《Venom Incarnate》


 Rough Start

    I am not an Alpha. I will never be a Luna. I will never be more than an Omega. I am a low ranking she-wolf.


    This is the mantra I repeat in my head as I do the chores. My body on autopilot as I clean all the rooms in the pack house.


    I am Lilah Simmons.


    The lowest ranking and eldest Omega in the Dawn Break pack.


    Before I can repeat my mantra again as I take the laundry basket to the Omega quarters, I hear the main pack members return from their daily routine of border patrol, training, and free time. I freeze to the spot and shrink as best I can with my head lowered and eyes to the floor unmoving.


    The large halls were bustling, doors being opened and closed, shoes leaving tracks behind, boisterous shouting, girly bickering and then slowly the noise becomes muffled. After I am sure everyone has gone to where they were heading and there''s no people left in the hallways, I lift my head and walk to the Omega quarters with the laundry. Weaving the halls when there are possibly people sends shivers through me.


    I finally got to the laundry room after walking though the Omega quarters entryway, down the classroom hallway and past the Door to Hell. I set the basket down and breathe a sigh of relief that it''s quiet today and no one has decided to pick on me if I''m seen in the main pack quarters. Normally anyone that walks past me would cause a problem but strangely of the few that walked by me they left me there as if I was invisible.


    I start to repeat my mantra and begin the daily routine of separating dark, light and colours from the laundry. By the time I''ve repeated the mantra six times the piles are sorted, and one load is already in the washer.


    When the first load starts, I think to myself I''m getting faster at my chores meaning less time being scolded. I did the sorting of the laundry in six repetitions this time, not seven, I proudly moved to start folding the earlier load that''s now dry and begin again with the mantra.


    After a while, my silent progress is interrupted by what can only be the footsteps of the Teacher. I manage to quickly make sure everything is done apart from the last load that''s currently still in the washer and stand to the side of it, head down, eyes to the floor and awaiting orders.


    "Simmons, the last load should have been done ten minutes ago, I suppose we need another lesson?" The Teacher, whose name is Danny the Beta of the pack, says bluntly as he towers over me. I shrink as small as I can get, eyes staying glued to the floor.


    "Sorry sir, it won''t happen again, forgive me." I say as best I can without stuttering or fainting from the thought of another lesson. I think I will end up never leaving the lesson if it comes to it.


    "Better not," He spits out before barking orders, "tomorrow I want it done in the timeframe you''ve been given, right now finish up and get into the kitchen for your shift." I nod at once at his words.


    "Yes, sir." I choke out barely.


    He leaves and the lingering anger that was dripping off him makes it harder for me to unfreeze from my spot. But the fear of another lesson creeps into my body and I quickly start moving to get the last of the laundry done to start my kitchen shift. Getting six loads of laundry done in the span of eight hours is tough considering the sheer number of towels that need to be done and they can take three hours alone.


    The last of the laundry was finally hung up to dry, so I went straight for the kitchen, I don''t even remember walking there, but I made sure I was still on time for the shift swap.


    "Switch! Those who leave the kitchen rest an hour and begin the main pack chores! Those now in the kitchen begin the meal preparations according to the Wednesday instructions!" The Teachers voice made every single one of us flinch.


    We¡¯ve been reduced to an hours¡¯ time to sleep, eat, and clean because one of the new Omega¡¯s made a mistake. Might not have been their fault considering two hours of sleep is not enough daily, but the Teacher didn''t care at all, they fell asleep doing chores, so we all got punished. One mistake from a new Omega or old and we all suffer until we have had enough days accumulate to gain more free time again.


    Auto pilot kicked in and with the mantra swirling in my head I made sure there were no mistakes in my tasks. Cooking was my escape minus the mantra quietly on repeat in the back of my mind. Chopping vegetables, meat and preparing any sauces for the other Omegas that are given the task of using the ovens and other equipment, time flew by, and the shift was almost over. Five hours in the kitchen and we were given hours¡¯ time to sleep, eat and clean.


    I can''t remember much of my life before being an Omega, apart from my parents, but if this is my life then so be it. I''ve slowly come to terms with it over the past eight years. I may be the eldest Omega but from what I have gathered from hearing whispers around me I am not an original Dawn Break member. I was either found and taken in or I was lost and then given the ¡®chance¡¯ to live. Either way there is a silver lining. I am alive, breathing and when I turn twenty-five, I will be given the option to leave this pack. I¡¯m nineteen now and having been here eight years already I am sure I can make it another six.


    Lost in thought, I had already managed to make my way back to my living space, a small room with a yoga mat as a bed, a thin blanket folded on top and a very old and dull looking pillow. I decided to just clean up a little to get the smell of food off me and then find a small snack from the communal eating area in the Omega quarters. Sleep can wait as I overslept in my last free time slot.


    The night went by quickly, the pack being asleep made it easier for us Omega¡¯s to move through the place and get chores done. The morning began like any other, however there was a dead weight on my shoulders. I can''t remember any of the night¡¯s chores, but I managed to avoid mistakes and being seen by the Teacher. I was not going back to the lessons ever again unless I break from the lack of sleep and food.


    The Omega quarters was quiet, more than normal but maybe all the Omega''s were hard at work and being as quiet as possible considering it was eight in the morning and the shift swap had happened at six. My next set of chores was to make sure every plant was watered; every painting or wall hanging was clean and hung correctly as well as any furniture with decoration was clean and in the right orientation.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    It sounds dull but it is my second favourite chore to be given to me out of them all as it''s a calming one where I don''t have to stand to attention if I''m midway through moving something to place it properly or clean it.


    After finishing the main pack quarters, I moved to the Omega quarters and after an hour I was about to finish the last placement of a painting when a spark in the air shot through me, it pulsed in tandem with my heartbeat. Then I could hear it, the chanting could be heard, and I had realized too late to hide out of the large hallway and in a room.


    The Offering was today.


    Fear holding me to my spot meant I was most likely to be picked this time and the pack wouldn''t blink an eye at it. I wouldn''t mind being the Offering however running in the physical condition us Omega¡¯s are put in would make it, so we lose every time. In the time I have been in this place there hasn¡¯t been a single win for Omega¡¯s.


    Could I win?


    Brushing that thought aside as I was just about to reach for the door next to me and the Omega quarters entry doors opened and there stood the Alphas son, Harry. Like a wild west standoff his eyes had already landed on me, and I dared not move hoping to Selene, he hadn''t seen me.


    I closed my eyes and hoped when I opened them, he would have turned to find someone else, as much as I wish he didn''t have to choose someone that''s all any Omega thinks when this day comes. Not me, someone else please! I keep my eyes shut and hear no footsteps, the moment I relax my eyes from being held shut like they were never to open again I hear it. That awful sound.


    I feel a small pressure around my neck and my hair being moved about slightly. The awful sound stopped me dead in my tracks and my eyes shot open and I could see the doors still agape, but no Harry.


    Then I feel it again, the pressure around my neck growing stronger. The ringing in my ears. The wicked laugh. Harry¡¯s wide grin in front of me with a wild look in his eye fixed onto mine, like a deer caught in headlights. He lifted his hand reaching just below my chin and gently flicked the bell on the ribbon wrapped delicately around my neck.


    The Offering Bell.


    The Alpha''s son, Harry stood in front of me, still smiling ear to ear at the fact he was the one to catch me as the Offering. My mind went completely blank. No thoughts, no feelings, no mantras. Just empty behind my eyes.


    Harry sidestepped and gestured for me to walk to the front of the pack house where the whole pack including the rest of the Omega''s would be waiting.


    Autopilot.


    I walked in front of the Alpha¡¯s son. My eyes never fell to the floor, the image of the shit eating grin on his face burned into my eyelids. We reached the door and as I stopped in front, the bell let out a small ring. The air changed and the door opened to a view I will never forget.


    The Alpha turning to face me, the Luna following suit, the Beta reaching out an arm to gesture me forward to stand between the Alpha and Luna, all the Delta''s crowded on either side of the path that leads away from the building and even the Omega''s, shyly standing in neat rows down both sides of the path with the Delta¡¯s behind them.


    "Let the Offering, begin!" The Alpha rang out and a small applause began and ended. I''ve seen too many Offerings to count, and I begin the walk that I''ve seen so many do before.


    I stop at the beginning of the Omega''s, the first two that are on either side of me take my apron off.


    I move three steps forward.


    The second set of Omega''s took my blouse off.


    I move three steps forward.


    The third set of Omega''s tugs my trousers so they fall to my feet and help me step out of them.


    I take three steps forward.


    The fourth set of Omega''s make sure the bell is tight enough that I can''t take it off.


    I take three steps forward.


    The fifth and final set that are to help me untie my hair.


    I begin to take in the view in front of me, seeing what''s in front of me, the last of the Omega''s are standing on either side of the path, they are the last barrier between me and the pack. I can feel every set of eyes on me and the only ones that weren''t looking at me to kill me were from the ones in my rank.


    The path ahead will be the hardest I will ever take. It had just gone one in the afternoon and the sun¡¯s heat had left a warm breeze making its way through the channel of already hot bodies. My body felt cold and numb, the tree line seemingly moving further away even as I stood still. That forest is my last line of defence against these monsters.


    If I make it there, I will have at least a small chance of hiding.


    The silence is unbearable and standing naked made it worse, the next thirty seconds of silence felt like an hour.


    "Our prayer to Selene has been done! Your Offering has been selected and stripped! This time we have an extra rule for the hunt," The Alpha began, whispers filled the silence, and I thought my ears were deceiving me. Would I be given less time to get a head start? Less than ten minutes would be defeat before I left.


    "This Offering gets a twenty-minute head start!" The Alpha continued, people began shouting that it was unfair and to give me less time. I stood and waited for the signal to move.


    "Silence! You all know why," the Luna now speaking, it became silent again, and this time all that could be heard was my heart beating.


    "This is a special one, the thrill is in the chase! You''ll feel more satisfied when it''s caught. If the prey thinks they can win because they''ve gotten further than all the others their face is more of a sight to savour!" She let out a huge belly laugh, and the Alpha joined in.


    "Split" said the Alpha, Luna, and Beta all in synchronization. Before I knew it, I was running like I had never run before. The bell ringing in my ears and the cold metal of it made my neck hair stand on end and I shivered every time it touched my skin.


    After running for what felt like the full twenty minutes I came to a halting stop, my legs giving up and my chest heaving trying to take in all the air possible. I dug my hands into the ground to make fists but ended up compacting the dirt and it spilled out between my fingers. After finally catching my breath, I stood up ready to run again but the bell decided to make a noise as I stood up. I hid as best I could behind a tree nearby. I had made it to the forest with seconds to spare from what I could gather.


    No sound came from any direction, I waited for who knows how long before grabbing the tiny and cold clapper inside the bell so it would not make more noise as I looked around to see if anyone had followed me.


    I heard a stick break and leaves shuffle. This wasn''t a dense or thick forest; this was a slightly sparse forest where only a few trees had bushes by them, so it was hard to hide and easy to spot something out of the ordinary. So, I kept still, keeping my fingers pinched onto the clapper of the bell and breathing as lightly as I could considering I had used most of my energy on the sprint here. The sound faded and there was faint shouting, I waited for it to fall completely silent before making a move.


    My feet finally started to hurt, my fingers started to ache holding the bell to keep it silent and my thighs and chest were burning. The first adrenaline was wearing off and I had very little time, I needed to find a hiding spot or get over the border if I could even figure out where that was.


    I let the pain simmer down by standing still but not letting the bell make noise, then once I was sure I could move I made a dash for the horizon away from where the shouting came from.


    All I could hear was the wind rushing past my ears, my heavy breathing and a second round of adrenaline kicked in as I pushed myself to run as far as I possibly could. I tripped on my own feet and fell to the ground; I tumbled down a decline and never once let that bell ring while I rolled over rocks, sticks and through piles of leaves. Then I tried to get up, but the worst had happened.

 Freedom?

    The chase has pushed me to the edge of my physical limits, and in the moment of sheer misfortune, my fall has ended with my leg caught in a merciless vice, wedged between an unyielding rock and the fallen remains of a once-majestic tree.


    The rock must have fallen with me and pinned me. This fallen tree had one redeeming quality, it is sheltering me from one direction.


    I need to get free but the damn bell.


    I am genuinely stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I want to get free, I will need to let go of the bell, that will give me away, if I stay here, I could end up being stuck here until I die from something else.


    A small breeze blows my hair in front of my shoulders and with it came the ribbon that the bell was attached to.


    The ribbon must have snapped but the only reason it''s right by my neck is because my body refused to move my arm in case the bell rang. I lower my hand and then the cramp began, my arm had been held in that position for so long the pain was only relieved if I put it back where it was.


    Then I heard it. Footsteps, crunching leaves and loud voices.


    "Where¡¯ve you gone? Come on, we haven''t got all day!" A man yells.


    "Let''s go already! We should have been back hours ago!" he shouts again.


    Hours? Had it really been hours of me running?


    "Let''s finish already little one!" The man kept shouting, I don¡¯t move, I hold my breathing steady and quiet and wait till the voice disappeared along with the footsteps and crunching leaves.


    I started to slowly lower my arm as the cramp started fading from my elbow, the blood started rushing back to my wrist and I then had pins and needles running rampantly in my arm and fingers. Then I looked at the main problem.


    How am I going to get out of this one? Just as I started to touch the rock to push it off my leg, bell still tightly in-between my thumb and pointer finger of my right hand, there were more footsteps. This time no shouting.


    I freeze in place, listening to where this person is going, they were circling the tree I was trapped against, lucky for me the leaves had been ruffled around by my fall that it was like I have a natural camouflage around me, the tree being fallen helped too because it meant I am completely hidden from one side.


    Then I hear no more footsteps and feel a presence behind me, I stay still but they move in front of me. A wolf, I have been found and it¡¯s over.


    I was never going to win. I''m an idiot for thinking I could.


    I drop my head back, look at the sky, seeing that the clouds have turned a stunning shade of light pink with tints of orange, my neck waiting for the inevitable outcome. The one who found me must have been enjoying their win by just watching me submit to them before enjoying the ''best'' part of the Offering.


    The bite never came though, so I try to lift my head back up to face the victor, but my body has other plans. I pass out before I could even fully see who had caught me, all I knew was it was a large, dark auburn furred wolf.


    Did I really lose to those bastards?


    Well at least death is not as bad as I thought, I felt no pain and clearly there is something after death like the Elders used to say.


    Being alone with my thoughts for the rest of time will be nice, no sleep which means no nightmares. No over my shoulder glances. No more standing to attention.


    No more lessons or Door to Hell lurking and threatening to swallow me for weeks on end again.


    I could cry with joy.


    I¡¯m free.


    Thinking about it I am glad I was found and caught; maybe if I had been hidden better a slow death would have been more torturous than the lessons.


    Losing my train of thought, I begin seeing images of a familiar face telling me it¡¯s not my time to leave.


    ¡°Go back sweet Lilah, they need you down there¡­¡± That was all that was said, clear enough for me to understand. Then I feel an electric jolt though my whole being, flashes of lights seep into my vision from the pure darkness and slowly faint sounds of rushed voices, metal clinking together and beeping noises surround me.


    My senses overwhelmed but still not feeling a thing, I can¡¯t even feel myself breathing, something I am normally highly aware of. What on Selene¡¯s green Earth is going on here?


    The noises slow to an almost dead silence but there is still a faint beeping noise and very muffled voices. I strain to hear and understand but nothing comes of it and after what feels like hours, I finally manage to hear something coherent.


    ¡°She should wake up within an hour, the sedative needs time to wear off and then we can work on finding out what happened while she is still in a calm state.¡± A silky woman¡¯s voice said with empathy.


    I survived. Really? But now I¡¯m in another pack so that isn¡¯t much of a win for me. Not that I had a plan if I got away in the first place.


    Time feels like it has slowed down and the hour could have gone on for longer if I wasn¡¯t so occupied by listening to everything around me. Then I feel like I have been hit by a freight train that is hauling the material to build a skyscraper. My head is spinning, and my instant reaction was to jolt up and stop myself from throwing up at the throbbing I am feeling throughout my entire body. And that¡¯s when it truly hit me that I did survive, I was looking at three people standing in a room around me in what seems to be an infirmary.


    Ringing in my ears from the jolt of pain I had previously felt slowly simmered down and now I could hear what was being said by the woman who I now know to be the doctor from the glance I managed to get at her clothes. I keep my eyes trained to the bed covers to stay out of trouble.


    ¡°Hi there, are you feeling alright?¡± She says as she places a clipboard down at the bottom of the bed, she then moves to sit at the end of the bed, and I move back as far as the bed allows me. The pillow behind my back being squished so that my spine can feel the plastic backboard.


    ¡°I¡¯m Thea, you feeling alright? You gave us a scare there.¡± I just stare at the sheets, my head still pounding and feeling like I could sleep for days.


    ¡°You said you found her on our borders edge near Dawn Break, correct?¡± She said not looking away from me but clearly addressing one of the men. One of them nodded but moving my eyes in their direction made my head spin again so I just put my eyes back to the covers of the bed near the doctor.


    ¡°We¡¯ve had reports from the other packs that border them that they hunt young wolves they no longer want, only one of those unfortunate ones made it into another border but they were still caught and killed before anyone could get to them to bring them to safety.¡± Her voice was dripping with empathy at the last few words, and she seemed to trail off slightly.


    After hearing that one of us almost made it but was caught at the last second I lurched forward from feeling sick to my stomach, in doing so I almost fell from the bed but one of the men was fast enough to catch me and the moment he made skin contact with my arm and shoulder to stabilize me I made direct eye contact, my eyes boring holes in his bright blue eyes that have grey swirls in them. Just as quickly as I feel everything wash away in that moment, the pain, exhaustion, and anxiety floods back in waves.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.First the anxiety, I pull away viciously and lower my head making myself as small as I possibly can. Then the pain rolled in, and my lungs are on fire as if I was running again and my leg is pulsing under the bandage. Another wave of both anxiety and pain hit me and then the exhaustion, I can feel my eyes faltering from their position on the bed sheet as my eyelids are battling to stay open.


    A wave of all three hit and I fall into a dreamless sleep.


    Waking up I find myself alone in the room, so I look around while I am shaking off the groggy feeling. Most of the surfaces in the room are stainless steel, there is a door to my right and in front of me is all the cabinets and a sink. To the left is two chairs and in one of them the auburn-haired man is sleeping. He looks peaceful and I can see a little stubble from where I am so he must have been here since the time I fell asleep.


    I decided to sit up, so I didn¡¯t fall asleep again, I am still extremely tired, but I feel like I have just slept for a week with no breaks so sleeping can wait. The bed made a creak as I pushed myself up with my left arm and then a voice.


    ¡°Hey, Sleeping Beauty.¡± His voice could melt butter with how smooth and silky it is, I fix my eyes to the sheets and bring my knees to my chest to feel smaller.


    ¡°You know we need to have you answer questions so we can take care of you better, right?¡± I wracked my brain for an answer to how I would have been told to deal with this situation but nothing. Minutes of silence go by and then I flinch as the man stands up and lifts his arm to scratch the back of his neck.


    My peripheral vision is slightly blurred from being sleepy and my brain is still in a slight fog, so I lower my eyes further to look at my knees.


    ¡°My names Zane, could you tell me yours?¡± I feel the weight of him sit on the bed slowly and I move back again until I feel plastic on my spine.


    ¡°Lilah Simmons, sir.¡± My voice is hoarse, and my throat feels scratchy as I say my name in a whisper.


    ¡°Thank you, Lilah.  Please call me Zane.¡± I keep still and quiet.


    We are not to use first names with elders or higher ranks. I will not make that mistake again.


    The door opens abruptly making me nearly jump out of the bed but again the man called Zane moved to steady me. This time I keep my eyes low and avoid anything above knee level. The doctor has walked in, her name was Thea, I think.


    ¡°Hello, sweetie, Zane tells me you¡¯ve told him your name?¡± she asks with her silky-smooth voice again, this time with more sweet tones.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am¡± my voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°Could you answer some questions for me? It¡¯s so we can help you.¡± Thea says softly so I nod.


    ¡°Could you tell me the last time you ate and slept before you came here?¡± She was shuffling the papers on the clipboard from the bottom of the bed, my throat is starting to feel like sand was in it, but I know if I don¡¯t answer I would end up worse.


    ¡°I slept at around five in the afternoon for forty-five minutes a day and a half before the Offering and ate at around seven in the afternoon the night before, Ma¡¯am.¡± My voice keeps breaking as I am speaking, and I feel more tired than when I woke up.


    I could hear the faint scratching of a pen and then a loud noise reverberated around the room making me jump and scramble as far back against the plastic headboard as I can get. Forgetting that the man called Zane is still by my side he is frozen in place halfway through reaching for what had made the noise.


    ¡°Just knocked something off the table, sorry to have scared you Lilah.¡± He said and I cringed at my name, and I don¡¯t know what comes over me, but I snap.


    ¡°It¡¯s Simmons, Sir¡± He looks at me with curiosity and then Thea chimes in.


    ¡°Zane, this is that pack I was investigating with the Elite.¡± She clearly wanted to say something more but stops herself and then Zane responds in a way I don¡¯t understand.


    His whole aura changes, it went from caring to pure rage as he places the dropped cup down aggressively and walks out like a bull seeing red. I half expected a slammed door, but he left it open he¡¯s going that fast.


    I feel a nagging pain at the back of my head and reach to sooth it but stop after remembering that Thea is still here.


    ¡°Can I ask some personal questions, or would you like to rest more?¡± She said moving to sit on the bed as far from me as she could manage. I don¡¯t think I can talk even if I wanted to at this point.


    ¡°Water, Ma¡¯am¡± I force out with all my might through the pain and dryness of my throat.


    ¡°Water and rest it is, we can avoid these questions as they aren¡¯t medical.¡± I could hear her smile and feel her motherly warmth. She gets up and is moving around doing small tasks while I slowly move to let my spine take a break from being harshly pressed against the plastic.


    After a few minutes she placed a glass of water on the side table to my left and put the clipboard back at the bottom of the bed.


    ¡°I will be just outside at my desk, just ask if you need anything that isn¡¯t here.¡± Her voice was calm and soothes me a little as I can be alone with my thoughts to process what is happening. She quietly leaves and instead of closing the door fully she leaves it cracked open.


    I grab the glass of water and sip a few times hoping it will help my throat, it soothed it a little, but it was still feeling rough. I get comfortable and hear faint voices outside, can¡¯t understand a word but soon enough I have fallen asleep again. More dreamless sleep and when I wake up, I am greeted with an empty room thankfully. I sip on the water for a few minutes, my throat slowly feeling better after reaching the halfway point of the cup. I place the cup back and then lay there for a while with my eyes fixated on the ceiling.


    I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know I am waking up in the middle of the room off the bed, I feel shorter than normal and slightly healthier. Then the mess of the room comes into my view, the bed is skewed, blankets draped and half on the floor, glass of water smashed and spilled, and a few other things strewn about.


    ¡°What in the world is going¡­¡± Thea walked in and stopped as she saw me, I look down at the ground.


    Wait. Paws? I shifted in my sleep. Wait. I haven¡¯t shifted in six years; I thought my wolf had left me?


    Freaking out at the paws I start to move around to find a corner to hide but in doing so I make more of a mess, causing more panic. I am not getting out of trouble now.


    ¡°Simmons, you¡¯re fine, calm down, you can sit in the corner, and I will tidy up.¡± Thea says and more panic hits me. Omegas clean their own mess and others. Thea stops abruptly as she is about to pick up the mess, then I notice why, I have been unknowingly growling at her.


    ¡°Okay, I will let you tidy up but how can you if you¡¯re shifted?¡± she asks with an eyebrow cocked. I lower my head and look at the floor again, I don¡¯t know how to shift anymore, how did I end up like this and how am I going to fix it so I can clean my mess?


    Selene, please help me fix this, I am so tired, and I just want to sleep!