CHAPTER THREE
~~ANIKA VALERION~~
The walk back home was humiliating. People stared mockingly, whispering about the girl who had been crossed over by the goddess.
Nana wrapped me in her embrace the instant she threw open the doors in the cottage for me.
“I know. Ani… I know...” She stroked my head comfortingly but the phrase made me withdraw from her embrace.
“You knew I wouldn’t turn?”
Her eyes grew watery. “I hoped to spare you the heart break.
The shame hit me, almost sending me staggering backwards. “You didn’t believe in me, either”
Pain flashed her features. “You don’t understand!”
“Then make me!” I blurted
“You should have listened when I told you to stay back”
“You had no idea how desperate I was”
“Unfortunately, you won’t have your wolf!” She spat
I frowned at the statement, the hurt I felt multiplying. “Nana?”
“You have no idea what I’ve sacrificed to keep you-“ she stopped mid sentence, whirled around and bolted into the yard.
I didn’t have time to pry into the secret she had almost let slip again. Then a knock at the door startled me. I immediately recognized the voice’s owner:
Joanna.
My first instinct was to race into the yard to check on Nana to be sure my bully hadn’t hurt the only family I had left.
Nana was fine. I shielded her behind me.
Joana approached where I stood while Nana picked up on my sudden defensiveness and became worried.
I turned to Nana and squeezed her hand “Please, Go fetch my pills. I need to take them before I go to bed” I requested in a bid to divert her attention.
She hesitated a split second before concurring. “Yes. You can’t miss your medications. It’s important” she responded then hurried back in.
“Why are you here?” It was the first question I threw at her.
“To talk to you,” she pronounced softly.
I felt a wave of annoyance as memories from earlier came rushing back. “Âbout what?”
“Can we go in?”
I had my suspicions but still led her in.
Nana already set my pill bottle on the counter. “Your pills. You should take them now”
“I will but let’s get you to bed first”
Nana adamantly kept herself glued to her seat. “I prefer to be here” she mumbled protectively, taking side glances at Joana.
“It’s okay, Nana. I promise”
She eventually left for the small bedroom.
In one instant, Joana got closer, her expression contorted with regret. “I was a monster tonight. Lord Xander and Conor’s words made me realize how cruel I was. Allow me make it up to you”
My forehead furrowed into a deep frown. I had to look again to be sure it wasn’t someone else impersonating my bully.
She sighed. “People change too. I know you’re unsure but give me the benefit of the doubt.”
I should have told her to leave but I couldn’t. The thought of a single friend in a pack that hated me was something I’ve always looked forward to. And what if she meant good?
“How?”
“Let me just stay a minute while you take your medicine then we take a walk to discuss it”
I agreed and reached for the glass of water Nana had placed beside the pill bottle.
Her form bumped hard into the table, sending my pill bottle skittering.
“I’m so sorry,” she immediately apologized, reaching down to gather the scattered contents.
She handed the bottle back to me and I picked out the dosage for the night.
I tossed it into my mouth and washed it down with a gulp of water.
“Now. That's better. Let’s take a walk”
Strangely enough, nothing was said all the while. It was just her leading the way whilst grasping my hands
She soon stopped abruptly, dropping my hands with a dissatisfied grunt.
I scrutinized the surroundings. It’s the part that led to quarters where Omegas and Nulls resided.
“What are we doing here?” I was barely able to get the rest of the words out of my mouth when I began to feel a terrifying, sudden change in my body.
My vision fractured. The walls around me began to move of its own accord.
My skin felt like it was on fire, a sort of itchy, persistent heat started to grow from within.
“Joana...” I gasped, my mouth felt heavy to move “Something’s... wrong.”
Rather than reaching out to help, she crossed her arms over her chest and assessed me.”Is it?” She asked sarcastically
“What have you done?” I demanded in a small voice.
She looked at me with scorn, the look of kindness she had on earlier, fully shattering. “Stay right here, Anika. I’m sure someone will be along shortly to help a ‘Null’ in heat.”
“W- what do you m..ean?” It was becoming a struggle to get words out of my mouth.
“Are you that dumb to actually believe I wanted to be friends? It’s a shame you are this vulnerable” she looked upon me with mockery. “It’s another shame I wouldn’t be here to see how you react to the pill but I’m certain the news of your defilement would spread across the pack by tomorrow”
My heart beat frantically against my chest. “React to what pills? What do you mean by Defilement??” I cried.
She laughed hysterically, seemingly enjoying my misery.
“I swapped the pills, Anika” she confessed, a slight grin etched on her face. “You thought the bump was “accidental”? You trusted me so blindly you thought I was trying to help when I scrambled to put your spilled pills back into the bottle?” Her shoulders shook with laughter. “You see, Anika… I had ulterior motives”
“Y..ou t… told me to give you th…e be..nefit of doubt”
“It was all theatrics, unfortunately. I’m not sure if I acted out my part perfectly well or if you were just so stupid to believe that so easily” she assessed her manicured nails boredly as she uttered. “I am certain it’s the latter, anyways”
I trembled inwardly from rage. “Why?”
I could swear I saw the jealousy that crossed her face for a split second but it didnt make any sense to me. She had it all. I was nothing but a wolfless freak who her Nana doesn’t even have faith in.
“I hate you, Anika”
My legs buckled and I leaned against the wall for support. I needed to get home. To Nana. “You have every right to hate me, Joana but please, take me back home. Nana will be worried”
She snickered. “I do not care about the old fog. Enjoy your experience tonight”
She vanished afterwards, abandoning me here.
I tried to move, but my legs gave out, sending me sliding down the wall.
I’m not sure how long I was there for but I knew for certain, each second got agonizing for me. The heat doubled. I needed help. I couldn’t afford the thought of a pervert, stripping me off my innocence. I felt terrified.
Through the haze of my intoxication, I heard it. A footstep. Then another. It got closer
The man was inches away. He dropped to the floor too. In a drunken state
He laughed at me. “Oh. If this isn’t the unfortunate human the moon goddess passed over?”
“Leave me alone!” I managed to breathe out.
He chuckled loudly, like I just told a joke. “You are coming home with me. Tonight.” He inhaled deeply. “Your scent. It’s too much to resist.”
A swift move from someone else who seemed to have walked in on the conversation sent the man flying to the ground with a loud thud.
I couldn’t see who did that. Not yet but the drunk was on the ground, scrambling backward like he had just seen a demon.
“P…p.. please…” he pleaded.
That’s when he came to view. Tall and lean build, dark hair that fell in waves around his neck, cold grey eyes.
The heat pooled intensely at my insides.
He looked at the man on the ground with nothing but murderous intention.
“I’ll give you the chance to run before I decide to feed you to the crows.” He said menacingly.
The drunk didn't wait. He scrambled to his feet and scurried out of sight.
Now out of the scene, Grey eyes flicked onto mine. There was no warmth in them, just as icy as it had been at the square grounds.
“Stand.” He ordered.
I tried to obey but my body had lost its will to move. I looked up at him.
“I c..can’t…”