The Omega Who Couldn't Change

Silver Moon Pack. The wind tonight was as usual, and the air was chilly on the high peaks. The moon was pale, and the howls of those damned werewolves echoed throughout the village. Raven, under the pale moonlight, listened to the howls like thousands of needles piercing his ears.

It was an insult to him. Raven Blackwood, one of the werewolves of the Silver Moon Pack. However, he had never been considered part of the race, only considered trash because he couldn't display his powers as a werewolf.

Raven stood alone on a small hill overlooking the entire pack. His gaze was blank and aimless. In the distance, the pack members were practicing their shapeshifting. Their bodies lengthened, their muscles swelled, and black or gray fur grew all over them.

They were werewolves. They were family. They were the people who were supposed to be part of his life. But Raven never felt like one of them.

His hands slowly clenched. "It's been eighteen years..."

His voice was barely audible. He muttered to himself to cover up his nervousness.

"Why can't I still transform?"

He had asked that question thousands of times. No one answered. No one ever did.

Since birth, Raven had been considered different. His father and mother died when he was a baby. No one knew why. Some said they were murdered. Others said they betrayed the pack.

Whatever the truth, one thing was certain. Raven grew up alone. If this is an ant colony, it is probably a white ant, which is considered a pest and cannot work for the colony.

And when other children began showing signs of werewolf powers at the age of ten, Raven showed none. No claws. No fangs. No hunting instinct. No transformation.

It was as if werewolf blood did not flow in his body. That's why everyone gave him a nickname.

"Cursed Omega!"

A nickname he hated.

"Hey, Raven!"

Someone's voice was heard from behind. Raven turned.

Three young men his age walked over laughing.

In their midst stood a blond, athletic-looking man. Darren. One of the strongest young Betas in the pack. Raven understood perfectly well that Darren and his friends were constantly bullying him. However, Raven couldn't retaliate due to the difference in strength. In the end, Raven had to give in. However, because Raven gave in, Darren stopped bothering him as much.

Darren grinned. "I heard you're still trying to shapeshift?"

His two friends immediately laughed.

"He still hasn't given up?"

"If I were him, I would have killed myself a long time ago."

Their laughter echoed.

Raven remained silent. He had heard such insults too often. But his silence only made Darren even more displeased. The man approached and pushed Raven's shoulder hard enough that he nearly fell forward.

"Tomorrow is the Blood Moon Festival."

Raven didn't answer and remained silent.

Darren continued. "Everyone will undergo the Resurrection Ritual." His smile widened. "What do you think you'll transform into this time?"

His two friends laughed loudly.

"A flea wolf!"

"A forest rat!"

"Hahaha!"

Raven gritted his teeth. It hurt. Not from the push. But because they might be right.

Tomorrow was a very important day. The Blood Moon Festival only happens once every five years. On that night, the moon's energy reached its peak. Teenagers who had turned eighteen would undergo a ritual to awaken their true powers.

Some became Betas. Some became Gammas. A few talented ones might even become Alphas. It all depended on each werewolf's abilities.

Raven had been waiting for this day for years. Maybe. Just maybe. Tomorrow was his last chance.

Darren saw his expression and laughed again. "I can't wait to see your face when you fail. You'll be the butt of the jokes of the whole pack."

They walked away, laughing. The sound of their footsteps faded away. The hill fell silent again.

Raven stared at the moon. His left chest felt tight. Sometimes he wondered if it would be easier if he just gave up. Leaving the pack. Leaving everything behind. No more taunts. No more hope.

Hope was the most painful thing he had ever felt. Because every time he hoped, he was always disappointed.

"Raven."

A soft voice suddenly rang out. Raven turned.

An old woman stood a few meters behind him. Her hair had turned completely white. Her name was Martha. The only person in the pack who had ever been kind to him.

Martha carried a basket filled with bread. "You haven't had dinner yet."

Raven forced a small smile. "I'm not hungry."

"You're lying."

The old woman walked over and handed him a loaf of bread. "Take it."

Raven took it. It was still warm. The aroma of wheat made his empty stomach react immediately. Martha sat down beside him.

They looked at the moon together. A few moments passed without words.

Then the old woman spoke. "You're afraid."

Raven laughed bitterly. "Is it obvious?"

"Very obvious."

Raven lowered his head. "What if I fail again?"

For the first time that night, his voice sounded fragile.

"I've been trying for years. Everyone hates me. I just want to be a werewolf like them."

Martha looked at him with loving eyes. "You're already a werewolf."

Raven shook his head. "No. I can't change."

"You have a stronger heart than most Alphas," Martha reassured him.

Raven smiled faintly. The words sounded beautiful. But they didn't change the reality. In their world, strength was everything. The weak were disrespected. The weak were trampled upon. And Raven was the weakest in the entire pack.

Martha stood slowly. "Tomorrow will be an important day." The old woman stroked Raven's head. "Don't give up too soon." With that, she walked away.

Raven was alone again. The night was drawing in. One by one, the houses began to turn off their lights. Only the moon still hung high in the sky. Raven stared at his own hands. Ordinary human hands. Without claws. Without strength. Without anything that made him special.

But just as he was about to stand and go home... A burning sensation suddenly appeared in his left chest.

"Ah!"

Raven winced. The burning sensation came so suddenly that it brought him to his knees. He clutched his chest. His heart was beating very fast.

Dum!

Dum!

Dum!

It was as if something had come to life inside him. The heat intensified. The skin on his left chest began to glow faintly. Raven's eyes widened.

"What is this?"

He tugged at his collar. Under the moonlight, a strange symbol slowly appeared on his skin. It resembled a circle with a wolf-claw pattern.

The symbol was silver. It flickered slowly, as if it were breathing. Raven had never seen such a mark before.

The heat lasted only a few seconds. Then it disappeared, leaving Raven wondering what had happened to his body. His breathing quickened, his heart pounding.

Raven touched the symbol. It was still there, and it wasn't an illusion. The mysterious symbol had truly appeared on his body.

The night wind blew again. Raven continued staring at the silver symbol on his chest. His heart beat faster.

"What exactly is this...?"

Suddenly... The symbol glowed again. This time, much brighter.

Raven was startled and took a step back.

Then a strange voice rang in his head. The voice sounded very old. And it wasn't a human voice.

"Finally..."

"I found you."

Raven froze. He looked left and right, but no one was in sight. The hill was empty. But the voice came back, very clearly. It was as if it were right behind his ear.

"Heir to the First Alpha Bloodline."

Raven's face paled.

Heir?

First Alpha?

What did that mean?

Before he could think further... the symbol on his chest emitted a blinding silver light. The entire world around him suddenly went dark.

A translucent screen appeared before his eyes. Raven's eyes widened.

Glowing letters slowly formed.

[Conditions Met]

[Werewolf Evolution System Activating...]

[1%...]

Raven's breathing stopped. The screen continued to flash, and the numbers indicated the progress.

[2%...]

[3%...]

[4%...]

Then suddenly...

A terrifying howl echoed from within the Forbidden Forest.

AAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

Not an ordinary howl. Raven's whole body immediately had goosebumps.

Because for the first time in his life... He could understand the meaning of that howl.

And the message it contained made his blood run cold.

"FIND HIM."

"THE HEIR HAS AWAKEN."