The scent of old books and worn-out wooden desks filled the classroom as I stared at the board, pretending to take notes. The teacher droned on about something I should probably be paying attention to, but my mind was elsewhere.
Two more days.
Two more days until my eighteenth birthday.
Two more days until I shifted—hopefully.
Every wolf in the Silver Claw Pack shifted at eighteen. It was a rite of passage, a moment that determined our future within the pack. If I shifted, I'd finally belong, finally have a real place, even if it was at the bottom.
But if I didn't…
I swallowed the lump in my throat and focused on the clock above the board, watching the seconds tick by.
To everyone else, this was just another boring school day. But to me, it was the countdown to my fate.
A crumpled piece of paper hit the back of my head.
I stiffened.
Laughter rippled through the classroom, quiet but sharp, aimed at me like knives.
I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Ava.
Beta Kyle's daughter and my personal nightmare.
Slowly, I reached down, picking up the paper. I already knew what it would say before I unfolded it.
Loser.
So original.
I clenched my jaw and stuffed it into my pocket, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.
Ethan caught my eye from across the room, his expression tight with irritation. He must have seen what happened.
I shook my head at him, a silent plea to let it go.
Ethan was the only person in this pack who treated me like I mattered. He was the Alpha's nephew, which meant he could get away with talking to me. It also meant that if he ever pushed too hard to defend me, he'd get in trouble too.
The last thing I wanted was for him to suffer because of me.
The bell rang, and I let out a slow breath.
Break time.
The best part of my day.
I gathered my books quickly, keeping my head down as I slipped out of the classroom. The hallways were crowded, filled with shifters laughing and talking, but I ignored them, weaving my way through the chaos until I found Ethan waiting by our usual spot near the cafeteria doors.
His dark brown eyes softened when he saw me. "You okay?"
I shrugged. "Same as always."
He frowned, but I forced a small smile. "Come on, let's go before they take all the good spots."
We walked out to the courtyard, where the pack school's students scattered into their usual groups. Omegas like me usually ate in the farthest corners, away from the ranked wolves and their future warriors. Ethan didn't care about any of that, though. He always sat with me, no matter how many times people whispered about it.
We settled under a large oak tree, the same place we always did.
Ethan pulled out his lunch, handing me half his sandwich without a word. He did this every day, knowing I barely had enough food at home.
I took it, murmuring a quiet "thanks" before taking a bite.
He leaned back against the tree, stretching out his legs. "So. Two more days."
I swallowed. "Yeah."
"You excited?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "What if it doesn't happen?"
Ethan's expression darkened. "It will."
"But what if it doesn't?" I pressed. "You know what happens to wolves who never shift."
Omegas without wolves weren't even considered part of the pack. They were cast out. Forgotten.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "That won't be you, Selene."
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But deep down, a small voice whispered—What if you're different? What if you're not meant to be a wolf?
I shook the thought away and forced a small smile. "I guess we'll find out soon."
Ethan studied me for a long moment, then let out a breath. "Well, when you do shift, I bet your wolf is going to be something special."
I let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, right. An omega with a 'special' wolf? That would be a first."
Ethan smirked. "Hey, maybe you'll surprise everyone."
Maybe.
Or maybe I'd disappear into nothing like all the others who failed.
I didn't say that out loud, though.
Instead, I took another bite of my sandwich, focusing on the present. Right now, I was just Selene, an omega sitting under a tree with her best friend.
For now, that was enough.
Even if I didn't know what the future held.
The final bell rang, echoing through the school halls, and I let out a slow breath of relief.
Another day survived.
Ethan and I gathered our things as the rest of our classmates rushed out, eager to leave. The teacher had barely dismissed us before Ava and her group swept past me, shoving into my shoulder hard enough to make me stumble.
"Oops," she said, fake sweetness dripping from her voice. "You should really learn to stay out of the way, Omega."
I ignored her.
I always did.
Ethan, however, did not.
"You really think that's necessary?" he said, his tone sharp.
Ava batted her lashes at him. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ethan, did I hurt your little pet's feelings?"
Ethan took a step forward, and I grabbed his arm.
"Let it go," I muttered under my breath.
His muscles tensed beneath my grip, but after a moment, he sighed and pulled away. Ava and her friends laughed as they walked off, but I didn't care. I just wanted to go home.
The school hallways were still packed as we stepped outside. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the pack's territory. People passed us in groups, chatting and laughing as if their lives weren't weighed down by unspoken worries like mine.
"Are you walking home?" Ethan asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, my dad said he might be late tonight, so I'll just head straight back."
Ethan frowned. "You want me to walk with you?"
I hesitated. I wanted to say yes, but I knew he had things to do—things that actually mattered. He wasn't an omega. He had training, responsibilities, a future.
I wasn't