it." Ethan requested. The girl cleared her throat and continued talking.
"Well... there was an incident with Ava's mother. She came here and... she stood up to Lady Hazel."
Ethan was surprised.
"She defended Ava, said she needed rest. It was quite something to see, sir." The girl finished. Ethan nodded and allowed the girl to leave then.
He stormed back to his room, cursing under his breath.
"These stupid, outdated rules..." He growled, pacing his room.
"If Omegas were allowed phones like everyone else, I could have called her by now. Shit!" He growled.
His wolf clawed at his chest, desperate to go check on her.
"My Lord?" A servant knocked on his door.
"What?" Ethan asked with disinterest.
"Your father requests your presence for dinner." The servant said from outside.
"Tell him I'm not feeling well." Ethan maintained firmly.
"My Lord, he-"
"I said no! Leave me be." Ethan snapped.
Once the servant's footsteps faded, Ethan made his decision.
"I don't care about the rules anymore. I need to see her. Even if her mother will throw a fit at my presence in her house."
Ethan walked quickly around the pack and when he reached the small house, he discreetly approached Ava's window and tapped gently on the wood.
Ava's head snapped up, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Ethan?" She mumbled as she saw him. Then her heart broke and tears began streaming down her cheeks.
Ethan quickly climbed through the window, looking so alarmed.
"What is wrong with you, my beloved?" He inquired but Ava only sobbed harder.
"What can I say is wrong now? Oh moon goddess, why do we have to suffer this fate?" Ava whispered more to herself.