Cynthia Dion:
I returned home after shedding all my tears on the side of the road by the hill. But stepping into my house meant entering another battle that required a different kind of strength.
"What took you so long?" my dad's voice boomed the moment he laid eyes on me. My eyes were swollen, and my nose was red and puffy, yet those obvious signs of distress didn't capture his attention. His anger was simply a result of his lunch not being on the table as soon as he wanted it.
"There was a mate-call ceremony today, so the classes started late," I lied, entering the kitchen without bothering to change my clothes or wash my hands.
"And what about you? Did you inform the principal that you don't want any mates?" He followed me into the kitchen, evidently suspicious that I might be pursuing any potential mates.
The house I lived in was a far cry from a nurturing home; solace was only attainable when my 11-year-old sister, Flora, was by my side. Flora held a rightful fear of our father, a man whose wrath was communicated through brutal beatings that persisted until we lost consciousness. I had made it my mission to shield my sister from harm, enduring the blows intended for her. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we could sustain this tumultuous existence.
My mother's passing during my childhood had left Flora and me alone to confront our father and grapple with life's adversities together.
"I did," I fibbed in response to my father's inquiry.
From an early age, my father had indoctrinated me with the belief that mates were inherently malevolent. Through persistent manipulation, he had succeeded in fostering this perception in me, until the day my gaze fell upon the magnificent being that was Atticus.
Alpha Atticus Snow was an epitome of breathtaking allure, arguably one of the most exquisite individuals to tread the earth. He commanded reverence as the school's most popular figure and stood as the Alpha of one of the most affluent packs.
A solitary glimpse of him had the power to shift my perspective, altering my thoughts and desires. For three unceasing years, I fervently beseeched the cosmos, praying day and night to be fated to him. Miraculously, my prayers were answered. Nevertheless, my father's bitter proclamations now resonated as more than just words--they held a resonance of harsh truth.
Are mates truly evil to each other?
"Good. Because remember, mates only bring trouble and sorrow. I feel pity for those who acquired mates today," he shrugged, his words laden with a dismissive air. He then departed from the kitchen, but not before his gaze landed on what I was preparing for him.
"A toast and an egg? I asked for lunch, not breakfast," he retorted with a condescending lift of his nose.
"You don't earn enough to warrant the desire for extravagant meals," I retorted in return, my patience wearing thin due to his ceaseless complaints and nagging. Despite being the family's main provider, he rarely contributed much to the household expenses. Nevertheless, he expected me to conjure up a gourmet meal out of thin air. The constant pressure was draining.
"Damn it! I'm not eating this garbage. I'll go eat out with my friends," he waved his hand dismissively before striding out of the kitchen, displaying a lack of concern for his daughters' well-being. He seemed to prefer spending time with his affluent friends rather than worrying about his own family.
I couldn't fathom why these wealthy individuals befriended him. They would occasionally visit our home and treat me kindly, while my father would observe their interactions with a wide grin plastered on his face. Furthermore, their compliments about my blue eyes sometimes made me uncomfortable.
Trying to evade the thoughts concerning my dual mates, I shifted my attention to my sister, who had just entered the house with a school bag seemingly heavier than her own body.
"Flora, quickly go change, and then we'll have bread and eggs," I called out cheerfully, thinking that finally, we could enjoy a meal in relative peace, now that our father was absent. However, instead of a response filled with enthusiasm, her cries echoed from our bedroom. Our shared room was modest, with a single bed in the center allotted to Flora and a mattress on the floor for me.
"Flora! What's wrong?" I rushed out of the kitchen to find my sister sobbing on the mattress.
Upon closer inspection, her condition horrified me. Her shoes were missing, her hair was muddied, and her bag was torn.
"Who did this to you?" I knelt down, enfolding her in a comforting embrace, my fingers gently brushing through her hair as I absorbed her pain while she wept into my chest for a solid ten minutes.
"Flora, please tell me who did this," I implored once more, deeply concerned about what she had endured at school.
"Liliath," she stammered through her hiccups, "Alpha Enzo’s sister." She had released herself from my embrace to reveal the names. An immediate surge of guilt coursed through me. It seemed as though my connection with Enzo was indirectly causing harm to my sister.
"What did she do to you?" I inquired, my expression a mix of anger and bluntness.
"She threw me into the mud and started hitting me. She even had her friends take my shoes at her command, and then she took all my books. I have a test tomorrow," Flora choked out, her hiccupping punctuating her words as she wiped her cheeks with trembling hands. My heart ached with a combination of pain and fury.
"I'll retrieve your things, okay?" I cradled her face in my palms, assuring her that by the end of the evening, her belongings would be back in her possession.
"Now go take a shower and have something to eat. I'll handle the rest," I stated as I rose from the mattress and dialed Mara's number.
In a matter of minutes, I recounted to Mara the unfortunate events involving my sister since Enzo had discovered our mate bond. It didn't appear coincidental; I was convinced that Enzo had manipulated his sister into tormenting Flora.
"So, you're planning to walk straight into the lion's den?" Mara's voice was tinged with hysteria at the notion. "You do realize they're having a gathering at Enzo's place tonight, right? It won't just be Enzo you'll be confronting today; his entire crew, including Rosalie and Alpha Atticus, will be present," she informed me of what to anticipate. Despite knowing it wouldn't be a simple task to retrieve my sister's belongings, I was determined to try.
Cynthia Dion:"This mansion is huge," Mara commented as we stood outside like idiots.The ongoing party was making me anxious. I know Enzo doesn’t respect me, so walking into his home and talking to him when there are so many people present could land me in trouble."Let's go," I said as I held her hand and walked through the gate, fear in my heart.I wasn’t here for myself. They have dragged my sister into this mess, and I needed to fight for her.I took Mara down a corridor, expecting to find Enzo there for some reason.It was probably because it wasn’t as crowded in there as it was all over the mansion."Why are we in this corridor? I doubt we'll find him here," Mara grumbled, gradually freeing her arm from my grip and refusing to take another step."I just need a moment to catch my breath," I lied, trying to conceal the fact that my wolf had detected the scent of my mate here--my other mate!"Seriously? Why don’t you just--," she paused as we heard some noises coming from the room
Cynthia Dion:"What is she saying?" Rosalie disregarded the murmuring crowd and directed her inquiry toward her friends with benefits."Is she your mate?" she turned to Atticus, tears already streaming down her face. Her intensity had escalated to a whole new level. She seemed oblivious to the many students recording her emotional outburst for two alphas who weren't even her designated mates."Why are you even giving her the time of day?" Enzo attempted to be sly, but I was certain she saw through his act. They must have turned 18 and found their mates by now."I'm not lying. They are both my mates. We felt the mate bond---," I halted mid-sentence as Enzo advanced toward me aggressively, causing fear to course through me."She's telling the truth!" Rosalie asserted, deducing from his reaction. "You two hid this from me," she cried out, her tears flowing freely."That's enough drama for tonight," Atticus finally intervened after a period of silence, signaling to the crowd outside to di
Cynthia Dion:"Drink this; it will help keep your body warm." After driving for a while, Mr. Holt had stepped out of the car and returned with a cup of tea for me.His consideration touched me deeply. I managed a smile as I accepted the cup from him, my energy levels low. The rejection had taken a toll on me; for several minutes afterward, I found it impossible to form words, until I was a safe distance away from Atticus and seated in the car with Mr. Holt."How did you know I like tea?" I inquired softly, my voice hushed due to my depleted energy. The aftermath of the rejection had left me drained."I didn't," he replied, raising the cup to his lips and taking a sip before explaining, "I happen to enjoy tea."As I looked at him, a thought surfaced--why couldn't boys my age be more like him? A true gentleman."I'm not anticipating you to tell me everything, but it could be beneficial if I could be of assistance with whatever is troubling you. This is the second time I've come across y
Cynthia Dion:Mr. Holt dropped me off at home late that night. Thankfully, my father wasn't present, sparing me from another round of his abuse. However, it had been a few days since I turned 18, and I was biding my time, trying to save enough money to buy myself a cake and celebrate my birthday with my persistent sister, who had been pestering me for a cake.Flora had always regarded me as her role model, and that terrified me because I felt far from worthy of such admiration.Standing in the bathroom, I heaved a sigh as I regarded my reflection in the shattered mirror, offering a silent birthday wish to myself. Sadly, the funds I had managed to gather fell short of what I needed for the cake, forcing me to abandon the idea of celebrating my birthday altogether."All I wished for was to be accepted by my mate on my birthday," I whispered to the reflection in the mirror. Whenever I thought of him, a shiver would run through my body as I recalled the loathing in his gaze. He used to be
Cynthia Dion:He turned around and fixed a stern gaze upon my face."Do you want them to attack you?" he hissed, his sharp jaw clenched as he restrained himself."What makes you think I am safer with you?" I retorted, resisting the urge to cry or whisper, unlike every other time."Cynthia, follow me to my car," he instructed, his eyes closing briefly as he repeated the request."I can go home by myself," I muttered, attempting to walk past him. However, he positioned himself in my way, blocking my path."I can see that. They will still be waiting, hiding behind walls to catch you somehow. So, don’t make a scene, and follow me," he grunted, a noticeable air of annoyance around him. With his words framed that way, I found myself with no option but to trail him to his Bugatti.No matter how angry I felt towards him, I remained a miserable omega who had to do whatever it took to stay safe. If not for myself, then for my sister.He left the passenger side door open for me and settled into
Cynthia Dion:"Ah!" With every lift of the belt, my father aimed to strike, and each time, I sobbed. My cries reverberated through the house, mirroring the wounds etched into my fragile flesh. I couldn't bear for Flora to witness this; it could scar her deeply.As the brutal beating continued, compassion seemed nonexistent in him. I struggled to voice my objections, but inexplicably, I couldn't muster the words.My wolf hadn't undergone the transition yet, a truth I'd kept hidden from everyone. Revealing it would mean being branded as an outcast, a fact I feared more than anything."Dad! Ple---ase stop!" I whimpered, lifting my hand instinctively to shield my face from the blows even though my body throbbed with pain.He muttered, the belt striking once more, "You dared to challenge my principles, and here you are, arriving home at this hour. Why were you outside?" His voice thundered with anger. I lost my senses briefly as the belt collided with the back of my neck, the impact ringin
Cynthia Dion:Atticus rose from his seat, casting me a glare before shifting his attention to Ms. Kylie."I--," I interrupted him before he could fabricate another lie."I just handed my assignment to him," I proclaimed. My raised voice and clenched jaw cast a hush over the entire class. They had never witnessed me speaking up; ordinarily, I would be stricken with worry or an anxiety attack, but today, for once, I found my voice."Cynthia! Then where is it?" Ms. Kylie exchanged a disappointed glance with me, displaying the collected assignments and indicating that mine was conspicuously absent.I couldn't fathom why Ms. Kylie wasn't directing any questions towards Atticus."Ask Atticus. He collected the assignments. These students here saw me handing him my assignment." I refused to remain silent any longer. After everything I'd been through, I'd rather voice my concerns and accept any potential consequences. At least I would know I tried to stand up for myself.I noticed Rosalie's an
Cynthia Dion:"What the heck?" I panicked, moving away from the blood, but it was everywhere. I didn't even realize I had hit my head somewhere and passed out--was this really happening?"You shouldn’t have met him," I heard a weak whisper from the top of the staircase."He's really angry with you--" she squeaked again, struggling to breathe."Who's there?" I asked fearfully, staring at the top of the staircase but stepping back until my back touched the wall. I was holding onto the broom tightly.I saw a shadow moving towards the staircase before the noise grew louder, and the shadow tumbled down with a lot of noise and screams."AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Her screams scared me, making me scream too and cover my ears. With each step she tumbled down, I heard a loud thud. Soon, a body hitting the floor filled the hallway until everything became silent again.I was breathing heavily now, looking around and waiting for things to calm down before I decided to make a run for the door. Forget about th