Just like his sister, Luka sported blonde hair and blue eyes with a pretty face that had most human and werewolf girls swooning. He was fairly tall, and seemed like a good person compared to his sister. But Elise knew he didn't like her. He only helped her to keep his reputation intact.
"Maybe you should consider leaving this school for good. Before Becky finally rips your throat out." Luka said as he walked in the opposite direction.
"What a jerk!" Elise thought to herself as she tried to salvage what was left of her books.
People still passed by, werewolves shooting her glances of disgust and disdain, and humans rushing past like they were scared of associating with someone like her.
Elise was already used to being an outcast, but she suddenly felt more emotional today. She had no real friends or family. As an orphan, she never even knew her parents, and her aunt, Thea, was arrogant and selfish just like every other person she knew.
She had only even agreed to take care of Elise because she had no children of her own, and for someone who was barren, she had no love within her to give, so she poured her bitterness on poor Elise.
The thought of going back home drained Elise. But sadly, she had to.
One depressing environment to another.
She thought.
Elise dragged her feet through the front door of her aunt's modest house, her body aching and her chest tight from the earlier confrontation. The cozy house smelled faintly of lavender, but even the calming scent couldn't ease the tension that coiled in her stomach.
"You're late," Thea's sharp voice sliced through the silence like a knife.
Elise froze mid-step. This woman was always so annoying, but today, she was somehow the least of her problems.
Her aunt was seated in her usual spot on the worn-out couch, her lips pursed in disapproval.
"I told you to come straight home after school. What took you so long?" Thea demanded, her narrowed eyes studying Elise like a hawk zeroing in on prey.
"I—" Elise's voice cracked, and she cleared her throat. "I got held up."
There would have been no point narrating the earlier incident to Thea. Not like she would care.
"Held up?" Thea scoffed, standing and crossing the room to tower over Elise. "Don't tell me you were off embarrassing yourself again. Or worse, embarrassing me."
Elise bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. She had long grown accustomed to her aunt's scorn, but today had already been too much.
"You're lucky I even let you stay here," Thea continued, her tone icy. "A useless Omega like you is nothing but a burden. Do you have any idea how many times I've had to defend myself when people ask why I'm stuck with a wolfless niece?"
Elise lowered her head, staring at the frayed carpet beneath her feet. She didn't trust herself to speak without breaking.
Thea let out a heavy sigh and turned away. "I don't know why I bother. You're not going to amount to anything, Elise. You're just a reminder of everything wrong in this world."
Elise hated the way this woman made her feel. Of course, she would've stood up for herself long ago, but an Omega like her was no match for Thea, who was a Beta of one of the smaller packs in her day.
"Anyway," Thea added, as though her tirade hadn't been enough, "I got this earlier today." She reached over to the cluttered side table and picked up an envelope, thrusting it into Elise's hands.
"What is it?" Elise asked softly, her fingers fumbling to open it.
"An invitation to the White Moon Ball," Thea said with a hint of disdain. "The annual meeting of the packs. I don't know why they still bother sending one to me every year. I'm too tired to think about going to that circus."
Elise's eyes scanned the elegant lettering on the card, her heart sinking. She'd heard of the White Moon Ball before. It was an extravagant event where the clans gathered to flaunt their power and socialize under the guise of democracy. Omegas like her didn't belong anywhere near it.
"Don't get any ideas," Thea snapped, misreading the look on Elise's face. "As if you'd fit in with people like them."
"I wasn't—" Elise began, but Thea cut her off.
"Actually," Thea interrupted, tapping a finger against her chin, "on second thought, why not? You can't possibly embarrass me more than you already do."
Elise blinked, stunned. "You're… letting me go?"
Thea laughed humorlessly. "Letting you? I'm telling you. You're going. Consider it your punishment for being such a disappointment."
Elise wanted to argue, but she knew it would be pointless. Instead, she nodded and turned to leave.
"And don't come crying to me when you're treated like dirt," Thea called after her. "That's all you'll ever be to them."
The door clicked shut behind Elise, and she leaned against it, exhaling shakily. The invitation felt heavy in her hands, a reminder of how out of place she was in this world.
The night of the White Moon Ball arrived faster than Elise expected. She'd spent the day debating whether to go at all, but Thea's pointed glares every time she crossed the living room had left her with little choice.
She stood outside the grand event hall, her breath hitching as she took in the sight before her. The building was a masterpiece of architecture, with tall glass windows that reflected the moonlight and an intricate design of silver and gold detailing the entrance.
Elise clutched her invitation tightly and stepped inside. The grandeur of the hall took her breath away. Chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the polished floors and elegantly dressed guests. The air buzzed with energy, a mix of laughter, conversation, and the faintest hint of tension that always accompanied gatherings of this nature.
She immediately felt out of place. Her simple dress, a hand-me-down from Thea, looked drab compared to the gowns and suits that adorned the other guests. She kept her head down, avoiding the curious and judgmental gazes that seemed to follow her.
She fuddled with her crescent necklace, her nerves getting the best of her. Just as she was about to muster the courage to move in, she heard a voice.
"Elise?"