Chapter 1: Not Just An Omega
Hailee’s POV
I have two secrets. Two deep, dangerous secrets the people of the Full Moon Pack don’t know. One—if they ever found out—would make them bow and worship me. The other? They’d be too afraid to even look me in the eye. But I’ve kept both to myself, pretending to be the weak omega, the cook’s daughter no one notices.
Only two people know. My mother—and Lila, my best friend. I told Lila one of them two months ago, and thankfully, she didn’t treat me any differently. Just two omega girls, still best friends.
"Hailee! You’re running late! Didn’t you mention you have a test?" my mother’s loud yelling echoed from downstairs.
Rolling my eyes, I stared at myself one last time in the mirror. I wasn’t pretty enough to be noticed, nor plain enough to be invisible. I was just there.
A mess of wavy, deep auburn hair framed my face, the strands falling past my shoulders like wildfire in motion. My eyes were the color of the sky, sometimes silver when the light caught them just right—and my skin, pale and speckled with faint freckles, looked almost delicate. I had a small scar just beneath my left eye, a faded reminder of a childhood accident I didn’t like talking about.
I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, pulled it into a quick braid, and grabbed the worn-out backpack by the bed. The straps were fraying, and one of the zippers didn’t close all the way, but it held what I needed: my books... and the small locket I never took out in front of anyone. Not even Lila.
"I’m coming!" I yelled back, slinging the bag over my shoulder and hopping down the stairs two at a time.
My mother stood in the kitchen, apron dusted with flour, wiping her hands on a cloth. Her eyes met mine. She looked tired, a little worried, but proud. She handed me a wrapped sandwich and a bottle of water.
"Don’t look for trouble today," she whispered. "No matter what."
I nodded. We never talked about the secrets out loud, but she always had a way of reminding me to stay out of trouble.