Lyra's POV
The jeers followed me as I walked across the pack's courtyard, my arms loaded with folded laundry. I kept my eyes down, hoping to avoid any confrontation. But I should have known better.
"Well, well, if it isn't the little lost lamb," Keira's voice rang out, loud enough to draw the attention of nearby pack members. I froze, my heart sinking.
Keira stood with Freya, one of the other girls in the pack and a few others, her arms crossed as she smirked at me. They lounged against the low stone wall like predators waiting to pounce.
"Carrying laundry, are we?" Freya mocked, her eyes glinting with malice. "Is that what Omegas are good for?"
"Why don't you drop those and show us some strength?" Keira said, stepping closer. "Oh, wait—you don't have any, do you?"
The group laughed, and I tightened my grip on the laundry, willing myself to stay calm. Don't react, don't engage.
"What's the matter?" Keira sneered. "Cat got your tongue? Or maybe it's the wolf you don't have?"
The mocking laughter stung, but I kept my head down, trying to walk away.
Keira moved to block my path. "Where do you think you're going, Omega? We're not done here."
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing.
"Maybe we should test her," Freya suggested, stepping beside Keira. "See if she's even worth keeping around."
Before I could react, Keira yanked the laundry from my hands and threw it to the ground. The freshly folded clothes scattered, some landing in the dirt.
"Pick it up," she ordered, her voice cold and commanding.
I hesitated, the humiliation burning in my chest.
"What's the problem?" Keira taunted. "Too weak to bend down?"
I bent to gather the laundry, my hands trembling as I worked. Keira's boot came down on one of the shirts I reached for, and she leaned in close.
"Face it," she whispered. "You don't belong here."
"Enough."
The authoritative voice cut through the courtyard, silencing everyone. I looked up to see Kael standing nearby, his dark eyes blazing with fury.
Keira and Freya immediately straightened, their smug expressions vanishing.
"Alpha," Keira said quickly, bowing her head. "We were just—"
"Silence," Kael snapped, his voice sharp as a whip. "I don't want to hear your excuses."
His gaze swept over the group, his anger palpable.
"This pack doesn't tolerate bullying. If you have time to harass others, you have time for extra patrol shifts. Starting tomorrow, all of you will be on double patrols for the next two weeks."
The color drained from Keira's face. "Alpha, please—"
"Do you want me to make it three weeks?" Kael asked, his tone icy.
Keira quickly shook her head, her mouth snapping shut.
"Good. Now get out of my sight," he ordered.
The group scattered, leaving me alone with Kael. I stood frozen, unsure of what to say.
"Follow me," he said curtly, turning on his heel.
I hesitated for a moment before hurrying after him. We entered the packhouse, and he led me down a corridor to a spacious office. It was sleek and modern, with a large desk dominating the room and shelves lined with books and files.
"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk.
I obeyed, my nerves fraying under his intense gaze. He moved to stand behind the desk, crossing his arms as he looked down at me.
"Why didn't you stand up for yourself?" he asked, his tone sharp and irritated.
"I…" I faltered, unsure of how to respond. "I didn't want to cause trouble, Alpha."
"Trouble?" He arched an eyebrow, his frustration evident. "Allowing people to walk all over you doesn't prevent trouble, Lyra. It invites it."
I lowered my gaze, my cheeks burning with shame.
Kael took a step closer, his presence overwhelming but not suffocating.
"No one in this pack respects weakness, Lyra. You want them to stop? Then stop allowing it. Stand up for yourself. Show them you're more than what they think."
"You can't afford to be weak," he continued, his voice growing harder. You want to survive here? Then stop letting people treat you like a doormat."
His words stung, but I knew he wasn't wrong.
"I don't have a wolf," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
"That's irrelevant," he snapped. "Strength isn't just about having a wolf. It's about how you carry yourself. If you act like prey, people will treat you like prey."
I clenched my fists, willing myself not to cry.
Kael's gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "This is your chance to prove yourself, Lyra. Don't waste it."
He straightened, signaling that the conversation was over. "You're dismissed."
I rose from the chair and bowed my head. "Thank you, Alpha."
As I left his office, his words echoed in my mind. Strength isn't just about having a wolf.
Maybe he was right. Maybe it was time I stopped hiding and started fighting back.
As I stepped back into the room, the silence was suffocating. Every pair of eyes in the dorm turned to me, their gazes heavy with judgment and suspicion. I could practically feel the glares burning into my skin. Keira and Freya had wasted no time in spreading the news, no doubt turning the others against me.
I kept my head down and walked past the group, trying to ignore the weight of their stares. But I wasn't fast enough.
"Hey, Omega," one of the girls called out, her voice dripping with mockery.
I didn't turn around.
"Are you going to cry now?" she added with a laugh. "You're so pathetic. What did the Alpha say to you? Or did he just tell you to stop being such a weakling?"
The words stung, but something inside me snapped.
"I don't need your approval," I said, my voice firm, my words sharp.
The girl blinked, surprised by my sudden change.
"You think I care about your opinion?" I continued, taking a step toward her. "You're all just a bunch of bullies who can't stand the idea of someone being different from you."
The girl's eyes narrowed, clearly not expecting this response. "What's your problem, huh?"
"My problem is you." I took another step forward, standing my ground. "And if you have a problem with me, you can deal with it. But I'm not afraid of you anymore."
The others exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to react. I could feel their judgment in the air, but I didn't let it shake me.
I wasn't weak. I wasn't an Omega. I was Lyra, and I would not let anyone define me.
Keira, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally spoke up, her voice dripping with venom.
"Look at you, pretending to be strong. Don't forget, you're still nothing more than an outsider here."
I raised an eyebrow, the corner of my lips tugging into a slight smile.
"Maybe, but I may be more than what you think. And I'm not the one who's scared of what I can become."
Keira's face turned red, her fists clenching at her sides. For a moment, I thought she might strike me. But she didn't.
With a frustrated growl, she turned away, storming off to her bed. The others hesitated for a moment before slowly returning to their own corners, clearly unsure of how to handle my newfound confidence.
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of pride and relief flood through me. I had stood up for myself, and I wasn't going to let anyone push me around anymore.
Kael was right. I wasn't weak, even without my wolf. I had my own strength. And I would make sure they all saw it.