THE OUTCAST AT HOME

Freda's POV

Tears streamed down my face as I stared in shock at the rejection letter from Elmwood College. I couldn't believe it. It was my dream college and I was almost certain I had aced their entrance exams, but now my hopes and dreams were in shambles. After everything I had been through, the pain was just too much to bear. I had applied to multiple colleges as a backup, but Elmwood College was the one I put all my hopes in, and now those hopes were dashed.

I studied different books relating to the exams and I had even secretly left the pack the day of the entrance exams and successfully snuck back on that same day. I risked my life there because the pack laws clearly stated that those who absconded from the pack without taking permission would be regarded as rogues and effectively be put to death.

Now, the result of my efforts was a blatant rejection. I read the letter again to be sure I wasn't imagining things, but no matter how much I willed it, it didn't change—it was still a rejection letter and it felt like the letter was mocking me. I crumpled the letter in frustration and threw it into the dustbin.

I threw myself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling in despair. This was supposed to be it, my escape from my pack and my family. This was supposed to be my time of freedom, away from the oppression, but now all my hopes were dashed.

My room was a mess of half-packed boxes and scattered clothes. I knew the letter would come today, so I was packing, thinking I would definitely be able to get in, but yeah, it just seemed like a mockery now. I turned to look at the posters of human bands and athletes that adorned my walls, but honestly I couldn't see their beauty anymore. The adorned walls felt more like a cage that trapped and confined me, passing a single message clearly: "I would never be able to escape this pack."

I was a half-human, half-werewolf. Born from the union between an Alpha werewolf and a human. Shortly after my 12th birthday, my father and mother separated, with my father bringing me to his pack to claim the Alpha title. I've been living here ever since, but being a half-human in a place filled with full-blooded werewolves was far from easy.

I had always felt like a misfit, like I didn't belong in this world. The treatment I got from the other pack members further solidified this feeling. Even my step brother and step sister shunned me because of my half-human status, and my stepmother was just like the stepmothers you'd find in fairy tales: wicked, cunning, cruel, and straight-up evil.

My father also gradually changed towards me. He loved me, yes, but he began to distance himself from me, seeing my humanity as a weakness, a limitation that made me less capable than my werewolf siblings. I was always vexed whenever I remembered his words. If he saw humanity as a weak species, then why would he fall in love with my mother, a human, and even went as far as giving birth to me only to separate from her because she was 'weak'? Why couldn't he just leave me with my mother? Honestly, I felt a migraine coming on when I tried to understand my father's ideology.

So here I was. A misfit, ignored and scorned by my own family, hated by the people I was supposed to call my own just because I was a half-werewolf that hadn't even awakened her wolf even though she had reached the age of 18. My treatment in the pack was just slightly better than the omegas in the pack. It was truly a pathetic way to live.

"Why can't I just be normal? Go to college, have a dorm room with fancy lights, make friends who talk about things other than dominance rituals and hunting seasons." A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I buried myself in my pillow. It was just so unfair.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed someone had slipped into my room silently. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I flinched, throwing the pillow away and turning to see who entered my room. It was my step sister, Juliet.

She had a stoic expression on her face as she surveyed my room. I wouldn't blame her if she was alarmed at the state of my room—the place looked like a hurricane had hit it. It was a hot mess.

"There's something called knocking, Juliet," I said to her, annoyed by the fact that she didn't have the courtesy of knocking on the door before entering my room.

"I don't care about that. It's not my fault you're wolfless. You couldn't even hear me when I snuck in. Pathetic." Juliet rolled her eyes as she responded in a casual manner. I wanted to respond and vent all the frustration I was feeling, but I quickly stopped myself before I could utter a word. Starting a fight with Juliet would only leave me angrier and more hurt than I already was. Asking her what she wanted and getting the whole thing done was a more favorable option.

"What do you want?" I sighed, asking her what she wanted so she could get out and leave me to my misery.

"Dad wants you at the pack meeting hall. We're having a meeting at ten," Juliet replied, staring at her nails as if they were the most interesting things in the room.

A surge of fury washed over me. Couldn't they do their stupid meeting without me? Why did they even want me there?

"Like I have a choice, right? The 'human daughter' can't be left out of the loop on important pack business," I snapped back with sarcasm.

"Maybe this time they'll finally announce your official role: Pack punching bag?" Juliet retorted.

"Hilarious, Juliet. They'll make you Alpha for that witty remark." I replied and threw a pillow at Juliet, who ducked effortlessly.

"Too slow, woofless. Get ready for the meeting—it starts at ten sharp." Juliet said and she scurried out of the room. I flopped back down on the bed. Why did they even want me in their stupid pack meeting? They've clearly shown me my place, so why did my father insist on my presence? What sort of bullshit is this?

First my rejection letter and now this stupid pack meeting. I could just feel it in my bones that today was going to be a terrible day. With a heavy sigh, I forced myself to get up and I made my way to the shower. After showering, I put on a baggy T-shirt and baggy trousers, finishing the fit with a huge hoodie. I tied my brown hair into a messy bun and looked at myself in the mirror.

"Well, at least I look presentable," I whispered, and I slipped on some sneakers. I opened the door and walked towards the pack meeting room, wondering what on earth was so important that father had to request my presence.