The Hybrid's Second Chance

Chapter 5

Julianna's POV



I watched as Logan and Alexis walked away from me. I didn't know what made them stop so suddenly. Normally, Alexis loved to use me as her verbal punching bag. When I got to my feet, I turned and saw Marvin looking at me from the woods, realizing that's what stopped them. I nodded at him, letting him know I was okay, and he continued towards the pack house. I brushed the dirt off the back of my jeans and my hands. I know the ranked members hate me, with the exception of Marvin, but I didn't understand why I could never seem to escape Logan and his abuse. He seemed to find me wherever I was, even when I was trying to avoid him.

I walked as fast as I could towards Naomi's house, just praying she was home in case Logan found me for round three of the day. Without my wolf, I couldn't mind link her asking where she was. Naomi had turned 18 three months ago, so she could now mind link anyone in the pack. She was able to be part of the shifting ceremony that took place when people turned 18. There was a small stage off in the woods where everyone would gather. The newly 18-year-olds would go on the stage and take turns shifting one by one. Once everyone had shifted, they all went on their first run together while the pack waited.

It wasn't very formal, but it was still a rite of passage for all wolves. I figured not being allowed at pack functions also meant I wouldn't be welcome at the shifting ceremony, but with my mom and possibly Naomi, we could have our own.

I finally made it to Naomi's house and knocked on the front door. She opened it and smiled when she saw me, her dark red hair pulled into a messy top knot. Naomi's mom worked in the pack house kitchen, while her dad worked construction and maintenance of things around the territory.

"Hey, what's going on?" She held the door open so I could walk inside.

"Nothing much. I just finished training with Marvin and thought I'd stop by." She was the only one that knew about my training sessions. "I told my mom I was hanging with you today."

"Got it. If she asks, we’ve been hanging out the entire day."

"Thanks," I told her as we walked further into her house.

"Are you excited about the Alpha ceremony?" I guess she forgot who she was talking to.

"I'm not allowed to go, remember?" We sat down on her couch in the living room.

"Oh, that's right. That's so stupid, you've never done anything wrong."

"I know, but at this point I've accepted it."

"I'm hoping a lot of Alphas come, maybe even some Betas and warriors."

Unmated wolves always get excited about pack events that involve outside people. It was a chance to meet your mate if they hadn't met them in your pack yet.

"You've only been 18 for a couple of months, you could still meet your mate in the pack."

"I know, but part of me wants to meet someone so I can leave. I mean Gregory runs this place like a military camp."

"It would definitely be nice to leave this place," I agreed. I had thought about leaving many times, but it would break my mother's heart and I couldn't do that to her.

"What time are your parents expected to come home tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure, probably sometime in the afternoon. They need to be back in time to help get things ready for the ceremony. They've already started, and they're redoing some of the guest rooms in the pack house."

"Wow, someone important must be coming if they're taking the time to do that," I said.

"I know, I can't wait to find out who it is."

"Have you heard anything through the grape vine?" I asked.

"No, not really, which is weird. Usually, the omegas in the pack house know all the secrets. They must be keeping a really tight lid on it."

"Seems like it. So, what do you wanna do until dinner? I promised my mom I'd meet her around 6:00."

"We can watch a movie or something?" she suggested.

"That sounds great! Sorry I don't feel like going out and about. I've already run into Logan twice today and I'm not looking to make it a third," I told her.

"I get it. As an omega, I know how shi*ty people can treat you." She reached over and squeezed my hand. "So, what movie should we watch?" She sprung up from the couch and walked over to the DVD collection her parents had accumulated.

"You pick, I'm not fussy." We spent the next couple of hours watching movies and talking. It felt great to relax and not worry about someone coming up behind me to kick me to the ground. Once the second movie ended, I looked at the clock and saw that it was coming on 6:00.

"Wanna walk to the dining hall with me for dinner?" I asked her, standing up.

"Sure," she responded, standing up too.

As we walked to the dining hall, I asked her about my birthday tomorrow.

"I wanted to ask, would you like to come and have a shifting ceremony with my mom and me? I know I won't be welcome at the main one, so I thought we could have our own."

"I'd love to! Just let me know when and where and I'll find a way to make it work."

"Thanks, you're the best."

"And don't you forget it."

As we came to the pack house, I saw Logan and Alexis walking up the stairs in front of us. Naomi and I slowed our pace so they wouldn't see us. It got me thinking of all the things Logan had done to me over the years. I remember the first time he met me. I had only been in the pack for a couple of weeks, and I was walking with my mom to go get dinner in the dining hall. When I was three, Logan was six. His mother had already passed away and his father had turned him into the spitting image of himself.

My mom and I walked into the dining hall at the same time as him. As he walked past me, he made a comment about how I smelled fun. I had the smell of witch on me because that was part of who I was. He then spit in my direction. I had raised my hand to use my powers, only being three I didn’t know any better, but my mom stopped me. Logan ran to tell his father that I had attacked him. Gregory didn't listen to my mom when she said it wasn't true, and I received a slap in my face from the Alpha. That was my first taste of how much he hated me.

When we got inside, a lot of pack members were already eating. I looked for my mom and found her sitting at our usual table, halfway through her plate of food.

"There you are Julia. Hi Naomi," she said when I got to the table.

"Hi Sandra," Naomi said cheerfully.

"Sorry, I lost track of time. We were watching a movie." I sat down and pulled the plate of food she had gotten for me over to myself. Tonight's dinner was steak, mashed potatoes, and salad, which were all delicious.

"I'm gonna go grab a plate," Naomi told us, heading in the direction of the buffet.

"I'm just happy you're okay. I know how Logan can come down hard on you sometimes."

"Yeah, he found me a couple of times, but Marvin was there to stop him."

"Oh good, he's such a sweet man, always looking out for you."

"Careful, don't say that too loud. The Alpha might hear you." We both glanced up at the head table, but Gregory was too busy deep in conversation with his son.

"At least after tomorrow you'll be able to mind link me," my mom said, going back to her dinner.

"Yeah, it'll be great."

After dinner, my mom and I said goodnight to Naomi before heading home.

"So, what do you want to do for your birthday tomorrow?" She asked.

"I don't know, I hadn't really thought about it."

"Well, I already gave you your present, but I can make you a special dinner or breakfast?"

"I think a nice dinner with you and me, maybe Naomi would be good. I know I won't be permitted at the shifting ceremony; I don't even think they'll have one. Does anyone else turn 18 tomorrow?"

"I don't think so, but we can have our own ceremony," she said enthusiastically. "Who needs all the fluff and puff!" I smiled at her.

"I was thinking the same thing. I asked Naomi to come too if that's okay. You guys are really all I need."

"That sounds perfect. We can do it right after dinner tomorrow. I'm so excited for you to finally have your wolf." She gave me a squeeze.

"I love you mom," I told her. Wrapping my arms around her torso and giving her a side hug as we walked.

"I love you too, sweetheart."