A Pack in Harmony

Prologue

Being an omega was meant to be instinctual, spiritual, and otherworldly.

However, Sonnet had no connection with her omega.

Her mind was silent and her heart was empty.

A giant, stone wall stood firmly at the entrance of her soul, keeping her out and her so-called other half in, and Sonnet couldn’t tell who the prisoner was and who the guard was.

The only thing she knew for certain was the moment she received her assignment as an omega was the moment her life reached the bottom level of hell.

She tried not to think about it, but it was hard when she was attending a private school built for omegas, and every class seemed purposefully structured to remind her what a failure and disappointment she was to her kind.

Her phone buzzed in her back pocket; the pink rhinestones she used to bedazzle it vibrating against her. When she answered, she almost broke down in tears from hearing her sister’s voice.

“Still that bad?” Summer asked.

Sonnet was barely able to choke out a “yes.”

Summer was lucky. She was assigned as a beta two years ago, and her life seemed much cooler than Sonnet’s.

She had so many friends, got to go out whenever she wanted, and her schooling focused on academics rather than lessons in biology, instinct, and expectations.

As a junior, Summer was flying through life with ease, while Sonnet was sinking to the bottom of the food chain as a freshman.

Fresh meat.

“You can’t hide in the bathroom for the rest of the school year,” Summer scolded. “You need to try making friends, or the next four years are going to be hell.”

“I have been trying! No one likes me here.”

“Hiding in the bathroom isn’t trying, Sonnet.”

“They’re all so mean!” Sonnet sniffled and inhaled sharply, trying to hold in tears. “They hate my hair. Maybe I shouldn’t have dyed it before starting school. They say I look like trash.”

“You can’t let them talk to you that way. You need to stand up for yourself, or they’ll keep saying mean things.”

“Maybe we should—”

“We are not changing your hair!” Summer barked.

“Don’t forget I’m the one who bought the products, went through the trouble of dying it the right shade of pink, and got grounded when Mom and Dad found out.

Besides, if you start changing yourself now to fit in, you’re never going to stop.

Take it from me, you can’t please everyone.

” On the phone, a school bell rang loudly.

“My lunch is over. Don’t let anyone else make you cry and promise me you’ll start eating in the lunchroom. ”

“Fine. I’ll try.”

“Good. I’ll see you tonight.”

Sonnet mumbled a displeased goodbye and hung up the phone. She paced the bathroom stalls for a few more minutes before mustering enough courage to leave.

The cafeteria was filled with omegas sitting together, forming their own little cliques. She couldn’t believe how many of her classmates had already made friends and fit in so easily.

She couldn’t help herself. Overwhelmed, she bought juice and walked to the other side of the building where there was a quiet courtyard compared to the busy cafeteria.

She had only meant to sneak over to a bench under the shade of a tree and remain there until classes, but life never seemed to allow Sonnet to merely sneak by.

A few girls Sonnet recognized as upperclassmen and had been the focus of her torture the past couple weeks approached her. They poked and teased Sonnet for her hair, but their insults dug a little deeper when they mentioned her family's secret.

“How disgusting,” one of her classmates sneered. “If my family had known, they wouldn't have allowed trash like her into our school. They would have me move to another.”

“I’m still begging to be moved. Who wants to be classmates with someone with bad blood?”

You need to stand up for yourself, or they’ll keep saying mean things.

Sonnet tipped her chin upwards. “There’s nothing wrong with me being here, so please leave me alone.”

“You don’t think there’s anything wrong with your dad having an affair, and then having the nerve to bring you home as a bastard?

” The girl laughed. “You’re messed up if you think otherwise, but don’t worry.

My dad says no one will ever do business with him ever since everyone found out he did.

Plus, I can't help but wonder if you're going to grow up to be a slut like your mom? That’s what she is, after all. I mean, who goes after a married man?”

Sonnet was not a violent person. She never even had it in her to hurt a spider. Not even at this moment did she raise her hand, but someone else did.

The fist came flying out of nowhere and smacked the girl right in her nose. Sonnet heard the pop first and then saw the blood spewing.

Sonnet drowned out the screams as she turned her head towards a girl she had only seen a few times before. She was a freshman like her and known for rebelling against the rules despite only being in school for two weeks. She was tall with dark hair and even darker eyes.

“I fucking hate bullies,” she growled and slung her arm over Sonnet’s shoulder. “My name’s Scarlett. Yours?”

“Uh, Sonnet.”

“Cute. Sounds like a mermaid’s name, which fits your hair perfectly. Hey, let’s get out of here before they start crying wolf. I have the best lunch spot. No one will bother us there.”

Scarlett didn’t give Sonnet any time to refuse, holding her hand and dragging her along. She felt bad for the girl who got struck, but nothing could compare to the feeling of childish excitement.

She had made a friend.