2. Apothecary

Ella's POV

My mother was Kevin's father's beta. Last year, when 18-year-old Kevin took over, my mother became his beta. She's a fierce warrior, achieving feats in multiple battles and earning respect among the wolves in the Pack. I, on the other hand, am the opposite—an Omega who is mute. I often wonder why there's such a vast difference between us.

Would Kevin reject me if I were also a female warrior?

I huddle in the corner of my room, alone and heartbroken, shedding tears.

"Don't cry, my sweetheart. Get up now; I'll take you to train in the forest." My mother barges into my room, lifting me out from under the pillow with one hand.

Mom, can't you let me be alone?!

I angrily gesture in sign language.

"No, what you need now is to connect with nature, my little wolf. Come, channel your sorrow and anger into strength, make yourself stronger, and Kevin will regret it." Her tone is slightly indulgent, but she firmly escorts me out of the room.

Several minutes later, I reluctantly find myself sprawled on the back of a large brown wolf, traversing through the woods in the moonlight while the wind howls in my ears. I reach out and feel the cool breeze, and the sadness in my heart diminishes slightly.

"See, child, I was right, wasn't I?" The large brown wolf says triumphantly.

I nod in agreement, patting my mother's shoulder. Even though I lost Kevin, I still have my beloved mother. In my life, she has not only played the role of a mother but also that of a father. I shouldn't disappoint her.

Then, she stops in front of a massive waterfall and drops me onto the ground. "Ella, now, try to transform into a wolf."

Rubbing my bottom, I stand up, looking bewildered.

Seeing my dazed expression, her wolf front paw impatiently taps the ground. "Focus your mind, seek another voice within. You're 18 now, you can transform into a wolf."

I nod and attempt to do as my mother says. Suddenly, a surge of warmth spreads from my heart to my entire body, and my bones seem to elongate as if mutating. Before I can exclaim, I transform into a wolf!

Astonished, I lift my front paw but fail to maintain balance and tumble to the ground.

"Haha, oh, my little wolf is adorable in her clumsiness." The large brown wolf laughs heartily, completely disregarding my wounded pride.

Mom!

I growl, glaring at her, clumsily getting back up from the ground.

"Don't worry, with me around, you'll become a formidable she-wolf."

We continue training until the sun rises the next day, returning to the tribe. Exhausted, I collapse on my bed and fall asleep.

When I wake up again, my mother is no longer there. By now, she's already at the Blood Moon tribe Alpha's office, busy with her duties as a Beta. Two months ago, news arrived of the destruction of the Northern Black Moon tribe, causing unrest in the Blood Moon tribe. As the newly appointed alpha, Kevin also needs to learn more.

After a simple wash-up, I glance at the mirror and almost get frightened by my pale and weary appearance. I examine my face, messy black long hair, brown eyes—a very ordinary look. I sigh, I haven't inherited my mother's beauty, her blonde hair, and hazel eyes.

I enter my laboratory where various herbs are cultivated—or more accurately, poisonous herbs. I open a ceramic jar on the table, containing ten centipedes. Unfortunately, only four of them are alive. They're my precious ones, and I carefully feed them with some herbs I collected yesterday.

Once they're fed, these centipedes will engage in another round of battles. The survivors will eventually become my weapons.

Yes, I am a poisoner and also an apothecary. Despite being a werewolf with no combat abilities, I am deeply fascinated by various herbs and poisons. My mother once said that when she was pregnant with me, she mistakenly ingested a herb, which resulted in me being unable to be like other healthy werewolves and becoming mute.

When I was young, she took me to visit various renowned healers in the tribe. Although we gained nothing, it was through this that I formed a bond with herbs. They accompanied me during my lonely childhood.

Counting the scarce leaves, I had no choice but to go out to gather herbs. Despite my reluctance to leave after yesterday's coming-of-age ceremony, as I would encounter some unpleasant individuals, I sighed and decided to face my fears, carrying a bamboo basket and heading up the mountain to collect herbs.

Leaving my wooden hut, I could feel the prying eyes. Without my mother's company, those werewolves always found ways to bully me, but I ignored their whispers.

"Look at that poor creature, always carrying a bamboo basket and spending time with some leaves. She's so peculiar. No wonder Alpha Kevin refuses her."

Just the mention of Kevin irritated me. I glared at the woman who spoke and she huffed before leaving with firewood.

As I was about to pass through the Pack's gate, four young she-wolves blocked my path. One of the women I recognized, she was Maya, my former good friend and also the daughter of one of the Blood Moon tribe elders, destined to be a future female warrior.

When I was 16, I once saved her on a night when she was with a young man in the bushes, engaged in intimacy, and got bitten by a snake. I happened to come back with the antidote midway and cured her. However, she accused me to the elders of poisoning her, aiming to cover up the fact that I had caught her with that man. Later, I found out that the man wasn't a member of the Blood Moon tribe. I still don't know the true identity of that mysterious man, the one that made Maya slander me in such a way. It must be an unspeakable secret.

"Hey, long time no see, Ella," Maya approached me with an air of disdain. "Heard you got rejected by Kevin?"

Ignoring her, I tried to bypass them, but another she-wolf grabbed my hair.

"How dare you glare at me, you wretch! I'll teach you a lesson!" The woman attempted to strike but was stopped by Maya. "Emma, don't use force. Ella's mother is the Alpha's beta."

"Hmph, what does being the Alpha's beta matter? With your intimacy with Alpha Kevin, we don't need to fear Beta Ariana," Emma, the she-wolf, said with emphasis on 'intimacy,' her tone suggestive.

My mood began to turn restless. I freed my wrists from their grasp.

"Don't rush to leave, Ella. Aren't you curious about Alpha Kevin's relationship with Maya?" The other two she-wolves blocked my path.

I don’t care.

I gestured in sign language.

"Haha, what is she saying? Do you understand?" Maya laughed, covering her mouth. "This little mute one, does she really think Kevin rejected her just because she's an Omega?"

After Maya finished speaking, the other three she-wolves surrounded me, snatching my bamboo basket and trampling its contents. I was furious, about to draw out the poison needles hidden in my sleeves, but I remembered my mother's advice against rash actions. I halted my thoughts of poisoning them.

"Ella, I slept with Kevin, just a day before your 18th birthday. Did you know? Your mate, Alpha Kevin, performs exceptionally well in bed. I am quite satisfied," Maya boasted softly, leaning in close to my ear.

"Kevin rejected you because you have no feminine charm."

I instantly stopped breathing. It felt like my blood had turned to ice, a wave of defeat washing over my heart.

Kevin rejected me because I lack feminine charm.

My mind was momentarily thrown off by that statement. I forcefully pushed Maya away, staring at her with rage. However, Maya casually examined my defeated expression, as if observing an ant.

She drew close to me, arrogantly straightening my disheveled hair. "Stay away from Kevin, or I will make it impossible for you and your mother to stay in the Blood Moon Pack."