The loud beeping of her alarm woke Belle up. It was 3:50 a.m., time to go train with the Beta and Gamma of the Moonlit Pack. She still found it strange how much Alpha Conrad and Luna Caroline cared about her, even though she was just an Omega from another place. She didn't remember anything from her old life, but they treated her like their own daughter.
She really had nothing to complain about. They gave her everything she could ever want. She got private lessons every day—something no other Omega was lucky enough to have. They even spent a lot of money to fix up her room, even though she told them she was happy with it just the way it was.
They wanted everything to be perfect for her. She had a huge bathroom with a nice shower, a big bathtub, and even a small sauna. Next to it was a big Private Closet. It was mostly empty, though, because she usually just wore sweatpants, t-shirts, and sneakers.
It wasn't that she couldn't have nice clothes like the other girls at Highland High, or that the Luna would say no. She knew exactly who would get angry if she bought anything new.
Drake Creed was her worst enemy. He was controlling and paranoid, especially when it came to her. He hated her from the day his parents brought her home. At first, he just didn't want her around him or his friends.
But after a few weeks, things got way worse than her twelve-year-old self could understand.
He said she wasn't allowed to train, but that didn't stop her. She secretly trained with the Beta, Gamma, the Luna, and sometimes the Alpha in the Private Wellness room they built just for her. Soon, he told her she couldn't go near the pool and even started picking out her clothes. She wasn't even allowed to look him in the eye.
Belle was sure he was the reason everyone at school ignored her. He put her on his blacklist. He hated her before they even spoke, and she had no idea why. No one dared to go against him or his wolf, Stand. Drake was nothing like his parents; he was angry, dangerous, and a strong fighter. He was going to be the next Alpha.
The moment he takes over, she knows he will kick her out. Luckily, she has been getting ready. She gets good grades, knows how to code, and saves every penny she makes. She plans to leave as soon as she turns eighteen. She loves the Alpha and Luna, but she knows she couldn't live here with Drake in charge.
She put on some clothes without thinking too much and tried to stop thinking about him. Today was her last day of summer break. Drake had been away at training the whole time, and Belle had never felt so peaceful. With him and his friends gone, she felt confident again, like her old self.
She had spent so long trying to be quiet just to make him happy, but she was done with that. She decided right then that she would never let him control her life again.
Gathering her long locks together, Belle swiftly twisted her hair into a neat ponytail to keep it out of her face. Stepping out of the bathroom, she carried her newfound determination straight towards the Private Wellness area, ready to channel all her pent-up frustration and energy into her workout, much to the Beta and Gamma's expense.
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Once she had finished her morning meal, she wiped her mouth and stood up from the kitchen counter. Carefully placing her used plate inside the dishwasher, she reached for the novel book she had been reading and tucked it under her arm before leaving the room. She pushed open the heavy swing door that led from the kitchen into the spacious dining area, which then opened up into the grand main hall of the Pack Residence.
As she walked quietly past the den, she caught the faint sound of voices murmuring together, their words too soft and distant for her to understand clearly. However, her sharp senses picked up the familiar scents drifting through the doorway, instantly revealing exactly who was inside.
Not wanting to give the impression that she was lingering or listening in on their private conversation, Belle hurried her steps down the long corridor. She pushed open the large front doors and stepped outside, immediately taking a deep breath to fill her lungs with the crisp, clean morning air. She felt a wave of gratitude for the freedom and peace that the outdoors always brought her.
Her boots made a soft scraping sound against the smooth pavement of the driveway as her feet moved almost automatically. Her mind was elsewhere, but her body knew the way perfectly, following the same familiar path that had become her routine for the last three months.
Soon, she left the hard pavement behind and stepped onto the lush green grass, still damp and glistening with morning dew. The soft earth gave way slightly under the weight of her boots as she walked further out. Without even making a conscious decision, her legs carried her toward a special place that had quietly become her favorite spot throughout the summer.
With Drake away, she finally felt safe enough to return here after avoiding it for so many years. As she ventured deeper into the Mountains, the dry twigs and fallen leaves crunched satisfyingly beneath her feet with every step, marking her distance from the main buildings.
The further she went, the more she enjoyed the absolute silence of nature surrounding her. She listened to the gentle chirping of birds hidden high up in the canopy and watched as squirrels darted playfully between the branches, chasing one another through the trees. In this calm state, her thoughts began to drift back in time, remembering the very first occasion she had ever discovered this hidden place.