Chapter 4

I noticed a sound coming from inside, and my father finally opened the door; his eyes widened like saucers as soon as he saw me. I know they would be shocked to see I ran away because he rarely let me visit them. Since we mated, I’ve not called home. This place might look poor than the palace, but I don’t care because I didn’t get beaten every day here.  

“What are you doing here?” he asked after recovering from the shock. I was surprised because, for someone who hadn’t seen his daughter for almost a year, he wasn’t excited to see me. I hated how Alpha James messed up my life without so much effort; I wonder what kind of threat he must have threatened my parents to make them so unwelcome.

My awful stepmother came into view as soon as she heard our voices. This woman was the sole idea of making me get mated to Alpha James. She came up with the business plan, and she made sure to drop hints until he finally suggested it himself. I hated her but not today though, I needed them to keep me safe for now.  I hurried inside and jammed the door before turning to face them both. Tears welled in my eyes as I dropped to my knees. This was my last hope for freedom, and if they threw me out, I’m done for. I don’t mind doing menial jobs to help pay back their debts; I just don’t want to go back to that hellfire.

“Save me, dad. Please hide me here, don’t let me go back to that hell, I have nowhere else to go, please I beg of you!” I pleaded with tears streaming down my face, and I watched him look away in hurt. How could he not put me first?

“What the hell are you doing here? You want to put your father and me in trouble? Why can’t you be a useful daughter and stay where you are kept?!” my stepmother interrupted us, glaring at me with so much spite and disgust. 

My father didn’t utter a word; he remained silent, staring above my shoulders like he was uncomfortable with my presence. He had an awful attitude for someone who hadn’t seen his daughter in one year. Maybe I had imagined that my father loved me here; it’s something I’ve always known, yet I let them fail me again. 

“Dad! Dad!” I burst out into wails, tugging at his trousers, “Take me back, dad, I’m sorry for whatever wrong I might have committed for you to sell me off to that monster, please, he might end up killing me if I continue to stay there….” I begged my father, but he shoved my hands away heartlessly. 

“There’s nothing I can do anymore, Rosella; please go back to him before he comes looking for you himself,” my father retorted coldly and walked out on me. 

“Mom…” I sniffed and hiccupped, turning to my stepmother, but she slapped me hard across my face. 

“Don’t you ever call me that in your miserable life, your mother is dead! All you bring to people is bad luck, I don’t want that in my life. Just get back to your alpha, and maybe you’d be able to pull us out of this debt.” she bawled, hissing with disdain. I never felt so unwanted in my life, it’s official, and my life is doomed.

Just then, our door burst open forcefully, and I turned to see Alpha James, standing at the house entrance with some guards behind me. A cold grin was plastered on his face. He looked like he was in perfect control of this sick game, and indeed he was. I knew it was over for me, so trying to run away from here would just result in me being severely injured, and I might not be able to recover again. 

Immediately, my stepmother fell on her knees with her head bowed to him. “She came here on her own, Alpha; we were trying to send her back to you before you came in, but—”

Alpha James raised a finger, shutting her up instantly. He strode to where I was crotched; a smile that sent shivers down my spine played on his lips. I knew that smile too well; he was going to show me through hell.

“Get up, lowlife,” he growled at me, yanking my hair and using it to drag me up.

“Aaah!” I let out a loud shriek as a searing pain shot through my scalp. I wasn’t prepared for that.

He grabbed my hand and twirled me to face him. “You think you can run away from me?” he ran a finger across my face causing me to shiver with dread, and then he tilted my chin up, digging his sharp nails into the soft skin of my chin. I gasped, paralyzed with horror. I was dealing with a beast, and I knew it.

“Whatever made you believe you can escape my grasp? I own you bitch! You’re my property, which means I can do anything, and I mean anything I want with you. The sooner you realize, the better for us.” he drawled with an icy tone. He dumped me back on the floor before turning to face my stepmother; my father was nowhere in sight.

Then he walked to my stepmother and threw some wads of notes to where she knelt, telling her the money was for her troubles. She swiftly grabbed onto the money greedily, thanking the alpha with a broad smile on her face that irked me. These people sold me out without an iota of shame, and now they did it again. I should have known and made a solid escape plan somewhere else; I was a fool for thinking they would still want me even after a year.

“Take her back to the car,” he ordered his guards, who bowed and hurled me out of the house. They pulled me disrespectfully on the floor, and I had no strength to say a word. I just let them pull me with them, not that I have any choice. Either that or I got more punishment for disobeying my offer. I was in deep shit already, no need to dig a deeper hole for myself. 

They shoved me into the Limo, and as soon as Alpha James came in to join me, the car started, heading back to the hellhole I was running from. Henceforth, there was no escape because the alpha would tighten the security around me, and I would suffer double what I sue to go through before. Only death would be able to save me, and the end didn’t sound too bad, anything to help me get away from here.

I am officially ruined.