Rebirth

My name is Ashley Marie Lewis, Ash for short, and I am dead.

My parents are Omegas and when I was two, they died in a rogue attack. You would think that as a pack, the other wolves would care for me, but they didn’t. Who wants to take responsibility for an orphaned Omega? No one, that’s who.

So I was beaten because they just wanted me to die. But somehow I made it through it all, I don’t know how, but I did. My body was riddled with scars because my wolf was weak from trying to heal all the time, she never got a break.

They started making me do chores: cooking, cleaning, errands, fixing, anything you could think of, I had to learn to do. I was an overall handy-man or woman in this case. I was still beaten and made fun of, but at least I had a purpose.

I was underfed because I could only get scraps and leftovers to eat, which was never much. But I ate what I could, the leftover core of an apple, the grease left on a plate, the crust of bread or pizza, whatever they didn’t eat, I did. I couldn’t be picky, I needed to survive. Survive until my mate could take me out of this hell hole, at least that was what I was hoping for.

At 18, I finally had the ability to sense my mate. He wasn’t within my pack, thank the goddess. But where is he? How long must I wait?

At 19, he finally came. There was a celebration for the Alpha Ceremony, packs from all over came. My mate found me, and took me away.

You would think I would be happy and grateful, but it just got worse. My mate is Alpha Cade of the Blood Claw Pack, he’s one of the meanest, scariest, coldest Alphas around. With the mate bond, I thought he would at least care a little for me, but was I wrong. He was cruel to people around him, but to me, he was vicious.

I tried being the best mate for him, doing what Omegas do best, but it never worked. He told me how worthless and weak I was and beat me more than my old pack did. He told me that he would never marked or mated me because I would never become Luna. He just beat and berated me constantly.

He blamed the Moon Goddess everyday for giving him such a worthless mate, and he took all his anger out on me. The only reason why he kept me around was to make him stronger. Mates make each other stronger, especially since he was an Alpha, he needed it.

He couldn’t reject me because second chance mates basically never happened, and choice mates aren’t as strong as true mates. He slept with random women, making me watch as I writhed in pain and agony from him having sex with anyone else but me.

After 1 year, he loaned me to another pack for 3 years so that he could borrow their warriors to fight off rogues that threatened the Blood Claw Pack. I wish I could say that they treated me like the Luna I was supposed to be, but no.

I didn’t think life could get worse, but it did. They played games with me, fun for them, not for me. I’d stand while they threw knives at me. If I flinch or closed my eyes, they’d whip me with silver. They put apples on my shoulders and head while they shot arrows at me. If I moved…well, you get the picture. They never missed because they were skilled warriors, but I was always terrified. But I always hoped, hoped that they would put me out of my misery.

We would switch, where I had to do the same to them, but I knew I couldn’t hurt them. If I did, it would be so much worse for me. I’d miss and they’d make fun of me, calling me weak and useless, spitting on me, kicking me, every horrible thing you can think of.

I’d practice on my own time, learning to shoot arrows and throw knives. I wondered if I should show them that I could do it, but I don’t think they would appreciate that. There’s more of them, and only one of me.

I don’t know which was worse, my mate’s pack or the pack I was loaned to. My old pack was definitely the best because I at least had some use there.

After 3 years, I returned to Alpha Cade. To think I actually missed him, I knew he wouldn’t be able to kill me. And at least he didn’t purposely scare me to death everyday. But I grew accustomed to it, I could tell where the arrows and knives would end up, and I was no longer afraid for my life. Death would be a release, so what’s there to fear?

Another year passed by and he made another she-wolf Luna. He didn’t mark her, but she was bearing his pup, an heir. He still kept me around, just to empower himself while he still beat and cursed me whenever he could.

Then we were attacked by the very pack I was loaned to for 3 years. At 24, I was being held hostage by them yet again. Apparently when they heard I wasn’t Luna, they gave into their greed and attacked. A pack with their Alpha not making his true mate a Luna wasn’t a good thing. They saw it as weak and found the perfect opportunity to attack.

They threatened to kill me in front of him, and he didn’t even flinch. While the Alpha held a silver knife to my neck, I looked at my mate. He held only anger and hate for me in his eyes.

I told my captors, “It’s useless, he doesn’t care for me. His Luna is already pregnant.”

They just scoffed in response.

I sent up a prayer to the Moon Goddess: “Let my death end this war and save me from this suffering. I offer my life to you, the Moon Goddess, please hear my prayer.”

I looked at my mate. I only smiled because he will no longer get the power he needs from me, and I will not only take out one of his enemies, but one of mine too. I will get revenge on the both of them, the only way I know how.

And with that, I grabbed the Alpha’s hand holding the silver knife, slicing my throat. He was surprised and let go of the knife, while I, with my last remaining strength before I die, grabbed the knife and plunged it deep into his heart, killing him.

As I fall to the ground dying, I swear I saw a flash of remorse and sadness through my mate’s eyes, but I could be wrong because it was gone as soon as it came. Maybe it was my wishful thinking that he would have felt something for me.

After my death, nothing happened. The war ended. Alpha Cade of the Blood Claw Pack was safe, and the pack that attacked left because they had to deal with the fallout of the loss of their Alpha.

No one came to collect my body because I wasn’t worth anything. My death ended the war and my suffering. 3 birds, one stone.

So, here I am, laying dead. My name is Ashley Marie Lewis, Ash for short, and that is what I am now. Ash. A speck of dust. Dirt. Nothing. Dead.

In the darkness, a light came illuminating a beautiful pale woman with jet black hair wearing a silver dress. “My child, you have suffered more than most, and for that I am sorry. Your life should have been better, but I underestimated the greed and arrogance of some of my children. I have granted you your wish to end the war and your suffering.”

“Thank you.” was all I managed to say as I cried tears of happiness and sadness.

“For your sacrifice and suffering, I will bring you back to life. No longer bound by your mate Alpha Cade. I have chosen a better mate-.”

“No, no more mates. I don’t want to live anymore.”

“I’m sorry my child, but your life has already returned. I can give you the choice of choosing a mate if you so wish to change your mind. If you do decide to choose a mate, the bond will be more powerful than that of a true mate. And for your suffering, I have made you powerful so that no one will hurt you again. But only if you use it for good, and only against those that want to hurt you.”

Since the Moon Goddess gave me a second chance, I guess I should take it, not that I had any choice in the matter. Maybe it will be better. She gave me a way to protect myself although I don’t know what that means, guess I will find out sooner or later.

Maybe I can find a nice quiet place to live, alone. I don’t trust anyone, no one has given me a reason to trust them. As for me choosing a mate, I never want to go through that again.

I wake up in the middle of the battlefield. The bodies that were around me were collected, just not mine. I wondered if anyone would notice that my body was gone. No, no one would care.

I walk off the battlefield, shifting into my wolf that I haven't seen for years, ready to start my new life.

My name was Ashley Marie Lewis, Ash for short, and she is dead.

I am Scarlett Cadence Siwel, Scar for short, and no one will be able to scar me again.