Chapter 1 Wolfless
Lyra
Today, I finally turn eighteen.
My name is Lyra Diamond of the Valeria pack, I’m the daughter of the reigning Alpha wolf, Alpha Rafa Diamond and his wife and mate, Luna Sarah Diamond. She has never been much of a mother to me so I call her Luna Sarah, not mother, or mom, or mama.
Ever since my childhood, I never had a close relationship with the Luna. She never showed me love or care, she never rocked me to sleep, or told me bedtime stories unlike my two siblings, Daisy and Jackson.
She never cared for me. In fact, she barely tolerated me. Sometimes she punished me for no good reason at all, and my father, Alpha Rafa, turned a blind eye to it all. He told me that I need to learn to be tough and special. Like my siblings. But they were never punished or treated harshly even when they misbehaved. They were pampered and respected by every member of the pack, unlike me.
That is why today is personal to me. It’s the most important day of my life. The day I get to prove myself and earn the respect from every member of the pack, including the Luna and my siblings, who make fun of me being weak all the time.
Just because Daisy and Jackson transformed into their wolf form as early as age fifteen, they are always treated specially than I am. Ever since they got their wolf and I didn’t get mine, things changed badly for me. Most of my friends from the pack started seeing me as a weak link, my siblings started dismissing and treating me like I was a mere servant. My father didn’t care that I was being dismissed. No one cared. The only person that cared was Ryan, my future mate and boyfriend. He’s a year older than me and his wolf is powerful. He always assures me that I’ll get my wolf very soon, even though it has taken too long.
In our world, if you get your wolf at the age of fifteen, it means you’re strong and healthy. If you get it by sixteen, it means you’re healthy, but not necessarily strong.
But if you don’t get your wolf by seventeen and at the most, eighteen years old, it can only mean one thing.
You are wolfless and weak.
That is why I have been secretly training and trying to reach out to my wolf, because I know for sure that I cannot be wolfless simply because I cannot afford to. I will prove to everyone in this pack that I deserve their respect. Once I transform into my wolf, I will be eligible to enroll in the royal Krypton academy, a school created to teach young wolves how to be stronger and powerful, to make use of their power to the maximum and also learn about our origination and dynasty. It was created by the royal family, the leader and ruler of our lands, The Lycan king and queen. It’s always been my dream to enroll in the academy. If I don’t transform today, I’ll never have the opportunity to experience the Krypton Academy.
“Okay, Wyndra. I hope you’re ready. Please don't let me down.” I mutter silently, hoping that my wolf will listen to me. I know she’s in there because a few months ago, she spoke to me. I was standing at the edge of a high cliff behind our pack house, ready to end it all after I was punished severely by the Luna, that’s when Wyndra spoke to me. The first time ever since I’ve been born. She begged me not to give up, she told me she’s with me and she believes in me. She told me that I would have a very great future and when the time is right, she would appear and I’ll be very powerful. That was when Wyndra gave me hope. Hope that by the time I clock 18, I’ll be a powerful wolf, like my peers.
The wall clock suddenly dings, signaling that it’s 12 noon, which is time for every 18 year old in the pack to transform and show everyone their wolf. I’d already pulled my silver hair in a tight bun, put on a jacket and leather pants, then carried my backup clothes with me for when I transform back from my wolf form.
The moment I step outside my room and make my way out to the open field where every she and he wolf is gathering. My nerves are all over the place as I approach the field, every sure step taking me closer to the moment of truth.
“Hello everyone,” my father, Alpha Rafa greets me as soon as the place is filled up. I’m standing alongside 9 other members. We’re all going to transform to our wolf form today. Everyone of us turned eighteen today. “Welcome to the turning. We have ten members that are ready to show us their wolf. Please clap for them as they step onto the platform and transform.”
Everyone cheers and claps as the first wolf steps forwards.
The first boy, Caleb, steps forward. He looks confident, his chest puffed out as he closes his eyes. Within seconds, the sound of bones snapping fills the air and a large, brown wolf stands where he once was, letting out a loud howl that vibrates in my chest.
The crowd erupts and cheers for him. My father nods in approval, and Luna Sarah smiles. It’s a genuine smile, the kind she only reserves for those she deems worthy.
One by one, they go. Grey wolves, black wolves, brown wolves. Each transformation make my heart race in my chest with fear and anticipation.
‘Please, Wyndra,’ I whisper in the back of my mind. ‘Please be there. Don’t let them be right about me.’
"And now, my daughter, Lyra Diamond," my father’s voice booms.
The cheering immediately dies down. I can feel the weight of a hundred judgmental stares. I see Daisy leaning against the wall, whispering something to her friends that makes them giggle. Jackson just looks bored, checking his watch as if my life’s biggest moment is an inconvenience to him.
I slowly step onto the platform.
"Begin," Alpha Rafa says, his voice devoid of the pride he showed the others. It’s just a command. A formality.
I close my eyes and reach deep inside. I look for that spark, that link to Wyndra I felt on the cliff. ‘Wyndra! I call out. It’s time. Show them. Show them all!’
I wait, hoping to feel the agonizing stretch of my skin and the shift of my bones. I pull at every ounce of energy in my soul, demanding my skin to change to fur and my bones to break.
Seconds tick by.
My skin remains smooth. My bones remain still. I am just a girl in a leather jacket standing on a wooden stage, looking like a fool.
"Lyra?" Luna Sarah’s harsh voice cuts through the silence, filled with venom. "We don't have all day!"
"I... I’m trying," I gasp, my face flushing with humiliation. I squeeze my eyes shut so tight I see stars. ‘Wyndra, please! You promised!’
I wait and wait to even hear my wolf’s voice, but there’s nothing. I’m completely alone.
"Enough," my father says. The word hits me like a physical blow.
I open my eyes. He isn't looking at me with anger. He’s looking at me with something much worse. Total disappointment.
"Ten minutes have passed, Lyra," he says coldly. "The ceremony is over."
"No! Father, please, I felt something! She's in there!" I cry out, my voice cracking. I look toward the crowd, searching for Ryan, but he looks away, as if he’s ashamed of me.
"You are eighteen, Lyra," Luna Sarah says, glaring at me. "And you have no wolf. From today onwards, you are demoted to an Omega, and you will work for every minute, hour, day of your life.”
