~ A wish
**Raina's POV**
It took a while for the burning sensation in my stomach to stop. When I could finally breathe without my gut feeling like it was being ripped from the inside out, I went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
The packhouse had plenty of omegas who were supposed to be responsible for such tasks, but I was tasked to do the majority of it.
All because I was different.
I sighed, looking at the dishes in the sink. They couldn’t even have the decency to wash the dishes they used for breakfast.
Pushing my anger down, I walked to the sink and grabbed the sponge before pouring some of the dishwashing liquid on it.
As I began to wash the dishes, a few omegas walked into the kitchen and moments later, I heard them talking.
“I don’t like being in the kitchen when she’s here,” one of them said.
“Oh, just ignore her. Everyone treats her like she’s invisible anyway,” her friend responded.
“Have you seen how big she is? She’s NOT invisible,” the other female said and laughed. “Damn, four of me could fit in her pants.”
I bit my lower lip, trying hard to ignore their mockery.
They couldn’t even bother to keep their voices down as they talked about me. I mean, I was just there.
I didn’t blame them though. My own family treated me like trash. Why would I expect people who were not related to me to treat me any different?
“Come on, girls. That’s not nice,” an annoying voice reached my ears and I coiled my hands into fists.
I knew she would smell Silas’ scent on me and give me hell again.
“Don’t talk about my sister like that… she can hear you, she has feelings too, you know.”
“M-Miss Gwen, we are sorry, we didn’t mean to.”
I rolled my eyes.
They respected Gwen because she was a beauty, and me? I was not worth respecting just because of how I looked, even if I was also from a Beta family.
“We won’t do it again,” the females said in unison.
“That’s alright. My big sis is very kind. She’s already forgiven you,” Gwen said, and after the omegas left the kitchen, she approached me and stood next to me.
“Big sis, are you joining the hunting games today?” She asked, and I glanced at her, silently asking if she had gone mad.
Since when did I participate in pack activities?
I was this pack’s dirty secret.
They didn’t want anyone to see me and know that they have someone like me in their pack.
“I have some reading to do,” I answered anyway. If I ignored her, she wouldn’t leave until she provoked me into responding.
I knew her smile was all fake. She’s the same person who talked shit about me behind my back and enticed people to bully me.
“Really?” Gwen asked in an exaggerated tone. “Oh well, I guess you will have to miss out. I hear Silas is granting the winner a wish.”
I felt my ears perk up, my heart slamming hard against my ribcage.
A wish…
This could be my chance to escape this horrible life. I have nowhere to go, but living as a rogue was surely better than this hellhole.
Gwen suddenly giggled. “Oh my… see how thoughtless I am… how can I suggest you join the hunting games when you can’t even run without breathing heavily?”
There it was… her true colours always slipped out in the end.
“Don’t worry, you wouldn’t win anyway, so you won’t miss anything,” Gwen said, patting my back. “I gotta go warm up. I’ll be going with Silas to the hunting grounds. You know… it’s his way of slowly introducing me as his Luna.”
A pang of pain shot through my heart, making a lump form in my throat. No matter how much I tried to swallow, it wouldn’t go away.
Yeah… Silas deserved a Luna like Gwen. At least he wouldn’t be ashamed of her. He would even want her to have his babies.
Hours later, I was done with the chores, and I finally found some free time and decided to join the hunting games, hoping I wasn’t too late.
My heart raced when I made my way to the hunting grounds. Everyone was settled in the clearing. A big tent was set up where the visiting packs were resting before the games began.
From the auras blanketing the place, I could tell it was filled with very powerful Alphas and Betas.
This was the first time I was joining a hunting game, so I just approached people from my pack. Silas was addressing them, and Gwen had her arms hooked around his like a koala bear. It was like she was staking her claim so that everyone knew who the Alpha belonged to.
I swallowed my pain and approached the crowd, hoping to stay hidden.
But someone who weighed one ninety pounds in a werewolf pack could do so little to hide herself. I always drew attention everywhere I went.
As usual, I heard a few snickers, and my stomach churned. I felt self-aware.
Like everyone in this clearing was looking at me and laughing at my appearance.
“Hey fatso, what do you think you’re doing here?” Silas’ beta, Jake, sneered, and the rest of the crowd laughed.
“I was wondering why this place stank. Turns out we have a pig in our midst,” someone from the crowd sneered, and everyone laughed again.
I felt my eyes blur with tears, and I lowered my face to hide the single tear that stubbornly rolled down my cheek.
“Seriously, why is she here? The other pack members are staring. They must think we won’t be good at the hunting games after seeing that we have a baby elephant with us,” someone else complained.
“Let her be… I’m sure she’s just here for tonight's feast. After all, it seems eating is what she’s good at,” someone snickered, and everyone laughed louder than earlier.
I dug my nails into my palms, and I felt my wolf's anger rising.
I raised my head and glanced at Silas, only to find him snickering along with everyone, and my heart clenched painfully.
“Yeah… there’s no way she’s joining the games,” he sneered, and I felt something snap within me, giving me the courage I needed to do what I came here to do.
“I am joining the games,” I said, my voice loud and clear despite the painful lump in my throat. “I’m going to win and have my wish granted.”
