Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother

Somewhere, in the blur of my agony, I heard my father sigh.

"Untie her," he commanded. "Let her crawl back to the dirt where she belongs."

The rope came loose, and I collapsed onto the dirt like a rag doll. My arms were too weak to catch me, my body too broken to move. My face hit the ground, dust clinging to my tear-streaked cheeks.

First, I heard footsteps and then, fading voices.

They were leaving me there.

Like an animal.

Like nothing.

A broken sob wracked my body, my fingers curling weakly in the dirt. My entire back pulsed with unbearable fire. Every breath I took was sending fresh pain rippling through my ribs.

I had no strength left.

I wanted to disappear. To sink into the earth and never feel this pain again.

Just then, I thought I heard some movement.