Alpha Ethan was known throughout the werewolf community as a ruthless and cruel leader. He ruled his pack with an iron fist and demanded complete obedience from his followers. But there was one person in his pack who he despised above all others: his stepdaughter Miranda.
Ethan had never wanted to take Miranda in after her mother died. He knew that she was the product of his wife's infidelity, and he hated her for it. When Miranda was just eight years old, Ethan made her join his maids and made life miserable for her. He never missed an opportunity to remind her that she didn't belong in his pack.
But what Ethan didn't realize was that his mistreatment of Miranda was only making her stronger. She learned to fend for herself and to never give up, no matter how tough things got. And when Miranda turned fifteen, Ethan's torture only intensified.
One day, a woman named Amanda came to Ethan's territory. Miranda was asked to serve her water, and she did so obediently. But when Miranda tried to leave, Ethan stopped her and introduced her to Amanda as his "wife's miserable product." Amanda turned to Miranda and said, "You're beautiful, just like your mother." She extended her hand to shake Miranda's and introduced herself as Ethan's junior sister.
But Miranda just walked out of the room with a frown on her face, not saying a word. Amanda didn't take it personally, and instead turned to her brother and said, "Let's get back to our conversation."
As Miranda grew older, she never forgot the way Ethan had treated her. But she also knew that she couldn't let him defeat her. She worked hard, trained hard, and eventually became one of the strongest members of the pack.
But Ethan's cruelty didn't stop there. When Miranda was seventeen, Ethan fell in love with another wolf named Theresa Almond. Theresa wasn't cool with the way Ethan was mistreating Miranda, and she started adding something to his food and drinks that would weaken his heart.
It wasn't long before Ethan fell seriously ill, and Theresa revealed the truth to Miranda. "I couldn't stand to see him treat you that way," she said. "He deserved to suffer."
Miranda didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to leave Ethan to die, but another part of her knew that she couldn't let herself become like him. In the end, she decided to save Ethan's life.
It took weeks of careful nursing, but Miranda eventually nursed Ethan back to health. And in that time, something changed in him. He began to see Miranda in a new light, not as the product of his wife's infidelity, but as a strong and capable member of his pack.
From that day on, Ethan treated Miranda with the respect she deserved. He even went so far as to apologize for the way he had treated her in the past. Miranda forgave him, but she never forgot the lessons she had learned from his mistreatment. She knew that she had become the person she was today because of him, and she was grateful for that.
Despite Ethan's newfound respect for Miranda, there was still one thing that bothered him deeply. Miranda had not yet shifted into a wolf, even though she had already turned 18.
Ethan had always believed that a werewolf's transformation was a sign of strength and power. And when Miranda didn't shift, he felt as though he had been duped into treating her well.
His anger towards Miranda simmered just beneath the surface, and he started to become more and more brutal towards her again. He would berate her in front of the pack, and even went so far as to scratch her back with his sharp paw fang fingers one night.
Miranda cried out in pain, but Ethan didn't seem to care. He was intent on killing her that night, his rage and frustration boiling over. But just as he was about to strike the final blow, his heart failed him.
Ethan fell down, dead instantly. The pack was shocked at his sudden death, and for a moment, nobody knew what to do. But as they looked at Ethan's lifeless body, they realized that they were free from his tyranny.
Miranda was devastated by Ethan's death, despite all the pain he had caused her. She knew that she would never forget the lessons she had learned from his cruelty, but she was also relieved that she would never have to suffer through it again.
After snapping out of this thought, Miranda stood facing the wall backing mirror, Miranda couldn't help but remember the pain of that past years night. She slowly pulled off her robe, revealing the scar on her back. It was a constant reminder of the trauma she had endured, and it made her angry.
Miranda was so pissed off that she grabbed a nearby vase and threw it at the mirror, shattering it into a million pieces. For a moment, she stood there, staring at the shards of glass on the floor, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
~Sophia Pov~
Lucas, summon all the pack mates, and his Alpha. They were all surprised to see me beside Derick, walking into their mist. Lucas stood up and addressed Derick, "Alpha, we need to discuss something important with you."
Derick nodded and gestured for him to continue.
Lucas took a deep breath and spoke, "We're not happy to see Sophia here. She doesn't belong to our pack, and we don't think it's right for you to be seen with someone like her. Moreover, you're breaking our pack rules, and it shouldn't be happening since you're our Alpha."
Jessica, chimed in, "I totally agree with Lucas. We should stick to our pack rules, and our Alpha shouldn't be associated with someone like Sophia."
Before Derick could respond, I spoke up, "I'm sorry for any inconvenience I might have caused. You don't have to hate your Alpha because of me. I'll leave right now."
I turned around to leave, but Derick stopped me. He stood up and asked, "What if Sophia joins our pack?"
Everyone in the room was shocked, including me. I turned slowly to look at Derick, wondering if he was serious.
Lucas spoke up again, "Alpha, are you sure about this? Sophia is not one of us. She doesn't belong here."
Derick looked at Lucas and said, "I'm sure about this. Sophia has proven herself to be a valuable friend to me, and I don't see why she can't be a valuable member of our pack."
The other members of the pack murmured amongst themselves, still unsure about the situation.
Derick raised his voice, "I am your Alpha, and I have made a decision. Sophia will be welcomed into our pack if she chooses to join."
I looked at Derick, surprised at his boldness. I had never seen this side of him before.
Derick turned to me and asked, "What do you say, Sophia? Will you join our pack?"
Lucas and the rest of the pack members were stunned by Derick's determine suggestion. They couldn't believe that their Alpha was willing to accept someone who was banished from her pack, let alone someone who had been labeled a "rejected mate". Jessica couldn't hide her disapproval as she rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.
I looked at Derick, trying to read his expression, but he was unreadable. He simply stood there, waiting for my answer. I took a deep breath and spoke up, "Are you sure about this, Derick? I don't want to cause any trouble for your pack."
Derick looked at me with determination in his eyes. "I am sure. I trust you, Sophia. And besides, I think it's time we start breaking some of these old pack traditions. We can't continue to isolate ourselves from the rest of the werewolf community."
Lucas was still hesitant. "But what about our pack rules? We can't just let anyone in."
Derick took a step forward, his voice firm. "Our pack rules are important, but so is our sense of compassion and understanding. Sophia has proven herself to be a valuable ally, and I see no reason why she shouldn't be allowed to join us."
The pack members murmured amongst themselves, unsure of what to do. I could sense their apprehension and fear. They were worried about what the rest of the werewolf community would think of them if they started accepting outsiders.
I looked at Derick, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. He was willing to stand up for me, even if it meant going against his own pack. "I accept your offer, Derick. I will join your pack."
Derick smiled, a sense of relief washing over him. "Welcome to the pack, Sophia. We will make sure that you are properly integrated and accepted by everyone."
The rest of the pack members looked at me with mixed expressions, some still unsure of what to make. While Jessica and Lucas walked out from the room in furious expression.