"You stupid slut, why haven't you died already?"
It took everything I had to not roll my eyes at the way she flipped her hair. It was like she thought talking to an omega made her superior somehow.
I clenched my jaw and turned away, desperately trying to ignore her and her ridiculous posse of wolves.
I made it only a few steps before someone grabbed my arm. I turned, then a hand cracked across my face. My butt hit the linoleum floor and I heard the cafeteria go dead silent. I felt my lip split open and a strangled gasp escaped my throat.
I looked up to see our future Alpha glaring at me distastefully. My hand flew up to touch my bleeding lip and I crawled back a little, fear pounding through me.
"How dare you disrespect your future Luna?" he snarled.
I immediately dropped my gaze to the floor and bowed my head deeply in submission. "I apologize Alpha, and Luna for my disrespect," I whimpered, his presence making my shoulders hunch over in defeat.
"Now make yourself scarce before I beat you," he spat and I leapt up and hobbled to the nearest bathroom.
I couldn't believe he let me go. Maybe he wasn't as bad as the rest. If he didn't change, then maybe there's still the absolute tiniest chance for me once he replaces his father.
Yeah, right, I snorted internally, grimacing sharply at my stupid thought before turning my gaze to the mirror.
I cringed at the sight. A fresh bruise was forming on one cheek and an older one was on my jaw. My already busted lip was starting to swell on one side and blood trickled down from the cut. Scratches covered my cheeks and chin from when I was thrown onto the floor yesterday.
I had a purple bump growing on my temple, still tender to the touch. My gaze wandered down to the scars decorating my neck and I tug my sweatshirt up a little. If I looked at them too long, then I just know I'd want to try again. It takes every ounce of my remaining energy to convince myself I'm strong enough to endure this. I hope.
***
As soon as I returned to the pack house, I received a brutal beating from the Beta. He told me he needed to teach me a lesson for disrespecting the future Alpha.
I had black and blue splotches on my ribcage, what felt like a broken arm, and I was pretty sure my nose was broken.
I was actually lucky, disrespecting your Alpha was normally a death sentence, but mine was less since he was the Alpha's son. I considered it extremely unlucky, I had purposefully embarrassed the Alpha in public before in the hope of finally escaping this nightmare, but they never killed me, just tortured me until I was almost dead then left me alone just long enough for me to heal.
I wished they would just kill me, then the pain would finally be over. I still had another few months of school left, after which there was a chance they'd find another, probably more twisted, use for me. Other than the pack punching bag anyway.
I shook my head and pushed the thought to the back of my mind. I was sitting on the floor of my old bathroom. It was connected to my old bedroom. It was massive and filled with comfortable furniture, a TV, and even a mini fridge.
They kicked me out when I got back. They said a traitor didn't deserve to live in such a nice room. All I could do was sneak into the bathroom on occasion since no one would let me use any others. Thank the Moon Goddess they thought my room was cursed or something, no one will even open the door.
It was my sanctuary when the house was empty, I kept my stolen medical supplies and snacks in the bathroom.
I wrapped my ribs in a compression bandage and put ointment on the scratches on my face, gingerly picking out the fragments of rock still embedded in my skin. Then I dared to look at my foot.
I hadn't really checked it since I broke it almost two weeks before, and I was regretting it. It looked so much worse.
My ankle had swollen to twice its size and it looked bent and twisted unnaturally. I had to try and put it back into place before it would start healing on its own.
I sucked in a harsh breath and gripped my foot tightly. I shoved my balled up shirt into my mouth before I closed my eyes and jerked my hands. The pain from my foot had my body spasming and convulsing violently. I thought I might puke.
The shirt stifled my howl but did nothing to stop me from crying. Tears streamed down my face in an endless river and I fisted my hands so hard that my nails were making my palms bleed. It took two more excruciating yanks before it seemed to be realigned. The floor swayed and I fought to stay conscious. I tossed the shirt into my bag and rubbed my eyes, breathing deeply. I quickly downed an old protein bar and half of a bottle of water, instantly feeling better with something in my stomach.
My foot was still swollen but it actually looked like a foot now. I wrapped it in the compression bandage, my hands shaking from my shuddering sobs as the waves of pain persisted with each touch.
Something caught in my throat and I rushed to the sink as I erupted into a coughing fit. Sharp pain shot through my lungs and down into my abdomen with every movement of my chest. I knew I had some internal damage and bleeding, I just didn't know how serious it was.
I spat the blood into the sink and felt my breath come out as a rattling wheeze. My lips twisted into a grimace as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and rinsed the taste of blood out of my mouth. Great.
I slowly crept out of the bathroom after cleaning up the mess and returned to my closet. I had a thin mattress in the corner and a ragged blanket. I tossed my backpack onto the floor and pulled my hoodie back on.
I lied down, the mattress springs squeaking, and curled up under the tattered blanket. I put my good arm under my head to act as a pillow and fell asleep before my eyes were even fully closed.
***
Shouting woke me. It was distant though; the warriors were lining up for training outside the pack house. It wasn’t my favorite way to wake up but it sure as hell beat getting kicked awake.
My eyes snapped open and a smile crept up onto my face. Eighteen. This day could not have come soon enough. I knew it was stupid to get my hopes up. I knew my mate would probably reject me and completely shatter them, but I couldn't help being giddy. There was a chance.
I crawled out of my bed and checked my wounds, happy to see that they were starting to heal. My ribs were still messed up but it was much easier to breathe.
My foot was no longer as swollen but it was still extremely tender. I searched through my room until I found my only pair of skinny jeans.
Just as I was about to put them on, I realized how difficult it would be to get it over my foot and ended up tossing them in the corner.
I pulled on my black sweatpants and a red tank top that stopped fitting more than a year ago. It made my cleavage ten times more noticeable but nobody would notice it under my hoodie.
I hadn't gotten new clothes in six or seven years, and I stopped getting the pack's old, worn out garments a couple of years ago. I had two pairs of sweatpants, one pair of skinny jeans that barely fit, three shirts and tank tops that were all too small, a pair of worn out boots, an old hoodie, and a very ragged sweatshirt.
I used my fingers to comb out my hair a little before braiding it down my back. It ended a little below my waist and I secured it with a hair tie. I couldn't remember how long it had been since I cut it.
I put on my sneakers and grabbed my bag before hurrying to the kitchen. I handed out breakfast and managed to sneak some bacon and bread into my mouth without the servants noticing before hurrying outside.
The forest was quieter at this time. The only ones out were the guards, everyone else was sleeping.
It would either be the happiest or the most miserable day of my life. No matter how much I prayed or wished or dreamed, I knew it would probably be the latter.
The forest was beautiful in the morning, just after sunrise. The sky still showed traces of pink and purple and the sun was barely visible above the distant mountains. Light shined through cracks in the dense thicket of trees and made the forest look almost magical. I nearly forgot about all of my worries as I stared.
My foot suddenly caught on something and I didn't even have time to yelp before my body hit the ground. Laughter surrounded me and I sighed in defeat. Of course, nothing ever went smoothly with me.
I slowly pushed myself up and saw my brother standing over me, his friends watching behind him.
He shook his head at me with a smirk. "What on earth could you have to daydream about?" He snorted.
I stared down at my feet and kept quiet. My head hung in embarrassment, not fear this time. Please don't remember.
"Oh my Goddess." Fuck. "You're turning eighteen today, aren't you?" He sneered, his voice full of sarcasm and mockery. His friends snickered.
I bit the inside of my cheek and he laughed. "Hey guys, the omega is finding her mate today," he chuckled, nudging his friend with his elbow.
"I wonder who will have the honors of giving the rejection?"
"I don't really care, as long as I am there to see it," one of his friends cackled. Tears were starting to well up in my eyes, I tried to blink them back but every word that came out of their mouths pushed me closer to losing it.
I internally growled. I have already accepted everything they're saying, why is it bothering me so much!
"Run along little bitch, we don't want to be seen in the school with you," I heard somebody say and I immediately started walking.
I shoved my hands into the pocket of my hoodie, clenching my jaw. I was trying so hard to keep it together that I didn't even notice when I arrived at my classroom. I sat down in my usual seat in the corner and leaned against the wall. I took a few deep breaths and slowly blinked the tears away.
The bell rang and the class filled quickly. I stared at the defaced desk and half listened to the teacher. He said something about a new schedule for school that would be in effect next week and also that there was some big event later today.
I suddenly felt eyes on me and looked up. My gaze landed on my brother who smirked at me. The look on his face had me gripping the edge of the desk until my knuckles turned white.
The last time he looked at me like that, he tried to kill me.
The second the bell rang, I rushed out of the classroom. I darted into the girls' bathroom, praying he was not mad enough to follow me. I sat down on the floor and hugged my knees to my chest. I buried my face in my knees and took deep breaths to try to calm myself. "Did you really think hiding in here would work?" The terror siezed me completely and suddenly I couldn't stop shaking. "Liam, please don't," I whispered, my voice breaking. "You are a pathetic, worthless omega, you deserve everything I give you!" He snarled, grabbing my hair and yanking me to my feet. "You took everything from me, you're the reason they're naming Derek tonight and not me!" "They were my parents too, it isn't my fault they're gone," I sobbed. He smacked me hard across the face and my cries grew louder. I tasted blood in my mouth and gagged. He let go of my hair but not before shoving my head against the tile wall. "It is your fault, you were the one who killed them." I could barely see and I was on
"You ready to tell me what the hell they did to you in that pack?" Alpha Harke asked me for the third day in a row. "No," I replied and shoved a forkful of eggs into my mouth. I nearly moaned at the taste. It was delicious, but I could only eat a few bites before I was full. "Roxanne you have to tell me eventually," he urged. My nose wrinkled. "Fine," I growled, roughly tossing my fork onto my plate. I stood up and put my dishes in the sink before sitting down on the couch. "Alpha Harke—" I started to say as he sat down beside me but he cut me off. "Just call me Xavier," he chuckled, a small smile on his lips. "Sorry, Xavier, look I—" I paused, rubbing my temples with a groan of frustration. "I have no idea how to talk about this. It's a really long story and it doesn't make much sense." He leaned over to rest his elbows on his knees. "Just start at the beginning Roxanne, I have all the time in the world right now. I just want to know who you are and why you were trying to escap
"Ow! Daniel that fucking hurts, cut it out!" I growled, swatting his hand away from my leg. "Well sorry, I need to check how well it's healing. And since it still hurts I'm guessing it's not healing as fast as Sara hoped," he muttered. I glared at him and stood up from the couch. He immediately moved to help me but stopped when I growled at him. "I can walk just fine on my own," I snapped and he raised his hands up in surrender. "Calm down Rox. What's up with you? You've been really short with everyone for the past few days, what's wrong?" He asked gently. "It's my wolf," I admitted. "Is she bothering you?" He asked. I bit my cheek as my mind veered back to all those years ago, the day I shifted for the first time. "He." "What?" He looked at me with eyes full of confusion. "My wolf's a he," I told him. "Does Xavier know about this?" Daniel asked and I shook my head. "You realize you're going to have to tell him, right?" I nodded slowly, letting out a tired sigh. "Ye
I slammed my head against the stone floor as hard as I could. The pain that immediately bloomed across my forehead was nothing compared to the agony ripping through my skull and tearing down my spine. A scream escaped my lips, tears relentlessly streaming down my face. "Please," I sobbed, "Just make it stop." I clawed at my head, desperately willing the pain to end. "Roxie, stop fighting it." I looked up at Xavier; he was kneeling in front of me, his face screwed up in pain as he watched. "Make it stop please," I begged. I could barely breathe. "Just stop it please, I can't do this." He held my face, his thumb gently running along my skin. "Come on little wolf, you're so close this time, I can't force you through this again." He pressed a kiss onto my temple and another sob racked through my chest. "I wish I could take the pain away, I'm so sorry Roxie." He said he would do this as many times as I asked him to, but the tortured look on his face told me it might kill him to do it e
If Xavier walked in, he would see everything. The steam slightly obscured the view through the glass shower door a little but I still found myself glancing over every few seconds. He just turned on the water and then disappeared, leaving me to strip down and scrub the blood from my skin by myself. I had no idea how to describe the feeling that had settled in my stomach. I was so worried he'd come back but I was also a little disappointed that he left so quickly. What did you expect him to do? I paused a little at the sound of my wolf's voice in my head. Well I don't know, he sounded like he was going to help me clean the blood off, I murmured. If you didn't seem more frightened than a cornered rabbit, then he might have, he scoffed. Ouch. "Roxanne?" My head snapped up and I covered myself in panic but Xavier was still outside the bathroom. "Yeah?" I called. "You okay in there? It's been almost 40 minutes." I bit my cheek. "I'm okay, the water just felt nice," I mumbled, earni
They're everywhere. I can smell them and feel them―oh my Goddess. I could hear snarling and shouting and the sound of snapping bones. My skin was crawling under their rough hands. They left sticky trails of blood behind and the sensation forced bile into my throat. "Help me please," I sobbed but a firm hand curled around my arm just as the words left my mouth. My pulse throbbed in my temples and my fingers were going numb. I flailed, desperately trying to get the hands off but they just kept grabbing. It felt like I was drowning. A hand firmly gripped my jaw and the growl that sounded as my head was forced upwards startled me. I jolted, the rogues' hands disappearing almost instantly as my eyes snapped open. My chest was heaving and I felt like I couldn't get enough air in but it didn't matter. They were gone. "Roxanne? You with me?" Xavier's voice echoed in my ears and I closed my eyes again, curling in on myself. He saw all of it. "I'm with you," I murmured. His grip on my jaw t
I couldn't find the right words so I remained silent. I chewed on the inside of my cheek as Xavier scooped me up into his arms and held me tight against his chest. I kept my arms wrapped tightly around myself, letting my head rest against his shoulder as I tried to ignore the tingling in my extremities. My hands started to grow sweaty as he carried me up the stairs, past my bedroom . . . and into his. He went directly to his bathroom and my stomach flipped when he put me down so that I was sitting on the counter. He grabbed a washcloth from a cabinet and ran it under the faucet. Just as I went to ask what he was doing, he brought the towel up to my face and I flinched as he ran it over my cheek. He paused. "Is this okay?" I swallowed down the fear creeping back up my throat and gave him a tiny nod. There was nothing but focus as he cleaned the blood off of my face before moving to my arms and my hands. I had no clue how to process the emotions barreling through my mind. My wolf w
Please make sure to check the trigger warnings listed in chapter one. This story contains mature content and gruesome scenes that may be triggering to some individuals. This list is not fully comprehensive of all the content in this book, please contact me or visit the reviews page if you would like more information. If you have suggestions or would like to add a trigger/warning that is not included in the list, please contact me or leave a comment here so I can add it as quickly as possible. TW List: verbal/emotional abuse, physical violence, sexual content, cnc/forced consent, non-consensual/sexual assault, torture, suicide, self-harm