I am not an Alpha. I will never be a Luna. I will never be more than an Omega. I am a low ranking she-wolf.

This is the mantra I repeat in my head as I do the chores. My body on autopilot as I clean all the rooms in the pack house.

I am Lilah Simmons.

The lowest ranking and eldest Omega in the Dawn Break pack.

Before I can repeat my mantra again as I take the laundry basket to the Omega quarters, I hear the main pack members return from their daily routine of border patrol, training, and free time. I freeze to the spot and shrink as best I can with my head lowered and eyes to the floor unmoving.

The large halls were bustling, doors being opened and closed, shoes leaving tracks behind, boisterous shouting, girly bickering and then slowly the noise becomes muffled. After I am sure everyone has gone to where they were heading and there's no people left in the hallways, I lift my head and walk to the Omega quarters with the laundry. Weaving the halls when there are possibly people sends shivers through me.

I finally got to the laundry room after walking though the Omega quarters entryway, down the classroom hallway and past the Door to Hell. I set the basket down and breathe a sigh of relief that it's quiet today and no one has decided to pick on me if I'm seen in the main pack quarters. Normally anyone that walks past me would cause a problem but strangely of the few that walked by me they left me there as if I was invisible.

I start to repeat my mantra and begin the daily routine of separating dark, light and colours from the laundry. By the time I've repeated the mantra six times the piles are sorted, and one load is already in the washer.

When the first load starts, I think to myself I'm getting faster at my chores meaning less time being scolded. I did the sorting of the laundry in six repetitions this time, not seven, I proudly moved to start folding the earlier load that's now dry and begin again with the mantra.

After a while, my silent progress is interrupted by what can only be the footsteps of the Teacher. I manage to quickly make sure everything is done apart from the last load that's currently still in the washer and stand to the side of it, head down, eyes to the floor and awaiting orders.

"Simmons, the last load should have been done ten minutes ago, I suppose we need another lesson?" The Teacher, whose name is Danny the Beta of the pack, says bluntly as he towers over me. I shrink as small as I can get, eyes staying glued to the floor.

"Sorry sir, it won't happen again, forgive me." I say as best I can without stuttering or fainting from the thought of another lesson. I think I will end up never leaving the lesson if it comes to it.

"Better not," He spits out before barking orders, "tomorrow I want it done in the timeframe you've been given, right now finish up and get into the kitchen for your shift." I nod at once at his words.

"Yes, sir." I choke out barely.

He leaves and the lingering anger that was dripping off him makes it harder for me to unfreeze from my spot. But the fear of another lesson creeps into my body and I quickly start moving to get the last of the laundry done to start my kitchen shift. Getting six loads of laundry done in the span of eight hours is tough considering the sheer number of towels that need to be done and they can take three hours alone.

The last of the laundry was finally hung up to dry, so I went straight for the kitchen, I don't even remember walking there, but I made sure I was still on time for the shift swap.

"Switch! Those who leave the kitchen rest an hour and begin the main pack chores! Those now in the kitchen begin the meal preparations according to the Wednesday instructions!" The Teachers voice made every single one of us flinch.

We’ve been reduced to an hours’ time to sleep, eat, and clean because one of the new Omega’s made a mistake. Might not have been their fault considering two hours of sleep is not enough daily, but the Teacher didn't care at all, they fell asleep doing chores, so we all got punished. One mistake from a new Omega or old and we all suffer until we have had enough days accumulate to gain more free time again.

Auto pilot kicked in and with the mantra swirling in my head I made sure there were no mistakes in my tasks. Cooking was my escape minus the mantra quietly on repeat in the back of my mind. Chopping vegetables, meat and preparing any sauces for the other Omegas that are given the task of using the ovens and other equipment, time flew by, and the shift was almost over. Five hours in the kitchen and we were given hours’ time to sleep, eat and clean.

I can't remember much of my life before being an Omega, apart from my parents, but if this is my life then so be it. I've slowly come to terms with it over the past eight years. I may be the eldest Omega but from what I have gathered from hearing whispers around me I am not an original Dawn Break member. I was either found and taken in or I was lost and then given the ‘chance’ to live. Either way there is a silver lining. I am alive, breathing and when I turn twenty-five, I will be given the option to leave this pack. I’m nineteen now and having been here eight years already I am sure I can make it another six.

Lost in thought, I had already managed to make my way back to my living space, a small room with a yoga mat as a bed, a thin blanket folded on top and a very old and dull looking pillow. I decided to just clean up a little to get the smell of food off me and then find a small snack from the communal eating area in the Omega quarters. Sleep can wait as I overslept in my last free time slot.

The night went by quickly, the pack being asleep made it easier for us Omega’s to move through the place and get chores done. The morning began like any other, however there was a dead weight on my shoulders. I can't remember any of the night’s chores, but I managed to avoid mistakes and being seen by the Teacher. I was not going back to the lessons ever again unless I break from the lack of sleep and food.

The Omega quarters was quiet, more than normal but maybe all the Omega's were hard at work and being as quiet as possible considering it was eight in the morning and the shift swap had happened at six. My next set of chores was to make sure every plant was watered; every painting or wall hanging was clean and hung correctly as well as any furniture with decoration was clean and in the right orientation.

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It sounds dull but it is my second favourite chore to be given to me out of them all as it's a calming one where I don't have to stand to attention if I'm midway through moving something to place it properly or clean it.

After finishing the main pack quarters, I moved to the Omega quarters and after an hour I was about to finish the last placement of a painting when a spark in the air shot through me, it pulsed in tandem with my heartbeat. Then I could hear it, the chanting could be heard, and I had realized too late to hide out of the large hallway and in a room.

The Offering was today.

Fear holding me to my spot meant I was most likely to be picked this time and the pack wouldn't blink an eye at it. I wouldn't mind being the Offering however running in the physical condition us Omega’s are put in would make it, so we lose every time. In the time I have been in this place there hasn’t been a single win for Omega’s.

Could I win?

Brushing that thought aside as I was just about to reach for the door next to me and the Omega quarters entry doors opened and there stood the Alphas son, Harry. Like a wild west standoff his eyes had already landed on me, and I dared not move hoping to Selene, he hadn't seen me.

I closed my eyes and hoped when I opened them, he would have turned to find someone else, as much as I wish he didn't have to choose someone that's all any Omega thinks when this day comes. Not me, someone else please! I keep my eyes shut and hear no footsteps, the moment I relax my eyes from being held shut like they were never to open again I hear it. That awful sound.

I feel a small pressure around my neck and my hair being moved about slightly. The awful sound stopped me dead in my tracks and my eyes shot open and I could see the doors still agape, but no Harry.

Then I feel it again, the pressure around my neck growing stronger. The ringing in my ears. The wicked laugh. Harry’s wide grin in front of me with a wild look in his eye fixed onto mine, like a deer caught in headlights. He lifted his hand reaching just below my chin and gently flicked the bell on the ribbon wrapped delicately around my neck.

The Offering Bell.

The Alpha's son, Harry stood in front of me, still smiling ear to ear at the fact he was the one to catch me as the Offering. My mind went completely blank. No thoughts, no feelings, no mantras. Just empty behind my eyes.

Harry sidestepped and gestured for me to walk to the front of the pack house where the whole pack including the rest of the Omega's would be waiting.

Autopilot.

I walked in front of the Alpha’s son. My eyes never fell to the floor, the image of the shit eating grin on his face burned into my eyelids. We reached the door and as I stopped in front, the bell let out a small ring. The air changed and the door opened to a view I will never forget.

The Alpha turning to face me, the Luna following suit, the Beta reaching out an arm to gesture me forward to stand between the Alpha and Luna, all the Delta's crowded on either side of the path that leads away from the building and even the Omega's, shyly standing in neat rows down both sides of the path with the Delta’s behind them.

"Let the Offering, begin!" The Alpha rang out and a small applause began and ended. I've seen too many Offerings to count, and I begin the walk that I've seen so many do before.

I stop at the beginning of the Omega's, the first two that are on either side of me take my apron off.

I move three steps forward.

The second set of Omega's took my blouse off.

I move three steps forward.

The third set of Omega's tugs my trousers so they fall to my feet and help me step out of them.

I take three steps forward.

The fourth set of Omega's make sure the bell is tight enough that I can't take it off.

I take three steps forward.

The fifth and final set that are to help me untie my hair.

I begin to take in the view in front of me, seeing what's in front of me, the last of the Omega's are standing on either side of the path, they are the last barrier between me and the pack. I can feel every set of eyes on me and the only ones that weren't looking at me to kill me were from the ones in my rank.

The path ahead will be the hardest I will ever take. It had just gone one in the afternoon and the sun’s heat had left a warm breeze making its way through the channel of already hot bodies. My body felt cold and numb, the tree line seemingly moving further away even as I stood still. That forest is my last line of defence against these monsters.

If I make it there, I will have at least a small chance of hiding.

The silence is unbearable and standing naked made it worse, the next thirty seconds of silence felt like an hour.

"Our prayer to Selene has been done! Your Offering has been selected and stripped! This time we have an extra rule for the hunt," The Alpha began, whispers filled the silence, and I thought my ears were deceiving me. Would I be given less time to get a head start? Less than ten minutes would be defeat before I left.

"This Offering gets a twenty-minute head start!" The Alpha continued, people began shouting that it was unfair and to give me less time. I stood and waited for the signal to move.

"Silence! You all know why," the Luna now speaking, it became silent again, and this time all that could be heard was my heart beating.

"This is a special one, the thrill is in the chase! You'll feel more satisfied when it's caught. If the prey thinks they can win because they've gotten further than all the others their face is more of a sight to savour!" She let out a huge belly laugh, and the Alpha joined in.

"Split" said the Alpha, Luna, and Beta all in synchronization. Before I knew it, I was running like I had never run before. The bell ringing in my ears and the cold metal of it made my neck hair stand on end and I shivered every time it touched my skin.

After running for what felt like the full twenty minutes I came to a halting stop, my legs giving up and my chest heaving trying to take in all the air possible. I dug my hands into the ground to make fists but ended up compacting the dirt and it spilled out between my fingers. After finally catching my breath, I stood up ready to run again but the bell decided to make a noise as I stood up. I hid as best I could behind a tree nearby. I had made it to the forest with seconds to spare from what I could gather.

No sound came from any direction, I waited for who knows how long before grabbing the tiny and cold clapper inside the bell so it would not make more noise as I looked around to see if anyone had followed me.

I heard a stick break and leaves shuffle. This wasn't a dense or thick forest; this was a slightly sparse forest where only a few trees had bushes by them, so it was hard to hide and easy to spot something out of the ordinary. So, I kept still, keeping my fingers pinched onto the clapper of the bell and breathing as lightly as I could considering I had used most of my energy on the sprint here. The sound faded and there was faint shouting, I waited for it to fall completely silent before making a move.

My feet finally started to hurt, my fingers started to ache holding the bell to keep it silent and my thighs and chest were burning. The first adrenaline was wearing off and I had very little time, I needed to find a hiding spot or get over the border if I could even figure out where that was.

I let the pain simmer down by standing still but not letting the bell make noise, then once I was sure I could move I made a dash for the horizon away from where the shouting came from.

All I could hear was the wind rushing past my ears, my heavy breathing and a second round of adrenaline kicked in as I pushed myself to run as far as I possibly could. I tripped on my own feet and fell to the ground; I tumbled down a decline and never once let that bell ring while I rolled over rocks, sticks and through piles of leaves. Then I tried to get up, but the worst had happened.