Mira's POV 

It's been a week since I have been here, and I have no idea when I would be getting out. To be honest, I love it here. I don't get to work from early in the morning into late hours at night.

Right here, I can get enough sleep, but out there, I couldn't even get four hours of sleep. Apart from the fact that I can't get leftovers to eat here, I can't take my bath, and the guards are always teasing and mocking me.

I will very much prefer to be imprisoned if I have my way around. I don't even have a wolf that would have loved to roam around.

“Time up!” I heard one of the guards' voices, and I looked up at him. He's probably here to tell me how pathetic my life is. I hear that all the time, and I'm even used to it now.

But to my surprise, two other guards came into the cell and grabbed me. I didn't bother to ask any questions or struggle with them. I will only be putting myself in so much trouble if I confront them.

They dragged me along and brought me to the Alpha's office. I inhaled sharply. There's absolutely nothing that they want to be done to me that has not already been done.

“Here she is, Alpha,” one of the guards said, and before being told, I went on my knees with my head bowed.

“I hope you have learned your lesson and won't dare to cross me like that again. Take her away, Martha. I'm sure you know what to do with the wench,” the Alpha said, and Martha pulled me up by my hair.

I followed after obediently wincing silently in pain as she pulled me along. We arrived at the kitchen, and my stomach churned at the offensive smell slammed at me in the face.

I may have been in prison for a week, but my sense of smell, I'm sure, is still as sharp as ever.

“I asked the maids not to touch a thing for the past week that you have been away. I'm sure you will be excited to do all the dishes and clean the kitchen. The maids will be back to prepare dinner. So make sure everything is done by then. I want the entire kitchen and hallway sparkling clean,” Martha said, and I felt my heart beat stop for a second.

“You wouldn't mind, right? Well, unless you want me to go report you to the Alpha and let him know you have no interest in following his orders,” Martha threatened, and I shook my head.

“Good! So get rid of that smell,” she said and pushed me away. I almost fell to the ground but quickly caught myself.

Martha walked out, laughing her way out of the kitchen.

I wiped the tears off my eyes and the sweats that I gathered on my forehead. I packed my long black hair into a ponytail and grabbed one of the aprons. I tied it around my waist and got to work.

The sooner I start, the faster I'm able to finish up. I dried the last plate and placed it on the countertop. It's almost five in the evening, which means I've been here for six hours.

I cleaned the hallway already and eliminated the offensive stench. I could hardly breathe in here a while ago.

I picked the garbage neatly tied in a big nylon and headed for the woods where the dirt is being disposed of to be taken care of later, by the community guards.

I must count myself lucky that I'm not charged with the duty of doing it myself. I got into the wood and disposed of the dirt. I found a bird chipping on the tree, and the sound coming from its mouth provided me with some comfort.

I decided to stay a while. I needed all the breaks I could get. Besides, everyone will be too busy preparing the Alpha's meal of wish I am not worthy to be behold. They won't even realise that I'm not there.

The bird continued chipping, and I listened, humming some songs to go along with. If only my life could be as easy as this bird's, I would trade anything to be in its place.

But a girl can only dream. I exhaled sharply and decided to go back to the pack mansion. I should be available in case I'm needed to run errands.

My knee snapped and went numb the minute I tried to walk. I stumbled on the floor, hitting my leg on one of the tree branches.

“Ouch!” I cried out in pain, scaring the bird away.

“No birdie, please don't go away. Don't leave me too.” I pouted my mouth heartbroken that I might have scared the poor bird. Now I'm all alone again, like always.

I pushed myself up and managed to stand. I began walking but froze on the spot to concentrate and be sure I had just heard right.

“Help…” I heard that distressed voice again, and I froze in shock.

“Help?” I repeated wanting to be sure I'm not in some nightmare.

“No!!!” I heard another scream and began walking towards where the voice came from.

All of a sudden, I heard tree branches tumbling over each other, and I felt fear gripped me. I gulped down some air as I took each step nervously.

“Who's that?” I called out, but no one answered me.

At first, I thought my mind must be playing a trick on me.

“Am I going crazy?” I muttered under my breath, but I quickly snapped out of my thoughts as I heard more tree branches break, thereby making a loud noise.

I walked faster, but my knee would not let me run. I followed the sound and tripped again, stumbling on some rock.

“Ahhh!” I screamed in pain. I lifted my eyes and almost collapsed again with the sight in front of me.

“Run!!” I yelled. 

Mira's POV 

The tall, huge wolf shifted right in my presence, and I shivered to my core. I completely forgot to breathe as I scurried my body through the woods.

I saw the little boy lay on the floor looking lifeless, and my heart beat accelerated in fear.

Strength surged in me, and I stood up swiftly, running to the boy. The wolf hovered over the boy's body, and I stiffened, wondering what he was about to do next to him.

“Let him go!” I yelled fearlessly at the wolf as I watched him approach the boy. He stopped what he was doing and turned towards me with his sharp eyes breathing fear into me.

He shifted back into his human form and smirked at me. He then began approaching me, and I knew for sure it was coming to attack me.

The little boy shook, and I sighed in relief, knowing the boy was still alive. If only I could distract him so the boy could escape.

But that seems impossible right now. I can hardly run, and this wolf is a rogue. Rogues are known to be ruthless. He will shred me into pieces before I even make my first move.

I exhaled sharply, breathing heavily. I staggered back as his footsteps approached. I quickly hid behind one of the trees. I picked up one of the tree branches and used my teeth to sharpen it.

I held on to the tree branch so tight my palms were starting to bleed.

“Urrrghh!!” I grunted as I pushed the sharp edge into the wolf's body.

“Aahhh!” He yelled and slumped on the floor with blood gushing out from his chest. I stood there in shock as I wondered what had just happened. My hand trembled, so I quickly dropped the tree branch and stared at him for a while.

All of a sudden, he grabbed my leg, and I panicked. Without thinking, I marched on him and stepped on his chest, where he was bleeding.

“Aahhh!” He yelled more loudly this time as I used my boot to carve a mark on his already wounded chest.

I managed to pull my leg from his grasp and escaped. I staggered to where the boy was and pulled him up.

He was quite heavy, but it was the only choice I had if I wanted to save us both. That wolf is only wounded and would be up in a matter of minutes.

I successfully carried him and managed to make it back to the pack mansion alive.

“Who's that?” I heard one of the guards in my subconscious and had no idea how I was still breathing.

“Mute Mira?” Another guard noticed it was me and moved swiftly towards me. I dropped the boy weakly and held my leg that was already bleeding so much.

Apparently, when the wolf grabbed my leg, he scratched my leg with his claws, leaving a deep wound.

I slumped on the floor as I struggled to breathe. The last thing I saw before my eyes closed was the guards rushing towards the young pup. No one cared if I was even dying. A tear escaped my eyes, and I really wished that I was dead.

I opened my eyes to a burning sensation on my leg, and I groaned in pain. I tried to move, but something seemed to be pulling me back.

I heard a shaky sound as I moved my body and didn't understand what was going on. My stomach churned at the weird smell filling my nose, and I was forced to sit up.

But I couldn't do that as well. My eyes widened with shock the minute I saw myself in chains. I wiggled my hand, drawing the attention of the guards, and one of them turned towards me.

“She's awake,” one of the guards said, and the rest of them all surrounded me as if an ambush was taking place.

“One of you, get the Alpha over here,” one of the guards said, and I heard footsteps reseeding.

I gasped as I remembered my leg was bleeding from the injury I incurred. I shook my leg, but it was all numb, and I couldn't feel anything. Tears trickled down my eyes as I couldn't help but think of the worst-case scenario.

What if something had happened to my leg? I wouldn't put anything past these people. If they can put an injured person, who risked her life to save a pup from a rogue in chains. Then, surely they can do anything.

I heard footsteps approaching, and my heart gripped in fear. I have no idea what they have in store for me, so I just closed my eyes, not wanting to acknowledge the presence of the Alpha.

I've been around him too many times not to recognise his scent. I might be a wolfless omega, but my senses are very active.

“Where is that little wench?” The Alpha roared, and some of the guards came to me. They pulled me up and loosened the chain.

“Uhhgg” I groaned silently in pain. I was finally able to see my toes, and I sighed in relief seeing my leg was still intact. Only it was in bad shape.

I looked up at the Alpha, and as usual, he smacked me in the face without giving me the chance to explain or defend myself.

Dizziness washed over me as I struggled to keep my eyes open. Tiny drops of salty tears trickled down my eyes. I didn't even have enough tears left to cry.

“How dare you put the Pack in danger like that? You went ahead and invoked the wrath of the rogues?” He yelled at me, and I looked up at him.

For a moment there, I wanted to grab his neck and strangle him to death.

“I saved the boy,” I managed to say.

“Of course you had to save him. It was your fault he was attacked in the first place,” the Alpha accused. 

Mira's POV 

“My fault?” I retorted, and the Alpha looked shocked as though he had never seen me before.

“Did this little wench just talk back to me? Have you suddenly lost your mind or something? Are you planning on dying real quick?” The Alpha yelled, and I scoffed. It would have been better if I was dead than to continue living in this hellhole.

“I….” Another slap landed on my cheek as I was about to say something else. I don't know how they do it, but they know how to shut me up.

“If you had not gone to the woods…. If you had only listened to me, the rogue would not have followed after you. You are the reason why we almost lost a young pup.” He continued to push the blame on me without caring to find out what really happened.

“I'm sure your smelly body attracted the attention of the rogues. If the little boy had died, I don't know what we would have done. Now, I'm starting to regret why I adopted you in the first place. You are nothing but trash that deserves to be discarded.” He concluded, and I chuckled.

I looked up at him, my eyes wet with tears to say something but decided it wasn't worth it. No matter what I say, their minds are made up of whatever it is they want to believe.

“Take her round the Pack on a shame parade. Let the people see who it was that tried to have one of us killed. Then, I will think of what to do with her,” he said, and they bowed their heads to him as he walked away.

“Yes Alpha!” They echoed in unison. As soon as he walked out the door, two of the guards grabbed and pulled me up.

“Aaahh!” I winced in pain as I leapt. The pain in my leg was so strong that I felt numb all over my body. I wasn't even allowed a moment to rest. One of the guards dragged the chain I was tied with, forcing my legs to move by force.

“Aahh!” I yelled this time, not minding whatsoever it is they plan on doing to me. I just didn't have the strength for their nonsense today.

They can also kill me. They have already done that over and over again.

We got out of the Pack mansion to where members of the Pack all lived, and it seemed to me that words about the incident had spread. The look of disdain from the Pack members was enough to send anyone to the grave.

“There she is,” I heard one of the members of the Pack say as she pointed at me, showing me to others.

“She looks so miserable. She deserves to be in the Pack prison for the rest of her life.” I heard another.

“She put the life of our young one in danger. She should be killed. Being in jail is not enough. What if she escapes the prison? She will continue to wreck more havoc.”

“Good gracious Lord!

“Afterall the Alpha was kind enough to let her stay at the Pack mansion after she became an orphan. Anyone would die to be in her shoes.” One of the members said, and I burst into laughter.

If only they had the slightest clue of how difficult my life was in that mansion. I would have preferred to have died along with my parents.

All of a sudden, a rotten fruit splashed on my face. Then came an egg, and water, all splashed over my body.

I sobbed silently as the chains dragged my very core. I looked around, and almost all the Pack members were outside, enraged and cursing at me.

“You ungrateful spoiled brat!”

“Die! You evil bitch!”

Finally after what seems to be an endless parade, we arrived at the Pack square. My feet burned from all the walking, and my stomach was on fire from extreme hunger.

I slumped on the floor in a kneeling position, not waiting for anyone to tell me what to do.

“Whip her!” I heard the Alpha's enraged voice, and I trembled in fear.

“No! No!! No!!! Please let me go, let me go. I didn't do anything.” I cried, my voice timid and weak.

I tried to crawl to where the Alpha was sitting, but I was too weak to carry on. I felt the chain wiggle, and I was dragged rubbing my face to the ground.

“Aaahh!” I groaned in pain as the first whip landed on my back.

“Aarghh!” I grunted and started vomiting blood. My entire body roared in pain, I felt my being consumed not just by the whip, but by the rage that I now feel.

I surrendered to the torture, silent tears escaping my eyes as the whip tore my skin as well as my soul.

My eyes popped open, and I jolted to life gasping for air amidst the streams of water flowing over my face.  

“Is she awake?” I heard someone murmur, and I realised that I had passed out.

“Here is my final judgement,” I heard the Alpha say, but I didn't bother to even look at him.

“I hereby declare you banished from the Bloodfang Pack forever. You will live as a rogue for the rest of your life. Someone like you does not deserve to live among the rest of us. You belong with the rogues.” The Alpha made his declaration, and everyone cheered.

The guards brought me up and pushed me forward.

“I will be back and stronger.” I vowed, staring into the Alpha's eyes. I turned around and began walking away into the woods.

Tears trickled down my eyes as I leaped and winced in pain. I got to the exit of the Pack and could still hear the chatters and noise from the Pack members.

I stopped in my tracks and turned around with my fist clenched into a ball.

“I will never serve another Alpha again,” I gritted in between my teeth and walked away.

***

I wandered in the woods all night, tired, hungry, and feverish.

I found a big tree and took refuge. As I was about to lay my back and drift to sleep. I heard footsteps and quickly stood up.

“Who are you?” I heard a voice behind me and froze.

“Oh my world, you are injured.” I heard a strong female voice.

“Bring her to the camp!” She ordered, and the men did exactly as she said. I was carried, and we headed somewhere.

My mouth dropped as we arrived there, and I saw quite a number of people. Women, men and even children.

I looked to my left and some men were training with swords. Some women were even with them. And children running around, the place seemed happy.

“Where is this place?” I asked.

“We are a community of Outliers, and you are welcome to join us,” the woman said and I stared at her.

“Oh, I'm the Leader of the community.” She introduced and drew out her sword.

“I want to learn to fight!” I requested.

“Sure, but let's get you cleaned up first.” she agreed.